posted December 30, 2008 05:04 PM         

I was out of town, on holiday I think. There was a house which was also a store of some kind that was operated by an older married couple, it could have been a tourist-style shop. But somehow it was also my house in a way. I was outside (I think Mr Gem was with me) on the grass and the house had caught fire. It was like a giant wall of flames and I was worried because (as I mentioned) it was somehow my house and I had my things in there. I remember we threw a couple of small buckets of water at the edge of the flames but that of course was completely ineffectual. After the fire (I can't remember whether the fire service came and put it out or if it just died out naturally), I went into the house to view the devastation - expecting that I would have lost everything and that everything would be black and burned. But to my surprise there was only a bit of gutting, and the main walls were still white, and I found a few things of mine there. There was a bracelet made of linked cut garnets, each of them set in silver. I don't own a bracelet like this in real life, but in the dream it was mine. It had been darkened a bit by the fire but not destroyed, and it was very hot to touch as the stones and metal were holding the heat of the flames. I put it down but kept wanting to pick it up again. My tumbled clear quartz was also there, and it was near my framed picture of a person who is very dear to me - I never met him in a real life as he has been dead for over 30 years, however he's been a regular visitor to my dreams over the years and has helped me incredibly in my spiritual development as well as being someone I consider a 'friend' (in my dreams as well as one or two clairaudient experienes and a clairvoyant vision or two). Anyway the picture was completely unharmed and my clear quartz was near it.

Those are the main things I remember, and I could really do with some help in interpretation! Here's what I've come up with so far...

Firstly I'm feeling like fire, garnets and the clear quartz could all possibly represent life force energy. Particularly in relation to the base chakra and maybe there is an element of regeneration here. Destruction but a sense of survival and the possibility of renewal. Perhaps the idea that life force energy cannot be destroyed? The garnets being physical, earth-based regeneration, and the quartz being life force energy in general? The fact that it is by the picture could be something to do with the fact that although my 'friend' died over 30 years ago his spirit still lives (ie his photograph survived the destruction of the fire) and his own life force energy is like that of a quartz, clear, sparkling and of a high vibration?? Maybe that the things that are the essential elements of life for our spirit will always remain even when the physical is destroyed?

The fire had a life of its own and it was powerful, and maybe this too represents my own life force energy.

posted December 31, 2008 02:07 AM         

Also I found this: http://www.symbolism.org/writing/books/sp/7/page2.html

"Among the four basic elements fire has been called is the "ultra-living element." One of the most brilliant analysis of fire symbolism ever undertaken is Gaston Bachelard's Psychoanalysis of Fire. In the book, Bachelard makes this point about this unique "lifeness" of fire:

"It is intimate and it is universal. It lives in our heart. It lives in the sky. It rises from the depths of the substance and offers itself with the warmth of love. Or it can go back down into the substance and hide there, latent and pent-up, like hate and vengeance."

The conception of a hidden interior world of fire, Bachelard notes, is the basis of Dante's Inferno.

Traditionally, fire has represented the active and masculine or the Yang of Chinese symbolism. Its major symbolism is related to the sun and the powers of transformation and purification. Its basic movement is upward rather than downward like water. Traditionally, the basic symbol for fire is an upward pointing triangle or pyramid. Colors of fire are the advancing colors of red and orange and the aspects of fire are flames and rays. Whereas water has different states related to movement or rest fire is always moving and consuming.

The place of fire in natural systems is represented by deserts and mountains. The deserts symbolize the quality dryness and heat associated with fire and the mountains symbolize the upward pyramid shape of fire. Similar to the element of fire which they represent, deserts have tradionally been associated with purification. Elements of place symbolism associated with fire is day time and specifically noon when the sun's light and heat is the greatest. The association with the sun makes fire an above space phenomena rather than a below or within space phenomena. A natural phenomena which represents fire is lightning, and the phenomenom of fire out of control is symbolized by the forest fire.

There is an interesting relationship of fire with the symbolic place of Paradise. In An Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Traditional Symbols, J.C. Cooper discusses the origin of the expression "baptism by fire." The term is associated with an experience which restores primordial purity by burning away the dross of life by passing through fire to regain Paradise. Since Paradise was lost it has been surrounded by fire or protected by guardians with swords of flame. These guards and their fire symbolize understanding barring the way to the ignorant or the unenlighteded.

To Gaston Bachelard, fire holds a central place in the experience of mankind. In Psychoanalysis of Fire he notes that "fire has been an occasion for unforgettable memories" and that there is a "...slightly hypnotized condition, that is surprisingly constant in all fire watchers." This hypnotized condition is related to a state of "reverie":

"...the reverie in front of the fire, the gentle reverie that is conscious of its well-being, is the most naturally centered reverie. It may be counted among those which best hold fast to their object or, if one prefers, to their pretext."

To Bachelard, fire is the prime element of reverie. "If fire," he says, "was taken to be a constituent element of the Universe, is it not because it is an element of human thought, the prime element of reverie?" It is almost certain, Bachelard says, that "fire is precisely the first object, the first phenomenon, on which the human mind reflected." Interestingly enough, a number of modern observers have compared television to fire calling it the "electronic fireplace."

Fire and heat have been used to symbolize human emotions and particularly emotions associated with sexual power. This association can be seen in popular cliches such as "they warmed up to each other" or "she gave him a cold shoulder" or in "the heat of passion." Bachelard makes some interesting and unusual observations about the relationship between fire and sex observing that the "love act is the first scientific hypothosis about the objective reproduction of fire" and that "...the conquest of fire was originally a sexual conquest."

Bachelard writes about the surprising dichotomies of fire. "Among all phenomena," he notes, "it is really the only one to which there can be so definitely attributed the opposing values of good and evil. It shines in Paradise. It burns in hell. It is gentleness and torture. It is cookery and it is apocalypse."

Fire is also related to the process of change. Bachelard notes that slow change is defined by the process of life and quick change is explained by the process of fire. As he notes "fire suggests the desire to change, to speed up the passage of time, to bring all life to its conclusion, to its hereafter." In this sense, all that changes slowly can be explained by life while all that changes quickly can be explained by fire." As Bachelard says, "through fire everything changes." Bachelard reminds us that when we want everything changed we call on fire."

posted December 31, 2008 06:40 AM         

You're feeding it the wrong stuff and its not handling it very well.

You've actually been getting a bit fed up with it, and have toyed with the idea of having a new cat one day...but this is not why you've been feeding it wrong.

I'm not sure but I think it needs some kind of fish in jelly stuff but of a good quality. Its system is dry, inflamed and red where it shouldn't be and whitish where it shouldn't be...but it's ok don't freak out about it, a lot of cats are like that.

If this doesn't apply, soz..

posted December 31, 2008 04:05 PM         

damn it,

posted January 14, 2009 10:41 AM         

A very interesting dream. There are a lot of alchemical type of symbols in this dream, suggesting transformation in your inner life. I'll try to put my thoughts together and get back to you as soon as possible.

posted January 14, 2009 10:42 PM         

When I read the dream I thought it was about your health/body, but I as I couldn't figure all the symbols I was going to pass on this dream. Then I saw your mention of mars conj pluto, and since that is similar to what I thought the dream was refering to, I will put in my two cents.
To me houses usually represent the body,and I think there is a problem (maybe a disease just now beginning, or fever=fire related). I think you either already have or soon will notice but only casually address it. Represented by your throwning small buckets of water and being ineffectual. I think the problem area is around the middle, the stomach/intestines or colon. Because you mention the bracelet is linked, (which reminds me of sausage= colon/intestines) and because you describe a "store" (as in your body stores something). Also reinforcing this idea is your use of the word "gutting" as in guts=stomach area. You even mention walls, such perhaps as the walls of your stomach or lining of intestine/colon.
I think overall you will be well as you say you expected much damage after the devastation, but it is minor.
You also mentioned the word operated, perhaps a minor operation will be needed.
That your friends picture is there, I think he may be trying to tell you this.

posted January 15, 2009 12:52 AM         

Wow good girl... that's a spooky interpretation. Inflammation in the colon maybe? My friend does come through in my dreams and in other ways to let me know things, so I'm not sure... hmm. My digestion could be better sometimes. The last thing I need is ANOTHER health problem... especially when I feel like I'm finally getting on top of it all and moving into a time of good health... I'll keep an eye on things since you've pointed this out. Thanks.

posted January 17, 2009 05:22 PM         

All I can see when I read this dream is associated with transformation, especially as relates to the stages and symbols/colours associated with alchemy. Jung considered alchemical symbology as something that issues forth from the collective unconscious, showing us where we are in the process of self-development/transformation/individuation.

In a simple, four stage alchemical process, all four stages seem to be present within this dream. Blackening being the first stage, green (grass/growth) being the second, white/silver (new knowing) being the third, and red, represented by garnets, being the fourth and final stage. This final stage, called rubedo or the reddening, represents the process of your higher self excercising a certain amount of control over aspects of your life, indicating a nearing of the completion of some inner work.

This process is even more suggested by the "living fire", which transmutes lower energies into higher, more spiritual energies.

This is further suggested by the untouched picture of your spiritual guide, especially in conjunction with the clear quartz crystal, which suggests to me a spiritual work, an inner work, becoming "crystalized".

Do you feel as if this alchemical process of self transformation could apply to some aspect of your life, of yourself? Do you feel as if you are nearing completion of a spiritual work?

So, I see this dream as a reflection of the process of you finding yourself, bringing unconscious material into conscious awareness, thus completing a part of yourself, your growth.

Does this strike a chord with you?

posted January 18, 2009 12:35 PM         

Thank you for sharing your dream!