Tidal Wave Dreams
- Tidal waves have enormous power. In dreams, the power of the wave represents valuable energy in you that needs expression.
Tidal Wave Dreams
by Jenny Davidow
Copyright 2010. Reprint only with written permission from the author
Recurring nightmares can change.
They want to change.
Suppose there’s a huge tidal wave coming toward you. The moving wall of water is so large, you can’t ignore it. It is moving so fast, you can’t out-run it. Suddenly you feel alone and very small, paralyzed on the shore.
But what if you could go deeper into this dream or nightmare, and discover what the tidal wave has to say to you? The meaning of the dream is hidden inside the symbol of the tidal wave, and in the opposition of the large and powerful wave to the small and powerless dreamer.
Every dreamer would experience their own unique tidal wave speaking to them in an Inner Dialogue. Here is one example of what a tidal wave might have to say:
I’m an angry wave. I’ve gotten bigger and bigger over time. I’m tired of being ignored. I’m tired of being “shored up.” Now I’m going toward the dreamer, so fast she can’t escape me.
What I want to say to the dreamer is: I’m angry because you have ignored me for a long time. You think I’ll just stay in the boundaries of the ocean and not come onto land where you are. I’m sick of being shored up by you. Now you’re going to feel the full force of me.
At this point, some people would argue, “This is not an energy I want to get to know.” But even when a dream symbol comes dressed in a scary wrapping, its energy has value and offers a larger awareness or perspective to the dreamer.
Inner Dialogue allows the dreamer and another symbol to communicate with each other, as if still in the dream. Right away, when the tidal wave addresses the dreamer, you can detect how angry it is at being ignored and expected to “stay in the boundaries.”
More is revealed when the dreamer takes her turn to speak to the wave:
I am the Dreamer. I feel very small and powerless.
What I want to say to the Wave is: I’m paralyzed with fear, looking at you, Wave, coming toward me so fast. I am sure you’re going to crush me beneath your enormous mass. There’s nothing I can do.
Even a common symbol or dream, like this tidal wave dream, has very personal information embedded in it. Every dream is like a letter from your wise self, telling you what you need to know so you can have better balance between your head and heart, your logical and intuitive abilities.
Every detail of a dream is an important clue, pointing you toward the meanings that will give you surprising insights and new awareness of what has been going on inside you. I have found that dreamers react to these insights with relief and recognition.
Notice that puns and slang expressions give clues too: “I’m an angry wave. I’m tired of being shored up.”
Translating the Dream Metaphor
To translate the metaphor of the tidal wave in this dream, I took the details and wording of the wave’s dialogue and then posed it as an open-ended question to the dreamer:
Is there a way in which you feel angry, ignored, and expected to stay in certain boundaries?
The dreamer had an immediate reaction. Before now, she had only identified with her “dream self,” feeling powerless and small in the face of this angry wave. But when asked if something in her felt angry, ignored, and expected to behave a certain way, she easily recognized herself.
There’s a way in which I stop my anger, my assertiveness.
I’m afraid of ‘making waves.’
I feel I have to be ‘nice.’ But then I get ignored.
In a very short time, the dreamer had touched on the core of a hidden problem, an inner conflict that had produced her tidal wave dream. When she shored up or stopped her assertiveness and anger, she disconnected with an important part of herself. The huge energy of the wave is also her energy, I told her. It is a natural part of her, a beautiful part of her, and part of the whole of who she is.
The wave had been angry because it felt ignored by her. Surprisingly, under the scary wrapping, the energy of the wave could be experienced as something positive. On a certain level, the wave was actually seeking out the dreamer in order to restore balance. It rushed toward her, wanting to reconnect with her.
I reminded her,
The energy of every dream symbol is also your energy. That wave’s power is yours too.
Can you imagine having even a few drops of that wave’s power inside of you?
If you had a little bit of that wave’s power and used it in your life, what would change?
She answered in a firm voice,
I’d “make waves.” I’d tell people how I feel, assert myself rather than let people push me around.
Dreams want to change. They point out imbalance. Through Inner Dialogue, we have the opportunity to reclaim the energy that has been split off from our conscious awareness. We can turn toward the energy that seemed at first foreign to us, fearsome or destructive. We find, when we dialogue with any symbol, that it has something of value to offer us. We discover strength and beauty where we hadn’t expected it — in ourselves.
In the last part of the Inner Dialogue, I invite the dreamer to turn her insight into action. She thinks of some current situations in her life where a few drops of the tidal wave’s energy would help her. She imagines and senses the tidal wave energy inside of her in those previously difficult situations. Now the tidal wave is giving her the strength to stand tall, to move forward and be true to herself — even if it means “making waves.”
A remarkable characteristic of dreams is that they are very fluid. Once you understand a dream and translate its message into a constructive action you can take, the dream changes. The energy stuck in a repeating symbol or recurring nightmare, like the tidal wave, is now free to morph into something new.
In later dreams, the dreamer may find herself riding a wave with great pleasure. Or she may discover new dream symbols appear in place of the wave — perhaps friendly horses and other animals that represent this energy which she now values as an essential part of herself.
What do a tidal wave and a speeding train have in common? Read more…
Have you had a tidal wave dream? Or a dream that brought up similar feelings?Whether you’ve experienced a tidal wave dream or not,
I invite you to share what this post has evoked in you.
(There is a free, one-minute sign-up with WordPress first.)I look forward to hearing from you.
For more information about the Inner Dialogue, a method I developed to work with dreams and subconscious images, please visit my website, www.JennyDavidow.com.
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I dreamed of a speeding train.
A couple of months ago I had a dream with another symbol that embodied something large and powerful speeding towards me – a railroad train. I had not made the connection to Tidal Wave dreams until I read your blog.
I was with my 21 year old son in the dream. I am in my 50s, and though I seemed aware of who I was throughout the dream – that is, I felt that I was my age – I felt youthfully vigorous. We were on a platform in the open air – just beyond a grove of trees, actually – when I saw a train speeding down a track. There were two tracks, and that train was around eight feet from us. Then, I looked up again and saw another train on the closer track – it was only a few inches from the platform. It was going so fast that it was now closer than the other train, and was the only one we could see.
It went whizzing by at perhaps 80 or 100 miles per hour, and my son was standing only inches away! I was afraid, so I pulled him back – it took all my effort, including my teeth grasping the back of his shirt, to do so. Then we stood around four feet away – and the most incredible shift occurred.
Billboards or signs on the cars didn’t just whiz by – they played like frames in a movie. We understood that people were inside the cars, which had looked like boxcars without doors. Then my son stepped forward into the door of a train car, even as the train was moving at full speed. After a second or so, I followed. I felt absolutely calm in doing so.
The train seems like a symbol for the way that my life is rapidly changing now, and for the way I am getting over my fears. My son’s life is changing, too, as one would hope for a 21 year old. I have just started a new job, he has moved out of state, and so far, we both seem to be enjoying our journeys.
By: Charles on July 8, 2010
at 11:12 pm
Charles,
I’m very glad my post on tidal wave dreams helped you to make the connection to your train dream! At first you seemed to fear the train’s speed – as when you pulled your son back with everything you had, including your teeth. But then you experienced a shift from fear to calm, as you described it. Once your “son” (perhaps a more adventurous part of you) entered the speeding train, the train no longer seemed dangerous to you. You could move forward to enter its rapid-moving energy, and do it safely.
On this new leg of your journey, you are making a very significant shift – a change from your initial reaction of standing back in fear.
Every night, dreams offer us opportunities to reconnect with energies and abilities that have been put aside, in our subconscious. In dreams, that energy comes toward us, wanting to reconnect with us.
I’d like to suggest one more layer of meaning. Everything in our dreams represents, on one level, a part of our consciousness. The biggest benefit of doing dreamwork comes from “trying on” the energy of our symbols, and in that way reintegrating their strengths into our conscious resources.
So I’d like you to take a moment to consider: the speeding train is a positive energy in you that you are in the process of reclaiming. You are stepping into and entering a valuable energy inside of you, as when you entered the train in your dream.
Try imagining yourself *as the train* for a few moments. Feel its power, its speed, its forward motion inside your body. Notice the high energy and acceleration inside of you. You can tune into this energy any time you want to. It will support you and carry you forward.
By: Jenny Davidow on July 9, 2010
at 4:51 pm
Hi, Jenny!
Dreams are such a rich source of insight and growth. In your teachings I learned some valuable tools! On occasion I have awakened from an uncomfortable dream and took the time to “re-do” it with a better ending which felt great.
I am still amazed how your dream technique worked with my daughter who was having those horrible dreams – she hasn’t had one since I used your dream dialogue with her. All of my children enjoy sharing their dreams with each other – so dreams are still very much talked about in our family.
The things I’ve learned from you continue to bear fruit, and I thank you. I think of you and our dream group often and appreciate that learning experience so much. It certainly was a unique and exciting opportunity – I feel so lucky to have been a part of it.
It’s great to be in touch again! It sounds like you are doing well in the Seattle area – congrats! Thanks so much!
Annie
By: Annie on July 24, 2010
at 10:03 pm
It’s nice to know others have this dream. It is indeed an angry wave!!
For me it oscillates in periods that are just about like in a real ocean (the bigger waves in the period), but just super huge, like sometimes it can actually crash behind me (and all these other people in the dream too! man I am really having a “doh!” moment right now)…. You know I think I remember now that at first the crash was more momentous than it is now. Equally scary, but I guess I’m used to it! It might be because I have a plan right now..
I’ve had this dream several times for the last two or three years (I guess), but it hadn’t occurred to me to google it until just now when I downloaded this Win 7 Surfing theme and thought about it consciously. I think that when I’ve been in front of real waves, it doesn’t occur to me to remember this dream because I’m a bit busy in the moment — water waves can be so formidable, it’s such a wonderful and appropriate analogy!! Thanks
By: Kenny on March 28, 2011
at 4:39 am
I googled dreams and waves and came to this site.
My dreams tend to be very abstract and I sometimes have a hard time retelling them or articulating them, the way I understand them. I have dreamt about waves four times over this year and this last one, the wave was so massive, like nothing you could imagine. I live in the city and I am already five stories up, but if I had to guess, I would say the wave was as tall as 2 Empire state buildings on top of one another.
At first, I was with a friend atop a hill, very very high up, and I looked over to see a large ocean. The ocean was so breathtakingly beautiful. It was purple, blue, pink and glittered sheets of sparkling gold from the reflection of the sun. I thought to myself how I wanted to go down there (to the water).
I don’t remember how I got there, but next thing I know, I was not just on the shore line, but in a ditch. It lined the shore. But for some reason this was normal, as if the water did not flood the ditch (oddly)… It was a decent size trench. I could sit in it, and still have to half way stand up to see over.
All I remember from there is that I had puppies in a box. Two or three. They were about 3 weeks old, adorable and I was playing with them. Next thing you know, that massive Tidal wave is coming… I am sitting and can see the top of it coming. It was scary. I could do nothing, but in my dream I had some type of tarp, I laid down and covered myself and the puppies with this tarp. It must’ve been some magic tarp because it sealed off all water in my dream.
I remember anticipating the hit of the wave, I felt it and thought I wasnt going to be able to breathe, but I did. i peaked out and the first wave had gone. Then I saw a second one. This time, I escaped to some underground cave that was against the wall trench by my feet. There were other People in the cave with children, calm and playing.
When the wave hit…. The only thing that represented it was this wall with one of those “water walls”… Like an art piece. I dont know if you have ever seen waterfalls that fall down and stick to the wall, they have them sometimes in malls. Anyway, that is what it sizzled down to and for some reason, the water outside, never was able to flood the inside of our cave, even though, we were below it and the opening was the shore. I guess in my mind it had to do with the speed of the water and the opening being to small to pass through for the water. That is how I made sense of it in my dream.
I am not sure what to think of it. All of my dreams are bizarre and very detailed this way.
By: Anna on November 2, 2011
at 11:07 am
Hi, Anna,
Thanks for your beautiful and detailed description of a tidal wave dream.
There are many aspects to your dream that are worth noting. Of course the size and power of the tidal wave is very important – as a symbol it points to something in you that is seeking to be expressed, something that wants your conscious mind to take notice.
Although you have some fear and anxiety in the dream that the wave’s massive power could harm you, it is significant that you find what I would call creative ways to be safe.
What I notice most in your description are the very positive elements that are present in each “scene:” the beautiful colors of the ocean, the adorable puppies in a box (which you succeed in protecting), the magic tarp, the children who are calmly playing, and lastly the “water wall” that is like an art piece.
The presence of these positive elements suggests to me that there is a very beautiful, playful, creative part of you that wants more expression in your daily life.
When dreams repeat, as your tidal wave dream repeats, it means your subconscious is sending you a very important message. This dream, or a dream with a similar message, will keep repeating until you understand the message and put it into action in your life.
What I suggest, Anna, is that you try on each of those positive symbols: speak as the ocean of beautiful colors, for instance, saying, “I am the ocean of beautiful colors. I have purple, blue, pink and glittered sheets of sparkling gold from the reflection of the sun inside me.”
Follow the steps of the Inner Dialogue, described in my book and the book excerpt on my website, http://www.JennyDavidow.com. When you do these steps for the positive symbols, and then perhaps for the wave also, you will discover many personal meanings that are embedded in the dream and which will tell you what you are needing right now in your life.
Doing the Inner Dialogue work on your dream will help you to resolve any repeating dream or nightmare. Further, your dreamwork will greatly enhance your dreams, making them meaningful and satisfying adventures.
By: Jenny Davidow on November 5, 2011
at 6:56 pm
Thank you so much for replying. I happen to be a dancer professionally as well as a designer and artist. It makes sense that I am seeking an outlet because I have felt suppressed creatively. I will look into your book.
Thanks a lot again.
Anna
By: Anna on January 6, 2012
at 8:12 am
Hi, Anna,
While it is true tht everyone has creative ability, creative professionals like you (and like me) need to continually encourage, nurture and express that creativity in order to feel in balance and happy.
Just as we would naturally feed and nurture a beloved pet, or take care of a friend who is ailing, we need to give that same kind and compassionate attention to our creative side.
I’m glad my suggestions were helpful. Please let me know how it goes.
Jenny
By: Jenny Davidow on January 6, 2012
at 9:06 pm