Same Dream for 17 years...

[Picassodreamer007]

I hope someone has some educated insight on this one....

For the past 17 years, I have had varying versions of the same dream. About 17 years ago, I was a TV news anchor, but quit the business. At the time, I didn't think I really had any issues about getting out of the biz. I had a few corporate jobs in between (which I hated) and eventually started my own business, which I've been running for the past 11 years. But, at least once or twice a month, I will have some variation of a dream where there are two of me in the dream, and one of me is telling the other one "You never should have gotten out of news." A couple of years ago, this dream became so disturbing to me that I decided, "Heck, maybe the Universe is trying to tell me something, so I'd better take some action." I went to a local Chicago TV station, interviewed, and was offered a job. Which I turned down. After hearing about everything that was happeneing in news, it reaffirmed my reasons for getting out of the business. I breathed a sigh of relief, thinking: "Ahhhh... Now I've addressed the issue. I won't have any more of those dreams." That night...I HAD ANOTHER DREAM ABOUT NEWS!! And I continue to have dreams about either working in TV news, getting back into TV news or some aspect of television journalism. What gives? I know I do not want to be in that field, since I have thoroughly explored this and thought about it in depth. I did go to a so-called "professional dream interpreter," who told me this: "It's not about being in news, it's about the news you're meant to deliver in this lifetime. You need to be like a Studs Terkel for women's issues and work for the U.N." That did not resonate with me AT ALL...but I have tried to keep an open mind about her comments.

The only thing I can think of is that, while my business is successful, and I did enjoy it immensely for many years, I feel the need to do something far more creative than I am now. (I do executive training.) But even when I really enjoyed my business, I was still having those dreams about TV news.

Any insight would be IMMENSELY appreciated! Many, many thanks for your help.

Confused dreamer....

[Picassodreamer007]

Oh...and if anyone has had any recurring dreams over many, many years, I'd be interested to hear if/how you sorted out what your dream was really trying to tell you. As I mentioned, I've tried everything from writing detailed descriptions of each dream as I have them, analyzing those details, talking to dream experts and even taking action to address the dream issue in real life. I'm at a loss here....

[sailrmc]

I am interested in taking a look at your dream but I would like for you to start from scratch and write it out with specific details. Write it as if you just had the dream last night and you are telling a best friend about it. May I suggest that you set the scene, describe any colors, describe the role players, and your general feelings about any aspect of the dream.

I suppose what I am saying is now that we have a good idea of your background it will be helpful to see a detailed account of the dream as you viewed it.

sailrmc

[Picassodreamer007]

Thanks, Sailrmc!! I appreciate your help.

First, let me say, that the details (colors, players, etc.) change with each dream, even thoguh the SUBJECT remains the same. Sometimes I am in a TV station, sometimes I am "in the field" reporting, sometimes a producer is present, sometimes just a cameraman. The only thing that remains constant throughout the dream is this: someone (myself, a producer, a news director, a camera operator) telling me to get back into news.

I'm sure I will have another such dream soon. (As I mentioned, I have about two per month.) When I do, I will present exact details.

In the meantime, below is the most recent one I had, on February 10th. (I copied it from my dream journal.) I also always write what I think is the dream interpretation, but I won't include that here, since I don't want to "taint" your interpretation. Plus, mine is just more of the same old same old interpretation; I seem to be going around in circles on this.

Anyway, here is the most recent related recurring dream:

February 10, 2008

Dream last night/early this morning:

Yet another dream that I went back into TV news reporting. (What IS up with that?!)

Scene: Another reporter (a pretty blone female) had some sort of personal tragedy – I think a boyfriend or relative was killed in the news story. (Not sure if it was a fire or what; I seem to think it was a fire, because the old house had black smoke smudges around the windows, but I didn’t actually see a fire in my dream.) Despite her tragedy, she was still reporting on the story. The reporter was in an upstairs window, and the news director was scaling up the wall toward her while she was reaching down for the microphone. He asked if she was OK to go on with the story; she said yes. I thought, “she is so pretty; the ND (News Director) is probably thinking how pretty she is, too." While perched precariously on the windowsill, the reporter put on some red lipstick, apparently getting ready for her "live shot."

As I stood and watched, I deeply felt for the reporter's loss. I remember thinking that when the News Director saw me showing emotion, he would think I was too emotional to get back into news, since he said he wanted me back in, but he was still "deciding." Still, I didn’t care bout showing emotions. Even though I wanted to be the reporter, up there in the action, showing emotions is who I was, and I wasn’t going to hide who I was. I showed my emotions by crying softly. I also thought that perhaps it might help me, since he (the ND) may realize how deeply I felt about things and realize that could be an asset as a reporter. He did look me in the eye while I was softly crying, but didn’t say anything. I turned and slowly walked away from the scene, somewhat dejected. I got the feeling that he was worried about me, and may send someone to check on me.

Dream ended.

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I have a plethora of dreams like this from my journal that I could supply, but I thought the most recent one would make the most sense to give.

Again, thanks for your interest. Any ideas at this point may prove helpful!

[froggy2]

Hi! If this helps, I have had the same kind of ordeal you have for almost a year. I have been dreaming about my friend, and one of us is always in danger or bad things happen to us. I have realized what the dreams are saying, but I am still having them, but mainly as waking dreams. I've been told that being pictured with two of you that are fighting is a symbol of the struggle you have in making decisions for yourself. I had a waking dream yesterday where two versions of myself, one from the present, the other from the past, were fighting. I hope you find resolution! =)

Cheers,
froggy2

[Picassodreamer007]

Hey, thanks a lot for the input, Froggy!! I appreciate it. And yes, it DOES help to see how you resolved your recurring dream issue.

[Wolfjk]

Hi,
Quote:
I did go to a so-called "professional dream interpreter," who told me this: "It's not about being in news, it's about the news you're meant to deliver in this lifetime. You need to be like a Studs Terkel for women's issues and work for the U.N."

My experience is that dreams are about what is happening in your sleep.
You made a very traumatic decision when you quit TV and it left a deep psychological impression on you. Nowdays whwnever a stressful situation arises in your life or your present occupation your subconscious uses the past experience in your dream - either to divert you from the issue or to wake you up with. However your subconscious can use your past experience to to divert you from physical discomforts or aces that might happen in your sleep. This quitting trauma might even be used to wake you in the morning if you feel tired or stressed.
Dreams control the time we are asleep and wake us up in the morning. Your experience of quitting the TV job contains a lot of mental energy that your subconscious can use for any purpose it chooses.

Cheers Wolfjk

[Picassodreamer007]

Thanks. Good info and insights, which I very much appreciate.

I truly do not regret getting out of TV. For a long time, I thought that I did, but when I had the chance to get back into it -- at a much higher salary, at a much better station and covering a much more interesting beat -- I turned it down. I thoroughly thought it through, looked at the pros and cons, and -- the second time around -- I was completely at peace with my decision. (The first time I quit I wasn't; I had a fiance who said if I really loved him I'd quit my job, which I did. But the second time around, I had no one to answer to but myself, and I was free to make any decision I wanted to with no pressure.)

And quitting TV news was, by far, NOT the most traumatic event in my life. I had another one that was truly life altering in every way and was far more emotionally painful. Yet I don't have dreams about that.

However, I did find your insights about physical pain and the relation to dreams very intriguing, and I do think there may be some validity to that. I'll have to pay attention to it. (I have a lot of back and hip pain from an auto accident, and maybe those dreams are a way of waking me up when I'm in physical pain.)

Again, thanks for the time you took to respond. I'll post again if I notice a link to the physical pain.

Ironically, I have these dreams even when things are going seemingly very well in my life, which is why they baffle me so much.

[sailrmc]

From what I can tell, this dream that you have is not what would be technically considered to be a "recurring dream". There is difference in how to look at a recurring dream verses the variety that you are experiencing. I am going to take some time to explain the type of dream you experience and why your mind uses this type of dream. This will give you a better perspective as to why your mind uses this format and make the discovery of meaning an easier task.

Here we go:
A recurring dream is one that is either identical to the last presentation/s, or, one in which only minor changes are depicted from previous dreams. Recurring dreams are the subconscious minds way of saying to the dreamer that there is "A" situation that needs your attention...for purpose of acknowledgment or resolution.

As I said, you are experiencing a different type of dream and the way that one goes about interpreting the type that you are experiencing requires a different approach from the approach used in deciphering a recurring dream.

The difference in the type of dream that you are experiencing, from the one I just described is, the general theme is always the same, yet, the situations are different. This type of dream architecture indicates (and usually implies) that the mind is using the recurring scene as a format or (better said, a familiar canvass on which to paint various meanings that need to be conveyed to you at different times in your life). Dreams of this type are often depicted in different genres (depending on the dreamer and what his mind feels he will most easily identify with). You fully understand the news business and it sends you dreams based on this...so that you might just be able to keep a clear perspective on the goings on in your life. Some dreamers experience this type of dream maybe one time, as theatrical presentation, maybe on another occasion a movie etc. Your mind has chosen something that you easily identify with, and in terms of universal symbolism is quite common...television news.
In your case, the setting of an on the scene, reporter conveys different aspects about you, things that needs to brought to consciousness (waking awareness)... such as; who is picassodreamer (the person), how does picassodreamer feel , and general aspects that instill homeostasis and create individuation (please Google Carl Jung/ homeostasis, or Carl Jung individuation, and look up these terms as they will give you a better idea of the process' of your mind that incubate the dreams that you are experiencing. You are curious about your dreams and by first establishing an understanding of why they appear in the form that they do, will allow you to focus on the real meaning being conveyed. Sometimes the architecture in dreams can be a bit of a distraction.

Now, if you are not asleep already, it is time to discuss the dream.
Different aspects of how to relate to each dream are conveyed by the characters or role players that are active within the dream...For instance the camera man would be the character or role player that the mind uses to the bring focus or attention of the dreamer to the action that conveys the intended meaning that the subconscious wants to convey.

(If my old English Composition professor could see these sentences he would surely go back and change the grade that he gave me years ago).

Different team or crew members in each dream will give you a clue as to how to consider that which is seen.
If you have not had any trauma similar to that which is brought out in this dream that you have detailed, then your mind is presenting these concepts to you to let you know how you feel (bringing these things to consciousness to allow for balance...to let you know how you stand on a particular subject or letting you know how you feel (again refer to homeostasis and individuation).
In this dream you may be getting the message from your dreaming mind (same as subconscious mind) may be conveying...the fact that perhaps you were not as objective as a journalist should be but the qualities of compassion and caring for those in your midst (in life in general) are good qualities to have. This is an acknowledgment from the subconscious mind that is telling you that you are OK. Perhaps the blond reporter who looked very good from your perspective, shows that you that you fully understand that competition can be quite fierce out there (not just relating to the news business...remember that this story (dream) is about general acknowledgments that are being brought to consciousness to facilitate a better understanding of who you are and how you feel and relate to reality. The mind is using this live news story as a kind of news flash directed to you, so that you understand and create balance life that leads to happiness.

The director who is "deciding" symbolized your overall consciousness...likely relating to decisions at hand, decisions that must be made. Perhaps there is or was some degree of non participation on your part, in some aspect of life,
and now you are faced with how or if you will continue or get back in the game of life, some way. In some way you have been burned and still there remains some residual emotions that relate to this negative event in your life.
The fact is, you are a survivor, and you are on the path of recovery. You are to the point that you remember the past but you do not dwell on it, at this time. This dream is an overall...."how am I doing now, dream" and the report is looking good. Oh you have changed in some way but you are happy with the person that you are. I tend to think that you might have had a pretty bad ending to a relationship and secretly hope that he still cares, in some way.
So hopefully, you see how your mind is using the news business as a general report on events in your life and how you are fairing. The news is you! The notion is drawn that suggests that you need to get back into your life...stop sitting on the sidelines...you, should be making the news. Your are being told to get back in the game of life! It is OK to show feeling and compassion and to once again become the real you.
Does any of this make sense to you?
I think that it does.
Overlay the general revelations of the dream to the goings on in your life and you will see a parallel, I am sure if it.
sailrmc
No time to proof what I have written.

[unclesirbobbyrobson]

well dreams can link to anything. The most likely way that this dream is using this symbol is as a previous job. A dream may be saying "I miss the people I used to mix with and the pace of the work". But dreams are like little arguments within your own head. They argue out an issue. They maybe push one point of view over another. It maybe that at that particularl time you really missed that time period of your life. Your own business may not seem as exciting. another day you may feel entirely different. Some dreams can be prophetic yet others simply represent the workings of your own inner mind. The day before is especially relevant. So look for changes relating to how you felt about work then.

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It is true that many dream symbols can have very personal meanings that only the dreamer could possibly connect to. For instance your sister may appear in a dream as an example of someone who interferes constantly in everything that you do. Yet a symbol may easily appear in a very standard sense. In a general and standard sense sisters link to a willingness to share opinions and to talk openly. Your dream may use a sister in that sense. It is equally true that a sister may appear just as themselves. The dream may then connect with some issue that involves them either directly or indirectly. The trick is then to keep an open mind and explore every possibility.

These pages are especially helpful in showing you how to interpret dreams

Dream symbolism and dream dictionary interpretation - How to interpret dreams Interpreting dreams
Dream symbolism - How to use dream symbols Triggers for dreams
Dream dictionary - A modern and well researched dream dictionary showing how symbols can be interpreted in practical analysis Dream dictionary