Plane Crashes Can Augur Life Setbacks

Dear Cynthia: I have a recurring dream about an airplane crash. . . . I actually see it happen in my dream. I usually have this dream about once a week. Please tell me what this could mean.

JENNIFER HARPER

via Internet

Dear Jennifer: Dreams of flying and of plane crashes are among the most common themes. Your letter gives me the chance to address several key aspects. As with any dream, the first step toward deciphering it is to consider any personal references you have to its subjects and actions. If you had actually witnessed a plane crash, or knew someone who had been in a crash, your dream could refer to those personal experiences. In that case, you would begin by asking yourself questions about your own memories to determine what stress or anxiety you had related to them.

Airplanes can symbolize freedom--a business venture that is soaring toward success, or heading downward, and a number of other things. Crashing means an untimely end to a situation. It doesn’t just end or land; it faces an abrupt, violent or unexpected ending. Every detail in a dream could be significant--the type of plane, its colors or the location of the crash could offer clues about the dream’s meaning.

Recurring dreams indicate that there is a message from the unconscious mind that you would benefit from understanding. I think of them as urgent e-mail from the mind computer. They flash on to our mental screens during sleep and require our attention. So determine what in your life is flying high and could now crash within your view. The dream could be a warning to prepare you for an upcoming disappointment and to lessen the blow. Your dream could refer to a relationship, a business deal or something else, but since you observe, you don’t seem to be personally involved. Many others dream of being on a plane that is about to crash, which would indicate a personal participation in the downfall. Regardless of that person’s responsibility in the crash, he may be affected in some way. This could be the dream of someone who had heard rumors of a layoff at work. Since he is not piloting the plane in the dream, he is not in control but could still go down with the ship.

Fax your dreams to Cynthia Richmond at (213) 237-0732, or e-mail them to [email protected]. Please include your hometown and a daytime phone number. In Your Dreams appears every Tuesday and should be read for entertainment purposes only.