Years ago – half a lifetime ago, to be honest – I started dating my first serious boyfriend.
We were seventeen and high school sweethearts, so of course I had already tacked his last name onto mine in my diary; dreaming of the days university would be over and he would seek my hand in marriage. I was mostly in love and terribly committed as only a teenager can be.
Three years into the relationship, and it was painfully evident we were hanging on just for the sake of hanging on. We fought constantly; had bitter words to say that were never totally forgotten after each passing fight, and the truth is, he was not growing into the dedicated paramour I had dreamed of, and I was not the free-spirited, easy-going girlfriend he had counted on.
We were doomed.
And so we would break up and make up – on and off for almost a year. Our first “official” break-up was in September 1999, but then, we could be seen going out here and there and even spending a long weekend together right up until August 2000.
Just before our final seperation in the summer of 2000, I began having a recurring dream.
It made absolutely no sense to me (and yet haunted me with a frequency of at least 1-2 times per week): in the dream, I would be working, driving, shopping, walking along a beach at night – really, insert any life scenario here – and I’d be licking a blue lollipop. But not just any lollipop; a big, round one… I suppose it would be slightly bigger than a Chupa Chup but smaller than a Big Mouth. It was hard to handle once in my mouth, but I kept at it just the same, trying to make it fit. I could taste the sweet, blue raspberry stickiness and just about get my teeth around it for a bite. But in the end – always, in the end – I’d pull it out of my mouth in frustration, and start smashing it against a hard surface until it shattered into pieces. And once among me, the sticky, blue mess, I’d feel a lot better.
After my boyfriend and I broke up for the final time, the dream stopped.
At the time, I didn’t pay the dream very much mind. I didn’t have to – this was before the days of Google Search when I could simply have an armchair analyst decode the dream in an instant.
However, as luck would have it, one of my friends was very much into “spiritual introspection” and had long since befriended an impressive assortment of tarot readers, Reiki massage therapists, psychics and of course, a dream interpreter. And that’s how I found myself at the home of a renowned spiritual healer who happened to specialize in dream analysis.
Since my breakup was still fresh, the recurring dream immediately came to mind – especially due to its remarkable frequency around the time of our parting. After listening to my tale, she offered the following interpretation:
The large lollipop represented our relationship, which was sweet, but did not fit in my life anymore. Trying to accommodate the lollipop showed that I wanted to hang onto the sweetness, if even for a moment… but in the end, knew that I had to break free. The act of smashing the lollipop to pieces symbolized me leaving the sweet, sticky mess behind and moving on.
“Why blue?” I asked.
“What colour are his eyes?” she replied.
“Oh. I see.”
That was the first and only time I had a dream analyzed by an expert. And one of only two recurring dreams.
The second recurring dream took place a couple of years ago. The outcome is different from the first: when I discovered what the dream meant, I used this knowledge to make a decision – rather than interpreting the dream after the decision had been made. Here’s what happened.
Over the course of several months, I dreamt that I was chewing a big, offensive piece of bubble gum. The wad was so ferociously large that I couldn’t even speak; so, I began pulling the gum out of my mouth, only to realize the harder I pulled, the more my mouth was overtaken by the pink stuff.
Of course, at this time I did have access to Google and armchair analysts, and actually came across another individual who posted this question on Yahoo! Answers:
“I keep having this recurring dream of pulling big wads of gum out of my mouth and teeth. I’m not really sure what it means but I have it every couple of weeks. And no matter how much I pull out and throw in the garbage there’s always more… I can’t really talk properly when its in my mouth and can’t even chew it. Does anyone have any idea what this dream could mean? Let me know please…”
After a quick search on dream interpretations, all arrows pointed to this:
“To dream that you are chewing gum suggests that you are unable to express yourself effectively. You may feel vulnerable. To dream that you are unable to get rid of your gum suggests that you are experiencing some indecision, powerlessness or frustration. You may lack understanding in a situation or find that a current problem is overwhelming. The gum in your mouth is a metaphor for something that you are trying to process or digest. Perhaps you feel that you have bitten off more than you can chew.”
And based on this quick interpretation I knew exactly what I needed to do: I quit the part-time job I had taken on. For months I had toyed with the decision; unable to say what was on my mind and absolutely having feelings of insecurity and frustration. Based on the interpretation of a dream, I made an important life decision.
As soon as I severed my ties with the employer, the dream stopped.
Now, the dream has returned. I’m duly frustrated because I just can’t pinpoint exactly what’s on my mind! I feel healthy, not stressed at all, have a tolerable work and family life and simply cannot figure out why this dream is back – at least 3 times in the past month. What is my internal struggle? Why do I feel vulnerable? What is going on? Only time will tell, I suppose. In the meantime, I can’t stand the sight of chewing gum of all kinds.
Have you ever had a recurring dream, or have had a dream analyzed? Do share!
Very strange indeed! While I am not too sure I FULLY believe in symbols in dreams being 100% accurate, I do believe you see/experience/feel emotions in your dreams that you may be unaware of in your waking life… IE stress of a situation seeping into your subconscious..
I was very much one, when I was younger, who would get nightmares the week before school started – not being able to find my classes, being late, etc.
I don’t think any dream can be 100% interpreted – you’re right, Soozle. But the weirdest stuff does come out in dreams!
Many years ago I had a reoccurring dream, exploring an old empty mansion and each time I had the dream I would get a little farther into the building and then I just stopped having it or just didn’t remember it. I don’t know if I belive a dream can be interpreted..
A recurring dream of exploring an old empty mansion – that sounds like quite an adventurous dream! I must admit I’m very curious if there’s a significance to the dream…
Oh I wonder what that means for you! I rarely remember any of my dreams unfortunately, but I’ve always intended to start keeping a “dream diary” and start training myself to remember my dreams. I am total Jungian, and believer in dreams having meaning.
One of my biggest pet peeves is waking up in the middle of the night and clearly remembering a dream, but then, by morning – completely forgetting what it was about! My girlfriend once told me that in those instances, you don’t actually wake up from the dream in the middle of the night – you just dream you are waking up – hence, that’s why you can’t remember the dream at all! Talk about Inception!
Oh drat, so I’m even further away from remembering my dreams than I thought…
*insert creepy music here*
I’m not sure what to think about dreams.
I always dream about things that could happen during the day like making bread or weeding carrots. Not very exciting.
Hahaha I would much rather dream about weeding carrots than say, being chased by an alien (which I’ve dreamt before).
I have never had a reoccurring dream but recently I woke up remembering 4 separate dreams I had that evening. Must have been lots going on for me.
WOW! Four separate dreams in one night – that is definitely your subconscious in over-drive.
I don’t seem to dream much or if I do I don’t remember it. But when I do it is usually connected to something going on in our lives at that time but it always has other strange things thrown in that I can never figure out. It is so hard to say what dreams mean but hopefully if it is a good dream…that “dreams come true” saying has some truth to it.
Indeed, Judy! I often have the same dreams – a normal situation that is somehow elevated with a strange twist. Just before I got married I dreamt that I was walking down the aisle… but when I got to the alter, the groom was my gym teacher from grades 7-8. OMG!
Wow…..
I have never had any dreams ‘interpreted’ but I value dreams a lot. In 1995 my boyfriend broke up with me over the phone! I had a dream that night that he was with some girl with blue hair…found out 2 weeks later he was dating a hairdresser. We lived in different towns so it’s not something I could have had a clue previously about.
The only dream that I have that occasionally reoccurs is one where my husband is paying a little too much ‘attention’ to my sister. They dont have any contact in real life. I suspect its something to do with feeling I’m not getting enough of his attention at the time.
That’s so interesting Lisa! So we both had a “blue” dream – except mine was a lollipop, and yours was hair! Crazy! I too value dreams a lot. Whether or not they can be interpreted, I don’t know, but they are still a product of our subconscious and I value them too!
I have had dreams that carry on and sometimes I will wake up and fall back asleep and my dreams will continue. And sometimes I don’t want them too!
Ugh! That is definitely not the norm – so it’s kind of crazy that you can do that! The only dreams that I want to continue are the ones involving Brad Pitt!
Dreams can be so odd sometimes! I have two recurring dreams — one involves my teeth falling out and the other one involves going into an exam completely unprepared. They don’t happen frequently, but at least a few times to make them memorable. I don’t really attach any special meaning to them or try to analyze them since they don’t occur every night or anything like that. In any case, I hope your bubble gum dream will go away soon, Lena!
OMG Sophia – I’ve had BOTH those dreams – and the completely unprepared exam dream is a recurring one of mine too – although not that often. And I really hope my bubble gum dream goes away too – I often wonder if I’m chewing my duvet when it occurs, LOL!
What an interesting post! Isn’t in funny how our sub conscience works to deal with our dilemma’s. I don’t have reoccurring dreams but I have had the same subject matter in two dreams. I had two dreams about my teeth falling out!! Someone told me it was that I couldn’t express myself clearly (which makes sense) and another person told me it was a fear of death or a death was going to occur. Hmm…don’t know about that one. OMG…I just read the lady above my post dream and it’s about her teeth falling out too! How odd that people can have the same dreams. I am stunned! I never knew that could happen
Oh yes, Lee! That’s how I found out about fellow bubble gum dreamers – there were SO many posts about it, looking for answers! I too have had the teeth falling out dream – I always seem to think to myself, “Can my dentist fix this??” … and then I wake up!
I’ve always wanted to have my “dreams” interpretted by someone but haven’t had the chance & frankly I’m not sure I want to know lol
I’ve had the same recurring nightmares since I was a child; the details too horrific to go into here.
I like your dreams lol
Oh, so sorry to hear that you’ve had recurring nightmares! Have you ever tried Googling the dream? Not to encourage you to get an interpretation from armchair analysts on the Internet, but sometimes you can find someone who’s had a similar dream and see what they have to say about it.
I have never actually experienced reoccurring dreams! I find it very fascinating though and know a lot of people who have! Thanks for sharing!
You’re welcome Samantha – I think it’s a good thing that you haven’t experienced recurring dreams – it means that you have a restful sleep!
I wished I remembered my dreams. I used to have such wonderful dreams
It’s wonderful to have wonderful dreams :)
OMG Lena I have had recurring dreams since i can remember and I rememeber them clearly… The one that use to confuse the s**t out of me was chewing soooo much pink gum I couldn’t talk or chew and when I tried to get it out in my dream it would be all stuck to my teeth and never ending so gross hehehe!! and many more some with the Planet of the Apes while one of the apes were having a baby in our furnace room???? I think I actually crazy!!!!
URGH the pink gum dream is back for me!! I hate the feeling of pulling it out of my teeth – I almost want to pull out the entire tooth itself. Hate it!
Oh and the one with John Travolta in his younger days (I was pregnant) (say no more) he is in my bed with me and I was eating candy off his chest!!!!!!!
Ahahahahahah :)
I just saw your dream about the GUM !!!!!
No comment on the John Travolta dream – LOL!!!
I don’t think that I have ever had a recurring dream. I wonder what this means for you. When Sara was a baby, I went to see a ‘fortune teller’…actually I can’t remember what her title was but it was in a small alley in Victoria’s China Town. She held a crystal over my left hand and then my right hand. She told me that there was a strong negative male influence…that would have been my Father and Sara’s Father. I found it rather interesting at the time. Do you get nervous when speaking at public events? Writer’s block?
Hmmm… interesting. I NEVER get nervous speaking at public events, and the fact that I blog every day tells me that I rarely have writers block… so what could it be?? So confused.
I hardly ever remember my dreams except for when I’m pregnant. I dream pretty much every night and they are like movies, they seem so real. Most of the time I’m being chased or I’m running from something. Never really thought about what it could mean..I do know that it is normal to have crazy dreams while you’re pregnant though. Now I’m curious and am going to look into it. I hope you figure out what yours means!
Ah, I remember the vivid pregnancy dreams! They feel so real. Yes, you should definitely read up on them! I’m curious to see how they’re “interpreted”.
I don’t usually remember my dreams, but when I do, they’re always so vivid.. and usually wake me up. Mostly about my Mom (She passed away 7 years ago). I have a few books I have been meaning to read about interpreting dreams… maybe I should put that on the agenda to start this weekend.
I think I would feel bittersweet dreaming about someone I love who has passed away.. on one hand, it’s wonderful to “see” them again, on the other hand, it’s so hard to awaken and realize they’re still gone.
I don’t usually remember my dreams unless they are really scary
I don’t think I’d want to remember scary dreams!
I dream all of the time, and I mean always. I have seen so many people in my dreams that I honestly don’t know, but google tells me that at some point in time I have actually saw these people for real, subconciously. It’s so freaky …
That is freaky… especially if you don’t remember meeting them!
I usually don’t remember my dreams unless they are funny. And then I usually wake up laughing…like the time I was dreaming about playing with a baby doll and woke up myself (and my husband) when I very loudly said “MA MA”. I’ve yet to live THAT one down. :(
HAHAHA thanks so much for making me laugh out loud!