Six months ago, I lost my dog, Odin. He passed away when I wasn’t there to say goodbye, and by the time I had a chance, he’d already been sent to be cremated. I keep his clay paw, some of his ashes, and his last toy in my room. He wasn’t just my dog—he was my rock, especially during my mom’s battle with cancer (she’s thankfully still with us). I miss him every single day.
Last night, I had this awful dream. I was on an island, and I felt completely lost and scared. Suddenly, I saw Odin. I remember calling out, “Odin, is that you?” He ran up to me, wagging his tail and jumping like he used to. It felt so real, like he’d come back to find me.
He started leading me somewhere, and I followed him. The waves around us were getting stronger, and soon we were swimming. I could tell he was struggling, so I went in to help him. We both fought to get out of the water, and I managed to pull him onto the shore. But then, as we were running from the waves, a huge one came and swept him away. I couldn’t save him.
When I woke up, I felt like I’d lost him all over again. The regret, the guilt, the pain—it was all there. I still can’t shake the feeling that I let him down, even though I know he’s gone. What does it mean?
I’m so sorry for your loss, and I can only imagine how difficult it must be to dream about Odin in such a way. This dream seems like it’s reflecting some deep feelings of grief and perhaps unresolved guilt, especially since you didn’t get the chance to say goodbye to him. The imagery of the waves and fighting to save him might symbolize your ongoing struggle with those emotions—feeling like you’re trying to hold on, but at times feeling powerless in the face of such loss.
Odin appearing in the dream might be your subconscious way of processing that love and the bond you shared. The dream doesn’t mean you actually failed him, but rather, it’s a manifestation of your deep connection with him and your desire to save him from the pain or loss. Even though you couldn’t physically be there when he passed, it seems like your heart is still trying to come to terms with that absence.
This kind of dream is part of the healing process, where you might be revisiting the feelings of loss and love in an attempt to make sense of them. The guilt you feel is understandable, but it doesn’t reflect your actual actions or feelings towards Odin—he was your rock, and the love you gave him will always be with you.
