In Dreams, a Blizzard Can Symbolize Being Overwhelmed Says Dream Analyst David Rivinus

David Rivinus, a dream analyst and the author of the book “Always Dreaming,” says that experiencing a blizzard in a dream can be a sign of overwhelming circumstances. “Storms can signify upheaval and tempestuous circumstances in the dreamer’s life,” he says. “If the storm is especially bad—with snow drifting, white-out condition and losing your way—it can suggest being out of control.” 

Rivinus is quick to add that defenselessness in a dream is not necessarily a bad thing. “If our lives are stuck in a rut and we’re reluctant to break loose from old, tired habits, sometimes the best thing that can happen to us is to be yanked out of control.” Nevertheless, such a dream experience can leave the dreamer feeling as if the elements are ganging up on him, and he doesn’t have the tools necessary to combat or face what he is up against. 

“Dreams are marvelous in their descriptive abilities,” Rivinus points out. He says that a dreamer who dreams of a blizzard needs to think of it as a metaphor. There is limited vision so you can’t see where you are going. There is the slipperiness so you lose your traction. There are deep snow drifts so you can’t move well. And finally, there is the potential of getting completely lost in a white-out condition. 

“Sometimes life can feel like that,” he explains. This can be especially true if the dreamer has had preconceived ideas about where life is taking him. If there is a sudden shift that pulls him in an unexpected and unfamiliar direction, it can be traumatic. “That’s when he might dream of a storm wreaking havoc on him,” says Rivinus. “There is the sense of being overwhelmed, and of being too small to fight your way out of a desperate situation.” 

However, Rivinus claims that there is always a way out of such a dilemma. He says that very often the dream itself will offer a solution. “A lot of times the dreamer will find himself giving up in his dream. That surrender can be exactly what is needed; quit fighting the change in your life.” 

David Rivinus is a dream analyst with over three decades of international experience. He lectures, teaches classes and facilitates dream workshops in Portland, his hometown. For more information, visit www.teacherofdreams.com.