The Manikin and the Dress

The word play in this dream tipped me off to its meaning.

The Dream: I see a manikin. It looks as if it is my size and shape. I see it again later when it has become like a mirror reflecting my dress, a velvet shift, which fits it perfectly. I point this out to my friend, who says, “Oh, you really aren’t small,” as if she had always thought I was but now sees me differently.

Interpretation: There’s a shift in my self-image.

My Hair is Too Short!

Do dreams always deal with deep issues? Or do many comment on passing worries or anxieties? Maybe they do both at the same time. Jung says that dreams “compensate” our awareness; in other words, they try to enlarge our viewpoint and make us aware of thoughts or feelings we don’t know we have.

The Dream: My hair is cut too short.

Interpretation: I had this dream the night before an appointment for a hair cut, so clearly it reflects my anxiety that my hair will be cut too short. I could leave it at that—but what else might the dream be telling me? Hair can reflect one’s self-image or thoughts. If I’m worried that my hair is being cut too short, might I be concerned about how others perceive me? Or could the dream be telling me I am thoughtless?  When you have a dream that seems simple, play with it: You might learn something.