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Pyraxis's avatar

Recently I've been dreaming about driving into an underground parking garage, very deep underground with a steep roller-coaster-like road to get down there. I wasn't even sure the driver was supposed to remain in the car at that stage, it seemed like it was meant to be mechanical self-parking thing, there were no lights and potentially not enough air in the tunnel. But I didn't get out in time. The second time I was much calmer, reading a book on the way down to try and ignore the sensation of vertigo. It's come up a few times but I don't feel like the "plot arc" has been resolved yet. Often the underground parking complex is beneath a city convention hall or a complicated mall area. Once there were intricate colored paths leading to different chambers of the garage. The third time there was a VR studio underground and I was there with my kindergartener and other families, trying to help the kids get hooked up.

Writing this out now, it reminds me of a dream several years ago where I was taking a roller coaster down into a cave. That kicked off a disorienting/painful spiritual phase that I wasn't able to resolve. But I'm not at a place in my life where I have enough emotional support to feel like I could revisit it and make my way to a better outcome.

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Alyssa Polizzi's avatar

In dreams similar to this (driving in an underground parking garage), I always wonder...why is a vehicle of movement (representing, perhaps, our autonomy, directionality, will, flow of psychological energy) going into the depths? Is there a call to go deeper, into an unconscious or shadowy space within?

It seems like you aren't the one driving in these dreams, is that correct? That's something to take note of, as whenever we dream of cars and such, a big question I ask is: who is in the driver's seat? What part of ourselves is in charge of moving this energy? If not the dream ego, then who is that other person and what may they represent?

Do these dreams correspond to any major inner work or dynamics happening in your life currently? That it reminds you in the past of that dream and disorienting phase makes sense. These dreams can sometimes herald or be a call to those inner experiences that are needing our attention.

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Pyraxis's avatar

I was in the driver's seat each time, but the car was self-propelled by some kind of auto valet system. One time, my brother was in the front passenger seat, and we were having a fistfight as the car descended because I felt he was violating my boundaries. The third time, there were a group of other people in the car and I was carefully engaging the brakes to try and slow our descent, but worried they would burn up.

I think there's inner work that probably needs to happen, but I'm not actively pursuing it because I don't feel like I have enough support for it to go well.

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Alyssa Polizzi's avatar

That conscious acknowledgement, of not having the support or resources, is key. So many of us jump into or find ourselves engrossed in inner work, and then overwhelmed by the process. My wonder here with the dream though is, what if there is a tension by the psyche pulling you deeper and the resistance from the conscious perspective to do so?

There's clearly a tension here. The dream ego (yourself in the dream) is the closest version of consciousness represented, and it resists when your brother is driving and tries to apply brakes and slow the descent. That may be wise consciously, but alas, the unconscious perspective continues to repeat...it is pulling you downwards.

Sometimes we are drawn into inner work even when we're unsure or feel unsupported, then we have to scramble to get those resources in place. I wonder if perhaps the dream may be encouraging you to get that support so it can continue the natural process it has begun. What do you think?

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Pyraxis's avatar

I've been keeping an eye out for help. Last time around, I had a therapist, but it turned out to be not the right fit. We were working at cross purposes. I'd honestly prefer to work with friends, where the work serves the dual purpose of deepening the friendship, and where it can be mutual, instead of the artificial and one-sided approach of paying a therapist. But both of my dreamwork-fluent friends have died in the past few years. I'm not sure yet what the answer will be.

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Alyssa Polizzi's avatar

That makes sense. I think a therapeutic dyad (or group) can absolutely be established outside of traditional means. In partnership, when we are companioned with others, we can go really deep and mutually support one another. My condolences on the passing of your friends, I can't imagine how difficult that must be.

Perhaps incubating a dream around a resolution would be helpful?

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Pyraxis's avatar

Thanks for the condolences. I might try asking Dream. I suppose it couldn't hurt. The sense I have at the moment is this is a problem that needs to be solved on the practical level, but you never know.

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Alyssa Polizzi's avatar

If you decide to incubate a dream, you can ask/journal afterwards, "What practical action can I take based on the themes/images/dynamics of the dream?" I do this quite often, and find it to be useful in gaining perspective that helps me take actions I hadn't considered. Good luck :)

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Pyraxis's avatar

Thank you!

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Alyssa Polizzi's avatar

You’re welcome!

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