The Wolf's Whisper and The Butterfly's Flight

“I had to have dreams in order to act.”  ~Isaac Tens, Gitksan shaman

This week’s dreamer was a referral from the colorful Megan Monique.  Megan received many dream interpretations from me, and I was so excited when she sent a client my way. At first, when I read the dream, I thought to myself “oh yes, the symbolism is easy, I can get through this one in a flash!”.  Yet, as a went deeper with my client, it took me a few days to come up with the interpretation.  It is important to note that each symbol is so personal, that talking and interacting with the dreamer is SO important.  I can, at times, be successful at giving “quick” interpretations, however, its the deep, well thought out ones, that matter the most.

Our dreamer wishes to stay anon, yet I am thankful she allowed me to post this most fascinating dream about camping, a wolf, nature, and whispers of her inner spirit.

The Dream and Symbols

I was camping out in the woods in a sleeping bag but not in a tent (my husband and sons love to do this but not me) I was sleeping on a path and there were lots of tall trees along the path. I was not scared. The sky had some clouds but you could see light from the moon. I don’t remember seeing the actual moon. I don’t remember seeing any stars. The weather was mild. Not hot, not cold. My husband was sleeping in a bag nearby but not next to me – he was behind me maybe 30 feet away. I am not sure if he was sleeping on the path or off the path in the woods. I was comfortably asleep and then became aware that something was outside the sleeping bag. I was inside it completely – my head and face too. Anyway I heard a quiet voice say “wolf” I think it was my husband saying it but I can’t be sure as I could not hear the voice well and I was inside the bag. Whatever was on the outside of the bag wanted to get to what was on the inside. I got the feeling that it was not a vicious attack but more like an animal sensing food and wanting to get at it. I started screaming my husband’s name but my voice was weak. I focused on my voice and trying to yell loud enough for him to hear me. I bet I was really yelling out loud in my sleep but funny (sort of) , my husband was sleeping in another room because I am congested with allergies and it would have been hard for him to sleep with my loud breathing. I was never aware of actually being bitten or the sleeping bag being torn. I felt no pain from wounds, only fear of getting wounded/attacked. I never actually saw a wolf but I am pretty sure the faint voice said “wolf” so I thought it was a wolf. The wolf did not seem to know what was in the bag. It just seemed to sense food. I was not aware of any other animals at all. There was not a pack of wolves, I did not hear other creatures in the woods. As I screamed my voice got louder and louder but my husband did not seem to hear me. The dream stopped. I guess I woke up. I went back to sleep but the dream did not come back. I felt like my fight or flight response had been stimulated but I did not feel wounded. I never got out of the sleeping bag and never saw the animal. I don’t think the sleeping bag was damaged. I never heard growling. I think I heard noise like you would hear if an animal was moving around in leaves. Rustling might describe it.

Now for your request for adjectives….I am not very good at just giving a few words…. and there is a lot to know about what is going on in my life!  (note: I kept the rest of her story anon, yet still give you her symbols)

• Wolf: wild, elusive, predator, hunter, strong
• Woods: beautiful, quiet, fragrant, soft, sheltered, moss, pine needles, ferns – my words for night time woods would be different – dark, scary, mysterious

• Camping: fun, cooking, fire, s’mores, friends, uncomfortable, tents, nature, bugs, snakes
• Sleeping Bag: confining, insulating, warm, soft
• Husband: unsettled, confused, vulnerable, scattered, stuck, stronger than he knows, smarter than he believes, more gifted than he feels

The Interpretation

To the reader:  The dreamer is going through many changes in her life at this moment.  For one, her children are leaving the nest, and she is about to be alone with her hubby.  Second, her hubby is diagnosed with depression, this is NOT easy on any family, I know first hand, and thirdly, she is looking for a change in her career.

http://wolfenchanter.deviantart.com/

Lets begin with a bit of information to help guide you through the interpretation.  I often write and do not stop when interpret, so it is important to remember to read the interpretation more than once and note what does and does not resonate with you. 

I often explain to my clients the first dream reading, that I use my intuition, however, I also follow Jungian theory, and sometimes refer to books or one on line source which I use ONLY to help me in confirming my suspicions.  It often gives me wording I can use to help the dreamer.

In your dreams, people are usually are a mirror of you.  The different roles, male, female and even animals may represent an aspect of yourself.  For example, in these two dreams, I am convinced that the wolf represents:  Survival, solitude, wild, elusive predator.  These can be negative or positive, however, I feel the wolf in this dream may represent the “strong, go getter” in you. Your assertive and wild side, trying to get to you.

The woods in your dream seem to represent an adventure into the unknown.  An unknown that you would rather have certainty about (the daytime woods you know what is ahead).  The mystery the dark woods represent are also related to the moon which shines “a little light” onto the situation giving you some form of clarity, making you feel a bit more safe.

It seems, according to what I see, is that “certainty” before doing a project may be subconsciously important to you.  Yet, your dream path “slightly upward” seems to be telling you you do have a light (moon) which is shining ahead of you.

The fact that you are camping:  Ask yourself:  “Do I feel like I am making compromises in my life which are starting to feel uncomfortable?”  or “Are the changes happening in my life now making me feel uncomfortable?”

Although you love your family, you are coming to a time where the nest will be empty and you will have some free time just for you.  How does that make you feel?  I think the dream, where, in a sense, you are “roughing it” seems to represent this aspect.  Which leads me to believe it may be time to think about “what you want” or “what you want to do” and leave behind what you do not want.

The tall trees on the path offer a sense of security for you. They are lined up just so, furthermore,  trees are strong (just like the wolves) and resistant to most elements.  Think also about “the tree of knowledge”.  It seems these trees are showing you the way… and represent the strong leader in you.  The dream seems to invite you to follow this path.

Usually a clear sky means “the sky is the limit”  or “infinite possibilities”.  The few clouds that adorn it may represent whatever is “clouding” your vision of what you want in life.  All that I would suggest to do now would be to focus on each cloud 1 by 1 to eliminate what worries lie ahead, which again leave room for the moonlight (mystery) to shine.

I have a feeling you are not sure where your husband (in life) “is positioned” in your goals, or new life ahead.  You said he suffers from depression, does he share with you his dreams and aspirations for you couple now that the kids are leaving?  Does this worry you?

In addition, your husband in your dream is a mirror of you.  He represents the yang/male side of you.  Think about the adjectives you gave me for your hubby (ex.  unsettled, vulnerable, stronger than he knows, smarter than he knows…etc.) do you think this could be you too?

I also feel this dream is about releasing the load you once carried in order to move forward… by waving away those clouds… walking on the path etc..

You are covered head to toe in the sleeping bag.  Seems to me you are “cocooning” like a caterpillar waiting to transform into a butterfly.  Are you getting ready for a transformation? In fact, cocooning is a form of nesting.. so it makes sense this is in your dream with what is happening now in your life.

The wolf in the dream really is representing a side of you.  What the wolf is sensing, he is sensing “outside yourself”  You see, sometimes we look for the “warrior” and what makes us happy “outside of ourselves”  you hear guru’s all the time saying:  Seek within”  I think the basic necessities you need to get where you want to go in life are right there .. inside of you.  No use “sniffing” around looking anymore.  You got it right there!! 

The fact that you were trying to yell yet not loud enough leads me to believe that you may be experiencing some frustration or hopelessness.. Trying to get it OUT!! Is there something you are trying to say to someone who you hare having difficulty finding words for?  Or is fear stopping you?  It feels like you are trying to communicate to no avail!!  

Observe this in the next few days.  

Fight or flight is the same as anxiety and fear.  

Definition:  The “fight or flight response” is our body’s primitive, automatic, inborn response that prepares the body to “fight” or “flee” from perceived attack, harm or threat to our survival. (source Merriam)

If this is what lingered after the dream.. I think it is time to think about what you want to fight with or run away from?  In other words:  Struggle? or be free?  Which do you choose?

In conclusion.  There is something you wish to do or change.  The fear is there, however, the light and trees are there to guide you.  You have the power (wolf) to take those steps you wish to take to transform into the butterfly you wish to be.

Blessings to you

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