Judith
Dream:
I often dream that I am back at school or university ‹ usually high school, and I'm usually a student, but I'm the age I am now (39) rather than being 17 or whatever. The content of the dreams usually involve the actual studying/learning, rather than the social side to school. Very occasionally I am a teacher (I was a high school English teacher some years ago) but mostly I'm back as a student. There's no anomaly about me being older than the other students, although occasionally (in the dream) I think it's odd that I have to do all that work al over again when I've already got university degrees.
The most recent dream of this type was two nights ago. The main thing I remember about it is that it was a private school, red check uniforms (and I'm a pro-public girl, never attended or taught in a private school) and that there was an institutionalised bias against the female students; the male teachers actively supported and promoted the male students and undermined the girls. I think this came to a head in a sporting situation (I don't play any sports myself, never did) but the details now are sketchy.
The other notable thing about the school dreams is that the buildings are always very real and significant. I remember one dream (I was a teacher in this one) when there was a lot to do with staircases and large windows (one was a staircase that sort of twisted back on itself and went nowhere).
Another common feature of all my dreams, whether or not it's a school dream, is a form of paralysis. I know this is a common dream. In the private school dream the other night it involved me not being able to climb the top step of a short flight of about three or four steps in a garden in the school grounds. I was literally trying to crawl up the last step without success, trying to heave my feet up. It was almost like I had broken ankles.
Interpretation:
In your e-mail you mentioned that your dreams usually involve studying and learning. One of the great things about living life is that we never stop learning till our very last breath. This might suggest why at this moment in your dream life, you are back as a student. There's probably some important life lesson you are currently facing.
Although you are older than the other students, you think it's odd that you have to do all that work al over again when you've already got regular university degrees. Perhaps the time spent in study means you have time now for lessons in the university of life.
The main thing in this dream is the fact that you are: "At a private school, wearing a red check uniform and there is an institutionalised bias against the female students; the male teachers actively supported and promoted the male students and undermined the girls. I think this came to a head in a sporting situation."
The life lesson you are currently dealing with is probably a "private" one. Especially regarding the issue of male female equality in all walks of life. males in sport seem to dominate the Australian culture regardless of the type of sport or time of year. This sets the scene for the other interesting dream symbols that appear. The buildings that are: "Always very real and significant. Relate to the work you do now as buildings generally relate to commerce.
In one dream, you say "there was a lot to do with staircases and large windows (one was a staircase that sort of twisted back on itself and went nowhere). The staircase will take you either up or down in life's journey, Windows give us perspective on the world at large. Whilst the staircase that turns back on itself is telling you that in some area you are caught in a bind and can't seem to get beyond a certain point. This is also true re the form of paralysis.
In the private school dream the other night where it involved you not being able to climb the top step of a short flight of about three or four steps in the garden in the school grounds. Three is the number that governs all types of creative enterprise from art to music as well as creating a perfect home life and environment. You were literally trying to crawl up the last step without success, trying to heave your feet up. Seems to me as if there is an area of lack in your waking life that you will need to break an old habit pattern in order to achieve. "As if you had broken ankles" was the feeling you described this relates to some level of inflexibility also ankles represent the ability to receive pleasure without guily raising it's destructive head contemplate what pleasures you might be denying yourself and take action in 2004 to remedy this lack in your waking life. Good Luck.