ABOUT SUNBURNS

A young lesbian woman in San Diego sent me this dream.  Ultimately, her sexual preference factors into how I analyze the dream, so I mention it now.

I’m  on a beach with my partner and we’re enjoying the sun, trying to get a nice tan.  My cousin Andy is there with a buddy.   It’s a wide beach, far away from the water.

The beach is a lovely place to just relax and be lazy… to get some sun and get attractive and healthy-looking.  The Dreamer and her partner are in a nice place in their relationship… able to relax and be comfortable about who they are… to each other and in public.  The fact that the water is far from the beach suggests that emotional matters aren’t a strong factor in this scenario.

My partner and I are putting sunblock lotion on each other.

As background, this Dreamer came to realize her sexual preference during college, and she decided to come out of the closet soon after completion of college.  She has now been in a happy committed relationship for the past three years.  At the time she came out, it was painful and difficult for her.  She felt she was disappointing her parents and relatives.  It took her a while to be open about her inner truth.  “Sunblock lotion” is metaphorical for the defense mechanisms one uses to heal and recover from the negative aspects of too much sun… too much exposure to living under a spotlight and being revealed for who you really are.  She and her partner have found a way to support and “heal” each other under these conditions.

I notice that Andy is putting sunblock on himself, and he isn’t doing such a good job of it.  There are areas with no sunblock at all.   Mostly, his right shoulder area around the joint has no sunblock at all.

The first thing that struck me about this scene is the “right shoulder area around the joint.”  The arm and hand are crucial for “grasping something and possessing whatever that object is – whether it’s a fruit, a tool, or a touch which comforts someone.  Thoughts become a reality when the shoulder moves to propel the arm and hand to manifest the intention of the mind.  This suggests that Andy has thoughts which have become a dilemma to act out.  In addition, he hasn’t really developed sufficient defense mechanisms to “block” the pain which might result if he acted out these thoughts and beliefs.  He has defense mechanisms in other areas of his life, but none regarding these specific thoughts.  So why would he need to defend himself against these thoughts?  Because they’re something that would cause pain – to himself and probably to people who love him.

In today’s society, “coming out of the closet” has become one of the most painful processes a person endures in order to be true to him/herself.  In previous times, it was a truth so painful that many men and women refused to recognize it in themselves and existed in unhappy compromise.   This fact, and the fact that the Dreamer is a lesbian, and they’re putting sunblock on each other, suggested to me immediately that Andy is gay, has thought about it, but hasn’t really acknowledged it.  The fact that a buddy is with him, but he’s putting sunblock on himself (and not on his buddy), suggests that if there are feelings between Andy and his buddy, they haven’t acted on it yet. 

Nevertheless, because they’re in a public place, supposedly relaxing and feeling attractive to the world, in a situation and setting in the company of lesbians… all this, and factoring in other elements in the dream, suggests that Andy might be gay.  At least some illumination has been shed on the possibility in this regard, and other people have noted it.

I point out the burn on his shoulder, but he says he’s fine, that he’s been to the beach before and hasn’t gotten burnt.  So I let it go, not wanting to interfere in his choice for himself. 

This suggests that in the past someone has asked him if he’s gay… or maybe he’s even been approached by someone interested in him.  Or perhaps he’s even had discussions with other buddies about his sexual preference.  In any event, he’s never gotten “burnt”, probably because he never acted out on his thoughts.

Then something disturbing happens.  The area around Andy’s shoulder gets really red and burnt, and then starts blistering.  Fortunately, I have some “cure-all” ointment which I know will help soothe and heal the burn.  There’s only a little left in the jar, but my partner assures me it’s okay to use the ointment on cousin Andy.  Once I put the ointment on the shoulder burn, it begins to peel.  It peels deeply – so deeply the ligaments and tendons beneath the skin becomes visible.

Something triggers the burn.  Either this buddy approaches him and confesses being in love with him, or an event triggers his realization that he himself is in love with a buddy.  The Dreamer, understanding his dilemma, talks to him and provides the healing support to cause him to peel back the burnt skin – to reveal the desires which he wants to act on.  He confides in her.

Meanwhile, Andy’s mom comes running onto the scene, “What’s going on here?  What happened?”  I know my aunt gets intense, so I answer, “Nothing serious.  I’m taking care of it.”

At this point, since Andy’s mom has to ask what’s going on, she is apparently not aware of what her son is going through.  Fortunately, Dreamer understands the situation.  Having nearly used up her “cure all” lotion, she certainly has been through the “defensive” aspect often enough to provide the wisdom her past experience has taught her.

SUMMARY:  This is a precognitive dream.  Dreamer is being sent a warning that her cousin is experiencing a dilemma, and she will be placed in a position to help him get through a difficult phase in his life.  She will not only be able to help her cousin, but she will serve as a buffer to the pain mother and son experience when the truth comes out.