Do Butterflies Dream?

Chapter 1 Sleep Opens the Door An unusual dream came to me one night. I found myself in a casino needing to use the bathroom. The friend I was with, who was a female, said “Laina, you get paid money here for how much you eliminate.” “What? Seriously?” I asked. I then proceeded to fill the toilet, imagining my release as quarters. After flushing the toilet, I went to the cashier’s cage and was promptly handed three $20 dollar bills and one $10 dollar bill for a total of $70.00! I was so excited that I ran to my friend showing her how much I received! When I awoke, I thought, “Now that was a strange dream!” Embarrassing as it is to share this dream, a quick analysis will help discover the hidden dream meaning. The dream's starting place was a casino, which according to the dictionary is a public room or building where gambling games are played. If assisting in the dream interpretation of another person, you would ask them what a casino means by saying, “Assume that I am unfamiliar with the term 'casino.' In your own words, explain what a casino means or represents to you.” Since the dream is mine, I acknowledge that a casino is a place of gambling and feel that I am in a place which is risky. In this place I relieve myself. To me this represents eliminating something deep inside, something extremely personal and perhaps embarrassing, by letting it pass through and out of me. Not only do I eliminate, but I receive payment for it! I love getting money and enjoy what money can do in my life. Receiving money for elimination is exciting and creates a desire to eliminate more. I also find myself with a female friend. Generally, when a person has a dream about a female, the female most often represents a specific feeling or emotion. This female was a friend, someone that I was close to, but not related to. Symbolically she represents a friendly feeling and emotion that is close to me, but not related to me. At this point, I should share more information to assist with the understanding about what this dream message is for me. A few weeks before my dream, I was seriously considering writing a book about dreams. Dreams may provide ways to wellness and healing by expanding awareness, allowing internal emotional release. I began feeling that a book would be a great way to assist others on their wellness journey. I thought, “I wish I could come up with a title or format for my book. Knowing this may help me focus and accelerate my book creation.” After stating my wish, feelings of inadequacy and concern began to surface. I frequently heard a voice within saying, “Who are you to write a book? You don't know anything, and books are very personal, especially a book about dreams!” Then the dream came. Because of my dream, I received the realization that writing a book is a gamble. It may prove to be embarrassing because I will be sharing some of my innermost feelings and beliefs (the elimination). However, I may also receive financial rewards for this elimination, which would be very exciting! At the time of the dream, the thought of writing a book was just a casual feeling and emotion, (represented by my friend) that was friendly and supportive to me. There it is, an unusual dream with a profound personal meaning. Why was it so unusual? It seemed unusual, even humorous, because dreams speak in symbols and/or allegories which may at first appear abstract and unrelated. After understanding the meaning of the symbols, or what can be called the “soul language,” these dreams make total sense. Most dreamers have made the familiar comment, “Now that was a strange dream!” The dream may seem strange until the symbolic language of emotions is untangled revealing a logical message. The mind contains knowledge and information which seemingly has been forgotten and can be recalled with some conscious effort. Subtle whispers of buried memories come floating into consciousness at the oddest times and places. Karol Truman, author of the book Feelings Buried Alive Never Die, teaches that negative feelings are not always resolved, and they can remain alive in the psyche, or body energy field. Sometimes these unresolved feelings can affect lives and actions. Candice Pert, Ph.D., author of Molecules of Emotion, believes that the body is the unconscious mind; that overwhelming emotions create trauma and those emotions are stored in different parts of the body. For the purpose of this book the unconscious is the part of the mind that is inaccessible to the conscious mind which affects behavior and emotions. The unconscious consists of the cognitive processes that occur automatically. Behaviors and emotions, whether negative or positive, are very real and can manifest in dreams revealing a need to be dealt with and released. Dreams can be understood and this understanding can be learned. To realize the meaning of dreams, ask for guidance from the unseen aspect of life that seems to be connected to everyone and everything (Carl Jung calls it God, I call it spirit). Through spirit, learning can take place to assist with interpreting what dreams are telling. Discovering what dreams are conveying is like turning a key that will unlock buried treasures.....