Portland 8/4/2015 1:42:52 PM
Dreams Involving Fire Are About Cleansing and Purging
According to dream analyst, David Rivinus, dreams that
involve fires are often about purging oneself of old attitudes or old ways of
approaching life. He says that the bigger the fire, the more thorough the
cleansing.
“A common dream is when the dreamer finds himself watching a
structure burn down,” he says. Sometimes, the dreamer is inside of the
structure, especially if it is a home. But like dreams of being under water,
the dreamer almost always finds that he is uninjured, even though the flames
are precariously close.
Says Rivinus, “Right now during summer, it is fire season in
the Western United States. That means that news of burning is front and center
in the media.” According to Rivinus, when we see an image that leaves an
impression on us—from television or a newspaper—our subconscious registers it
and is then more likely to use that image to express something symbolically in
a dream.
“There are lots of images that metaphorically express
cleansing,” he says. “A dream in which one is taking a bath using lots of soap
is an obvious one.” But some metaphors are more violent than that. Dreams of
clothes being ripped off, or even dreams of being shot are not uncommon dreams
of purging. “We’re often afraid of these dream images,” he explains, “and it’s
not surprising; they can be violent, and that is disconcerting.” But he adds
that most such images actually contain constructive messages.
“It seems unfair to shock us with good news,” he says, “But
that’s how dreams communicate with us.” A dream of one’s house burning down can
be scary, and often the first reaction is to worry that it is prophetic.
“Probably not,” says Rivinus. “While dreams can be literal, the vast majority
are offering symbols about something else.” He goes on to explain that the
symbol of a house usually has something to do with where the dreamer dwells in
his consciousness. If the dreamer sees his house burning down, it probably
signifies that there will be a change in the way the dreamer approaches or
views life.
David Rivinus is a dream analyst with over three decades of
experience. He is the author of the book “Always Dreaming” published by Ozark
Mountain Publishing. Rivinus has lectured, facilitated workshops and helped
dreamers internationally. For more information, go to
www.teacherofdreams.com