Author

Subject: Passenger Ferry

Mark9417

19:38 10/10/2000 

I was in a line waiting to get onto a passenger ferry. The line was long and everyone was pushing into the line in front of me to get onto the ferry. When I say everyone I mean I only noticed women in the line. I did not notice men or children in the line, except for two behind me.

There were two boys immediately behind me (approx 13 years old) who were trying to push past me but couldn't because I was able to control them. Despite this they were determined to try and I felt that they were being incredibly disrespectful and selfish in their attempts.

My method of controlling the boys was most unusual because it involved me having two things (instruments of sorts) in their mouths, one plastic and one metal. Whatever they were they were sharp and long. (But no they were not fish-hooks but had the same result.)

The boys also seemed to be talking between themselves about me and down to me without any concerns or again respect. The general feel from the crowd was one of isolation and selfishness i.e. "every one for themselves".

When I entered the ferry I found the first level full so I proceeded up one level. This level had only hard uncomfortable bench seats vacant (good seats taken). We were also able to collect a breakfast from a galley which involved an airline style breakfast (pre-packaged) on a good quality china plate with tea / coffee. (Note: no one serving, just help yourself.)

I woke up towards the end of the dream and was in a half-awake and half-asleep state whilst I finished the dream. In this state I remember two clear thoughts. The first was that this dream had something to do with my Mother. The second, which seemed completely unrelated to the dream, was of my Father in an ambulance in a recently developed area near the Melbourne CBD.

Dream edited for easier reading - JT, 2005

2004

Jane Teresa's View

Jane Teresa Anderson

Overview Interpretation & Dream Alchemy Practice suggestion

OVERVIEW INTERPRETATION

Hi Mark,

Let’s start with the clue provided by the two thirteen year old boys behind you in the queue. What is behind you, in a dream, is often what is behind you in waking life. What is behind you may refer to your past (the years you have left behind), or to what drives you forward (behind every action is a belief).

The two thirteen year old boys may represent you at thirteen years of age or your situation thirteen years ago, or thirteen months ago. What happened for you at these times? The two boys may represent two events, two experiences or two driving forces. Since you described them as being disrespectful and selfish, they may represent these two issues: disrespect and selfishness.

Can you point to experiences of disrespect and selfishness in your life at any of these times? Then consider the opposite question: can you point to experiences of being required to be extremely respectful and extremely unselfish at any of these times?

The feeling of the crowd was one of isolation and selfishness. Where, in your life now, do you notice people isolating themselves through selfishness, being “every one for themselves”?

The qualities that upset you in a dream reflect issues that are unresolved within you. What usually happens is something like this: As a child you are taught that it is important to be respectful at all times and to be unselfish, to put others before your own needs without question. As a result you either grow into adulthood utterly respectful and unselfish or you rebel (usually as a teenager) and become more disrespectful and selfish. The pendulum can swing either way, but the point is that you operate at an extreme, either at the selfish or at the unselfish extreme, for example.

There are problems with being extremely unselfish. One is that you may confuse being unselfish with not speaking up to exert your rights, your right to be respected, for example, or your right to a place in the queue or a good seat. Unfortunately it is human nature for the selfish to take advantage of the unselfish, to subtly or openly use and abuse the situation.

Similar problems exist if you are extremely respectful. There is a difference between having respect for everyone and letting your respect override your need to be heard when your rights are being violated, for example.

Imagine yourself living at the totally unselfish, extremely respectful end of the pendulum swing. You take that extreme position because you have an extreme discomfort with the opposites: selfishness and utter disrespect. Imagine being the teenager faced with a parent requiring you to be unselfish and respectful, feeling that sometimes this is to your own detriment. Now, if you don’t become the outward rebellious teenager, swinging to selfishness and disrespect, an INNER rebellious teenager develops and hides in your unconscious mind. You work hard to suppress that voice that says, “No. It’s not right! I have needs too!” But unless you acknowledge that voice and realise why it’s there and heal it, it continues to chatter on and undermine your progress in the world.

This is why, in your dream, the boys were talking about you and down to you without any respect. They are your undermining voice. Deep inside you is a critical, rebellious teenager (or two!) that belittles your beliefs about the need to be unselfish and respectful. You try to control them, just as you do in the dream by trying to prevent them from speaking by inserting long, sharp instruments into their mouths. Really they need to break free and be heard. They are YOU and you, as a thirteen year old (or in the situation you encountered thirteen years ago) need to be heard. Once you free the young, hurt voice, you are free to move away from your own extreme position and become more centred. You need to be free to speak up for your rights instead of seeing this as selfish or disrespectful. You need to be free to walk a middle path between extremes.

A ferry crosses over water, taking you to the other side. As water in dreams usually represents emotions, your dream is about the emotions you need to traverse in order to move on.

As all the people in your dream were women except you and the two repressed boys, your dream suggests that your male side, your Yang, your assertiveness in the outer world, is under-represented.

On waking you felt this dream had something to do with your mother. Which extreme did she occupy on the pendulum swing when you were a child? What beliefs did you learn from her? You then saw your father in an ambulance. Which extremes did he occupy and why might you see him (his beliefs) now as needing healing (at the hospital)? The recently developed area you envisaged is the recent personal development this dream is revealing.

DREAM ALCHEMY PRACTICE

Gut reaction poetry:

The title of your free-form poem is “Hook Control.” Keep it going for 5 - 10 minutes. (See how to do this in next section.)

How to do this:

Take a blank piece of paper and a pen. Set a timer for somewhere between 5 and 10 minutes. Do not allow yourself to think! Start by writing the title as your first line and just let it flow. Keep on writing even if your poem seems childish or nonsensical. No rhyming or verses unless it comes out that way! The only definition of ‘poetry’ here is that you’re not writing sentences and you’re not using up all the space on your lines. Let your words find their own shape on the page.

How does this work?

By not thinking, by keeping the words flowing, you are letting your right brain and unconscious mind do most of the work. They created the original dream so they know what these symbols mean for you. They will reveal. You will be surprised.

More details on Gut Reaction Poetry as a Dream Alchemy Practice in: “Dream Alchemy”, by Jane Teresa Anderson, pages 324-7 and 334-5.

Jane Teresa Anderson

You can consult with Jane Teresa or her Dream Team and receive your interpretation by email within five working days.