Carolyn,
I am going to let you analyze your dreams using the following information. The best way to understand and learn to interpret dreams is through practice. Along with the following instructions go to my page How To Interpret Dreams which has step by step instructions along with a dream I have interpreted by breaking down the symbols. Hopefully you will better understand what the message is from your dreams. Remember, your dreams are about you and your emotional life and anything that is unresolved is material for dreams.

To understand the message of your dreams put yourself in place of all the characters as if you were them, or look at the characters and see what qualities you identify with or those you dislike. What aspects of the people and/or relationship with Carol and her husband Aaron would fit in your life? Look at individual qualities as aspects of your feminine and masculine self as well as the total relationship. Look at the actions of the dreams using the images as symbolic references {perfume could be symbolic of your sexuality, sensuality, and/or indulgence}. To get a good perspective of what the possible meaning of images may be use HYperdictionary {Dream}. Don't take the images as literal representations. Carol would likely possess aspects you identify with or something in the relationship with her that had emotional energies. The dream is not necessarily pointing to any 'designs' on Aaron if it is not a true experience in your life {unless there could be unconscious designs you are not aware of or won't admit to}. Aaron would likely be your animus but do not dismiss other possibilities. Keep in mind that all dreams, all dream images and actions have at least two meanings/applications. One usually deals with current emotional experiences {that hold stronger than normal energies} and another would address deeper issues to do with your psyche, personality, etc. These often come from early life or earlier life experiences/influences.

In the dream where you were 18ish, look to when you were 18 and see what experiences at that age had emotional energies that are unresolved or could be related to other emotional patterns in your life. Usually stated ages in dreams will point to that specific period of time and will have associations to emotional conflicts. But also remember numbers point to associations to finding wholeness and point to symbolic representations those numbers may represent. 18 equals nine when added together and nine points to a need/desire to find wholeness, balance and happiness in life. This would be a general statement of what you are seeking and specific numbers may point to where you are in that search {the number 2 often represents specific conflicts}.

In the cat dream look at him as a symbolic representation of some aspect of yourself. Cats are the feminine aspects and a male cat could point to animus qualities that support the feminine.He is one of three cats you have which may have a specific reference in itself {1 of 3 aspects of something in your life}. Spiders are important symbols and have many possible meanings {including the feminine power, the mother as well as a powerful force protecting you against your self-destructive behavior }. The actions in the dream, the patterns that flow from them will match those within your life. They may be unconscious but often if they are the mere reference in the dream and seeing them consciously can spark something within that strikes a memory and brings up what they may represent.

With what I have provided analyze your dreams and see what you come up with. Determine where they will fit into your life {emotional} and if they do fit take those associations and see where they lead. Dreams are attempting to help resolve emotional issues. Many are consciously known but there are unconscious references also, aspects you have forgotten, pushed aside or perhaps repressed {because of the strong emotional energies}.

Jerry

Age & Gender & Location {Required}: 64 Male Cocoa, Fl

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Jerry,

I've been able to figure out a lot of the symbolism in my own dreams, but certain repeated patterns continue to elude me, and of course, these are the lynch pins of the dream meanings, so it's quite frustrating. Last night though, I actually figured out the "2" pattern. I realized, while it retains the previous meaning of the two individuals I was thinking of, it's also an "11," which is a number that has significance to me. You might be onto something with the 3 as well. So with these keys and your tips, perhaps I can figure the rest out. Thanks for the help and be well.

Caroline

Age & Gender & Location {Required}: 32/ F/ Texas

Have You Posted Before? Date of Last Post {Use Search and Your Post Name to Help Find Last Post} no

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Caroline,
What you have trouble with please post it here and I will provide my thoughts. If you will analyze your dreams and give an interpretation I will be able to provide a critique. Like anything else it is practice experience in doing a thing that elevates you to better understanding. Dream analyze gets better when you interpret dreams over period of time you begin to see patterns emerge that fit into a already prescribed script. That script is a production of your emotional life and when you investigate this 'inner world' you begin to understand so much more than before you started the journey. "Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens".....Carl Jung

As for learning experiences with dreams, this forum has a treasure trove of posted and interpreted dreams that I have analyzed {3500+}. And of course my websites have all the information about Jungian psyche and dream interpretation you will ever need. The follow up responses provide feedback to my interpretations and is how I can gauge whether I am analyzing dreams correctly {as well as verify Jung's theories/concepts}. You will my success rate is very high and that is because I do have a skill for dream analyze/interpretation and I use Jungian psyche as the model when I work with dreams and the deep psyche {personal and collective unconscious}. I came late in life but when it did it was a natural fit. Just as with knowing it is a good interpretation {of a dream} when it fits with the dreamer's life.

Look forward to your actual analyze of this dream.

Jerry

Age & Gender & Location {Required}: 64

Have You Posted Before? Date of Last Post {Use Search and Your Post Name to Help Find Last Post} Yes

How Did You Find the Dream Forum? Yes