You are correct. Losing your teeth is one of the most common dreams. I am not usually one to subscribe to one specific definition of a dream action. Most scientists believe that dreams represent different things to different people and that the dream can have some practical interpretations. For example, if you dream that you are nude or in your underwear, it could be as simple and practical as you need to do your laundry (especially your whites). One story I remember reading about was a woman who dreamt she fell off her balcony. The next day she checked it and there was a bolt loose on the railing. Sometimes, you unconcious picks up things that you don't conciously percieve and they come out in dreams. Of course, most metaphorical meanings are associated with common themes we see in the everday world hence being chased equalling guilt or being naked representing insecurity, but these are really generalized. Anyway, losing teeth, generally, can mean a couple of things. There are the obvious practical applications like your teeth may need cleaning or you may have a cavity on the way. However, metaphorically speaking, losing teeth is usually related to anxiety over lack of control in a given situation, particularly a situation in which you feel your power is lacking. Teeth are a primal defense. Animals (dogs, for example) bear them when they want to show their toughness. In human terms, we use the concept of teeth biting as a metaphor for being agressive or in a position of power. Phrases like "put some teeth into that law" or "sink your teeth into this job" are perfect examples. What you really need to do is examine the context of the dream. Did they just fall out or did you pull them out? How did you first notice they were loose or about to fall out? Where were you when they fell out? Did it hurt? Once you figure that out, then you have to look around your life and determine where you might be feeling powerless or out of control. If you have more questions, let me know.
Jeff: Thanks for the answer. For some reason, I thought that losing your teeth symbolized a fear of dying but maybe that is the same as not having control over a given situation. Didn't Freud classify several different common type dreams including these: the nude or underwear dream the being chased dream the flying dream the falling dream the losing your teeth dream the going to class to take an exam or turn in homework and realize you weren't prepared dream Those are the ones that I can think of off the top of my head...there may be more. The problem with me and dreams now is that I never can remember them like I used to....only if they are nightmares.
Hmmm... interesting set of statements, here. I'd agree about half-way. I completely agree that atheism is faith. I agree to a lesster extent that the belief that there's more to meet the eye is not ego. I don't think that's wholly it, but I think that's usually part of it. Have you ever read the book Flatlands? The author's trying to make a case for 4+ dimensions, not the after life, but it's a really good illustration of the same type argument. Flatlanders live in 2d, and they debate the existence of a possible 3rd dimension. Seems absurd to us, but you can apply their debate to all sorts of similar ones in our world. In the end, however, I don't agree at all with your last paragraph. To me, it wreaks of a little too much solipsism... and then confuses the issues. It's utterly true that it's pretentious to pretend to be certain intellectually there's nothing after death. But anything else, imo, is even more pretentious. Then, you're not only asserting to know things ontologically different than ourselves... but you're also constructing a vision of such! See? One step past sheer atheism. Note that I am not an atheist. And also note that I used the word "intellectually." I am not a man of faith, but I will not say that I'm certain it's valueless or meanignless. In fact, I wish I did have faith. Mrs. JB: Why do you believe in re-incarnation? I've never actually met anyone who believed this?
Jeff, I often leave the TV on and bring that story element into my dreams. Is that common. It's kinda cool sometimes, but other times it's downright weird. I'm thinking of leaving the Rockets tapes in and see what happens.
Manny, Freud did come up with many of the common dream explantions, but they aren't always correct. He also believed everything that looked phallic represented a penis until someone asked him about his cigar and he said, "Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar." He focused a great deal on dreams, however, which formed the basic foundation of dream interpretation. It has changed quite a bit over the years. Phi: Yeah, that is very common too. It happens to me quite often when my clock/radio goes off in the morning. Since it is usually set to sport radio, if they are doing an interview, sometimes I'm there hanging out with them. Wierd. Light sleep dreams are some of the wierdest and most direct in terms of what the represent. Many times, these happen in the mornings or if you oversleep and, for all practical purposes, it is your brain starting to wake up and begin to process things rather than a specific dream. Most traditional metaphorical dreams occur in between your first REM state and your deepest sleep. It's wierd because it has been a while since I studied them but I feel like picking up some of those books I used to have.
That's a difficult question to answer. It's an instance of having faith in an idea that can't be proven concretely. All I can say is I casually picked up the Bhagavad-Gita one day, read it, and when I put the book down I wasn't the same person anymore. My world view had be forever altered and death no longer scared me. I guess you could call that religious experience. Except that I didn't convert to Hinduism and I don't set out offerings for Krishna. I guess it was really a spiritual experience. I find it interesting that you think you've never met someone who believes in reincarnation. I'm guessing you have, it's just not something people generally discuss with casual acquaintances. I've been at jobs for almost a year before anyone even found out I was a vegetarian. None of my co-workers ever knew about my spiritual beliefs. I never had much interest in debating spirituality -- we all find our own way when we're ready.
I stand corrected. I simply have not heard anyone profess such beliefs. But then, I tend to find out more about the people surrounding me for the time being, I think. I'm a geeky college student, and for us, it's chic to hang out in coffee houses talking about politics, metaphysics, and books. It's a great way to live, for a while at least! I also go to a Jesuit school. Most people here are agnostic or Catholic (and in that order, it seems, oddly). Not many interesting beliefs .
Oh -- then I may stand corrected! I didn't know you attend a Jesuit school. You may very well not have met anyone who believes in reincarnation -- at least not anyone who attends your school. University of Houston was such a melting pot of ethnicities and cultures that I mistakenly assume every college is like that. But now that I think about it, I remember you saying in another thread that you disliked the lack of diversity of your school. I really find all religions fascinating and have often contemplated getting my M.A. in religion. However they don't offer that around here (except for Rice and that's not an option) and Mr. JB is not interested in leaving Houston for some reason.
