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What is in a Name?

Submitted by Merry Bruton on Tue, 11/24/2009 - 11:08am
If a picture is worth a thousand words, so can a name evoke a thousand images. Your name is a microcosmic representation of who YOU are, your inner constitution, and how you present yourself to the world. 
 
Your name also joins with characteristics from others who have shared your name from culture, history, folklore, and faith. What comes to mind when you hear the name David?  Hilary?  Jennifer? Obama?  Horatio?  Jezebel?
 
As in ancient times, parents these days often choose the names of their children based on the inherent meaning of the name.  It is a prophetic act of setting in motion the parental hopes of the kind of character a child could mature into. 
 
Names are important to God, who calls himself a variety of names, such as “Provider,” “Healer,” “Deliverer,” “Father,” and many more.  He gave symbolic names to people in scriptures, setting in motion their ultimate spiritual destiny with just one word. 
 
I  keep close at hand a variety of name dictionaries to help with names in dream interpretation. Resources can be in book form, online dictionary, iPhone app--or my friend Sonja, who amazingly recalls names and their meanings from memory. 
 
Next time you dream of someone by name, remember that dreams are symbolic, and people in them may personify something beyond the literal. Their names are often most significant.  You may find the key to unlocking the message of a dream by discovering the meaning someone’s name.
 

Recommended Resources on Names:   

Online:  BehindtheName.com




 

 

 iPhone app from iTunes (free download):  25,000 Baby Names   







 

 

Book:  The Name Book, by Dorothea Austin 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Journey into the Mysterious World of Dream Interpretation

Submitted by Merry Bruton on Tue, 11/17/2009 - 2:06pm
Frequently people ask me, “Why did you decide to study dream interpretation?”  They are curious about my pursuit and approach of this somewhat mystical subject.  Short story--this is my destiny.  Here is a somewhat more detailed answer:
 
I have always been a dreamer, since I was a little girl.  I would dream, ‘see’, hear, or sense events that would actually happen shortly afterwards.  I received insight about people in my life that helped me know how to approach them, or whether or not to avoid them! 
 
I grew up in a traditional church group that loved me and taught me important foundational spiritual truths—I am grateful for what I learned and experienced.  However, part of their belief system was that God got the world spinning and then ‘retired’…that he doesn’t speak to us anymore. 
 
Therefore, when I dreamed or knew something seemingly supernaturally, I learned quickly not to say anything about it, lest I suffer criticism for using my ‘overactive imagination’.  I eventually shut out that glorious Voice, thinking something was seriously wrong with me. 
 
Years later as I worked my way through a healing process, the dreams returned, and there was no denying the fact that God was speaking to me, giving me guidance, helping me mend.  What a difference it makes to know the God of the universe loves and supports you!  I began to increasingly embrace my Father in ways that stretched my boxed-in thinking of how he really operates in our world.
 
Problem was, I didn’t understand most of those dreams!  For many years I grasped a little wisdom, but I struggled to comprehend, with a degree of delight that he was including me somehow.
 
In 1996, God led me to a mentor who had years of experience and wisdom in dream interpretation, and I hungrily embarked full tilt into learning and practicing the principles I gleaned in this art of hearing God, thinking symbolically, discovering what to do with what I dreamed. It has been a thrilling, captivating, dreamy pilgrimage that has included interpreting thousands of dreams, training dream interpreters, teaching, practicing, and mentoring.  The deeper I go, the more my yearning--for MORE--increases.  
 
Dream interpretation is all about being drawn into a relationship with the Creator, who knows all and sees all, and wants to partner with us to make a difference in people’s lives.  He loves us, knows what is ahead, and wants to speak to us about it.  I don’t want to miss out on any of that good stuff!
 
Since then, it has become my mission to deepen my own understanding of dreams (though I still have to puzzle and ponder), as well as to help others learn to decipher Spirit’s nighttime metaphoric love language. 
 
I believe God is revealing his heart continually to each one of us. I pray each one of us can value and understand the treasure of divine revelation that comes through dreams, so that we can walk more wisely and fully into our destiny.  

 

Vehicles in Dream Interpretation—Wheeled Vehicles

Submitted by Merry Bruton on Tue, 11/10/2009 - 1:10pm
A while back, I dreamed that started a new job, riding in the passenger seat of an ambulance, in no particular hurry.  A fire truck came up behind us, morphed into a train, and as it blasted past us, it shot us up into the air.  Suddenly, we were a helicopter, with no doors.  The driver told me to buckle up as I tried not to fall out. 
 
What do vehicles in such a dream mean?  See how we interpreted this particular dream. 
 
My last blog mentioned a general meaning of vehicles in dream interpretation, and I promised to get into specifics.  Remember that each person may have different symbolic perceptions and we must listen to Spirit’s guidance for how dream symbols mesh together for YOU.
 
When you try to interpret ‘vehicles’ in your dreams, ask yourself:
o     Is the symbol in the scriptures?  If so, what does it represent there?  (Cars were not invented yet, but consider ‘chariot’)
o     What does the symbol personally mean to you?
o    Are there any relevant cultural meanings, phrases, idioms (“off the beaten track,” “test drive,” “keep on trucking”)
o     What are possible positive applications?  Negative ones?
o     Check dictionary and sources like Wikipedia for information
o     Pay attention to any word plays
o     Question“Why a scooter, and not a motorcycle?”  Or “Why a school bus and not a van?”  
 
Hop on board and let’s practice some metaphorical imagining together!  God loves to speak to us through symbols—so we have to learn His love language and practice understanding from his perspective.
 
Wheeled vehicles--start with these ideas and add your own thoughts to arrive at possible meanings:
o     Car:  personal vocation, ministry, venture, group
o     Bus:  corporate group on the same journey
o     School bus:  group learning something together
o     Train:  groups of people joined together on the same track, united effort that is powerful
o     Bicycle:  a one-person job that takes a lot of effort
o     Scooter:  small but maneuverable, not a lot of power
o     Motorcycle:  faster, individual effort, maneuverable.  Can be loud, possibly dangerous
o     Ambulance:  takes care of needs and hurts of others, healing
o     Fire truck:  puts out ‘fires’--rescues
o     Limousine:  ushered or led to your next ‘place’--in style
o     Army tank:  powerful fighting ability to encounter great resistance with protection
o     Flintstone car:  takes a lot of effort and energy to get somewhere
o     Tractor:  plowing hard ground or reaping what you have ‘planted’
o     Race car:  Can get somewhere FAST.  But make sure you aren’t just going around and around, not getting anywhere
o     Police car:  having authority, leadership
o     Stage coach:  old-fashioned, trail-blazing, sturdy for bumpy rides, perhaps pioneering effort
o     Rollercoaster:  fun, exciting, lots of ups and downs, but may not be going anywhere
 
Lots of possibilities to explore!  Plus we have to take into account color, size, who else is involved, and other details, like being broken down, amount of power, etc. 
 
The other day I was pondering how to write on this subject and I went outside to look at my own car.  I saw something I had never noticed before.  On each tire, it says, “Goodyear” and “Integrity”.  I sensed Spirit reminding me that it makes a ‘good year’ in my personal tasks to keep ‘driving’ with integrity at all times…it keeps me balanced and moving forward, never stalled, stuck, or feeling ‘flat’.
 
Watch for future blogs to address more vehicles designed for water and air travel. 

 

Vehicles in Dream Interpretation

Submitted by Merry Bruton on Thu, 11/05/2009 - 6:32pm
What kinds of cars or vehicles do you dream about?  I’m not asking about your daydreams of the ‘dream car’ that you would like to own someday, but your proficiency (or not) in driving a school bus, motorcycle, airplane, monster truck, bicycle, or army tank.  How do you interpret a vehicle dream? 
 
Remember, context is everything, as well as listening to Spirit for how to put symbols together to arrive at the correct dream meaning. 
 
But generally, vehicles would represent a means or conduit to get from one place to another—an occupation, a task, an assignment, a ministry.  Something you DO or use to GET somewhere in life.  Simple enough.
 
However, there are a lot of variables and questions to ask.  If you dream of a car, is it yours? Or someone else’s?  Are you driving?  From the front or backseat?  Is someone else driving?  The person driving shows functionally WHO is in charge of this particular venture. 
 
Is the car old, indicating something of the past, perhaps even a ‘first love’ of  yours (the car you first owned), in the dream?  Is it your present car, perhaps something you are currently involved in?  Is it new?  What color is it?  (Different colors have different meanings).  What condition is it in?  Broken down?  Dirty and cluttered?  Missing tires?  Out of gas? (needing a ‘refueling’).  Stolen? (Something of yours that was taken away).  Notice any clues about the car that may indicate a message about your particular situation. 
 
More questions:  What is happening with the car?  Are you driving at a high rate of speed, perhaps too fast, and you are being told to slow down so as to avoid a ‘crash’?  Are you stuck in a rut and need to find a new place to ‘operate’?  Are other riders clouding your vision so you can’t see to navigate properly?  (How do you manage the objections or problems of those you are leading?)  Or, are you simply looking and searching trying to even FIND your car? (What is your destiny?)
 
Next blog will deal with varying vehicles and their possible meanings.  Determining the purpose for each means of transport is vital to understanding your dream…so stay tuned for more.  Leave a comment if you want a specific type of vehicle addressed.  Thank you for reading!

 

Treasury of Wordage

Submitted by Merry Bruton on Wed, 10/28/2009 - 6:07pm
A couple of days ago I treated myself to something I should have done a long time ago as an aspiring writer:  I bought myself a Thesaurus!  Not just any thesaurus, but the Oxford American Writer’s Thesaurus, complete with 300,000 synonyms and exciting, innovative features to equip a writer to creatively utilize word spectrums most effectively.
 
This addition to my family of books triggered great delight for my inner English major.  Strange, I know.  But affinity for word meaning runs strong in our family—through the generations. 
 
For my fifth birthday, my schoolteacher aunt gave me my first thesaurus.  I loved it, memorized it--it became part of my DNA.  Writing became a creative outlet for me.  I ended up majoring in English in college and I still spend whole afternoons reading the dictionary.  I believe my children do, too, though they might not openly admit it.   
 
I’m just being transparent about one of my idiosyncrasies. 
 
I showed my husband my new magnificent thesaurus acquisition. His response: “You know what “thesaurus” means—in Greek?” (a common type of question in our household).  No, I had no idea.  It comes from a Greek word meaning “treasure or storeroom”. 
 
A thesaurus is a ‘treasury of words”.  Indeed, it is. 
 
Which got me thinking…
 
o     Each of us IS a treasure trove of words.  We have our own vocabulary that we develop and use to describe ourselves to the world.
 
o     When we give our ‘word’ on something, we make a promise that we should make every effort to keep—or people will learn that they cannot trust or believe us. 
 
o     Words are meant to be delivered—and received.  Give and take.  How well are we able to put our thoughts on hold and just  listen to another person’s words?  
 
o     When folks wait to hear a ‘word’, they are hoping for accurate information.  What kind of ‘news’ report do we tend to deliver to our friends?
 
o     Words inspire, encourage, or discourage—they change the atmosphere positively or negatively.  We carry the power to bless or curse people and situations.  We should therefore choose our words very carefully. 
 
o     We may understand fancy or ‘insider” lingo  that could impress people—but if we do not make efforts to communicate with people on their own level of understanding or experience, we tear down--rather than build up--bridges to their hearts.
 
o     Many of us need to make better efforts toward succinctness in our conversations—so as not to overwhelm people with our word abundance, taking them hostage to our verbose verbal verbiage.
 
What are some of your communication challenges?  What do you need to work on?  What treasures do you have within you that you could reveal and release--in order to bless others today?
 
word art by wordle.net

 

How to Combat Competition with Creativity—(Spiritually Speaking)

Submitted by Merry Bruton on Thu, 10/22/2009 - 2:39pm
Competition.  It is everywhere, not just in sports or business.  It drives how we look, how we think, what we buy, how we do business, how we relate to people.  ‘Sizing-up’ causes peer pressure—we observe our ‘rivals’, and respond to our perceptions of inadequacies or strengths--in comparison. It fuels a desire to be the BEST in any given arena.
 
Much competition is healthy and necessary—in business or sports, etc.  But what do we do when the sense of competition is an internal, gnawing, negative fiend that keeps us bogged down?  What if our ‘competitor’ is a teammate, co-worker, or loved one with whom we feel at odds? What if our task is supposed to be to co-operate with people, or happily do our own thing instead of compete with them? Possibly, a more hidden or spiritual dynamic needs to be addressed within, for us to experience breakthrough—and peace.
 
1.  Recognize the source of the competition.  This involves taking a good, hard look at what is motivating or affecting you in a certain area. Is there anything other than healthy competition prompting you to make certain choices?  Your spirit may be prodding you with signals of discomfort to bravely examine and make changes that set you free to walk fully in your destiny.
 
Check your spiritual pulse to see if you wrestle with any negative motivators.  For example: 
 
--Killer Comparison (see blog about insecurity/jealousy). 
 
--The ‘fear of not having enough’ can tempt you to malign other people or copy ideas that have worked well for other people, instead of trusting in your own ever-flowing fountain of creative potential.
 
--The fear of criticism or accusation can hold you back from fashioning your own stuff or thinking outside the box.  You may fear people taking credit for your ideas. Any type of threat—real or perceived--squelches creativity and productivity.
 
I have learned that the best ‘revenge’ or route to healing from fears or wounds--is to live well.  
 
2.  Identify your real competitor. Acknowledging the negative sources that drive you is the crucial first step.  And while the odds might truly be stacked against you in certain areas, overcoming your negative mindsets or beliefs and truly believing in yourself is the key to turning things around.  
 
3.  Launch your own unique creativity.  Run confidently, with the faith that you can develop your own personal ‘style’ to show the world because there is no one exactly like you. Unless you have a certain company protocol to follow, (I’m not advocating rebellion to authority), internalize the belief that you possess something to contribute to society that no one else can replicate.  You don’t have to follow someone else’s mold or method—you can use what others have done—as inspiration to fashion a masterpiece with your own special touch.
 
Our creator delights in supplying us with endless revelation of business ideas, inventions, art, music, notions to write about, photo ops, website designs, etc.  If we will only tune in, watch, and listen. And give thanks and proper credit for it along the way. 
 
4.  Adopt a mindset of superseding and multiplying.  Give your absolute best creative effort today—without holding back for fear of experiencing lack tomorrow (“I’ll never be able to top THIS”). Assume that every day you will receive increasing, surpassing inspiration.  New, fresh revelation in abundance is available for you—for everyone, all the time.  We don’t have to possess the corner of the market--we thrive and achieve our goals by producing our own personal best—every day.  
 
If you learn to approach your tasks from original creative angles, you will walk in success and freedom from the typical traps that can cause stagnation. You can rise above the traditions, expectations, and petty critiques that will always abound, and impact the world with your imaginative, bursting, swirly flourishes that radiate and captivate. 

Go for it!

Dream: My Life is Like an iPhone

Submitted by Merry Bruton on Tue, 10/20/2009 - 11:48am
Last night I dreamed that I was an iPhone, and that I had too many apps installed--they took up all of my memory so that my basic functions were not working properly. 
 
In real life, I do own an iPhone 3G, which I have already maxed out, mostly with music, but also with some apps (a new word in the English language, meaning ‘applications’).  Some apps are quite useful, like the GPS feature, my ‘to do’ list that syncs wirelessly with my computer, dictionary/thesaurus, Weatherbug, Baby name meanings (handy for a dream interpreter), and recipe finder. 
 
Other apps are ridiculously silly or pointless, like ‘Dog Whistler’, ‘Turkey calls’, Solitaire (which I never use), Dog screen cleaner (where a dog licks the screen clean).  The guys in my family have installed an app game where you win ‘points’ for picking the ‘best’ urinal to use in a variety of settings, a loud FLUSH signaling your victory. 
 
Apple’s website says, “For just about anything in life, there is an app for that.”  There are over tens of thousands of iPhone apps available.  The question is, ‘How many of them are useful’?  Do I REALLY need this?
 
If I stuff my memory with useless programming, how might this limit or impair the functionality of my necessary basic functions?
 
Life, in many ways is like the iPhone--highly entertaining, but with a high potential for time wastage, if we are not discerning about how well we focus our time and energy regarding our minds, our thoughts, our schedules.  It can be all too easy to allow ourselves to slip away into distracting pursuits and neglect the priorities that make life truly meaningful. 
 
Today, I am weeding out some non-essentials so that I have plenty of memory and energy to tackle my most important responsibilities first. Creative ‘playtime’ can come a little later.
 
What kinds of ‘apps’ in your life are taking up your prime ‘space’ and possibly preventing you from living out your full potential? 

 

3 Myths about Dreams and Dream Interpretation

Submitted by Merry Bruton on Fri, 10/16/2009 - 10:24am
Understanding dreams and their meanings is a passion for me.  Grasping and implementing dream revelation serves as an invaluable tool, empowering me to enjoy life in full color, revving me up to blast through my day with all cylinders fully firing.
 
A friend of mine says, “A dream not interpreted is like a letter unopened.” But nearly every day I visit with people who are not convinced of the power of unlocked dreams.  
 
Here are some commonly believed myths regarding dreams: 
  1. I don’t dream.  Science tells us that everyone dreams.  It is part of our natural functioning during our REM sleep.  Our bodies rest but our spirits and minds are still awake and in processing mode.  The real issue is you are not remembering your dreams.  To bust your dream drought, try some of these hints to help you relax and remember. 

  2. My dreams are just pizza dreams—they don’t mean anything.  Once in a while, this may be true. Not all dreams need to be interpreted, but all dreams do contain some meaning beneficial to the dreamer.  It is important to determine the source of the dream (is it from God, from our own mind, will, or emotions, or from negative forces around us?)  We also profit by discovering what type of dream it is—there are many potential purposes for our dreams.

  3. My dreams are always just about me.  Indeed, most dreams do focus on the dreamer. Nearly all dream interpretation methods make the dreamer the center of the interpretation.  However, I believe that God is always speaking to us, even through dreams, and sometimes he gives messages regarding something outside of ourselves—to benefit others. If your dream involves your family or your workplace, or a friend’s quandary, wouldn’t you want to understand, and partner with divine forces for a solution?
 For more information regarding dream interpretation myths—and truths—or to get help interpreting your dreams, check out tools, mentoring options, free online dream journal, and resources on DestinyDreamz.com. 

 

Dads, Disappointments and Dreams

Submitted by Merry Bruton on Wed, 10/07/2009 - 11:19am
A couple of days ago I went to visit my father.  It was a big deal for me because twenty years have passed since he told me to butt out of his life, and I thought it might be time to try to butt back in again.  I traveled back east for a high school reunion and hoped for family reunion too, something I have dreamed about for many years.
 
When I was little, I had prolific nightmares, and out of fright, I would wake myself up.  But sometimes the nightmares weren’t dreams—they were real life, and there was no waking up.
 
Twenty plus years ago I withdrew to evaluate and break some vicious family patterns. Especially regarding my dad.  A child needs safe daddy arms.  I had been violated instead.  I took several years to process, fully feel the pain and grieve, but I forgave and re-learned how to live with joy and freedom from fear.  I refused to continue any familiar crippling conduct with my children or grandchildren. 
 
Over the years I have been welcomed by families, brothers, fathers, mothers, sisters and life-long friends who have loved the damage right out of me.  God has tenderly Fathered me, and these people that he placed in my path have been above and beyond the safe haven I longed for, more than making up for any loss.
 
I always carried a measure of hope that one day my dad and I could talk about it and move forward together in a fresh, healed relationship.  I repeatedly assured my parents that I loved and forgave them. But they were not willing to discuss the family issues or make changes back then.  My mother died several years ago in the long, uninterrupted silence between us. 
 
When I saw my dad the other day—I didn’t know what to expect--he looked so old.  My heart melted.  After all those years of distance—I took his hand and still loved him, despite everything. 
 
He now has Alzheimer’s.  I didn’t know.  Our conversation went like this:
 
Dad:  “I’m Ed.  Who are you?”
 
Me:  “I’m Merry.”
 
Dad:  “Have we known each other very long?”
 
Me:  “Yes.”
 
Dad:  “How long has it been since we have been together?”
 
Me:  “Twenty years.”
 
Dad:  “That is a long time.  I’m sorry I don’t remember.  Nice to meet you.  Please come back again soon.” 
 
The goofy side of him popped up here and there during our visit, but the angry and scary man I remembered was no longer present.  As I kissed his cheek and wished him a good nap, I choked back the shock and the burning tears as my heart agonized, “Dad! This is not what how it is supposed to go! Twenty years ago, you refused to talk about it, and now you can’t even remember it!   What’s a girl supposed to do now?” 
 
So many things unsaid. I wanted him to see that I’m okay.  I wanted him to know his grandchildren.  I told him his grandson got married last weekend. I showed him pictures that were met with blank stares.
 
It is not the lifescript I would have chosen, but it is the one I get to live out anyway.  I have done my best to walk wisely so that I would have no regrets about my choices, but I do wonder about the timing of it all.  The whole situation is in God’s hands, thankfully.  
 
Dad, I’m sorry we have missed out on so much together. I wish things could have been different. May God’s safe-haven arms securely hold you close, as you are in a state I know is not pleasant for you, and may He speak the comfort into your spirit that cannot be done now by your loved ones.  Maybe somehow we can meet each other in a better place in our dreams and in the future land of no more tears or pain. Love!

 

Understanding and Responding to Recurring Dreams: Trash or Treasure?

Submitted by Merry Bruton on Tue, 09/29/2009 - 5:21pm
How often do you have a dream more than once? Or dream several dreams that are similar in nature, repeating over and over, in the span of several weeks…or many years?  Recurring dreams seem to be the most significant ones to most dreamers, who often remain baffled about the interpretation and purpose.
 
Recurring dreams are usually given to keep reminding us that there is something happening in our life that needs to be dealt with.  It is important for us to unlock the meaning of these dreams and take appropriate action.  If we ‘get the message’ and respond accordingly, chances are good that these dream themes will cease and we can move on to other things. 
 
Common recurring dreams often include loose teeth (indicating areas in our lives where we are needing understanding or processing), or experiencing fears that are being highlighted so that we will face them and not allow them to take us hostage. 
 
I have discovered that usually, recurring dreams refer to something imminent, about to happen quickly--or, a scene we are in the middle of. 
  
For a couple of months, I’ve had the recurring dream that I suddenly came into ownership of a junk or antique store.  In my dreams, the stores contained valuable antiques and treasures, but also a lot of junk, worthless items, as well as some weaknesses with the shop structure.  In each of the dreams, I am sorting through the STUFF, potentially overwhelmed at the work that needed to be done, yet beyond ecstatic about the creative challenge of taking the old things and remaking them into useful, pretty items. 
 
I have pondered the dreams, wondering which area of my life these dreams may apply to…my husband and I have been considering new business and personal ventures, possibly joining new groups or projects.  
 
This morning I was walking and speculating, when Spirit whispered, “Your dreams are not about an event or venture—they are about the season you are in right NOW.” 
 
Mystery solved!  Truly the past month has been a whirlwind of activity for our family.  A variety of trips, transition, trial, testing, and travail.  It has been nothing short of rapid-fire, on-the-spot decisions and responses.  Our trip to Burning Man, our son’s wedding, relatives, continual houseguests, rekindling long-term estranged relationships, facing my 30th high school reunion, business transitions, a major surgery—all have been challenging.  Criticism, questions, people second-guessing our decisions, inner turmoil, fears of the future, uncertainties about money, how to handle pain, choices about which issues to smile at and ignore or which ones to grit the teeth and confront.  Packed schedules, long ‘to-do’ lists, tension, lack of sleep, excitement, you get the picture. 
 
The dreams make sense to me now.  This season was not meant for me to muddle through and endure, but to receive and fully embrace, taking each momentary challenge, and responding wisely and graciously.  Hopefully I am getting more efficient in briskly identifying the difference between trash and treasure, clearing the clutter, then creatively transforming the precious valuables into a beautiful display that is inviting and restorative to anyone who may enter into my ‘shop’. 
 
I really enjoyed my antique shop dreams.  I sort of hoped that there might be a literal aspect of these dreams--I might enjoy owning a shop some day. But for now, redeeming all of the positives AND negatives in my life and exhibiting their creative beauty and strength to the best of my ability--is my ultimate priority.

 

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