I dreamed I was working with my (deceased) mum. She was working in the front of the store and I was out the back and this was a hospital ward. I am a retired nurse. When it was time to go home I went to find mum and she was collapsed on the floor. I shook her to try and wake her. She spoke but she was very confused. I got her home and called my brothers together as she was so poorly and I wasn’t sure she’d survive. In the dream, I couldn’t find my handbag before we went home and someone told me it had been found and taken home by a couple who I dream of regularly but I don’t know them in reality.
Dreams often serve as a bridge between our subconscious thoughts and our waking life, blending reality, memories, and emotions in complex narratives. The dream you described is rich with symbolism and emotional significance, given the presence of your deceased mother and the setting reminiscent of your professional life.
Working with Your Deceased Mother: The presence of your mother in a work setting may signify a desire to reconnect with her guidance, wisdom, or presence. This part of the dream may reflect a longing for the maternal comfort and support that she provided in life, and working alongside her could symbolize collaboration in life challenges or shared values and past experiences.
Store and Hospital Ward Setting: The transition from a store to a hospital ward could represent the dual roles you might navigate in life, balancing personal needs (store, representing provision or livelihood) and caregiving roles (hospital, drawing from your history as a nurse). This could reflect a deep-seated sense of responsibility and care that you've carried through your career and in your personal relationships.
Mother's Collapse and Confusion: Seeing your mother collapse and appear confused may symbolize feelings of helplessness or unresolved issues related to her passing or perhaps guilt or regret, reflecting on last moments or things unsaid. It might also represent your fears of loss of control or inability to protect loved ones, particularly those who have been pillars of support in your life.
Inability to Find Your Handbag: A handbag typically holds personal items important for one's identity and daily functions (like keys, wallet, phone). Losing it could symbolize feelings of a loss of control or anxiety about losing parts of yourself that provide security or identity. The regular appearance of the unfamiliar couple returning your handbag might indicate unresolved aspects of your life or subconscious thoughts manifesting as familiar strangers.
Calling Your Brothers: This action might reflect a request for support and shared responsibility during times of difficulty. In the dream, it could signify a desire for family unity when facing life's hardship, echoing a collective familial bond and journey.
Couple You Dream of Regularly: Although you don't recognize this couple in waking life, regular appearances may point to recurring themes or issues you may be grappling with. They could symbolize certain traits or reminders of situations that are part of your ongoing thought processes.
Overall, your dream intertwines elements of loss, familial connection, professional identity, and inherent care and responsibility. It serves as an emotional processing tool, allowing you to explore and reconcile your feelings toward your mother, your past profession, and your current identity and experiences. It might be helpful to reflect on any emotions or unresolved issues you're dealing with and discuss them with someone close or a professional if it's affecting your well-being.