Hi Blake,
When we return, in our dreams, to a place we once lived, it is usually because we are comparing something from back then with what is happening now. There is usually a key from the past that, once we discover it, provides a solution to something in the present.
Often a dream about the past reveals the beginning of a way of thinking that has become ingrained - sometimes even unconscious - that is still directing our present day approach to life.
When huge changes have been made, or are being made, we often see the past quite changed in our dreams.
Your old town looked different. The shopping centre had become a factory and the paved roads were gravel and dirt. Shopping centres can represent choice (when we go shoping we are presented with a huge range of choice). This suggests that the choices you thought you had when you were younger (when you lived in that town) are now gone - as far as you feel these days. (In reality, it's never too late to have plenty of choice!) In place of all the choices is a factory - a place of hard work, or of mundane production .... this depends on how YOU view 'factory' Blake.
What does a factory mean to you? Why might you, these days, feel that your choices have been replaced by something factory-like?
Do you feel that life is more like a conveyor belt (factory) than a condition of active choice (shopping centre) perhaps?
The old paved roads (easily navigeable routes) have been dug up and are rough, difficult to traverse. Perhaps the old directions you had imagined yourself taking are now gone and feel rough .... rough going.
BUT, the beauty of your dream is that you're in there to change things - to make solid roads and so on.
Your dream is about taking stock and changing your views and feelings about life. Life now is something you are ready to re-shape and re-build, according to a new vision, not the one you had when you lived in that town.
The pastor just watched. There are various possibilities for this:
Dreams love puns - and 'pastor' could be a word play on 'past ..'. The past 'you' watched on as the new 'you' builds new ways perhaps.
He could also represent religion or spirituality. Perhaps your current spirituality (since you know him these days) silently watching your rebuilding.
Or is there a sense in which you have set aside your religion to take a more hands-on approach? (Pastor watches while you get down to practicalities).
There is a lot more in your dream.
4 repeats: 40 yard truck and 4 lengths .. what happened for you when you were 40 - or 40 years ago - or 4 years ago, Blake?
If you can reply with some feedback I'm sure others will get in here and reply to other parts of your dream.
Hope this helps meantime,
Jane Teresa Anderson |