Sunday, June 2, 2002		Dream Theme

Dreaming of wounds
Vinaya Katoch Manhas

— Byron

SEEING yourself get physically hurt or wounded in dreams is a very unpleasant feeling. Such dreams generally tend to leave the dreamer with a premonition that something bad is about to happen. Such dreams, while portraying insecurity and feelings of hurt, are also defined as wish-fulfilment dreams wherein you might see someone else whom you wish to hurt getting wounded.

As per Indian thought, if you see your body wounded in several places or someone inflicting wounds on you, then you are advised to be very patient. Such a dream might also mean that those who think ill of you might have a change of heart and not be so much against you. But should you, on the contrary, see yourself hurting someone then you should beware for you shall soon get involved in litigation. Seeing wounds that are rotten and stinking is not a good omen as it spells ill-luck for you.

As per western thought, seeing yourself wounded signals distress and an unfavorable turn of affairs in business. To see others’ wounded foretells that your friends shall act unjustly towards you. Should you see that your wound is being bandaged and medicated then it is considered a good omen and means that good fortune is in store for you. Luck seems to be on your side.

Psychoanalytically speaking, dreams of wounds signify hurt feelings or emotions. If you see yourself inflicting the wounds, then it is a symbol of your aggression and mistrust. But if the wounds are inflicted on you, then it means you think of yourself as a victim. The type or severity of the wound is of great importance. A large ugly wound suggests violent feelings, whereas a small one is indicative of a more focused attack. It can also symbolise an experience which the dreamer may have found unpleasant. He should learn from such an experience. But in very rare cases, wounds inflicted on the self could also denote feelings of guilt for a wrong deed, wherein the dreamer tries to punish himself by inflicting a wound on his own person.

A 62-year-old man started seeing a particular dream at the age of 59 when his wife passed away. He would frequently dream that his right leg was rotting due to wounds. It was infected with maggots.

It was later found that he had once kicked his wife in anger because she had supported a wrong action on the part of his 15-year-old daughter which had resulted in great pain to the entire family.

On the death of his wife he somehow could not forget that incident and thus forgive himself for the act. Barring that one incident, he had never raised his hand on her.