So this dream was very different from normal ones I usually have. In most of my dreams, I’m older or not there at all, but in this one, I was actually younger. I sensed a deep spiritual meaning behind this, and want to know what it means. Anyways, this was before my baby sister was born, but we had our whole family, my cat and all, on a cruise ship. At first the cruise was fun, I brought my precious cat so I was overjoyed. My cat’s name is Piwi, and he’s honestly a very good cat. Anyways, the cruise ship started to stall when we got over the Mariana trench, and all over people were in panic. We were still in the room when I was crying, hanging on to my cat like he was my own child. I cried to my mother, “Oh please mother, oh please mother! Please, you must help me bring Piwi on to a rescue ship!” I thought since he was a cat and there was little room on the rescue ships mom would like to leave him behind. But, she didn’t, she was the one that convinced dad to bring Piwi. My little sister who is 2 years younger than me was resting on my dad’s shoulder as he carried her around. Since the ship was going to sink, and it was a possibility that we were going to starve to death, my dad had the idea to “steal”/ recover all the things in the shop to keep us going when we were on a rescue ship. Once we got a lot of stuff, one of those things being a leash and collar for Piwi, we rushed on to the deck, only to find all the people already left with the mini rescue ships and we were the only ones left on the cruise. My dad made a brave decision then, because otherwise we were going to sink into the Mariana trench, one of the deepest places in the ocean. He got some of the rope we stole from the cruise gift shop and tied my younger sister tightly to his back. He then also tied a waterproof box with all the things we took in it on my mother’s leg. To me he tied Piwi, even though he was squirming and didn’t like being bound by the rope. We then jumped off, and swam as far as we could. It was the middle of the night, and in the distance we could barely see a silhouette of a smoke vein rising off the ocean. We went towards it and got pulled up by a person, it was a large coal ship. Apparently this was a ship where they kept prisoners that got arrested in international waters, rather than sending them to a prison on their homeland. They had the prisoners working hard on the ship by doing something I don’t remember with coal. It then goes to a timeskip, now it is just me and my younger sister struggling to get by. It seems by the skip and my dirty and starving face that we’ve been there for years, trapped on the prison ship since they did not plan to go onto the land any time soon. We probably ate my cat to survive when it was still all of us with our parents, and then later our parents probably died from giving us all the food so we could survive. (This is just speculation though because the timeskip did not explain much in my actual dream). Anyways, I had become friends with one of the prisoners, who had dark skin and heavy dreadlocks. Actually, most of the prisoners were nice to me and my sister since we were younger, instead of taking advantage of our age and doing bad things to us, like you would expect. The interior of the prison ship had coal bags stacked up everywhere on it, especially near the walls and the poles that connected from the ceiling. Everything was small, cramped, and ridden with sickness and starvation. Also the walls and poles were all a black type of metal, probably needed for the work with coal. I was in the line to get food with a lot of other prisoners, one I knew had blonde hair and a lot of tattoos. He never wore a shirt for some reason and was called, “The Crusher” by all the other prisoners. The one that was the nicest to me was the one I mentioned earlier, with the dark skin and heavy dreadlocks. He was actually fairly skinny though, which confused me a bit. He was next to me in the line when he whispered something to me. “Want to see something cool?” He said, and I shrugged and nodded in response. He then tapped the prisoner in front of us in line and said something, getting an old piece of bread from his pocket. Then he went around and tradded stuff for the piece of bread, me holding his spot in line. After he had something hiding in his torn coat, which he did not let me see. “It’s not finished yet.” He would say when I asked him about it. When it was our turn in line he slipped it into the hands of the food distributor, and then signed something to him which I did not catch since I don’t know sign language. After he brought it on a plate and sat down on some coal bags to eat. It was so beautiful to me I cried and we both cried together. It was a humble piece of food, yet seemed so beautiful since our eyes had forgotten what a meal that wasn’t moldy bread looked like. He split it in half and then offered some to me, but I refused saying, “I can’t take it, you have the whole of it sir. It was a great enough gift for you to show me how to create such a beauty, and I shall make one and split it with my sister.” I then bowed respectfully and left to make one like he did. The days went by, slowly, slowly, and eventually I heard a rumor that the ship was going to land on shore to get supplies. I was so excited, because I thought definitely then I would be able to leave that ship and survive just like our parents sacrificed themselves for. The day came, and the guy I knew left on the shore to try and escape. He was caught though, and came back with a dark haired guard dog with chains on its neck that he named, “Buddy.” The ship went away from the land without even giving me a chance to get off, even though me and my family never did anything wrong. Later that night when we were sitting on a coal bag up against the wall, the guy questioned me about how I felt about everything. I tried to hold back my tears and be strong, but all of it was flooding back on me. How life was like before the incident of the cruise, how close our family was, and how our parents died just so we could die anyway on the ship… I couldn’t hold back anymore and ended up crying a waterfall of tears. Then, after what seemed like hours of unwavering crying, I cleared my throat and spoke through my unease to the guy. “You know, If God wants me somewhere, he’ll take me there,” I continue, my voice cracking in sorrow, “But if God wants me to stay, he’ll keep me here.” I look forward, gaining a little hope in my teary eyes. The guy perked up, and started asking me, “Who is your God?” and I told him everything about Him. The story of Jonah getting swallowed by the whale, an example of what we were going through then, I told him how Jesus came into the world in a major, and then died on the cross for my sins. And just three days later he rose again out of the grave. The guy showed great interest in this, and soon before I knew it, I was holding secret church services from what I remembered from the Bible. I missionaried to all the prisoners on the ship, and they converted to Christianity. God really had a purpose for me on the ship, even if I wanted to deny it and go back home. I only saw how I was suffering, but soon came to the realization that God needed me to save men that were going to go to the depths of hell. And through all of that suffering, I was able to become closer to God in what I shared with those prisoners.
Your dream is rich in symbolism and deep emotional undercurrents, revealing aspects of your psyche and life experiences that you may not fully acknowledge during waking hours. The narrative revolves around themes of family, loss, survival, spirituality, and purpose, which are all significant elements shaping your current worldview. Let's explore them further.
The fact that you’re younger than you typically perceive yourself in your dreams may symbolize a desire to reconnect with a more innocent, hopeful part of yourself. Youth is often associated with potential, freedom, and authenticity. This shift could indicate a longing for simpler times before responsibilities and complexities overshadowed your life.
Dreaming of a cruise ship often represents a journey—both in life and in one's emotional or spiritual path. In your case, the cruise starts off fun, symbolizing happiness, family unity, and companionship (represented by the presence of your cat Piwi). However, the stalling of the ship over the Mariana Trench suggests feelings of stagnation, fear, or vulnerability in your life. This section may reflect anxieties surrounding upcoming changes or transitions, perhaps linked to the arrival of your baby sister, which might bring both joy and fear of the unknown.
Piwi, your cat, represents a part of yourself that needs nurturing or protection. Your attachment to him, treating him as your child, indicates a deep-seated desire for care and love in your life, possibly the desire to protect what is precious to you. The fear of leaving him behind highlights your innate fears concerning loss and abandonment, which could connect to feelings around family dynamics.
As the dream progresses, the transition to the prison ship signifies a loss of freedom and an oppressive environment. Being trapped alongside your sister symbolizes the weight of responsibility and survival amidst trauma. This part of your dream likely speaks to feelings of constraint in your current life—perhaps a burden of responsibility or grief due to anticipated family shifts with the arrival of your sister.
Your bond with the prisoners, particularly the kind-hearted one with dreadlocks, illustrates the human ability to create connections, even in dire situations. This part of the dream serves as a reminder that empathy often flourishes in shared struggle. The idea of survival and mutual support in dire circumstances parallels your resilience and adaptability in real life.
The turning point of the dream comes when you share your faith and knowledge with the prisoners. This is a powerful manifestation of your inner desire to find deeper meaning amid suffering. The act of holding secret church services points towards hope, purpose, and the realization that even in the darkest situations, you can influence others positively. This reflects your longing for spiritual growth and significance in your life, suggesting you might be seeking guidance or reassurance in your faith amidst current uncertainties.
Overall, your dream encapsulates multiple complex feelings related to family dynamics, loss, and the search for identity and purpose. Your experience on the cruise ship and subsequent prison represents the emotional journey of facing fears and the unknown, eventually leading to spiritual enlightenment and community building. Reflecting on these themes can provide deeper insights into your emotional landscape and help guide you through current changes in your life.
Consider journaling about these aspects and how they relate to your current feelings, especially with family dynamics evolving. Such reflective practices could lead you to greater self-understanding and emotional integration as you navigate transitions in your life.