Anne,
Watching the cooking competition definitely seems to have influenced your dream. But what is cooking probably has more to do with 'what is cooking within you emotionally' than the program itself.

Food often symbolizes nourishment, emotional nourishment. This may be where the 'competition' comes into play. The other woman is you, a critical aspect who is judging your emotions. What would be the competition in your waking life? Perhaps you are being asked by the dream to make a sound judgement about this aspect, an experience that is addressing some type of emotional nourishment.

Your 'emotional' plate is near empty. You are testing/tasting other possibilities that may provide the emotional nourishment you seek. What at first looks good is found to be lacking when examined deeper. Your critical side is in play and is something you should give more appreciation to {pay attention to intuitive feelings-they are always right}.

In your waking life you may have some type of guilt, something that involves a need to apologize for. Have you been involved with someone who 'belongs' to another? You may not have known this was the case originally.

The 'remains' may be what remains of your feelings involving this emotional experience. It could involve a real man in your life. There may be aspects about this person that you feel are weak and if you are not 'diplomatic' in your approach there may be 'heads' that fall off {emotionally speaking}.

This masculine aspect man could represent your own masculine qualities. If these masculine qualities are weak then the emotional aspect may suggest you need to be concerned about your own head. The hat may indicate something is being covered up. Look to your emotions.

Is there a 'real' man who is involved in emotional nourishment you seek/need? If not then 'he' would represent your won masculine qualities involving other experiences where those qualities were weak. 'He' could very well represent both, a real man and your own masculine qualities.

Jerry

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Thanks J. Just want to think a while about these complex possibilities before I respond more fully.

Anne

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There have always been issues with my emotional life...in so far as I have a dominant thinking rather than a feeling function.

I am, at this time, a single mother rather isolated from an emotional life apart from those related to my son. So, yes my plate is empty....

However, the aspect of your response that seemed to ring most true - at least immediately - was in terms of my remaining "diplomatic" in situations that warrant an explosion of anger....I work hard - perhaps incorrectly - at keeping the peace in the context of being acrimoniously separated from my son's father - for the sake of my son. This has not been psychologically productive for me. Most especially as, yes, I perceive the father as unbalanced. Placating an "unbalanced person" has taken its toll (rendered me unbalanced?). And, yes, all this anger remains "under my hat".

Perhaps I am wondering how developing my masculine qualities help psychological situation?

(Sorry for delay)

A.

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