Dreamed I was to make an offering to a priest at an old church. I sat between two women and they spoke telling stories to each other with some happiness and lightness. I asked if they knew my dad and they said they did but no impression. I was supposed to make an offering to the priest but they said he was abed, and I’d need to see him there. I was anxious about the time because I had met a musician I admired just before entering the church and received an invitation to her home and wanted to get to that before to late. Then I was on a bus with the church congregation driving a small lane in quiet Irish countryside, over a bridge and to a field. As we arrived I realized I had been gripping tightly the hand of one of the women from the church, and became aware I was actually just gripping her thumb tightly, which seemed embarrassing so I told her ooh, I didn’t realize I was gripping so tightly, and she seemed not to mind, and then she was crying, a sad happy cry, mostly sad, as we arrived with the church congregation before a small tomb, where a child had been buried, and I realized I’d been holding this woman’s hand like a baby, gripping a thumb, and immediately I knew I’d been this woman’s child, then I woke up.
Your dream is rich with symbolism and emotional undercurrents, weaving together elements of spirituality, connection, and self-realization. Here's an interpretation of the dream:
Old Church and Priest Offering: The setting of an old church suggests a connection to traditions, spirituality, and possibly a longing for guidance or wisdom. The priest being "abed" indicates a barrier or delay in receiving this guidance or offering, which creates a sense of unfinished spiritual business in your life. It can represent unfulfilled duties, spiritual insights you're seeking, or feeling disconnected from a source of spiritual authority.
Sitting Between Two Women: These women are significant figures, representing duality, support, and the passing of time through storytelling. They're happy and light, suggesting a comforting presence, possibly indicative of maternal or nurturing aspects. Their lack of impression of your dad symbolizes a distance or neutrality, perhaps reflecting your feelings or uncertain perspectives about familial connections or legacy.
Invitation from a Musician: The musician is an embodiment of creativity, admiration, and longing for new, inspiring experiences. The invitation represents an opportunity or desire to explore these new realms but is in conflict with duties or expectations (the offering at the church). This might reflect real-life situations where you're torn between following passions and fulfilling responsibilities.
Bus Ride and Gripping the Thumb: The bus with the church congregation points to a journey shared with a community or collective belief system. Gripping the thumb of one woman unintentionally shows vulnerability, dependency, or subconscious need for support. It might suggest that you have been relying on someone or something in a childlike or innocent manner.
Woman’s Sad Happy Cry: The crying could symbolize a bittersweet realization or acceptance of something deeply emotional and personal. A sad happy cry mingles sadness and joy, suggesting complex emotions around loss, acceptance, or coming to terms with past experiences.
Small Tomb and Child Burial: The imagery of the tomb and the buried child might signify unresolved issues from the past, possibly related to childhood. It could also be a metaphor for parts of yourself that you’ve "put to rest" or have been hiding, waiting to emerge again. Recognizing yourself as this woman's child hints at a deep, inner connection to your past, upbringing, or maternal figure, which you're coming to understand and integrate.
Understanding and Awakening: Realizing that you've been the child, at the moment you wake from the dream, suggests a powerful breakthrough in self-awareness or revelation about your feelings, connections, and the softer, more vulnerable aspects of yourself.
Overall, this dream is filled with spiritual and emotional exploration, hinting at a journey of self-discovery, reconciliation with one's past, and the grappling of duties and personal desires. It's important to reflect on these elements and perhaps connect them with your waking life experiences and feelings to uncover deeper insights.