I dreamt I was walking along St. Marks' Place in NYC, a place I lived for years in my 20s. It felt like i had just moved back to the same apartment building. I was walking down the street to grab my school bag, which somehow had not made it to the apartment. On the way, I saw my classmate Kyleigh sitting at a restaurant with a friend (open door al fresco dining style) and waved to her. After picking up the bag, a young man approached me and asked me where a good place to get a drink around here was. He was very friendly and walked with me. I suggested a few places and told him I had lived here over a decade ago, and had just moved back and was so happy to be back. He thanked me and asked if I wanted to join him, but I said no thanks, I had stuff to do. He disappeared out of view. I then walked into my building and saw he had caught the door after me. "Are you sure you don't want to join me?" I said no again and started to feel a bit alarmed. I ran up the stairs ahead of him and tried to close the front door quickly, only to realize that the doors' locks were not functioning. I ran into my room to lock the door and I can't recall if that one worked, but I then peered out into the living room and saw him walking in. He kept insisting we would have a good time and I said no and asked him to leave. It turned into quite a struggle and i remember wondering how long this would last for, or if i could mentally disassociate from what I feared was inevitably about to happen. I asked him why he was doing this and he said "because it's fun". At some point, I remember slamming his head against the tile floor in the kitchen - surprised that I was able to overpower him - and he curled up almost like a sleeping cat. I ran downstairs to one of the bars to ask someone to help me. The bartender was very sleepy and said "hold on please, i have to help another customer" and she kept getting everyone's oders wrong so they were sending them back and she was focused on that. I was worried to go outside for fear he would see me on the street, but at least other people were in the bar - even though they seemed preoccupied with their orders, and the bartender with getting the customers orders right. I think I even tried to order something and she brought me this huge egg dish - which I definitely didn't order because I hate eggs, especially over easy. I think thought I woke up and called for my mother. It was dark outside. She came in and asked me what the matter was. I told her about my dream and I asked her what time it was - she said 11:30am, and I said "how? it's so dark" she said "it's not that dark" but it was pitch black outside. I then realized I was still dreaming and I opened my eyes. I felt like there was a figure of a modern-looking bearded man with glasses stitting at the edge of my bed and then he just disappeared.
Dreams can often be rich in symbolism and personal significance, drawing on both your memories and your subconscious feelings. Let's break down the various elements of your dream:
St. Marks' Place and the Apartment: Returning to a familiar location, especially a place where you lived during a significant period of your life, might symbolize nostalgia or unresolved feelings about that time. It could represent a longing for the past, or perhaps a sense of returning to a phase of life where you felt more carefree or authentic.
The School Bag: The school bag indicates a sense of responsibility or unfinished business. It might imply that you are seeking to reconnect with aspects of your past (education, personal growth) or that you feel unprepared for something in your current life.
Classmate Kyleigh: Seeing someone from your past could signify unresolved connections or relationships. Perhaps there's a part of this person that you admire or wish to emulate, or it may symbolize a part of yourself from that time.
The Young Man: His friendly demeanor followed by pursuing you despite your refusals could represent unwanted advances or feelings of being pressured in your waking life. He might symbolize someone or something that feels intrusive or is demanding your attention against your will.
Feeling Alarmed and Running Away: The fear you felt suggests feelings of vulnerability or anxiety about being overwhelmed in a situation. Your struggle to lock doors might symbolize your attempts to protect your boundaries and personal space, but feeling that your efforts are failing.
The Physical Confrontation: Overpowering the man in your dream may represent latent feelings of strength and assertiveness emerging, where you reclaim your power in the face of fear. It also reflects your desire to overcome challenges or threats in your life.
The Bar Scene: The bar being crowded but people being inattentive could symbolize feelings of isolation in a crowded environment. It could reflect a sense of needing help but feeling unsupported or dismissed by those around you.
Calling for Your Mother: Dreaming of your mother often represents a desire for comfort and security. Seeking her out at a moment of distress underscores that longing for nurturing and reassurance when facing fears or anxiety.
The Dark Outside: The disconnect between how dark it seemed and how your mother perceived it might represent a struggle to see clarity in a troubling situation. It could symbolize feeling trapped in a dark mindset or environment, suggesting you might benefit from gaining a clearer perspective.
Final Figure at the Bed: The figure with glasses might symbolize a part of yourself or a new understanding that you are beginning to recognize. His disappearance could represent fleeting insights or the ephemeral nature of clarity and hope in your life.
Overall, your dream reflects themes of nostalgia, personal boundaries, confrontation with fears, and a quest for safety and support. It may be a call to reflect on what you are seeking from your past and to consider how to reclaim your power and assert your boundaries in the present.