I had this long and elaborate dream that’s been sticking with me. In it, I was going through my parents’ stuff, deciding which things to keep and which to throw away. I was making sentimental decisions about things I honestly didn’t even want to keep. It felt so real, like I was really sorting through their belongings.
There were other people around, and it felt like they were judging me for what I decided to keep. I was also afraid they’d take some of the items, and I needed to protect my parents by making sure nothing important was taken. Some of the stuff was tax papers and other important documents that should be kept for a while, so I was really trying to make sure those stayed safe.
Then, the dream shifted to me arriving at church, and my sister was there. I was dressed in this weird outfit that I would never normally wear to church—like mismatched clothes and the wrong shoes. I had to find a place to sit in a super packed church, and I ended up sitting with a family, but I felt like I was sitting in someone else’s spot. My sister was involved in the church program somehow, and I remember encouraging her, but I didn’t remember the details of what she was doing.
I don’t usually dream about my family. In real life, my dad passed away in November, and my mom still lives with my sister. But my mom left a lot of things at the house she shared with my dad, and she refuses to go through them or sell the house. The roof is really bad, and the ceiling’s starting to cave in because of water damage. My brother and I are really worried about it, so maybe that’s why I dreamed all of this. Maybe I need to talk to my mom again about going through all that stuff.
Your dream seems to reflect the emotional weight you’re carrying related to your father’s passing and the unresolved issues surrounding your mother’s belongings. The act of sorting through your parents’ items may symbolize your need to come to terms with the loss and the responsibility you’re feeling about handling those physical reminders of the past. The fear of others taking the items could point to your desire to protect the memories and the legacy of your parents, or even a fear of losing them entirely, symbolically or physically.
The shift to the church, especially your awkward feeling with the mismatched clothes, might suggest feelings of discomfort or uncertainty in your current life, particularly related to family dynamics and your role in supporting them. The church setting could also be an unconscious representation of seeking spiritual comfort or understanding, especially since your sister is involved in the program, and you’re trying to encourage her—perhaps mirroring your real-life support for her during these challenging times.
The overall feeling of being judged and the pressure to act could reflect your internal struggle with not just managing the physical belongings, but also the emotional baggage tied to them. This could be a sign that you need to have that conversation with your mom about going through the house and belongings, especially if it’s weighing on your mind and your relationship with your brother.
