Breathing Under Water Indicates Comfort With Emotional Life

Dear Cynthia: I am swimming in the ocean, under water, but the water is clear, even more clear than a swimming pool. I am holding my breath but realize I can hold it no longer and that my lungs are about to burst. I suddenly take in some air and realize to my extreme excitement that I can breathe under water. I swim around in awe of this.

Sometimes, a dolphin swims up to me. I know it wants me to grab on, so I do. We swim under the water at unbelievable speeds, with me breathing the whole time. When I awake, I feel great and the feeling lasts for days. Can you explain this?

--E.S.

Thousand Oaks

Dear Reader: In the language of dreams, water often represents our emotional life, the feelings we have under the surface, while the solid ground represents what we knowingly communicate to others. So when you have these underwater dreams, it would seem that you are immersed in emotion.

Because you can breathe under water, you apparently are comfortable with your emotional life and feelings.

Dolphins are associated with higher intelligence, and because they live in the water and can jump into the air, they can be messengers of our emotions; they can make us aware of our feelings. The dolphin invites you to swim along--indication of a further level of emotional comfort.

So the next time you wonder if you should express your feelings to another person, go for it! Dive right in! Your wonderful dream suggests that you not only can swim (and survive) but even speed things up by sharing your emotions with others. You can experience things you never thought possible.

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Dear Cynthia: I am retired now but was a waitress and hostess all my working years. In my recurring dream, I am waiting on a room full of people who have ordered dinner. I cannot get the food out of the kitchen for whatever reason. I have furious people walking out and screaming at me. I wake up in tears, totally worn out.

--J.B.

Playa del Rey

Dear Reader: In your dream, it sounds as though waitressing is symbolic of stress. This dream may recur when you feel you are not measuring up to someone’s expectations, or when you feel frustrated or inadequate because you can’t follow through with something.

Because you wake up crying and exhausted, perhaps you should explore these feelings. Ask yourself if you feel like you are letting someone down. Are you letting yourself down? Writing your answers may help you clarify them in your mind.

In any case, doing something that will make you feel competent and satisfied may help turn these feelings around.

But if the dreams persist, consider discussing them with a clergyman or a counselor.

Fax your dreams to Cynthia Richmond at (213) 237-0732 or e-mail them to in.your.dreams@worldnet.att.net. Please include your hometown and a daytime phone number. “In Your Dreams” appears every other Monday and should be read for entertainment purposes only.

Cynthia Richmond explains children’s dreams on our Kids’ Reading Room page every Wednesday.