Dream Interpretation: Praying in the Street and Dark Sky
(A Guide to Navigating Identity Crisis and Rebuilding Values in Times of Turmoil)
Part One — The Dream Narrative
A week before the war started, I dreamed that I was praying in the middle of my neighborhood street. I had a white chador on my head and was seemingly fulfilling a vow for someone. As I was about to start the second prayer, I lost track of the Qibla (direction of prayer). A woman showed me the direction. During the prayer, I was involuntarily drawn towards the top of the street, and I wondered to myself: Why am I praying here? Why am I not at home?
When my prayer was finished, I gathered my chador with embarrassment and started walking towards our house (which was at the end of the street). Suddenly, I saw the sky above me covered with a large black net. I thought it must be for Muharram. But I had an unpleasant feeling about this black net. When I arrived home, I saw that the black net had been torn from the top of the building and had fallen on our building, but I could still see the light of the sky.
I had a very bad feeling. I passed under the net and entered the hallway. There were some people there. I put the key in to open the door, but my key broke. With the remaining part of the key, I was able to open the door. I entered the house and felt comfortable. Those few people also entered the house, and I proceeded to welcome them.
Part Two — Psychological and Practical Analysis
1. Identity Crisis and Values Amidst Turmoil
This dream is a symbolic depiction of a critical and turbulent period in which one’s values and mental frameworks are challenged. Praying in the street indicates an effort to maintain spirituality and connect with religious values in an unfamiliar and unstable environment. Losing the Qibla symbolizes confusion, losing sight of the goal, and ambiguity in the path of life. The white chador represents an attempt to maintain inner purity and innocence, while the black net in the sky symbolizes a sense of limitation, sorrow, and hopelessness.
2. Psychological Obstructions and Effort to Overcome
The sky being covered with a black net shows that during this period, the individual feels their perspective is limited and they have lost the ability to see reality correctly. The bad feeling caused by the black net indicates that the individual is aware of this limitation and is upset by it. The breaking of the key symbolizes the ineffectiveness of old methods for solving problems. However, opening the door with the remaining piece of the key shows that the individual still has the will and ability to overcome obstacles and achieve peace.
3. Inner Security and Welcoming Guests
Entering the house and feeling comfortable indicates that the individual still feels a sense of security and peace within themselves. Welcoming guests symbolizes an effort to maintain social relationships and help others even in difficult circumstances.
Remedial and Psychological Rehabilitation Strategies
This dream symbolically offers strategies for overcoming this critical period:
- Redefining Values and Goals: Dedicate time each day to reflect on your core values. Ask yourself: “What is important to me? What do I believe in?” This will help you find your Qibla again and define your path in life.
- Accepting Limitations and Striving to Overcome: Accept the black net as a symbol of life’s limitations and challenges. Instead of focusing on the darkness, look for glimmers of hope and light. Try to use every opportunity to overcome obstacles, even if you have limited tools at your disposal.
- Creating a Safe and Peaceful Inner Space: Consider the house as a symbol of your inner security and peace. Dedicate time each day to activities that make you feel relaxed and happy, such as meditation, exercise, reading, or spending time with loved ones.
- Maintaining Connections with Others and Helping Them: Remember that in difficult situations, connecting with others and helping them can give you energy and motivation. Try to spend time with those you love and benefit from their support.
- Mental Imagery: Close your eyes for a few minutes each day and visualize a clear, sunny sky in your mind. Imagine yourself walking in a bright and hopeful space. This exercise helps you strengthen positive emotions and move away from negative feelings.
Suggested Exercises
- Values Review: Take a few minutes each morning to write down your three core values. Then, throughout the day, try to act in accordance with these values.
- Gratitude Practice: Every night before bed, write down three things you are grateful for. This helps you focus on the positive aspects of your life and feel better.
- Boundary Setting: In different situations, try to pay attention to your needs and desires and firmly maintain your personal boundaries.
- Helping Others: Do one small thing to help others each day. This helps you feel valued and useful.
Summary
Your dream shows that you are in a critical and challenging period. By redefining values, accepting limitations, creating a safe inner space, maintaining connections with others, and practicing imagery, you can overcome this period and achieve peace and success.
One-Line Summary
Even in the darkest skies and amidst the turmoil, rebuilding values and maintaining connection with the inner light paves the way for overcoming and achieving peace.