a subway rat made eye contact with me and said "join us, when the train comes we slide under the tracks and feel it rumble over us like a thunderstorm." I said no thank you, I'm too large, and he turned away from me and I cried
Dreams often reflect our subconscious thoughts, feelings, and experiences. In your dream, the subway rat could symbolize feelings of urban distress or survival instincts. Rats can represent feelings of being overlooked or marginalized, and making eye contact can signify an attempt to connect or confront something you might be avoiding in your waking life.
The rat's invitation to "join us" suggests a call to embrace certain darker or more primal aspects of existence that you may be resisting. The imagery of sliding under the tracks and feeling the train rumble over you like a thunderstorm can represent a desire to experience something powerful, perhaps even risky or chaotic. The thunderstorm might symbolize overwhelming emotions or life disturbances.
Your response, "no thank you, I'm too large," could indicate feelings of inadequacy or an awareness of your limits as you navigate challenges. This reluctance to join the rat and the subsequent crying could suggest feelings of isolation or sadness about your inability to connect or engage with certain aspects of life or society.
Overall, this dream may be urging you to reflect on feelings of fear, acceptance, and your place within a larger community or environment. It could be a subconscious invitation to confront those feelings rather than avoid them, and to find a way to navigate through life's complexities without feeling small or overwhelmed.