I had this dream several years ago, but it taught me an important lesson in using dreams to help myself.

In the dream, I was sitting at the kitchen table with my husband and children.  We were having dinner and talking about nothing in particular, when my husband said something that really upset me.  I became quite angry and began arguing with him.  The argument quickly escalated and I awoke still very angry.

SIGNIFICANT SYMBOLS

Kitchen-where one is fed physically, mentally, spiritually.

Table-putting things out in the open.  One’s family. 

Food-nourishment or sustenance of a physical, mental or spiritual nature.

Husband-my actual husband or what he represents to me.

Children-my actual children or what they represent to me. Being full of potential, but presently undeveloped.

Argument-conflict with others or with one’s self.

In the dream, my husband (my actual husband) and I are putting things out in the open (table).  We are receiving nourishment or sustenance physically, mentally, spiritually (food).  In the process, my husband says something which makes me quite angry (I conflict with him over this issue).  This conflict turns into a full-blown argument and leaves me quite angry (I was unable to deal with the conflict in a positive manner).

At the time of this dream, I awoke and wondered if it meant we would have an ugly argument with no happy resolution.  I don’t normally argue with my husband so this would be unusual.  Just a few days later, we were at the dinner table, eating and talking, and my husband said something which made me quite angry. In that split second, I remembered the dream and knew the argument would get worse if I continued my current reaction.  And so I stopped myself and decided to not respond to his provocation.  The meal continued and we began talking about something else.  The meal ended peacefully and we were both happy.  I think my husband was quite surprised I didn’t become angry and start arguing with him.  He seemed to appreciate my non-confrontational response.

The dream indicated an event where my husband and I were sharing physically, mentally, spiritually.  This event would end in discord. But the dream also acted as a warning, letting me know what was coming up and giving me the opportunity to react in a different manner.  I was able to choose a different reaction to what was happening and thus have a much more positive and loving outcome.  The experience also taught me that I didn’t need to react instinctively every time my husband upset me but to react with purpose, the purpose being of sustaining a loving and mutually respectful relationship where each person is allowed their own differing opinion without rancor. Because I heeded the warning of the dream, I was able to have this specific event with my husband where we shared physically, mentally, spiritually and it ended in harmony instead of anger.  It was the next step in the development of a close, loving relationship.