Sunday, March 3, 2002		Dream Theme

Dreaming of forts and fortresses
Vinaya Katoch Manhas

FORTS are generally taken to be symbols of protection from external threats. In dreams, too, one perceives forts as means of protection, a way of shutting out the outside world and not allowing it to interfere with ones personal life.

In the Indian context, to see a fort from afar is said to be unlucky. If you are waiting for someone or some news, you shall meet with disappointment. If you see yourself coming out of a fort, you shall have to face financial loss. Should you, on the other hand, see yourself inside a fort then it is a lucky omen. You shall gain in fortune. But should you see that you are imprisoned in a fort then it is an unlucky omen for it foretells the failure of your plans due to unwanted interference from others. Should you see yourself having imprisoned others in a fort then it is a symbol of good luck. It foretells that you stand to gain wealth and influence which will raise your standard of living.

As per western thought, to see yourself defending a fort in your dream foretells that your honour and possessions will be under threat, and this shall be a cause of worry to you. To see yourself attacking a fort and winning it means that you shall be able to overcome your worst worries and good luck shall come your way. To dream of being confined in a fortress denotes that your enemies will succeed in placing you in a difficult situation. To imprison others in a fortress, denotes your ability to rule supreme in business matters or over women.

Psychoanalytically speaking, castles, forts and fortresses in dreams are symbols of space that has to be defended. Before we open ourselves fully to other people we have to let down our own barriers and being trapped in a castle may represent our difficulty in leaving old attitudes behind us. Trying to enter a fort signifies that we recognise that obstacles have to be overcome.

I recall the spectacular case of a 16-year-old girl who often dreamt of running from someone who was following her. She would enter an old, broken-down fort. There she would see a dark tunnel-like entrance which she would enter and find safety. No one understood the reason she saw this dream but whenever she saw it she would wet her bed. The girl was asked to participate in psychotherapy sessions. Five months later when her family was being interviewed during one of the sessions it came to light that the girl had been a victim of incest when she was three years old. Her mother recalled finding her bleeding from her anus. The culprit was her 23-year-old cousin with whom her mother often left the child. The girl had repressed the memory of that event and hence did not remember it. In the sessions that followed the girl was gradually helped to come to terms with the fact and accept it without feeling guilty. The girl had to undergo three years of therapy before she was able to come to terms with this incident.