Molestation in the news triggers a childhood "memory."
The Dream: A very tough-looking guy is in charge of a
peculiar ant-like creature. The ant has a perfectly round head and a body made
of transparent, glowing red-brown sections. The head is yellow ochre. It’s as
if I am seeing an exposed skeleton, but on a living creature. The “ant” is very
large, probably about 5 feet long. The man has several sets of paraphernalia
resembling studded dog collars--but actually hand-cuffs--that he uses to
control the ant.
The man is balding with dark brown hair; his red face has a
stubby growth of beard. He’s solid and a little overweight. He has belied his
tough looks by being helpful to me, yet when I come in contact with some others
we accuse him of rape. I know this is false, but having made a commitment to
this accusation I cling to it. The man starts to remove his studded hand-cuffs
from his wrists where he stores them, and I think he’s going to attack us.
Instead he hangs the cuffs on a peg.
Later, apparently having resolved the “rape” issue I need
the man to kill the insect. I have come to like the creature and can’t kill it
myself. I also don’t want it to suffer; I want it killed quickly and
mercifully. In addition I want to preserve its body, so I want it killed in a
way that won’t damage its skeleton (body).
The man shakes his head gravely in assent as I explain this
mission. I think he is attached to his charge, the ant, in a way, and doesn’t
want someone inept bungling this deed. He says, “Most people don’t understand
how to do this.” He goes back a distance
and charges the creature with a long pointed lance, making a terrible and
fierce face as he does. I am alarmed by this look and surprised at the violence
of the method. I think this will be messier than I had wished or anticipated.
He charges the ant, fracturing its large round head in two.
The open half spheres are filled with a white thick substance that spills over
the edges.
Interpretation: This dream was triggered by news of a local
molestation case. The young victim was abused by her swim coach; she had been
primed for the abuse by being forced to swim laps wearing a dog-collar while she was held
on a leash. The dream examines the confusion of a child’s first view of sex.
Did I see my aunt (ant) and uncle, a good natured but tough guy, in the act
when I was too young to understand what I was seeing? I eliminate (kill) the aunt, whose skeleton
body represents the bare bones of a knowledge I’m not ready to accept. Does
this childish disgust and fear lurk behind my adult feelings about sex?
Something to think about.
