My mother passed away recently and ever since I have been having extremely vivid nightmares. Last night I had a dream that some scary people, I have no idea who they were, we're trying to hurt my mother. I remember finding a house and bringing her downstairs into the basement into a small hidden room where I asked her to please stay quiet and don't move. My mother was in a wheelchair in her waking Life she couldn't really walk at all so I guess that's why she was in a wheelchair in my dream / couldn't walk in my dream. As I went upstairs to ensure that the house was safe and boarded up somebody had alerted me, someone that was also hiding with us, that whoever was trying to hurt my mother was nearby. So I did everything I could to make sure that the house was dark and boarded up and safe and as I went downstairs to check on my mother I found that she had been brutally murdered. She'd been stabbed hundreds of times and she was dead, I begged her I screamed for her to open her eyes but she remained with them closed. I couldn't stop the bleeding I didn't know what to do I tried everything to wake her up but she was already gone. I wanted to find whoever hurt my mom and I wanted to kill them myself. I wanted to bring them the exact same kind of hurt that they brought me. The end of my dream was just me holding my mom in my arms and crying, then I woke up.
I'm truly sorry to hear about your loss. Dreaming about a loved one who has passed away, especially in distressing ways, can feel overwhelming and painful. Let's explore the symbolism and emotions present in your dream.
Protective Instincts: The act of hiding your mother in a basement reflects a powerful instinct to protect her, even in death. You may still feel a strong urge to shield her from harm, which is common when dealing with grief. The basement represents a safe space, a subconscious desire to keep your mother away from danger and pain, which you felt you failed to do in your waking life.
The Wheelchair: The presence of your mother in a wheelchair throughout the dream signifies her vulnerabilities and your awareness of her physical limitations. This could symbolize your feelings of helplessness and fear regarding her fragility, both during her life and after her passing. Her incapacity to walk in the dream mirrors the emotional stands and obstacles you face in processing your grief.
The Threatening Figures: These unknown people represent your internal fears and anxieties surrounding loss and the perceived threats to safety and stability. They could be manifestations of your worries about the world being hostile or unpredictable, especially in light of losing your mother. It could also signify unresolved emotions and distress within you, indicating that you feel as though pain could come from unexpected places.
Brutal Violence: The graphic violence against your mother may represent the intense emotional pain and turmoil you are experiencing. This act can symbolize feelings of betrayal, helplessness, and rage — emotions that surface when coping with loss. The image of your mother being unable to wake up or respond could highlight feelings of unanswered questions and unresolved grief.
Revenge and Anger: Your desire for revenge at the end of the dream embodies the deep-seated anguish and fury surrounding your loss. It's natural to want to lash out when feeling profoundly hurt, especially when faced with such a traumatic event as the death of a parent. This aspect of your dream brings light to your feelings of helplessness and the struggle to find a way to process these emotions.
Your dream vividly expresses the complex multifaceted nature of grief; it showcases anxiety, fear, and a raw desire for connection. The act of holding your mother in your arms at the end reveals your yearning for comfort, closure, and lingering connections. This emotional release is crucial as it can symbolize your struggle to navigate the tumultuous waters of grief.
Ultimately, this dream is a poignant reflection of your heartache and the difficult journey of bereavement. It's a testament to the bond you shared with your mother and the protective feelings that remain within you. Engaging with these emotions — through journaling, speaking to loved ones, or seeking professional help — may allow you to process your grief more effectively while honoring your mother's memory in a healthy way. Remember, healing takes time, and it is completely normal to experience such vivid dreams during periods of intense emotional upheaval.