Held hostage in my own house

[Timey]

I had a strange dream last night.

Something was holding me hostage in my house, and was calling me up to threaten me. There were sticky-notes all around my room detailing what would happen to me if I left the house; threats, punishment, and that kind of stuff.
This went on for what seemed like a long time, all the while I was constantly scared of whoever this person was.
At some point he was in my house, and I fought him, but he got away.
I can't really remember what happened after that, but this dream is kind of symbolic for me because I'm always filled with fear when alone in my house at night. This is to the extent that I dread to go outside, or even to look out the window.

I remember reading something about the "dark man dream", or something like that, where the dreamer is held captive by a predator, which is apparently a representation of the Jungian shadow. Is this what I experienced?

 

[truth seeker]

It could be. Perhaps the person represents your predator's attempts to 'keep you in your place'. That said, did you eat/drink anything unusual within the last couple of days?

Also, apologies if I've missed it, but how did that experiment go with your Mom staying in the garden with you?

 

[EmeraldHope]

I had a strange dream last night.

Something was holding me hostage in my house, and was calling me up to threaten me. There were sticky-notes all around my room detailing what would happen to me if I left the house; threats, punishment, and that kind of stuff.
This went on for what seemed like a long time, all the while I was constantly scared of whoever this person was.
At some point he was in my house, and I fought him, but he got away.
I can't really remember what happened after that, but this dream is kind of symbolic for me because I'm always filled with fear when alone in my house at night. This is to the extent that I dread to go outside, or even to look out the window.

I remember reading something about the "dark man dream", or something like that, where the dreamer is held captive by a predator, which is apparently a representation of the Jungian shadow. Is this what I experienced?

Timey,

It does sound like it could be a dark man dream. Laura discussed that in the Wave chapter 53
http://cassiopaea.org/2012/01/21/the-wave-chapter-53-strange-birds/ :

Dark man dreams are wake-up calls. They say: Pay attention! Something has gone radically amiss in the outer world. … The threat of the ‘dark man dreams’ serves as a warning to all of us – if you don’t pay attention, something will be stolen from you! The dreamer needs to be initiated so that whatever has been robbing her can be recognized, apprehended, and dealt with.In the Bluebeard story we see how a woman who falls under the spell of the predator rouses herself and escapes him, wiser for the experience. The story is about transformation through knowledge, insight, voice, decisive action. We must unlock the secrets and use our abilities to be able to stand what we see. And then, we must use our voice and our wits to do what needs to be done about what we see. When instincts are strong, we intuitively recognize the innate predator by scent, sight, and hearing … We anticipate its presence, hear it approaching, and take steps to turn it away. In the instinct-injured (i.e. nuts and bolts person) the predator is upon them before they register its presence. We have been taught to be nice, to behave, to be blind, and to be misused.

The young and the injured are uninitiated. Neither knows much about the dark predator and are, therefore, credulous. But, fortunately, when the predator is on the move, it leaves behind unmistakable tracks in dreams. These tracks eventually lead to its discovery, capture and containment.

Wild Ways teaches people when not to act ‘nice’ about protecting their souls. The instinctive nature knows that being ‘sweet’ in these instances only makes the predator smile. When the soul is being threatened, it is not only acceptable to draw the line and mean it, it is required. (Estes, 1997)

Houses and rooms oftentimes represent the psyche. I think it may also be possible that instead of your dream being symbolic of your being afraid of the dark outside, that perhaps your being afraid of the dark outside is symbolic of something in your psyche? Only you can figure it out. Do you remember when you first became afraid? Was there a particular event that happened that scared you or traumatized you? ( Not looking for you to answer here if you do not want to)

Doing some free flowing writing may help- what did the notes say? What was said in the phone call? How did you feel? Your fighting it was a good sign- perhaps it is time to try to make the dynamic more conscious.

I am also curious how things went with your mother in the garden also. :)


The predator will fight tooth and nail to keep its food in a tight little box- fear tactics are a favorite weapon. Once seen for what it is though, it looses it's power. Again, these are my impressions and opinion, as each persons dreams are symbolic to their own psyche.

 

[Timey]

It could be. Perhaps the person represents your predator's attempts to 'keep you in your place'. That said, did you eat/drink anything unusual within the last couple of days?

Also, apologies if I've missed it, but how did that experiment go with your Mom staying in the garden with you?

My diet has improved substantially, but is not 100% yet; I had a white bread bacon and cheese sandwich yesterday for lunch.
That being said, it wasn't like a night-terror, or "sleep attack"; I wasn't entirely lucid, and was kind of disconnected from the action, and the dream itself eventually developed into something else. But the whole hostage thing was what I can remember.

The experiment is on hiatus at the moment because it has been raining for about three weeks straight. However, the first time was great. I could sit out, star gaze, and have a smoke without being frightened out of my wits. Afterwards, I felt more confident about the dark, but, as I've said, we haven't had the chance to do it again. Thanks for asking. :)

 

[truth seeker]

My diet has improved substantially, but is not 100% yet; I had a white bread bacon and cheese sandwich yesterday for lunch.
That being said, it wasn't like a night-terror, or "sleep attack"; I wasn't entirely lucid, and was kind of disconnected from the action, and the dream itself eventually developed into something else. But the whole hostage thing was what I can remember.

I've never had night terrors but I can tell you that when I've had any carb, I get things like nightmares and "weirdness" like "sounds"/"voices" in my dream/awake state. It seems to either lower my frequency just enough to be more susceptible to "noise". I have no doubt that goes for gluten and dairy as well. Not saying that nightmares will go away completely, but will definitely lessen to a great extent. That said, it could have been "just" a nightmare.

The experiment is on hiatus at the moment because it has been raining for about three weeks straight. However, the first time was great. I could sit out, star gaze, and have a smoke without being frightened out of my wits. Afterwards, I felt more confident about the dark, but, as I've said, we haven't had the chance to do it again. Thanks for asking. :)

Good to hear it. Go Mom! :)

 

[mkrnhr]

Hello Timey,
Maybe there is another aspect to your dream as well:

To dream that you are a hostage indicates that you are feeling victimized or powerless. You feel limited in your choices or physically immobilized. Perhaps this dream is paralleling some situation/difficulties in your daily life or relationship. Alternatively, to dream that you are a hostage suggests that a part of yourself is not fully expressed.

Also, keep in mind that bread (wheat) contains opioids that may cause issues in the nervous system. Also, every time you indulge for a slice of bread, you need many months afterwards to eliminate gluten from your body.

 

[Timey]

Hello Timey,
Maybe there is another aspect to your dream as well:

To dream that you are a hostage indicates that you are feeling victimized or powerless. You feel limited in your choices or physically immobilized. Perhaps this dream is paralleling some situation/difficulties in your daily life or relationship. Alternatively, to dream that you are a hostage suggests that a part of yourself is not fully expressed.

Well, at the moment I do feel powerless and victimized, and that part about not expressing fully seems to make sense as well.