Consumed by a wolf

[Chrissy]

I had a disturbing dream I'd like to share.

I was in the back yard of my childhood home. (Usually, most of my dreams take place here) I heard a crying sound and realized there was a small calf roaming around. Somehow I knew it was orphaned. I went to it and began to pet it and comfort it. I then realized we were not alone and a female wolf was nearby stalking the calf. She had two pups with her. At this point, I had to make a decision as to whether I was going to protect the calf or let the wolf get him. I called the calf to the door of the house and went to confront the wolf. There was a towel on the ground and I wrapped it around my arm and let the wolf sink it's teeth in me. My son was at the door and let the calf inside to safety. I thought at this point I could get away, but the wolf had coiled itself around me like a snake and I couldn't get free. (This is the part that really confuses me) I went into the house and my mother and my son were arguing about the calf. (My mom dislikes animals and anything that has fur on it) In the dream she wanted that muddy, filthy calf out of her house and my son and I were pleading with her. I said can't you see this wolf on my arm, it's going to kill it. At this point, I went back outside. I knew I wouldn't be able to free myself from the wolf and that I was going to be eaten. That's when I woke up.

At first, the dream made sense to me. I know I'm identified with being a mother and with the madness of the world, I'm trying to protect my children. What I still haven't figured out is why I repeatedly dream about that house. I seem to be stuck in my childhood. When I think I've made progress and gotten another piece of the puzzle, I dream about that house and I'm right back where I started. My guess is it's the wake up call of how much work I still have to do and I'm lying to myself.

 

[axj]

Hi Chrissy,

The emotional wounding and mental programming happen for the most part in childhood, so maybe that is what your dream is trying to call your attention to. I think something like Castaneda's recapitulation may help too - recapitulate the house, the experiences that stand out the most in that place. I also used to dream about my childhood home a lot until I did that.

 

[suelarue]

That's an interesting (and scary) dream for sure, Chrissy!

It sounds like you are definitely still working through issues from your past since the dream took place in your childhood home and your mom was there. I agree that it reflects aspects of yourself that were developed during the time you lived there.

From what I read that may fit in with your dream, seeing wolves in dreams represents "hostility, aggression, or sneakiness and may reflect an uncontrollable situation or an all-consuming force in your life". Thus the wolf may be a representation of your mother?

With regard to calves, Dreamhawk.com states that " Because it is a baby animal it can represent your own childhood, and your dependent link with your mother".

So it looks like you are still working out issues with your mother. Did something happen recently with her that may have triggered this dream?

Sending you big hugs!

 

[Keit]

My son was at the door and let the calf inside to safety. I thought at this point I could get away, but the wolf had coiled itself around me like a snake and I couldn't get free. (This is the part that really confuses me) I went into the house and my mother and my son were arguing about the calf. (My mom dislikes animals and anything that has fur on it) In the dream she wanted that muddy, filthy calf out of her house and my son and I were pleading with her. I said can't you see this wolf on my arm, it's going to kill it. At this point, I went back outside. I knew I wouldn't be able to free myself from the wolf and that I was going to be eaten. That's when I woke up.

At first, the dream made sense to me. I know I'm identified with being a mother and with the madness of the world, I'm trying to protect my children. What I still haven't figured out is why I repeatedly dream about that house. I seem to be stuck in my childhood. When I think I've made progress and gotten another piece of the puzzle, I dream about that house and I'm right back where I started. My guess is it's the wake up call of how much work I still have to do and I'm lying to myself.

Very interesting dream, Chrissy! Some time ago I had a dream with a somewhat similar elements, i.e black dogs and danger of being eaten/devoured. And still ponder on a possible meaning and how to go about it.

As it usually goes with dreams, they can be messages from our subconsciousness, or maybe higher self to the conscious self. There is an inner process going on (that maybe has to do with some external dynamic, interaction with people, witnessing or participating in certain events) and it is being presented to us in a form of a dramatic narrative, where every element has a certain meaning. Therefore, dreaming of a childhood house doesn't mean to be stuck in childhood. It may be helpful to think how this place makes you feel. What this place means to you. And this it its turn may help you understand why your subconscious chose this specific setting.

For example, in the past I had a lot of dreams where I was back in the boarding school (dormitories like living). Right now I rarely get dreams with this particular setting, but maybe it has to do with the fact, that I again live in dormitories. :D In any case, this period was very significant in my life, and my subconscious keeps reusing it when ever needed.

The same is with calf, and needing to protect it. Baby animal - inner innocence? Wolf attacking can be either an external danger (a person or a dynamic in real life) or a part of inner self, maybe self destructive tendency. Reaction of the people in the dream can also hint at the dynamic. Stuff like that. Hope it helps.

Also here's my dream about the black dogs:

In the dream, I was walking on the street at night in the residential area, There was a pack of black dogs that passed me (they were running, but in the air), this is when I "remembered" that these weren't the usual black dogs, but are predators/aliens on the hunt (there was even a large UFO in the sky at some point) and that we all needed to run away and hide from them, or they will catch us and devour us.

I ran and tried to hide behind one of the buildings, when some of them saw me. Then I realized that there is no point in running and prepared for the defense. The dogs morphed into people, primarily women. One of them, the leader, approached me and we started sparring. It was clear to me that physical strength isn't going to cut it, so I decided to try out another tactic. She was wearing a blouse with a wooden flower on it. And I started to complement her on the blouse, and how beautiful it is, and that I would like to have something like this too, also about her shoes, etc.

Suddenly she stopped and said: "That's it. I can't kill you now. Yes, you will undoubtedly be killed, but not today." She called another member of the pack, that looked like a little girl, and instructed her to take me to safety, and be with me so other dogs won't attack me. The girl took my hand and we walked through the residential area. I asked her who they are and what they are doing here. She said that they were hunters, going from planet to planet, devouring everyone and then moving on. I remember seeing other people in the houses or sitting on the porch and thought that they had no idea about the possible danger. There was also a point when I looked at the sky, and saw meteorites falling in reverse, not down but up. That was it.

 

[Chrissy]

Thank you for your replies. They've given me a lot to think about and where to focus. I've been working on getting past my childhood, but I think maybe it's too broad of a context for me. As axj suggested, I'm going to focus and write about the house specifically and see what comes up. I've never thought to do that. Immediately, I feel the resistance in me, so I think that's a good place to start.

Keit, your dream sounded really frightening. I thought it was really interesting that you managed to escape death by not fighting and pretending to be more like the attacker. It reminds me of having to wear a mask in daily life so that we can do our Work and not be bothered by the general masses. :)

 

[Keit]

Keit, your dream sounded really frightening. I thought it was really interesting that you managed to escape death by not fighting and pretending to be more like the attacker. It reminds me of having to wear a mask in daily life so that we can do our Work and not be bothered by the general masses. :)

Hmm...I haven't thought of it this way. Well, yeah, I thought it was a maneuver to "compliment" the predator, but not that it was pretending to be like it. Will have to think about that. Thank you for the insight! And good luck with your own self-discoveries.

 

[theos]

That was a scary dream, Chrissy. I used to have dreams all the time where I was being relentlessly chased by dogs. Frightening stuff. I also dream of living in my childhood home but not so much anymore. I don't know if that means that childhood issues are unresolved or not. Maybe dreaming about your childhood home is just reflective of your state of mind in the dream, like a "child-like innocence"? Or, perhaps it could have something to do with the dynamic between you and your mother in the dream or in real life?

 

[Chrissy]

Keit, your dream sounded really frightening. I thought it was really interesting that you managed to escape death by not fighting and pretending to be more like the attacker. It reminds me of having to wear a mask in daily life so that we can do our Work and not be bothered by the general masses. :)

Hmm...I haven't thought of it this way. Well, yeah, I thought it was a maneuver to "compliment" the predator, but not that it was pretending to be like it. Will have to think about that. Thank you for the insight! And good luck with your own self-discoveries.

I think me saying you were more like the attacker was bad wording on my part. Maybe a better way to say it is that you approached them on their level. I often find myself having trivial conversations in real life and in a way it is for the sake of survival. The impression I got from your dream was that you managed strategic enclosure in a way. It's difficult to do that while awake so it really impressed me that you accomplished it in a dream state.

After contemplating a bit more on the symbolism in my dream, (thank you all for providing that) particularly the baby animal, I can see where that fits into my current state. In trying to uncover pieces to the puzzle, mainly blocks from childhood, I've neglected that inner child instead of protecting it. If I let myself view that part of me as separate, or in other words, as an actual 10 year old child, I would be patient and protective. Instead I'm actually frustrated with myself. No wonder I'm blocked, since that's the only safe place to be. Maybe I couldn't free myself from that wolf, because I was becoming it.

Thinking on those lines, the fear is diffused, except for the fact that my mom wanted to put the calf back outside in the danger. Sheesh.

 

[obyvatel]

Chrissy, dreams have special significance to the dreamer - so you are the best judge of what fits with your circumstances. Please keep this in mind as I share my thoughts on your dream.

Animals in dreams can sometimes symbolize instinctive forces. Instincts are related to archetypes (discussed in the instinct and archetypes thread ). Instincts like archetypes are not exclusive personal possessions or exclusively human in nature- they are "ours" in part, and "forces of nature" acting through us in part.

In your dream, there is the calf and there is your son. There is the wolf and there is your mother. One way of looking at this could be to consider the pairs as constituting the human ( closer to consciousness) and animal/instinctive (unconscious) aspects of the psyche.

You tried to rescue the calf but ended up "getting" both the calf and the wolf. Maybe abandoned calves and hungry wolves sort of attract each other and go together so to say - something to keep in mind perhaps. Also, since you brought up the inner child, you may find this post relevant, though it was posted in a different context.

The way you recounted the dream, it seemed that you "saved" the calf by almost offering yourself as bait to the wolf. Are you aware of having a "martyr" streak in yourself by any chance?

fwiw

 

[edgitarra]

I had a disturbing dream I'd like to share.

I was in the back yard of my childhood home. (Usually, most of my dreams take place here) I heard a crying sound and realized there was a small calf roaming around. Somehow I knew it was orphaned. I went to it and began to pet it and comfort it. I then realized we were not alone and a female wolf was nearby stalking the calf. She had two pups with her. At this point, I had to make a decision as to whether I was going to protect the calf or let the wolf get him. I called the calf to the door of the house and went to confront the wolf. There was a towel on the ground and I wrapped it around my arm and let the wolf sink it's teeth in me. My son was at the door and let the calf inside to safety. I thought at this point I could get away, but the wolf had coiled itself around me like a snake and I couldn't get free. (This is the part that really confuses me) I went into the house and my mother and my son were arguing about the calf. (My mom dislikes animals and anything that has fur on it) In the dream she wanted that muddy, filthy calf out of her house and my son and I were pleading with her. I said can't you see this wolf on my arm, it's going to kill it. At this point, I went back outside. I knew I wouldn't be able to free myself from the wolf and that I was going to be eaten. That's when I woke up.

At first, the dream made sense to me. I know I'm identified with being a mother and with the madness of the world, I'm trying to protect my children. What I still haven't figured out is why I repeatedly dream about that house. I seem to be stuck in my childhood. When I think I've made progress and gotten another piece of the puzzle, I dream about that house and I'm right back where I started. My guess is it's the wake up call of how much work I still have to do and I'm lying to myself.

Hey Chrissy, this is what I think about the dream.
If you have a lot of dreams taking place in your childhood home, it is better to do some work over there. Try to take a notebook and deal with some recapitulation. Try to bring memories back from your childhood. Your mind is trying to tell you something. On the other hand, do you miss your childhood home? It can be an effect of this.

The idea of a calf and wolf is a very interesting symbol in dreams. IMO, it seems like there are 2 sides in you: the one of a calf and the one of a wolf. It is said that in dreams, if the wolf is black, it represents your own shadow, traits and characteristics that you don't want to face conciously.
Seeing arms, or hands in dreams can represent the way you interact with other people. The hand is a symbol of interaction, communication.