Strange dream about my dog

[pete02]

Hi everyone, I don't normally pay much attention to my dreams because most of the time I quickly forget them. However this particular one seems to be stuck in my head so I thought some feedback about it might be helpful at this time for me due to some recent issues I've been having. It's about two of the most important things in my life, my brother (that I live with) and our little Sheltie (Rusty). Yesterday afternoon I turned in for a quick nap because I'm just getting over a head cold and felt I needed the rest. I'm not on any medication btw.
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The dream starts in my bedroom. I was walking towards my computer desk when I noticed there was a cat laying in my chair, (I have nothing against cats but we don't have any). I shushed him off and out my window he went. I then realized my window must be open. When I looked the window was open about 4 or 5 inches and there was a round hole in the screen about the size of a softball. I then realized other cats might've also gotten in so I started to search the room. When I checked under my bed there was another cat so I said something like "hey, get outta here" and the cat got up and darter out the window but at the same time all of a sudden Rusty darted out the window after the cat, (he wasn't in the dream until then).

I quickly ran to the window to see the two of them struggling with each other while rolling off the fire escape 5 stories high, (this is where it gets strange because I don't have a fire escape and I only live on the 2nd floor). As I watched them roll off together they hit a tree on the way down which broke their fall. I saw Rusty get up and walk but he looked as if he sprained a leg. There was a tall heavy set black woman (or African American, I'm sorry I don't mean to offend anyone) on the sidewalk nearby so I yelled to her "that's my dog, could you please grab him?" and she replied "I got him". I then turned to run downstairs to get him and my brother was just coming in. He had barricaded the stairway with a big iron gate, furniture, etc. and I asked him with urgency why did you do that? He said he thought we were just going to play some video games and didn't know what happened.

I proceeded to move the barricade on each and every of the 5 floors before making it downstairs to what was a side door with a broken screen door. When I got there the woman was already waiting and she handed me the dog but it wasn't Rusty, (it looked like a small gray dog, greyhound maybe? but I didn't really pay attention cause it wasn't my dog). At that time the woman said to me if I ever wanted to get anything going I'd know where to find her, (sexual comment, all I remember was not being interested). At this point I turned to my brother and said we have to find him. All of a sudden we went from a NYC type environment to a country setting and there was a ledge on the side of the hill that was about ten feet high. My brother said he saw Rusty up there so I tried to climb it but couldn't.

My brother walked over and called Rusty to jump down into his arms and he did. After petting him for a bit he handed him to me and as I was holding him I playfully reprimanded him saying "lil boy, you can't do those kinds of things" and went to give him a kiss on the snout. Strange thing is when I looked at him it wasn't him and it didn't shock me until after a minute or so but when I looked down I was holding the most beautiful baby girl (about 12 to 16mos old). When I gave her a kiss on the cheek is when it hit me and I woke up.
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The first thought that came to my mind after I woke was that the love I feel for Rusty I will someday feel for that baby girl. I know it may sound strange but he was a rescue dog and I can honestly say that I feel more love for him then I probably ever have felt in my life. Any thoughts are greatly appreciated and thanks for reading!

 

[Altair]

Hi Pete,

here is an interesting interpretation from dreammoods.com

To see a cat in your dream symbolizes an independent spirit, feminine sexuality, creativity, and power. It also represents misfortune and bad luck. The dream symbol has different significance depending on whether you are a cat lover or not. The cat could indicate that someone is being deceitful or treacherous toward you. If the cat is aggressive, then it suggests that you are having problems with the feminine aspect of yourself. If you are afraid of the cat in your dream, then it suggests that you are fearful of the feminine. The dream may be a metaphor for "cattiness" or someone who is "catty" and malicious. If you see a cat with no tail, then it signifies a loss of independence and lack of autonomy.

To see a dead cat or hear a cat being killed implies that you are lacking autonomy and independence in some area of your life. Alternatively, the dream means that you are refusing to recognize your feminine power.

Seeing two identical cats in your dream means that you need to balance your own needs with the needs of others. You need to remember to take care of yourself and not always worry about others.
..

I think, that your dog in this dream can symbolize your masculine part and the both cats - your feminine (emotional?) part which you reject ("all of a sudden Rusty darted out the window after the cat, (he wasn't in the dream until then). I quickly ran to the window to see the two of them struggling with each other") and are afraid of ("I proceeded to move the barricade on each and every of the 5 floors before making it downstairs to what was a side door with a broken screen door."). The following passage (providing it's the last what you've experienced in the dream) is probably a hint to you that masculine and feminine aspects are both a part of you and that you need to accept the feminine one:

Strange thing is when I looked at him it wasn't him and it didn't shock me until after a minute or so but when I looked down I was holding the most beautiful baby girl (about 12 to 16mos old). When I gave her a kiss on the cheek is when it hit me and I woke up.

FWIW

 

[Aiming]

The first thought that came to my mind after I woke was that the love I feel for Rusty I will someday feel for that baby girl. I know it may sound strange but he was a rescue dog and I can honestly say that I feel more love for him then I probably ever have felt in my life. Any thoughts are greatly appreciated and thanks for reading!

Adding to Altair's thoughts, the first thought I had was that the 'baby girl' symbolized an inner creative aspect of yourself, which is coming into your consciousness. It's interesting that 'your brother' had erected all those barricades (defense mechanisms?), which you had to remove first in order to even discover the 'baby girl'! Further, that "he thought we were just going to play some video games" looks as if 'your brother' is a symbol for an immature part in you, doing what an immature part of the psyche does as long as it isn't consiously dealt with. In any case, it's an interesting dream, especially with its conclusion.

 

[Phill4]

Hi pete, in addition to what has been said, i think is important to note the effort put into the situation in which success comes from this effort.

It may be that you channeled the will to remove obstacles and didn't stop there but kept going, and i think that reflects a positive aspect within you, though, in the mist of symbolism, it indicates also that there obstacles present, as you mentioned in the description is related to something happening at present.

It does sound to me like a creative part of you is emerging. Though there is a struggle between both sides the dog and the cat, or masculine/feminine, or positive/negative, and through the effort(will) there was a cresolution and consolidation between all parts at the end.

 

[pete02]

Hi Pete,

here is an interesting interpretation from dreammoods.com

To see a cat in your dream symbolizes an independent spirit, feminine sexuality, creativity, and power. It also represents misfortune and bad luck. The dream symbol has different significance depending on whether you are a cat lover or not. The cat could indicate that someone is being deceitful or treacherous toward you. If the cat is aggressive, then it suggests that you are having problems with the feminine aspect of yourself. If you are afraid of the cat in your dream, then it suggests that you are fearful of the feminine. The dream may be a metaphor for "cattiness" or someone who is "catty" and malicious. If you see a cat with no tail, then it signifies a loss of independence and lack of autonomy.

To see a dead cat or hear a cat being killed implies that you are lacking autonomy and independence in some area of your life. Alternatively, the dream means that you are refusing to recognize your feminine power.

Seeing two identical cats in your dream means that you need to balance your own needs with the needs of others. You need to remember to take care of yourself and not always worry about others.
..

I think, that your dog in this dream can symbolize your masculine part and the both cats - your feminine (emotional?) part which you reject ("all of a sudden Rusty darted out the window after the cat, (he wasn't in the dream until then). I quickly ran to the window to see the two of them struggling with each other") and are afraid of ("I proceeded to move the barricade on each and every of the 5 floors before making it downstairs to what was a side door with a broken screen door."). The following passage (providing it's the last what you've experienced in the dream) is probably a hint to you that masculine and feminine aspects are both a part of you and that you need to accept the feminine one:

Strange thing is when I looked at him it wasn't him and it didn't shock me until after a minute or so but when I looked down I was holding the most beautiful baby girl (about 12 to 16mos old). When I gave her a kiss on the cheek is when it hit me and I woke up.

FWIW

Thank you Altair. The first thing that comes to mind is that I never did have any kind of emotional release from doing EE. I had felt many times that I wanted to break out crying but it just wouldn't come through and then I started to notice myself getting very agitated in my daily life so I started to back down my sessions until finally I wasn't doing them anymore. This is one of the things that I have made a recent commitment to get back on track with so hopefully with time we'll see. The part about the two cats is interesting too. I suppose that sometimes I am always too concerned about others and put myself on the back burner so to speak. I had always thought that this was a good thing but perhaps I'm taking it too far. Honestly it's going to be really hard to spot that one in my actions because it's totally automatic but I'll have to try. This was very helpful, thanks again.

 

[pete02]

The first thought that came to my mind after I woke was that the love I feel for Rusty I will someday feel for that baby girl. I know it may sound strange but he was a rescue dog and I can honestly say that I feel more love for him then I probably ever have felt in my life. Any thoughts are greatly appreciated and thanks for reading!

Adding to Altair's thoughts, the first thought I had was that the 'baby girl' symbolized an inner creative aspect of yourself, which is coming into your consciousness. It's interesting that 'your brother' had erected all those barricades (defense mechanisms?), which you had to remove first in order to even discover the 'baby girl'! Further, that "he thought we were just going to play some video games" looks as if 'your brother' is a symbol for an immature part in you, doing what an immature part of the psyche does as long as it isn't consiously dealt with. In any case, it's an interesting dream, especially with its conclusion.

Thank you Aiming for your input. Since I've read it a few things have popped out at me. Some years ago I had considered moving out and my brother had said that he would support my decision, help any way he can and let me have Rusty if I did decide to go. I know deep down that it would be a tremendous hurt to him so I came up with lots of reasons why I could not go. Since then I haven't given moving a second thought so here is another example of me putting others before myself. I'm also wondering now if that's what the barricades mean? Maybe they represent barriers I erected because of my brother and it's up to me to tear them down? Then as we were looking for Rusty in the dream he was by my side the whole time, showing support? And at the end of the dream he hands Rusty to me like he said he would if I left. This all makes a lot of sense to me, thanks again for your help.