Working With Dream Themes: Huge Waves Rolling In

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A very common dream theme, and one I get asked about the most, is dreaming of huge waves rolling in at a beach. Living in Hawaii makes this dream theme a common enough experience to have in waking life on a daily basis. The ocean is a part of all of our lives. However, people who live far from the ocean, or have never actually seen the ocean, often have this kind of dream.

The ocean is one of those powerful metaphors in nature that touch us at a deep level. For many people it represents the profound and often inscrutable inner recesses of our souls—full of mystery, strong currents, and wondrous and terrifying creatures. It is no wonder that so many people find it satisfying, relaxing and comforting to be at the beach, watching the waves roll in. It is a gentle way to attend to and hear the call of our deeper selves. Attending to our dreams of the ocean, its waves and its creatures is a similar way of observing the tides and manifestations of our souls.

Some Dreamwork Questions Related to the Ocean and Waves:

What do the ocean, the waves or the creatures in the water mean to me?

• What does the ocean look like in my dream? Is it placid, or is it stormy and filled with gigantic waves?
• What in my life reminds me of the feeling of the ocean in my dream?
• Can I see creatures swimming in the ocean? Are they frightening, amazing or in great numbers?
• What do the creatures remind me of in my life?

Where am I, the dreamer, in relationship to the ocean?

• Am I on a distant hill, on the beach, on a boat, or bobbling in the midst of the waves?
• What am I feeling about the ocean and any waves that are occurring?
• If out of the water, are the waves rolling towards me or someone close to me?
• If in the water, how am I handling it? Am I swimming well and managing the big waves passing over me?   Am I drowning or reaching out for help?
• What in my life reminds me of this situation? If in my dream I am feeling terrified swimming in the midst of huge waves, is there some situation in my waking life where I feel I am in the thick of an emotional struggle that might threaten to pull me under?
• If I am on the shore, how in my waking life am I watching distant changes that could move in my direction?
• What do I feel about that?

Observing and participating in ocean dreams by asking such questions can help us become practiced and seasoned swimmers in the vicissitudes of life.  We will come to appreciate the beauties and wonders of the ocean of our souls as we develop skills to deal with the tides. As we say in Hawaii, a surfer is one who plays with the waves, but a waterman is one who knows all about the ocean. Which shall it be?