The City

Okay - two down, this is the last one...

I have this dream about once every two weeks.

I'm dreaming that I'm in a huge city...there's bridges and overpasses everywhere, almost seeming to tangle with each other over a large expanse of water, the size of, let's say, the Great Salt Lake.

In real life, I don't like to drive in the city...but in the dream, here I am, behind the wheel. I'm dipping and diving along the roads, which seem to bend and curve in unnatural positions. The traffic all around me is moving at lightning speeds, and I'm doing my best to keep up.

I've been in this city before. I know how to get from point A to point B...but do I remember which roads to take? The roads are clearly marked...what if I take the wrong one? How far will I have to drive in this fast traffic just to turn around?

Sometimes, the road dips so that all the cars go into a freefall and land (rightside-up) on a road much lower and closer to the water. I can feel myself falling in the dream, and I'm afraid, wondering if I'm going to land rightside-up like everybody else.

The air always seems to be dusty and brown. I can see huge towers of buildings far off in the distance.

Some roads are familiar...there's a motel where I stayed one night. There's a restaurant where we ate.

Eventually, I get to where I'm going. It's a busy street lined with interesting shops. There's an old movie cinema (the kind with one screen and dark-red carpet matted with ages of spilled snacks). There's bars. I sometimes go in and sit, completely relaxed, and have a drink.

In real life, I'm always tense in new places. I'm always wound up and have a hard time making friends when I'm surrounded by strangers. But in the dream, people come up to me and talk.

In one of these dreams, I went to an old warehouse. There, a homeless kid let me inside. There were people "planted" in the dirt floor like rose bushes, all lined up. I had to help dig them out. They were people that I didn't know. I could feel the soil under my fingernails, I could smell the rich earth in the warehouse.

In one of these dreams, I was angry at a friend of mine (who was with me) and I ran and left him behind. I got lost in a Mardis Gras-type of astmosphere and spent a leisurely amount of time reclined in a bar sipping some kind of exotic drink out of a coconut shell. My friend found me and made me leave with him.

In another dream, at the theater, I watched an old movie that I had seen a hundred times before. The people all around me were roaring out with laughter and excited, as if they had never seen the movie before. I wondered why they were all so excited. It was old. I knew where the funny parts were. I could repeat the movie, practically, line-for-line.

In another dream, I lost my car in this city. I walked and walked and walked in the cold rain. I eventually came to a motel, one that I've passed often in these dreams, and decided to just stay there. I checked in. There was a pool next to my room, so I went for a swim and made some friends with strangers.

Sometimes in the dream, I pass places that I haven't seen for a long, long time. The scape has changed so much that I hardly recognize it, but I'm glad to see it. New shops have been built. When I see these places I feel relieved...I know where I am after all.

Sometimes when I'm exploring the streets in my car, I get to worrying...how am I going to get out of here? I remembered how to get here, am I going to remember how to get out?

I'm always amazed by the lights and the sounds and the millions of different people I'm able to see.

(I live in the country)

When I wake up from these dreams, I'm always a little scared. For a while, back in my younger days, I lived in Seattle. This was for 2 months, and then I saw a kid beat within an inch of his life on the bus, so I moved back home. Something tells me that the big city in the distance is Seattle...but I sometimes feel like it could also be Portland. Maybe San Francisco (been there only once).

I'm scared when I wake up, because I feel like I could have easily gotten lost to the point where I would never find my way back.:(

Well, from what you wrote I would say the city is in connection with the environment and social activity around you. Though, I would say the city is your life and the roads, bridges and overpasses could represent your options on the decisions you want to take. Seeming as if they're tangled with each other could be your confusion or the difficulty of making up your mind.

The different roads that you face in the city as you said, where you were dipping and driving along which bended and curved in an unnatural patter could represent your sense of direction and the progression toward your goal. Though, with the road curving and bending could mean that there could be obstacles and setbacks that you may not be excepting progression towards your goal. With the traffic moving at light speed for you could be a metaphor for that maybe you feel you can’t keep up with everyone around you and the social environment in your life. As you said you’re trying to keep up with the demands with everyone else but the “traffic” is still to fast.

Knowing your direction means that you know where you want to go and how to get there. Though, questioning yourself on what roads to take and what would happen if you go to far, shows your self doubt about the route you’re taking in your life, or maybe the goal that you’re trying to achieve. That if you go too far down this path that you’ve decided to take will you be able to go back? Also, questioning how far you have to go with these people “the traffic” ( the high pase lifestyle) to get where you want to go .Though, only to find out that , that’s not what you want and end up just turing around. So basically you’re questioning if this (your goal the strife you have to go through) is all worth it in the end.



I think that the part where the road dips and the cars go into a freefall and land closer to the water (right side up) represents the end of the goal/ progression that your going for, that in the end will you end up alright, like that you'll walk away from the damage fine. “on the right side of things.” I think it may also show that people have done this before as the cars ahead of you did before you and they turned ( right side up)”alright” so maybe you’re wondering if you’ll end up fine like the rest of them. I think the dusty brown air simply means your anxiety and confusion during all of this. Also, because some of the roads are unfamiliar to you and the air being brown represents your sate of seeing things clearly.

With the subject on seeing things that are familiar to you represents you’re feeling comfortble with the old things in your life. You find that you’re more comfortable with your old ways because you know what to expect and therefore feel safer. Which would make sense as you said that you don’t feel comfortable in new situations so, restoring back to things that are more familiar to you make you feel safer with all this new stuff happening around you. Though, with the strangers coming up to you in the dreams could represent that people are trying to help you connect with you.

With the warehouse part I think it may represent your hidden resources or what you use to help you out. Also, is may mean your putting your goal/ ambitions on hold. Though, because the warehouse isn’t empty that the people who are sort of planted may be your resources. Even though you may not know them as your digging them out may mean it’s time to use them to help you achieve your goal.

Do you remember why you were angry at your friend? Like do you remember what he said? What I get from that situation was that maybe what he said was something you didn’t want to hear ( like many reasons why get people mad.) So you went back to your old ways as you went to a bar where you felt more relaxed. Your friend coming back to get you could mean that he does care about you and wants to get to your goal.

I think the theme of the movie theatre represents your emotions and trying to protect yourself from them. With people seeing the movie on the screen are your emotions being projected for everyone to see and you having as sense of distance from them. Though with the theme of the movie alone I’m guessing you know what the movie is about, so look closely into that because it could be showing you the answer to your question or the movie is showing you the situation in your waking life. The characters most likely are in relation to you and a aspect of yourself. Though, with people laughing and finding it funny could be your fear or the people around you not understanding your situation as you couldn’t understand why they were laughing in the dream when you personally didn’t find it funny.

So basically the movie I would guess represents your situation. As people are laughing and excited could represent they’ve never seen this side of your before, perhaps you kept it hidden. It was your old life because you said It was an old movie so you already know what’s going to happen because you’ve been through it before though for the rest of the people they’ve never seen this side and this is new to them.

I think with loosing your car reflects you loosing your progression or your ambition to achieve your goal. So you decided to go to the motel represents that you have potential to achiever your goal Though you are still going through your transitional phase.

With the recurring theme of seeing places that are familiar to you and places you haven’t been to for awhile could represent as I said your old ways and where you feel safe because you’ve been there before and you already know the story and what’s there. Though, with it being different and hard to recognize could represent that your at a different sate now so what your saw before is different now because your experiences perhaps. Though, your glad to see it because it still gives you that comfort. New shops have been built new opportunities. Though to you it's sill the same place you loved to go. Also, it could be yourself finally accepting the transition, that you’re ready to leave it all behind because it is changing also, like yourself.

As your exploring you still worry (doubt) that this is the right choice to go after your goal or towards your new life. How you are you going to get out if you find this isn’t the right thing for you. You remember how you got to this point in your life, though are you going to know how to find your way out?

So to sum up this dream I would say it’s a metaphor for your thoughts and doubts as your moving more and more to your goal/ new life. You fear that if this is not the right path will you be able to retrace your steps and find your way back out. And this is the fear you sense when you wake up. Sometimes in the dream you relapse as you go back to the things that are more familiar to you. Though, you have people who are willing to help. You see even the old things you used to know change and look different. So everything is changing around you and it could be you inner self telling you it’s time to move on and to keep going (Even with your doubts in mind.)

Erin:

Wanted to thank you.

These dreams have been coming to me now for a long, long time. They repeat, and sometimes I know what's happening because it's all happened to me before in here.

The house, the hill, the city. They were like stale old dusty cobwebs in my attic that never seemed to make sense to me before.

Since you've helped me, all three of them have more color. They're vibrant, and flavorful! Like when Dorothy stepped out of b&w and into Oz...that's how I feel.

I used to dread having these dreams...like "Oh, here we go again!"

But after all of your help, I can't wait for the next one. The old house dream in particular.

Thanks!:)

Wow! I'm not the only one who dreams about an non-existent city! I can draw a map of mine and label the various sections, what the buildings and houses look like. I can even tell you where not to go. The name of my coastal city is Landley. It has two major highways, a couple tunnels that go under the river, a downtown, and another major commerical area. I'm pretty sure it's on the east coast somewhere.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Wondercookie

Erin:

Wanted to thank you.

These dreams have been coming to me now for a long, long time. They repeat, and sometimes I know what's happening because it's all happened to me before in here.

The house, the hill, the city. They were like stale old dusty cobwebs in my attic that never seemed to make sense to me before.

Since you've helped me, all three of them have more color. They're vibrant, and flavorful! Like when Dorothy stepped out of b&w and into Oz...that's how I feel.

I used to dread having these dreams...like "Oh, here we go again!"

But after all of your help, I can't wait for the next one. The old house dream in particular.

Thanks!:)

---

Aww, at first I didn't even now if I was on the right track. Or if I was even helping you because it hard for another person to help when dreams are personal. Though, don't worry about it. I'm glad to help. Let me know when the next dream gives you problems;)

Chance Wayne - yeah, this city is populated by billions. But sometimes, I see familiar faces there. There's suburbs, too...sometimes they're building new houses to make the boundaries widen. I can draw a map of my city, too. There's dusty sections where the building codes aren't enforced. Then there's the trendy-hip section with clubs and shops and everybody walks around with their noses in the air. Quite fascinating, huh?

Erin - these dreams don't really give me problems...the only problem I used to have was "why"? But I'm relaxed in the explanations you've given. You have a gift for that.

I'd never consider these dreams nightmares, it's just that sometimes they were coming on strong. I could feel things. The city lights were so colorful that I could still see them when I woke up. I could still smell the rotton boards in the old houses. I could still see the steep slopes of the hill.

I thought I was going crazy for a while. Do ordinary people have these dreams over and over and over? Except for some slight anxiety, I'm never really terrified in these dreams...I know that I'm not going to be harmed. Even when I'm hiding from the "thing" in the basement well, I'm scared but I wake up and things are fine. I don't classify it as a nightmare, I've had my share of those.

These dreams were just...curious? Is that the word I want here? Sometimes during the day, the memory of the dreams would come back to me at odd times, and I'd sit and think...what was I doing there? Why was I doing that? Why did it all seem so real, and how could I forget that?

You have a gift, Erin! Thanks for sharing it with me!:banana:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Wondercookie

Chance Wayne - yeah, this city is populated by billions. But sometimes, I see familiar faces there. There's suburbs, too...sometimes they're building new houses to make the boundaries widen. I can draw a map of my city, too. There's dusty sections where the building codes aren't enforced. Then there's the trendy-hip section with clubs and shops and everybody walks around with their noses in the air. Quite fascinating, huh?

---

It's very fascinating. My city isn't quite that big, but like yours, mine has dusty sections. One dream I had, and it's the one when I learned the name of my city, had a man walking down the street strumming one chord on his guitar. He was singing, "Bring the children to Landley. La, la, la" over and over. Apparently, entire houses were commiting suicide. When the house died, you could see the change from the street. The cemetary, which is filled with enormous monuments, has no shade trees. There are trees, though, just not shade trees.

You're lucky, Chance.

I never got the name of my city. All I know is that it's in Washington State, because I have to go through towns that I know (Toppenish, Yakima, Seattle, etc.) to get there. I don't live in WA anymore.

I was sure, one time, that the city was actually Seattle...but other dreams tell me it's not.

Maybe you could ask people next time you're there.

I've had similar kind of experience, though with a mall instead of a city. I can't name every store, but I do know that there are five stories, there is a giant chandelier (which I ended up climbing and falling to my death. :P) the entire fifth floor is dedicated to restaurants and there are secret passages between the stores that lead to other stores.

The first time I had this dream, I went between two stores to find a place where you only buy noodles. The floor, walls, and ceiling where tiled black, and the room was very dark, lit by neon lights.

The next time I went to this noodle store (in another dream) it had been expanded into several restaurants, including a Taco Bell, and it had three tiers. It had the same color scheme as it had before. Unfortunately, the power at the Taco Bell shut off and I had to find a hidden power switch in a nearby clothes store to get it back on so I could order some soft shell tacos. :P

I really wish I could visit this place again, hopefully lucidly. :D

I wonder if people in comas dream?

Imagine being stuck in one of these cities/malls for a looooooong, looooooooong time?

It's not exactly a nightmare, but it's a place where I wouldn't want to spend more than one night at a time on end.

Would it seem like longer than one night to a person in a coma?

If they find their way out, do they wake up?:(

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Wondercookie

You have a gift, Erin! Thanks for sharing it with me!:banana:

---

haha anytime :P

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Wondercookie

I wonder if people in comas dream?

Imagine being stuck in one of these cities/malls for a looooooong, looooooooong time?

It's not exactly a nightmare, but it's a place where I wouldn't want to spend more than one night at a time on end.

Would it seem like longer than one night to a person in a coma?

If they find their way out, do they wake up?:(

---

My personal opinion would be yes. Though, I’m not sure of what exactly goes on with the brain during comas but I think with all the drugs involved and the state you’re in when you wake up I would think it would be extremely hard to remember them, even if you dreamt or not. But there are those stories about people in a coma hearing the other person voice so I don’t even know at what level of sleep their in , if that’s true.

But if you were to dream during a coma I would assume being stuck in a city/mall or even anywhere you would learn a lot. I think it would relate to the same “time” as in dreams. With, sometimes you dream and it seems like an eternity but when you wake up from the dream only 5- 10 minutes had gone by. Possibly they could find their way out of a coma but I think it’s all about when the body wakes up if that makes any sense, just because you never know if you could just enter another dream , and another.

Very hard to know when I haven’t been in a coma before, so all we can do is guess :P