Sunday, April 29, 2001		Dream theme

Dreaming of a cemetery
By Vinaya Katoch Manhas

IT is a ritual in every culture to pay respects and offer prayers to the dead, whenever one passes by a cemetery or a cremation ground. As far as the occurrence of such sights in ones dreams, goes, the connotations are varied. Being in a beautiful, well-kept cemetery predicts unexpected news of the recovery of some distant relation about whose welfare you were worried. However, to see an unkempt and forgotten cemetery bespeaks of your loved ones leaving you to a stranger’s care.

Seeing a cemetery which is both a Muslim and a Christian one, depicts increase in the respect one gets from others. According to Indian theology, seeing a cremation ground in your dream increases your life span. If you see a burning body in the cremation ground, it is unlucky, and said to be the product of a great sin committed by the dreamer. This interpretation is as per the Swapna Pradeep. To see those who are dead residing in a cemetery or a cremation ground predicts separation from and tension among relations. If you see a body lying open in a cremation ground, then great ill shall befall the dreamer.

According to western theologists, to see yourself carry fresh flowers to the cemetery, indicates that you may expect good health of self and family. To pass by a cemetery on the way of your wedding ceremony, predicts fatal accidents to your spouse. For old people to dream of a cemetery portrays a travel to distant places where they shall find peace and rest. To see people moving happily among graves denotes prosperous changes and good health.

Psychologically, the cemetery and its association with death can have a double meaning in dreams. It can represent that part of ourselves which we have consciously buried. It also depicts our thoughts and fears about death and the attitudes surrounding it.

Many times we have fears which we are unable to accept or express. The sighting of a cemetery and a cremation ground is an acceptable way of letting these fears come to surface. It also becomes an appropriate way to handle these fears. Thus, we can allow ourselves to be frightened, without feeling ashamed.

A lady would often, in her dreams, see those who had passed away being cremated. This would leave her very tense and disturbed. The recurrence of such a dream is of immense psychological significance. The unusual aspect of this dream is that she had never seen a body being cremated. Among Hindus women are not allowed to go to the cremation ground.

After therapy it was observed that while the aged people were alive, the lady had rarely ever shown any consideration and respect for them. The guilt of having not done any good or not having served them in any way was leading to such disturbing dreams.