I am a dreamer – literally and figuratively. I only dream at night every once in a while but when I do, I usually remember them vividly. And I dream in color most of the time. I believe that dreams are tools to help us learn about outselves. Last night I slept at about 11pm and woke up at 11am! wow, that was a full turn on the clock! Anyway, i dreamt of a lightning during the first part of my dream.
I and my friends were gonna play at the sea. But I told them not to cause the weather looked bad. The lightning struck the sea twice or more I think. I remember I was at the shore, the waves were touching my feet as the lightning struck with all its might. The sky was dark, the lightning looked so powerful. Even in my dream, i was surprised that I wasn’t electrocuted to death! Now I wonder, if the lightning strikes the ocean, why don’t all the fish die?
Psychological Meaning: Lightning can suggest the emotional shock that we experience from sudden and unexpected events. Lightning can be destructive yet it can also show the illuminating brilliance of inspiration. We talk of being ’struck’ by a great idea or insight. Lightning also reminds us of the awesome power of nature and how many of the forces that govern our lives remain beyond our control.
Moving to a foreign land was a sudden and unexpected event for me. I haven’t even packed my things on the day of my flight. I did a last-minute packing which was why my mom was so pissed. I was so enjoying my job as as tutor in the Philippines. I loved my Korean students, my Korean bosses, my Filipino co-tutors. I have never met such a wonderful and down-to-earth bunch (Randy, Joanne, Mamu and Quia). I wouldnt leave if i didnt have to. But being the adventurous and risk-taker me, I finished packing and took off. Now, I’m in Singapore – the land of the Merlion. Same time as Manila, same 24 hours in a day. But lifestyle is so different. Anyway, back to the dream.
The lightning could mean emotional shock. Yes, I left all my loved ones in the Philippines. My family, my relatives, my bestfriends (especially AJ who’s coming home from Australia on June 20). I left without saying goodbye (except for the impromptu despedida party at central with gillian, mel and gil’s college friends the night before my flight). My college barkada, my highschool friends, my cousins, my suitors, my chinabank friends, my co-workers at the tutorial center, my sisters, my brothers and so on and so forth. I am in a foreign land where no one knows me. It is indeed an emotional shock. I’m still in an Asian country. But Asian definitely doesnt translate to Filipino and vice-versa. My culture is just a lot more hospitable. But I found it repulsive that Filipinos here are kind of snobbish. I see them at MRTs, at the malls, at the condo amenities like at the pool, at the gym – everywhere. But they wouldn’t smile at me nor give a nod at the very least to recogize a kababayan’s presence. Anyway, it’s the way it is, why bother? Well, I’m bothered by it. I am going to say ‘”Hi” first from now on. It’s just weird that what bothers me is the Filipino people not the locals or Singaporeans. In fact, Singaporeans are quite friendly. Even the Indians. There were quite a few instances when Chinese-speaking ladies spoke to me all of a sudden and told me how pretty I was (One was the lady at the MRT, second was the Ice Cream vendor). They asked me if I were Singaporean, of course I told them I’m Filipina. They said Filipinas are really pretty. Another instance was at International Plaza, the Singaporean owner of a consultancy firm said that he could tell that I was Filipina because I had nice hair and that I have attractive physical features. Really now? hehe. And of course, how could I forget my encounter with a local artiste asking me if i would be interested in joining UAN, an artiste management company. Haha, that’s absurd. An artiste? In Singapore? Now that’s a good one! Hehe.
Lightning can be destructive yet it can also show the illuminating brilliance of inspiration. Inspiration. My dreams are my inspiration. My brother Jino, my mother, studying law in the Philippines, being in a happy relationship, enjoying what I do while earning, being wonderfully fit, being able to do the things that I love to do. I think I am actually living my dreams. But of course, not all of them and not all at the same time. Patience is a virtue. It will come. Even miracles take a little time, right? How we spend our days is how we spend our lives. That’s why I want to spend each day meaningfully and wonderfully. It is inspiring to live each day with passion, with zest, with enthusiasm, with the desire to do more, to reach our dreams and goals, and to look fabulous while doing it. We should live HERE and NOW. Now is the time to be happy. Here is the place to be happy.
Lightning = Emotions. I am so full of emotions. Both positive and negative. I should throw away all negative emotions of the past, of the present and of the future. Emotions like fear, worry, insecurity, self-doubt. I am in control of my emotions. I choose what to feel and how to react. I choose life. I always choose happiness.
Mythical Meaning: Like many of the archaic myths, lightning may be a sexual symbol. When lightning strikes the ground, it represents mother earth being impegnated by the sky-god.
Haha, okay. So it’s a sexual symbol. If so, then I am the lightning. Lol.
I also dreamt that my brother Evan died of cancer. I sobbed and cried so hard. In my dream, I have the same memories. I am myself. I was trying to recall when was the last time I’ve seen him and heard his voice. I remember the phone call, our last phone conversation before my flight. Apparently, my brother’s death in the dream signifies that I have changed inwardly due to a lack of purpose in my thinking. Change is most beneficial when it is chosen and directed by us. Then we are in control. To become more purposeful, identify how you are benefitting from and adding to yourself in all you do. Point taken. We are in control of our lives. If we let other people control our lives, then that too is our own doing because we let them. We have the power to control our lives. Correlating the above dreams, the lighting reminds me of the awesome power of nature and how many of the forces that govern our lives remain beyond our control. So, there’s Steven Covey’s lecture of Circle of Influence and Circle of Concern. I choose to work on my Circle of Influence.
I am proactive. I focus my daily efforts on things I can do something about. The nature of my energy is positive, enlarging and magnifying, causing my Circle of Influence to increase. I share in the spirit embodied in the Alcoholics Anonymous prayer, “Lord, give me the courage to change the things which can and ought to be changed, the serenity to accept the things which cannot be changed, and the wisdom to know the difference.” Whether a problem is direct, indirect, or no control, I have in my hands the first step to the solution. Changing my habits, changing my methods of influence and changing the way I see the no control problems are all within my Circle of Influence.
Tidbit:
If you were to ask 10 people what dreams are made of, you’d probably get 10 different answers. That’s because scientists are still unraveling this mystery. One possibility: Dreaming exercises brain by stimulating the trafficking of synapses between brain cells. Another theory is that people dream about tasks and emotions that they didn’t take care of during the day, and that the process can help solidify thoughts and memories. In general, scientists agree that dreaming happens during your deepest sleep, called Rapid Eye Movement (REM).
