Reoccurring bad dreams

[MisterJingo]

I rarely if ever have bad dreams, and those that I do have are interesting – so I don't mind them.
For as long as I can remember I've had one reoccurring bad dream. It always takes place in the same location, and it always consists of the same actions, but there is slight variation in each dream.
The basic dream takes place at my parents' house where I spent my childhood. I either wake up downstairs, or look at the clock and realise it is late (am hours) and pitch black outside. The curtains are all open, so if anyone/anything is outside, it can see in.
Next, I always realise either a window, door or patio isn't locked (usually multiple windows/doors etc). I get a very bad feeling that I need to lock the doors quickly as there is something in the dark outside which I don't want to let in.
When I attempt to lock the doors/windows etc they actually refuse to lock. I keep turning the key and nothing happens, or the door comes off its hinges. While this is happening, there is an increasing uneasy feeling.
The dream usually ends here.
Last night I had it again, this time I managed to lock two doors with a green key, I then turned all the lights off and was stood at the bottom of the stairs, the feeling of something outside was still there, so I creeped to the kitchen window to peer out. I planned to jump on to the sink and scare anything which might be looking through the window.
Outside the moon was lighting the garden up and I could see a variety of animals running about. I had the idea they were pets which had escaped from the shed, but I didn't want to go outside due to whatever was out there. I recall seeing a Dog (and thinking I should tell my sister she'd left it out), a kangaroo rat(!), and other small rodent like creatures.
I woke up soon after this with the feeling something was outside, or someone might have been in the house (there wasn't).
I'm not sure where this dream has come from, but it has been with me for a very long time).

On one occasion I became lucid during this dream (this is fairly common, but I wake myself up normally) and decided to run out into the back garden to face whatever was there. I remember it was dark, and the nearer I got to the back door, the dimmer my consciousness felt. It was like something was crushing my mind into unconsciousness/oblivion. I ran into the garden, trying to fight what was happening to my mind. In the centre was a 'thing', I can't really describe it, but it was like an energy being, black, dark, in the ground and all encompassing. I got grabbed and the crushing increased and tremendous energy surged through me. I woke up with powerful vibrations at this point.

[Selski]

Hi MisterJingo

Interesting dreams!  At first glance, it seems to be some kind of fear that you dared not face.  The one time you did, it was too much for you and you lost your awareness.  Fear of the unknown?  That seems obvious as whatever "It" is, is beyond the comfort of your safety zone (i.e. outside in the dark).

I too have had these type of dreams.  Mine always began in one of the childhood homes I lived in, although I was between the ages of 11-15 in this particular home.  Typically, I come downstairs and I know the front door is open.  We used to have a tiny porch so there was a second door to open before you came into the front room.  I also know that "something" is outside.  It is always daytime in my dreams.  I know that this "something" hasn't entered the house yet, but I must get to the front door and close it before "It" realises I'm in here.  Unfortunately, I have to pass the front window and am terrified that "It" will see me and get to the door before me.

I never see "It".  Sometimes I make it to the front door and close it, and then run to just below the window and hide right underneath the window so that if It looks in, I can't be seen.  I crouch there trembling in great fear until I wake up.  Other times I don't make it to the door, and just as the door is opening in front of me, I wake up.

Sounds similar doesn't it?

I stopped having these dreams about 6 or 7 years ago.  I don't know what started them, nor what stopped them.  I never did face my "It" in the dream.  Perhaps I faced it in waking life?

Like you, I don't mind having bad dreams.  I find my bad dreams are just as interesting and enlightening as my good ones.

However, I have had 3 bad dreams this past week - which is very unusual for me.  And I wasn't lucid in any of them, so they were even worse... 

Sarah

[James S]

I'm not real good on dream interpretations, but I do know a few bare basics.

What I can tell you is that dreams convey messages to us in symbolody that is unique to our own knowledge and perceptions.

There are a few general rules that apply because of general experiences, such as if you dream about a car, the symbology refers to moving. If the car you're in travels quickly, then you're moving well through a situation in your life. If its stopped, or won't go properly, then you're feeling stuck in some area of your life.

In the case of recurring dreams or nightmares, then its our subconscious trying to get a message through to us until we get it or act on it.

As you've documented this dream well, look at each object in the deam and have a think about what that specific object means to you. See if you can put all these meanings together to form a message that means something to you, something that is relevant to a current situation in your life.

I think you'll find that once you've understood or at least become aware of the message, and taken steps, or even just actively thought about taking steps, then your subconscious will know you've recieved the message and the dreams will end.

I know that's pretty broad info, but I hope it gives you something to at least start working with.

Blessings,
James.

[MisterJingo]

This dream might occur a few times a year, or I might not experience it for a year or so. Interestingly, the most impressive OBE varification I've had to date came from such a dream. In this dream I actually recieved a phone call, and some 'beings' (they didn't sound human) were repeating things down the phone. I'd have to look through my dream journal to remember what exactly. I became lucid not long after and then found myself in by bedroom OBE - which led to the varification.
Thanks for the help James!
Darkness seems important in the dream - which could be a fear of the unknown. The dream always takes place in my childhood home, which could imply a place of security and comfort. I attempt to lock myself in this place of comfort to protect myself from unknown things, but it never works. The doorway is already open, or so to speak .
I'll have to think about it some more.

[Novice]

Like you guys, I rarely have bad dreams. The last one I had was about 2 years ago or so. It was interesting because in it a shadow was standing against a wall in a dark room. I was there alone and it reached out and grabbed my hard from behind. While I didn't get lucid, I did remember enough to recognize that I needed to face the shadow. So I turned around in the dream to face it head on. I no sooner turned around and the dream disappeared and I was in a another dream during day light with a totally different theme. Not sure if that meant that whatever the shadow represented I accepted it or not.    But it hasn't appeared again since.

As for interpretations, I get a lot out of my dreams when I try and associate the feelings I have with the objects in the dream, because I think symbols speak to us individually -- based on how we perceive a certain symbol/object.

I'm not sure here, but a few things stuck out at me. First, you were in your childhood home. But you were trying to lock something out -- not yourself in -- and I think there is a difference. Apparently its been happening for a long time, so something is trying to break through to your conscious mind, but you are afraid and trying to lock it out. The fact that the doors refuse to lock to me means that whatever it is, you can't lock it out. Kind of along the lines of "like it or not, here it comes."

Perhaps whatever it is, you are now beginning to deal with it. I suggest that because this time around you were able to lock two doors with a green key. To me, green is a healing color. It is now no longer pitch black, but the moon is out and you can see outside of the house too. The animals in the yard with it could represent parts of you willing to venture out in to the yard at night. Lastly, instead of hiding from it, afraid it will see you, you climb on the sink ready to face it.

Not sure, but the last version you posted seems to show some acceptance of whatever It is.

[MisterJingo]

Hey Novice,

that was great . Definately gives me a lot to think about

Chris