MOTHER

A dream about your mother may be telling you something about your relationship with your mother. Mother-attachment may be so strong that the development of your own individuality has been stalled. Gaining inner independence from your mother is the first great step towards realizing your true self. The mother may symbolize the unconscious, intuitive part of yourself. This, however, can take a positive or a negative form. She may appear as a kindly mother or aunt, or as a place such as a cave, church or garden; all these images represent the qualities of growth, nourishment and fertility. In her negative form, a mother may appear as a witch or a dragon, and represent dark, destructive tendencies that can devour and destroy.

Freud believed that the Greek myths of Oedipus and Electra symbolized psychological conditions. Oedipus killed his father and married his mother and Freud claimed this represented a boy’s incestuous desire for his mother and his jealousy towards his father. Electra desired her father and was jealous of her mother. A girl may therefore believe she has been castrated by her mother and is an incomplete male. According to Freud this gave rise to penis envy; the root cause of women’s so- called feelings of inferiority. Freud’s Oedipus complex theory is no longer accepted today but there is no doubt that the mother relationship is the first pivotal relationship in a child’s life and it should be a nurturing, loving and supportive one. Jungians associate her with the Great mother archetype that influences our psychological growth. Each of us has a fundamental, perhaps instinctive drive to bond with a woman at birth and if that bonding does not happen much of what would be considered normal development cannot or does not take place. So mother sometimes represents the survival instinct and what happens in those early years of trying to becoming independent of such needs. In a man’s life if these needs are not met this may result in dependent relationships with older women or inability to commit long term to a relationship. In a woman’s life her relationship with her mother will impact all other relationships and if it is lacking in some way she may find herself nurturing needy males or in forming unsatisfying relationships with both men and women. Scenarios involving the mother figure in dreams are therefore one way of working through and moving forward from these issues. Of course, a dream about your mother could also be just that: a straightforward depiction of the woman who gave us life. How she appears may point to issues in your upbringing or current relationship. Is she proud of you or angry?

The symbols of the mother have a remarkable versatility. On the one hand, the mother appears as an image of nature (i.e., life) and, conversely, as a representation of death (for the Egyptians, the vulture symbolized the mother). The mother relates to virtually all stages and circumstances of existence. It always represents our origin, our roots, security, shelter, warmth, tenderness, etc. At the same time, this symbol also appears when we die, that is, when we return to the bosom of Mother Earth.

Dreaming of this figure is usually more common during childhood. In adults, however, the maternal figure appears through indirect references. Often, those who fail to reach maturity still have these dreams. Acts of rebellion against the mother are also frequent. These episodes manifest adolescent dissatisfaction, the need for independence, and the desire to break away from the maternal ties. A dream of this kind can occur at any age. On the other hand, Freud referred to the Greek myth of Oedipus, who killed his father to marry his mother. According to the psychoanalyst, Oedipus was driven to this crime by incestuous desire and envy of his father. As for women, Freud believed that their feelings of inferiority were based on the jealousy they felt toward men. (See COAT, WHITE, FOUNTAIN, INCEST, and MOON)

Legends and myths of many traditions contain the symbol of the mother. She may appear as a figure of generosity or, on the contrary, be that bad guy in the story.

Mothers in dreams usually invoke powerful emotions.

If you are dreaming about your mother, you may be addressing some real-life issues or concerns about your mother in your dream, or your dream may be based on a valuable memory.

If you dream of being a mother (and you don’t have children in real life), this foretells a surprising turn of events concerning a cause you believed to be lost.

The general image of “mother” in a dream may symbolize a variety of feelings and ideas: caring, nurturing, love, acceptance, hard work, sacrifice, etc.

The mother in your dream could also represent that force, or current, inside of you that nudges you on and inspires you.

It is your intuition and the knowledge that lives deep within your soul.

To dream that your mother is trying to hurt or kill you, probably reflects your anxiety over your real-life relationship with your mother. Something she has been doing - possibly restricting you in some way, or a way she behaves - threatens your emotional happiness. This dream can also come from feelings of guilt or anxiety about becoming more indepedent from your mother, as you grow older.

If you dream about your boyfriend’s mother, this is a postive sign, meaning that after much disagreement, things will be resolved in a pleasant and friendly manner. However, if you dreamed of arguing or having tension with your boyfriend’s mom, this predicts that you will be highly annoyed by insensitive people around you.