DreamCast: Should You Break from Traditions for a New Life?

Radhika from San Diego, California writes:

I had a dream about being in an unhappy relationship with a man that my family wants me to marry soon. In the dream, I’m dressed in a traditional Indian wedding outfit, but it’s in white instead of the usual red. My husband is abusing me. Then the guy I want to be with (but am not with currently because of other obstacles) rescues me and takes me back to his place, where he comforts me. We are intimate, which would be the first time for me. He is the only guy I’ve ever been comfortable with. I’m happy toward the end of the dream, and I make sure I change my number and don’t inform anyone that I’m at his place. What does this dream indicate?

Hello Radhika,

The white wedding outfit is the crux of the dream’s meaning. White is the color of bridal attire in American tradition, while the style of your wedding outfit is Indian. This points to a conflict inside you between the two paths. It’s possible that embracing a combination of American and Indian traditions in your life would be a good path for you. Only you would know for sure.

Obviously you have reservations about marrying the man your family has chosen for you. Whether he would abuse you in waking life is unclear. At the very least, the dream indicates you feel powerless or even victimized by the arranged marriage. Still, in the dream you found the courage to go against your family’s wishes and choose the man you’re comfortable with. What you may need to decide is if you’re willing keep a relationship of your choosing a secret from your family, which would be challenging. Although the dream showed you happy with the guy you like now, I don’t know if this reflects what would happen in reality or if it’s just wishful thinking.

Most important is to get clear about the kind of life that’s right for you. After all, you have to live with yourself and your decisions.

Cortney

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