Abandoning Fern. Our Bluetick coonhound, Fern, is maybe sick or older and we decide our time with her is done. But instead of putting her down or turning her over to a shelter, we decide to simply let her out of the back of the car. She is sitting in the middle of the road waiting for us. And then we just drive away. She looks confused and hurt that we're doing this to her. But we drive away having somehow convinced ourselves that this was the best option. Later, we are back home. My dad arrives and has brought a new dog. The new dog seems very nice and well-behaved. Dad suggests we name the new dog Penny (the name of our childhood dog), but I say I think we can came up with something better. Something more original. But now that we are about to get a new dog, I remember Fern and feel overwhelmed by regret and remorse and guilt for what we did to her. I explain this to my family. How we abandoned her out in the street like that. Is she still out there? Is she still alive? I want my old dog back, not this new one. I find a dog tracking search on my bank's website. I search "Fern" and the name of our city, and I see a map of where she walked after we left her. She walked a long way. And the end, when someone found her, she was issued a fine. That's all the website tells me.
Dreams about abandoning a beloved pet like Fern can be deeply emotional and often symbolize feelings of guilt, loss, and change in your waking life. Let's delve into the various aspects of your dream:
Abandoning Fern: This part of the dream signifies a sense of betrayal or abandoning something dear to you. Fern, being a cherished pet, represents loyalty, companionship, and unconditional love. Abandoning her might indicate that you feel you or someone you care about has been let down or not given the attention they deserve. It could also hint at feelings of regret over past decisions or changes in your life that you are struggling to accept.
Driving Away: The scene of driving away while Fern looks confused and hurt might reflect how you handle difficult decisions or changes. It suggests there might be unresolved guilt or a sense of responsibility you’re trying to evade. Sometimes, dreams like this highlight a fear of confrontation with your emotions or facing the reality of certain situations.
The New Dog: Introducing a new dog in your dream signals transitions or new beginnings. While the new dog seems nice and well-behaved, your insistence on finding a more original name suggests a desire for authenticity or something personally meaningful. It indicates a struggle between embracing the new while being attached to the past (Fern).
Regret and Remorse: Feeling overwhelmed with guilt about abandoning Fern reveals a deep emotional conflict within you. This might pertain to how you deal with loss, change, or feelings of inadequacy. Emotionally, you may be processing past actions or decisions that you wish you could change or handle differently.
Finding Fern's Path: The part where you track Fern’s path online might symbolize a subconscious search for closure or understanding of a situation. The map showing where she walked and the issuance of a fine signify consequences of past actions and the wish to correct or atone for them. It’s as if your dream is urging you to confront and reconcile these feelings.
In summary, the dream likely mirrors internal conflicts about past decisions, especially regarding loyalty, love, and change. It urges you to address feelings of guilt, possibly related to how you handled a significant change or transition in your life. Reflecting on these emotions might help bring peace and acceptance to any unresolved situations or relationships.