Oracle 20-20 July 2007 Article, Highway of Life

Certain aspects of dream symbolism seem to possess commonality for most dreamers. For example, houses in dreams almost always reveal the levels of our consciousness while cars and other vehicles reveal how we navigate the highway of life. Cars show how healthy or sturdy our “transportation” is and what may be needed for a particular circumstance. Cars symbolize how easily we can move around and accomplish our work.

When a vehicle appears in a dream as a significant symbol take note of what kind of vehicle it is and what it’s used for. Is it a sexy sports car built for pleasure, and maybe a major status symbol, or is it a big utility vehicle designed for hard work? A truck is designed for hauling loads from one place to another. Look at the setting in the dream to determine the nature of the work being done and what kind of material is being hauled around? If you find yourself driving a truck is the load something important for a new construction project, or is it “baggage” that should be jettisoned? Are you driving a “dump truck or delivery supplies to a construction site?”

If the car is a luxury car what might that say about your method of transport in waking life? A trendy sports car might indicate too much reliance on pure speed, or maybe even a tendency toward recklessness. In this case maybe the message is a need to slow down or to be less concerned with outward appearances. Are you focused on form rather than function?

Perhaps the most important thing to notice is whether you’re in the driver’s seat, meaning you’re in charge of where you’re headed, or whether you’re a helpless passenger trapped in the back seat. Is the car moving , stopped, stuck in a ditch or rushing out of control down a hill or embankment? If the vehicle isn’t moving, but you’re in the driver’s seat, maybe it’s time to step on the gas and make a change in life direction and move forward.

If you feel the vehicle is going too fast and you can’t control the speed or direction then the message may be just the opposite. Slow down and take a hard look at where you’re headed in life. Stop. Look. Listen. If you are in the back seat in your dream, feeling totally out of control about the direction, this shows how you feel about waking life and probably means that you need to take a more active role and make some decisions which put you in charge. Quit letting someone else tell you what to do and stop passively letting life happen.

Other clues reveal more meaning. What is the weather like? Is it a beautiful clear day, indicating maximum visibility which allows you to see where you’re going, or are you driving at night on a winding road in a rainstorm? What is the condition of the road? Are you on a well maintained superhighway or traveling along a an isolated country road filled with holes? Are there obstacles in your path or is the road clear?

What color is the vehicle and how do you feel about that color? A big red truck could signal too much aggression or hidden anger while a peaceful blue or white could be a more positive sign, indicating that you have (or need to find), more clarity.

As usual with every dream examine your feelings and the context. Are you excited about the situation or feeling frightened and overwhelmed? If you’re behind the wheel of a sexy convertible, driving down a highway feeling good about life, that’s probably a confirming message that all is well in terms of where you’re heading and your ability to get there in style.

Conversely if you’re driving a rickety old car, struggling to climb a hill with an accelerator that isn’t working, then you need to take a hard look at the circumstances of your waking life. If you don’t have enough “gas” or energy to accomplish what you need to you may be physically exhausted. A radical change of direction and a period of rest may be called for.

You might also spend some time in your waking life visualizing your absolute “dream car.” If money were no object what car would you own? Reflect on what that vehicle says about you and the direction of your dreams?

Julie Gillentine is the award-winning author of TAROT & DREAM INTERPRETATION and other books and articles. Her annual trip to Egypt this October will include a Full Moon and Grand Sextile configuration. Visit her at www.queenofcups.com