Trip to Arizona?

[catbrook]

I had a dream about my father last night. He passes away two years ago and this is the first time he has come to me in a dream. He told me to visit Arizona He also looked as sick as he did when he passed away. Skinny and hurting. He even had me give him somd pain meds. My hands were shaking so bad and I was afraid I was going to hurt him. A little background: I livd in Georgia and have no reason to go to Arizona. I have never been to Arizona. His birthday is this month, Next month it will be two years since ge has passed away. I am a 35 year old female, mother and wife. I am logical and reasonable, but this dream still has me in tears. I thought a lived one was suppose to come to you in your dreams lookibg healthy and happy. Why would he still look sick and in pain? Why Arizona? Please help me ease thus feeling.

[JoannaB]

I am so sorry for your pain. One absolute rule about dreams: there are no absolute rules about dreams. Therefore there is no rule that a loved one is supposed to come back in dreams looking healthy. I think your father looked sick and in pain in your dream because that memory of him being like that is stuck in your subconscious, and you have not gotten to the point in your grief yet, where you are ready to move past he pain of the grief, past those painful memories. Why Arizona you ask? There are several possible answers to that depending on who you ask. Some people would take that as a supernatural message, telling you to go to Arizona. Other people might ask themselves what does Arizona symbolize for you? Another possibility is that you heard or saw something in passing recently about Arizona, for example a mention of Arizona on the radio, and maybe your subconscious just integrated this bit randomly. I think one of the purposes of dreams is to help us solve problems. One of the problems your dream is trying to help you solve, I think, is how to cope with the grief over your father's passing and how to set aside the negative memories of the end of his life. The way dreams often work in problem solving is to try to put together some seemingly unrelated issues and ideas creatively for a kind of open minded problem solving, looking for a new solution. It could be that Arizona is not related to your father, but that it was an idea that your subconscious randomly threw into the mix to try to cope. Arizona makes me think of the Grand Canyon which is quite awe inspiring, and I have fond memories of visiting it with my dad when I was a teen. Perhaps your subconscious is suggesting that you try going on a great family vacation as a way to try to cope with the grief and maybe give you some peace? The vacation would not need to be in Arizona if your family prefers a different destination. Of course, my interpretation may also be wrong, and if it does not sound right for you, feel free to discard it. Peace. EDIT: I just thought of an alternative meaning for Arizona in this dream. Since Arizona is a place you have never been to, maybe this dream is suggesting that you should try something new, not necessarily a vacation but a new approach or a new hobby, for example?

[firefox252]

I second most, if not everything that JoannaB said. I went to Arizona once and hiked across the Grand Canyon. It was an awesome experience. I also went to some other places in the state. Arizona, and the Grand Canyon in particular, are areas of wide open spaces, fresh air, and tranquility. Maybe its your mind telling you that you need some of those things in your life. And like JoannaB said, maybe its time for a family vacation to recharge from life's struggles.