Sunday, May 11, 2003		Dream Theme

Dreaming of danger
Vinaya K. Manhas

THE perception of danger varies from person to person. A situation or an object that one person perceives as dangerous, might not be dangerous for another. The feeling of danger in a dream may not be obvious.

As per Indian thought, to find yourself faced with danger in your dreams is a warning to be very cautious and alert in your real life. It advises you to change your job or business as soon as possible. Should you be surrounded by danger and get hurt as a result, then be careful, for it means that your own carelessness shall harm you. But if you manage to escape unhurt, it is a lucky omen. It foretells that you shall face some difficulties and problems but shall manage to overcome these. Should you, on the other contrary, see someone else in danger and help them out, it is a good omen. It means that your social status shall receive a boost.

As per western thought, if you dream of being in a dangerous situation in which death seems to be hovering around you, but you manage to get out of it unhurt, it means that the respect and status you enjoy shall be enhanced. But should you see your end and dream of dying or getting seriously wounded, you stand to lose on all the fronts in your personal life. You shall face a lot of discord and unhappiness at home, and problems with people closely associated with you. Should you be involved in a romantic liaison, you can expect problems on that front as well.

Psychoanalytically speaking, seeing ourselves in danger in our dreams is a reflection of the anxieties and dilemmas of our day-to-day life. It means that we are aware of the negative effects of our actions. It also reflects conflicts in a symbolic manner, for instance, seeing fire and flood or flying and falling. It can also represent feelings of insecurity. This is a more accepted interpretation.

A 45-year-old man would often dream of being chased by an animal. He would shout to other people to help him. But everyone would simply glance at him as if he were making a noise for no reason. According to an analysis of this dream, the man seems extremely insecure. He seems to be a pessimist who only perceives things in a bad light. But his thinking does not seem to be seconded by others, a fact of which he is aware. This awareness is reflected in his dreaming that the others are ignoring his cries for help.