I dreamed I was watching an old high school classmate park in the parking lot of a grocery store I used to work at. I watched him get out and run across in the pouring rain to an ATM that was in the middle of the street. What does this mean and why was I watching the dream instead of being in it?- Jill, 30, Syracuse, NY

Lauri: We find ourselves observers of a dream rather than participants when we are doing some serious introspection in waking life. It’s the way our subconscious helps us see ourselves from a different perspective for a better understanding of self. The classmate represents some part of your personality, probably a part that has been put on hold since, in the dream, he parks a car. It is significant that it’s a grocery store parking lot, as that suggests it is something you hunger for. The pouring rain is a good indication that this is all connected to something that is upsetting to you, as rain in dreams means tears. Finally, the ATM means that this is something very valuable that you can access right now. It is in the middle of the street because your inner self wants you to keep moving forward.

Jill replies:A few days before this dream, I attended a workshop on reconnecting with your authentic self. The classmate was on my mind that afternoon because he fixes guitars and I need mine fixed. My high-school self was into music, but my parents forbid me to pursue it. I just got back into it, and my guitar teacher is pushing for us to take a song to an open mic night. Thanks so much!