Merry Bruton's blog

If This Were a Dream, What Would it Mean? Dig Deeper!

How often do you observe something in real life and wonder to yourself, “If this were a dream, what would it mean?”  As a dream interpreter, I question constantly.  Patterns or happenings out of the ordinary seem to capture my attention and prompt me to ponder if something larger is happening—and how to interpret.
 
My husband and I live in an older house in a part of our West Texas town that actually has large trees.  A recurring home nightmare for us regards masses of tree roots blocking the aged sewer pipes, causing ‘backwash’. 
 
This is a particular a pet peeve of mine, as I am spoiled and relish running water, but not of the stinky kind in places in the house where it doesn’t belong, and this sewage dilemma often occurs during off hours, when help is not readily available.  Usually we can’t run water—or flush--while we rent a snake and tear out roots.  It’s always been a temporary fix. 
 
Every time it happens, I question, “Does this have prophetic significance in my life?  Is this a picture that God is using to communicate something more important to me?”
 
We never even think about sewers until we experience problems.
 
‘Coincidentally’ (or not), sewer scenarios remind me that it is a healthy practice to make sure one’s ‘house’ is clean—to concentrate on emotional or spiritual issues that block and back up to create a stink.  We need to regularly revisit needs to forgive people, to rip out ‘roots’ of bitterness, to boldly tackle life’s messes, to create better communication ‘flow’. Dig deliberately deeper.  Make sure we become conduits of refreshing, living water to people around us.    
 
A friend reminded me a couple of days ago: Drain the swamps.  If you don’t, lots of critters like mosquitoes, alligators and despair build up.  Stagnation occurs. A reminder to actively deal with my dependencies, insecurities, and fears--proactively, as a preventative—so that crises do not determine how I spend my time in the future. 
 
This weekend we dig up our beautiful green backyard (and our neighbors’ too) to replace that sewer line.  Lots of work and temporary upheaval, though, could mean the problem is permanently repaired.
 
Landscape will grow back, along with significant resolve and accomplishment in our spiritual department—with results lasting for eternity.  

 

Fear Revealed—in Your Dreams

One of my dream interpretation mentors, John Paul Jackson, instructs:  "What you fear, you empower.  What you focus on, you make room for.”  This concept speaks of how susceptible we humans are in allowing life’s difficulties to swallow up our optimism and hope. 
 
We often project our ‘tough guy’ image or wear the fake smiley face among our peers, despite inner terrors that make us want to hide from the world.
 
Our worries appear frequently in our dreams, appropriately called ‘Fear dreams’.  The purpose of these dreams is to identify fear in us so that we will face that fear and make changes so we are not paralyzed. 
 
Some common examples:
 
o     Fearful mothers have nightmares about something harming their babies (read more about nightmares)
 
o     We need to give a speech in real life and we dream the night before that we forget our notes, nothing goes right, and we fail to wear clothing that day
 
o     We dream that someone breaks into our home, and we try to dial 911 but in our panic, we keep misdialing and never connect—we are afraid nobody will help us
 
I visited with a teenage girl recently who dreamed every night that her boyfriend was killed in a car wreck.  I asked if she was afraid of that.  Her answer:  ‘VERY—I am terrified about him and my family dying—and leaving me ALONE.”  Fear of abandonment was choking out life. 
 
Fear dreams are often recurring.  If you see a scary theme surfacing in your dreams, you may need to consider examining a persistent fear issue. Once you address the fear, you will stop having the dreams.
 
It takes great courage to recognize the fear and face it, but freedom and peace are the desired result.  Take a minute to list three of your known fears or anxieties—decide to release them into Divine custody, and picture how you will journey forward in faith. 
 
What you fear, you empower.  What you focus on, you make room for. What you 'stew' about may come to pass.  
 
What are you making room for in your life today? 
 
(More about John Paul Jackson at Streamsministries.com) 

 

Divine Direction Dreams: Home Security

We are living in a difficult season.  The heat is turned up and many people are experiencing increased stress levels due to the ‘hits’ of life.  A phone needs repair, a tooth breaks, job hours are reduced, a sewer line needs replacement, we fight with our spouse or roommate, a check bounces, causing other bouncing ripples in our bank account. 
 
Such things heaped up can cause a person to want to scream—we may feel like a raw exposed nerve that seems beyond rescue.  
 
It is enough to drive you to your knees. 
 
Does God see?  Does he care? 
 
Our family has struggled the past week with a fast-paced series of ‘unsmooth’ bumps and bruises, especially with unexpected expenses.  We’ve been stretched and tensions have run high. 
 
I dreamed a few nights ago that the windows of our house were like our doggie door—unsecured, open for anyone to enter and steal.  It was a picture of how I felt.  But in the dream, I realized that the problem was not so much our THINGS breaking or people taking from us, but how the lack of ‘security’ was affecting our marriage.
 
My husband and I addressed the tension head on, discussed feelings, fears, a plan of action.  We asked God for more revelation, for protection, for teamwork and peace. 
 
Next night, I had a dream where my husband and I were outside our home looking at unbreakable, heavy golden chains and padlocks that wrapped and secured the fence outside our home.  Everything was locked up tight, and we were holding the huge golden key.  And there was peace.
 
I am convinced that God is in the business of 'home security' (metaphorically speaking).
 
I am constantly astounded at how much God sees, hears, and cares about the details of our lives.  And the amazing comfort, direction, and encouragement he pours into our fearful tender spirits just when we need it the most.   

 

What Color Are Your Dreams? Conquer Colorblindness in Dream Interpretation

Can you imagine life without color?  Flowers, sunsets, cars, clothing, advertising, the hue of our baby’s eyes—we draw inspiration from the beauty and creativity of color.  Beautiful light and color wash our world with wonder.
 
Understanding the importance of coloring is critical to interpreting dreams. There is much to say on this subject--here are a few basic principles:
 
o     Pay attention to particular hues, values and intensities of colors.  It is also important to distinguish between dreaming in full color, muted or darkened colors, or black and white.
 
o     Remember that colors generally have positive AND negative meanings—possible flip sides like a coin (wearing a green shirt = you are ‘clothed’ in vitality/prosperity--or possibly jealousy).
 
o     Colors will enhance or confirm meanings of symbols. They ‘shade’ the details. We look at the ‘weight’ of the color in the context of the dream to discern the most probable symbolism.  Wearing red shoes vs. blue shoes differentiates specific qualities we are ‘walking in’. 
 
o     Color meanings differ widely among people groups.  Various cultural and spiritual groups interpret color uniquely and often seem contradictory (for example, Native American heritage, Biblical examples, Chakras, etc.)   
 
To further understand color in dreams, examine cultural phrases, idioms, and uses. Consider what the color may mean to you. How might the dream situation be different if a different color (red rather than blue) was used instead.  Do you have sentiments or a history with this color?
 
Exceedingly vital--ask the Dream Giver to enlighten you regarding the purpose of a particular color in your dream.  With Spirit's guidance, you can decipher your dreams with flying colors.   

 

Feeling Blue? Possible Meanings of Blue in Dream Interpretation

What color ARE you today, and why? What is your favorite color?  Which colors are the most prominent in your life, in your house--and in your dreams? Understanding the possible meanings of colors in dreams is crucial to accurately unlock night-time messages.

I love blue.  It used to be my favorite color as a child, until a boy I didn’t like told me that he loved when I wore blue, and blue clothing was all I had in my closet. 
 
Sometimes you can ‘see’ a color surrounding a person—like an aura or a misty atmosphere—that clues you into his or her personality or how they are feeling that day. 
 
Colors typically have both positive and negative potential meanings. 
 
      Positive possibilities of blue:  Communion, healing, spiritual, revelation, loyalty
      Negative: depression (“I am feeling blue”), anxiety, cold, sorrow
 
I experience regular, vivid BLUE dreams.
 
In one dream, I looked and saw a blue man standing by the back door.  He wasn’t doing anything—just standing there, waiting.  In my dream I asked him who he was, and he said, ‘I am depression”.  I told him to leave, I didn’t want him in my house.  He left.
 
In real life, I had been battling some mild depression—it was on the verge of making itself at home in my life, and with this dream, it disappeared. 
 
Recently I had a dream ten or so times during the night, where BLUE ‘rushed’ to me. The Blue would shoot at me like cannonballs.  I would reach for them and they would explode all over me. I woke up each time with excitement and exhilaration. 
 
As I had these dreams, I began to receive a constant bubbling of new thoughts during the night and all throughout the day, cool ideas to write about that never seem to run dry.  These divine revelatory downloads create an excited anticipation for me whenever I lie down to dream.  
 
What color are you drawn to—today?  Perhaps you can take a minute to sense if there is a reason for that color--for your day. 
 
More to come!   

 

Dreams to Prompt Prayer

I believe every dream we receive potentially initiates a conversation with God. I love waking up in the mornings, pondering my dreams, journaling or sketching them, and talking to God about them.  Our ‘conversation’ is always fresh and relevant, never boring or repetitive. 

Every dream is given as an invitation to go deeper with God.  In the process, we get to know him better and we receive much needed daily encouragement. 

Specifically, though, many dreams are given to launch us into prayer regarding a particular person or situation.  God’s heart desires to use us to ask for change, wisdom or protection!

Prayer dreams can take many forms:

o     If you are a leader, you may receive dreams about your followers—possible pitfalls as well as strengths within your organization

o     Dreams generally reveal information in your sphere of influence, but sometimes on a grander scale (your family or national politics)

o     You often wake up heavy with emotion for someone.  You may see their face or name in your mind—during the day or night

o     You are flying around surveilling random scenes 

o     If you are not the ‘main character’ of a dream, but primarily observing, chances are good the dream is not about you, but is showing you information you need to know and pray about

o     Dreams can show situations in present, past or future

Example:  my son is a late-night traveling musician, and when he is in transit, I will often dream about him being in a potential car wreck and wake up to pray for his safety.  Many times, the next day, he reports hitting an ice slick or a deer at the exact time I was praying—and  he was protected in those rough roadside ditches. 

If we value our dreams and spend more time interacting with the Dream Giver about them, imagine how our lives might change!

Subtleties of Mayonnaise--Symbolizing Spiritual Sensitivity

Yesterday around our lunch table, two families were discussing the sensitivities of children regarding different brands of mayonnaise. Mainly Hellmann’s vs. Miracle Whip but that isn’t the point. People often like one variety and can immediately taste a difference in flavor of another brand. Others strongly prefer that no sandwich salve ever touches their plate.

Parents who like a different taste may try in vain to sneakily serve an imposter past the discerning child mayo connoisseur’s tastebuds, only to be rejected immediately and put on notice about breaching trust. 

Symbolically, spiritually speaking, everyone’s ‘taste’ can represent preferences, senses, hearing, seeing, feeling.  Each person has a unique ability to ‘taste’ and discern forces and ‘flavors’ in the world.  Some are way more sensitized than others. 

People often treat the sensitive ones by:

        o     Telling them there is no difference

o     Forcing them to accept another’s preference

o     Ignoring their dilemmas and dislikes

o     Not listening or honoring their requests

o     Judging them and telling them not to be so sensitive

o     Shaming them for being ‘picky’

Individuals that are gifted to see the subtle realities beyond what is in plain sight do need to learn eventually to manage their instincts, know when to accept certain circumstances or when to refuse and ask for a change.  Sometimes they have to groan through situations that no one else much notices or cares about.  

Rather than forcing the sensitive ones to conform and change, might it better serve us all in the long run if we embrace their discernment as a strength and aid in its development?  Might their aptitude start small:  mayonnaise ingredients today, hidden monsters in the family closets tomorrow, and demonic or divine superpowers barely perceptible to the rest of us, in years to come? 

What if we encouraged the intuitive ones to value and respond wisely to what they sense—to listen and affirm them so that they do not shut down or become dull?

Let us celebrate each other’s tastes and preferences and have eyes to see the potential strength of our differences, to encourage full destiny development and not be guilty of standing in the way. 

Next time you visit, dear friends, I will have a smorgasbord of mayo choices available to please every distinguished palette.  

Metaphorically Speaking: Edit Yourself!

I recently spied this phrase that has been rolling around in my spirit intriguingly for awhile:  "Edit yourself".  
 
I looked up "edit".  It means "to prepare for publication by correcting, condensing, or otherwise modifying, to choose material for and arrange to form a coherent whole."  To edit something out means to "remove unnecessary or inappropriate words, sounds or scenes."
 
Metaphorically speaking, I wonder what it would look like to edit ourselves?  What would we like to 'edit out' or 'edit in'?  How would we give a presentation of our own life to the world that is amazing, inspiring, full of flair, yet deep, real, and not Hollywood-esque?  
 
We might be tempted to emphasize the golden, proud moments, where victory displays courage.  The memories where accomplishments shine and everyone cheers.  
 
We may want to conceal the very BORING parts and embarrassing icky mistakes.  Dark seasons that we wouldn't want even our closest friends to see.  But, how could you edit those out?  Those times are most often where the greatest growth in our character occurs.  Our lives would not be as rich without the painful lessons--these hard knocks cannot be dismissed, for they fashion us into the survivors that we are constantly becoming.  
 
However, we can choose to embrace the heartbreaking stuff and yet edit out the anger, bitterness, or complaining (i.e., whining) that is unbecoming.  We can choose to forgive, learn from past regrets, eagerly anticipate the future, and also relish opportunities of the present.  To trust in Goodness, even in the middle of swirling storms.  To develop grateful hearts in all circumstances.  
 
How would our life feature stories transform if we consistently examined the challenges at hand and asked ourselves, "What is the best possible response for me to reflect WHO I AM and WHO I am destined to BE?"  To stay focused in "EDIT' mode so that we can live as shining examples and positive influences--relevant and calming influencers in our communities.  
 
Are people attracted to the condensed, coherent 'whole' depiction of your life story?
 
Do yourself and the world a favor today and take time to....Edit yourself!
 

 

Self-Condition Dreams: The Real Scoop About YOU--in Dream Interpretation

As a dream interpreter who has worked through thousands of dreams, I can say that easily the most common type of dream experienced by dreamers are 'self-condition' dreams. These dreams function as a 'State of the Union' address--a revelation of how a person is doing in life.  They can be a snapshot of self-disclosure, but they are often are given from God's perspective, to show us how we stand with him or with other people.  They are intensely personal and brutally honest.  

Some recent simple examples:  

  • A mother with several young children at home dreams about being in a house with no doors and constant incoming crowds demanding food and attention from her.
  • A college student nearing graduation dreams of running a marathon but getting bogged down in a muddy stretch.  He feels he can't go on because he is carrying a heavy backpack and there are too many people at the finish line for him to break through.
  • An entrepreneur who has been working for months to launch a new web business looks up from her computer work in a dream to see that the 'office' has been built, workers are in place, the 'shop' is well-stocked, and a grand opening sign welcomes new visitors.
  • A woman entering into marriage counseling dreams of skydiving--a fearful leap into inky blackness--but she discovers that she is equipped with a good parachute and after she jumps, her vision adjusts to the moonlight she didn't realize was there.

These dreams reflect the essence of truth of what is happening to the dreamers--spanning both human and divine perception of their circumstances .  These dreamers feel the overwhelming weight of their responsibilities--they are being stretched.  Present reality is revealed so that the dreamers can press in toward the finish line and meet the deadlines, or possibly make necessary changes along the way help ease the load. 

Our self-condition dreams can reveal a mess we are in, so that we can tidy up.  Or, they may encourage us when we feel unsure of the 'unknowns' ahead--in discovering that we are on the right track and making the right decisions.  

If we deal effectively with the issues revealed, our lives will change dramatically.  

Most of us are pretty hard on ourselves...this tendency can appear in our dreams. Often, though, God has a different perspective on how we are doing.  If you have a self-condition dream, determine the issue at hand, and ask the Dream Giver what he thinks about you and how well you are doing.  Ask for additional insight and direction.  You might be surprised and delighted!

Knowledge Dreams

Do you ever find yourself knowing something about a situation or a person--that had come to you in a dream?  Perhaps something no one would ever have told you, but it becomes valuable or even crucial to solving a problem or navigating through tricky circumstances.  God often graciously gives us those 'missing pieces' just in perfect timing.  

Many years ago, I worked for a credit company.  I made people's credit cards...entered important information and then babied a moody monster machine to imprint those cards.  It was an old machine--and technology wasn't what it is today (I'm not THAT old).  That machine was the subject of many nightmares for me because something was always broken. Customers were always screaming for the new cards, always in a time crunch.  

One one occcasion, the repairman had been stumped for a couple of days, we couldn't get that machine to operate, and work was backing up.  That night I had a dream that showed me where the problem was...deep in the recesses of Moody Monster's guts.  I didn't even know the names of the parts, but described it to the repairman, and Bingo!  MM was fixed, at least until the next breakdown.  

Not much later, I dreamed that I was being escorted from that lovely job to another place--in a white limousine.  I looked back and didn't recognize the building, but was thankful to be leaving.  I heard a voice tell me that a huge upheaval was coming, and it was time for me to move on.  

I gave my two weeks' notice and told my boss that I believed a change was coming that would render the company unrecognizable.  He seemed to think I was a little off my rocker.  Shortly after I quit, however, the company was sold and most of the employees were 'relieved of their duties'.  

Because of these dreams, I was spared some heartache and stress.  

God is so good in that way--he loves his children and if we pay attention, he is giving us vital life-information, details for each day.  Knowledge dreams are one way he speaks to us--equipping us to better handle what is ahead.  Or in understanding what has happened in the past.  

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