Purse Vanishes Along With Sense of Self

Dear Cynthia: I have had this dream more times than I can count. My purse is either stolen or lost, and no matter what I try, I cannot get it back. I try to make a phone call to cancel my credit card, but the phones don’t work properly. What does this mean?

P.S. My credit is protected against theft, so why should I worry about it in my dreams?

--FRANCOISE BUSH

Culver City

Dear Francoise: To answer your last question first, your dream does not have a literal meaning. The fact that you have taken precautions against theft yet dream of loss is further proof that your dream has symbolic meaning.

When a dream recurs, it usually means that there is an important meaning that your subconscious wants you to become aware of, something that would be helpful or important for you to understand in the waking state.

As a dream symbol, the purse or wallet represents our identity. In it we carry our ID, money, photos and other items that can define who we are. A telephone, of course, symbolizes communication. Here, you can’t get in touch with those who could help you.

It would seem that your identity or how you define yourself has changed. An example of someone who would be likely to have this dream would be an individual who had recently been divorced. His or her identity as a spouse would have been stolen or lost, and the people who could help are unreachable or can’t prevent the inevitable.

When you have this dream, it would be very helpful for you to take some time to define who you truly are. You could take a blank book and a pen, and go sit outdoors in a beautiful quiet place. Just letting your thoughts and feelings flow, how would you describe yourself, apart from the roles you play in life (i.e., daughter, mother, co-worker)? If there have been major changes in your life, they can serve to open new opportunities to discover parts of yourself. Reinforcing your sense of self and living accordingly will no doubt relieve you from this uncomfortable dream.

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Cynthia Richmond’s book “Dream Power: How to Use Your Night Dreams to Change Your Life” (Simon & Schuster) will be available Jan. 1. and may be pre-ordered at Amazon.com. Fax your dreams to Cynthia Richmond at (213) 237-0732 or e-mail them to [email protected]. Please include your hometown and a daytime phone number. “In Your Dreams” appears every Tuesday and should be read for entertainment purposes only.