A Symbolic Revisiting of a Painful Event

Dear Cynthia: Sadly, my daughter died in 1996 in a drowning accident.

I am having what may be a related dream:

My daughter and I are alone in a cozy mountain cabin. It gets dark and starts to snow, so we go to sleep in twin beds facing one another.

Above my bed is a large glass skylight. I say to my daughter, “It’s snowing,” knowing that she is enjoying feeling safe and warm.

Then through the skylight I see a large dark object with lights in the sky. I can tell that it is heading right for us.

As it gets closer, I can see that it is a car with its headlights on, flying through the air. It comes crashing through the skylight and crushes my daughter.

I wake up with my heart pounding and tears in my eyes.

--K. WENDELL

Via the Internet

Dear Ms. Wendell: First, please allow me to express my sympathy for your loss. Your dream reflects the natural feelings a mother would have in dealing with this tragedy.

The cozy cabin--warm and protected from the cold--is womb-like; the only place where you can absolutely protect a child. Darkness represents the absence of knowledge or awareness, perhaps referring to an afterlife.

Because water often represents emotion, snow or frozen water may be associated with feelings we can’t express. You may have processed your feelings regarding your daughter’s death, but you still miss the opportunity to share experiences and feelings with her.

The skylight above your bed may symbolize the window of vision, the possible concerns or fearful thoughts you experienced before the accident.

The car here represents something unexpected and out of place--the accident. You see it coming and still cannot prevent its devastating result.

Your dream may signal an emotional revisiting of the painful event. As mothers we want our children to experience the wonderful things life has to offer, and we also want them to be safe. The balance of these two desires is every mother’s challenge.

You may want to seek the comfort of other parents who have lost children. Your physician or clergy may be good referral sources.

Fax your dreams to Cynthia Richmond at (213) 237-0732 or e-mail them to in.your.dreams@worldnet.att.net. Please include your hometown and a daytime phone number. “In Your Dreams” appears every Tuesday and should be read for entertainment purposes only.