Discussion post I submitted for my Atlantic University TP6000 Course – January 24, 2020
I examined both the Word Association Template and the Harthan approach (2013, pp. 21-24). I found them similar, and in the end, I chose the Word Association Template as I found the handout easy to follow particularly since I was using a Kindle version of the Harthan book. I incorporated the steps into my electronic dream journal, which helped to facilitate the process.
The dream I chose contains recurring elements and I was interested in delving into why it continually shows up. The main character is a former political client of mine whom I worked for from 1995-2006. He was in the Leadership of the U.S. House of Representatives, and at his height, he was the Majority Leader. The work was exciting, demanding, and it certainly had its moments of intensity and stress.
In a dream this week, I was with a colleague and friend who worked for the Representative as well. We were in an unfamiliar city or town, which wasn’t too unusual since the work involved a lot of travel across the U.S. We had an appointment to meet The Boss at 9:00a and it was approximately 8:55a.
I was also supposed to meet another client at the same time, so I was torn. The Boss kept calling me asking where I was and when I was going to get him, adding additional pressure and guilt to my morning. Interestingly, he was acting a bit silly on the phone, so the pressure was primary coming from me and not necessarily him.
At this point, we were walking around a lovely college campus in a suburban area of the city. I asked him where he was and he said at the restaurant where we were last night. I had no idea how to get there since I was new to the city. And, instead of giving me landmarks or street names, he gave me random and nonsensical information, such as “it’s the place where the bluebird flew up to the window,” as if that would help me find it.
I said to my friend, let’s divide and conquer. You go to “The Boss” and I’ll meet with my other client. But by this time we had ventured far from my friend’s car, and mine was even further away. So we were going to return to his, and he was going to drive me to mine, which I remember distinctly was a Ford Mustang.
Since the dream involved my previous career, I had always suspected it had something to do with my career transition that I’m undergoing. And while it may be on one level, my Word Association work blew me away with what I discovered as I went through the process.
“The Boss” represents individuals in my life and even my own critical voice that demand my attention all the time. It’s like the squeaky wheel that that always gets the grease. I feel guilty when I can’t meet the demands, and I bend over backward to try to please them. The “other” client represents my own needs. In my dream, the person didn’t even have a name or a face, and I easily blew him off while “the Boss” took all my time and energy.
My friend represents those I’ve met along my journey who look out for my true interests, and we share a commonality of purpose. They are the people God puts in our path as guides or signs that we are heading in the right direction. Since I had to go to his car first, it’s an indication that there are parts of my journey where I will need the help of others. The college or university campus, which I noted in the Word Association work, was calm and serene, is indicative of my desire to continue my Master’s work and to develop a career where I can use this education to help others.
The unknown location where we were supposed to meet is representative of where I’m heading. I get frustrated sometimes when I don’t know my destination, and the message here is that it’s not important for me to know exactly. So much of the journey is in the ride itself, so don’t sweat it so much. And the bird is indicative of the spiritual nature of my travels, and that animals and other synchronicities will guide me along the way.
Finally, the Mustang is particularly poignant for me. In the end, when I reach my own car, I’m on my own. We all are actually. I draw a daily Tarot and Oracle Card, and twice in the previous week, I’ve drawn the “Freedom Horse” card, which is at the top of the post. It’s telling me I need to turn off those dominating voices, stop trying to please everyone, and let my soul run free!