WOMB

The state of existence or consciousness from which we have grown; the state or condition prior to our develop­ment of personality—this can be personal, but it also relates to all human creatures, so is historical or evolutionary.

It is a condition without ego, with a sense of being life itself. Going back to the womb, to the condition of withdrawal or autism: regression to the ‘womb’ state of awareness—therefore per­haps a time of not being able to meet the stress of having a personality with self awareness, a time of gaining respite and perhaps touching one’s roots of being in order to gain new strength.

So much of our foundations of experience are connected with our experience of prenatal life and birth that we may need to touch these experiences to heal or free pans of our nature for further growth.

See vagina under body; individua­tion; see also balloon; nest under birds; breath; catacomb; blue under colour; dark; deep; descending; hole; hollow; example in room under house, buildings; igloo; receptacle; recurring dreams; river; sack; under the sea under sea; suit­case; tank; tunnel; water.

A womb is often represented by a symbol (e.g. a room) but sometimes it is itself a symbol.

(1) It may symbolize (new) life; (the potential for) a new development.

(2) It may also symbolize (a longing for) death, a wish to retreat from life’s pains and problems.

See also Tomb.

(3) It is just possible that you are reliving your prenatal existence in your mother’s womb. In this case your unconscious may want to draw your attention to the origin of some irrational attitude or behaviour- pattern; or it may be that you are looking for - or being invited to look for - your ‘original’ and true self.

The womb represents a return to the beginning. We all have need of basic security and shelter, and perhaps to do away with responsibility. Dreams of the womb can signify our need to satisfy those requirements. On a slightly more esoteric level the womb represents our connection with the great mother or mother earth. Dreams of returning to the womb suggest our need to reconnect with the passive, more yielding side of our nature. We may need a period of self-healing and recuperation.