First recognize the issue, then clear it out

Times are changing, and it is inevitable as well as necessary. You will need to initiate this as well as accept it. What I mean by that is, everything and everyone is going through the some challenges. What separates this journey for each of us is our separate set of issues that require clearing. We all have them, but not all recognize them for what they are. If we don’t recognize them, how would it be possible for us to clear them?

Dear Dream Retriever: This is the first time I have sent in a dream but have followed your column for years. This whole fear-factor thing is what I need to understand. I feel I am not of afraid of anything, but my dreams reflect otherwise, according to your interpretations. So I am sending this in hopes that, as your column has stated, I see the light.

In my dream, I am on a boat and the boat is sinking. I am then on bridge that is only a walkway that goes over the water. As I am walking over the bridge, I see that the water below me is rising, and I begin to feel afraid and as though I really need to get to the other side. Immediately, I am in my house, in the kitchen, just standing there. As I look around, I notice there is no stove but, strangely, I have matches in my hand. I light them one at a time and just carelessly throw them down. ( What?) I am then at the edge of a road that seems to end abruptly. The tar ends, and it is dirt but with a field ahead, like the road just ends. — Justine

Dear Justine: The boat represents your emotional stability in this situation, which is that you are being overwhelmed. The bridge represents you trying to rise above this situation, but the emotional attachment is very intense, and avoidance is not the answer.

The stove is used to prepare food, and food is knowledge. You are missing some key information about this situation. Lighting the matches and dropping them implies you may be playing with fire here and are not aware of how serious this actually is.

The road ending is telling you the situation is nearing an end, and you need to act on this now.