DreamCast: A Family Tree Comes to Life

Laura from Salt Lake, Utah writes:

I had a very strange dream the other night where I was being held high in a tree. One of its vines gently wrapped around my ankle, dangling me upside-down. I was happy and comfortable, and a little impatient, as a child would be when they’re waiting their turn. The tree then gave me a peeled carrot, which I associated with a seed, and lifted me higher as I asked, excited, “Are you going to let me go?” The tree responded, “Yes, it’s time.” Before it released me, I saw the eyes of the tree, looking at me, and smiling. I felt a close fondness with the tree.

When I was let go, I was a little scared but confident that the tree would not let me fall too harshly, and was reassured of this as vines became available for me to swing on. I was able to tell them to lift me up or let me down. By the time I was on the ground, I no longer held the seed, but understood that I was the seed.

The moment I hit the ground, I was to fulfill my purpose by defending the tree. There were two boys who attacked it. One, I assumed, was my younger brother, although it did not look like him. The other was a strange friend of his, who was less involved. I took a strong defensive position, and fought ferociously. In the end, I subdued my younger brother by biting his thumb. This was weird to me because in the dream just before this one, I was fighting someone awful, and could only defeat them or subdue them by biting their thumbs. I also remember a vivid dream when I was a child, and I was standing in a cavern at the top of a stone-stepped staircase with my little brother, and, again, biting his thumb.  What’s this about?

Hello Laura,

I believe it’s your sense of family, as symbolized by the spirit of your family tree, that has protected you, given you comfort, and nurtured you, until you were ready to “sprout” on your own. Now you feel you must protect the tree. So what are you protecting exactly? It could be the love and support of your family, your family traditions, or your sense of security that you’re defending.

What is it about your brother and his friend that threatens the family tree? Are they rebellious or disrespectful? Do you feel your brother isn’t honoring your family or its traditions in some way? The thumb can be a symbol of power that allows you to hold onto something. You might be experiencing a power struggle with your brother himself, which is likely a past-life issue between you that is being played out now. If your brother is just a symbol, then you’re battling an element of your own psyche that reminds you of your brother.

In any case, I hope I’ve given you some ideas to think about!

Sweet dreams,

Cortney