Last week, this was my status on Facebook: Why do I feel so guilty when I don’t talk to the men I don’t want to talk to? I was simply airing my angst at having gone back and forth with a slightly, no, fairly pushy man I had met a couple of weeks before. When he first talked to me in a cafe (where I spend the majority of my life), I was writing a piece that had to be finished in the next couple of hours. I pleasantly answered his questions, while constantly averting my eyes back down to my computer and starting to type once again. He then asked if I mountain biked, and I said no. “Hike?” Yes. “Well, let’s do the number exchange thing and we can go hiking.” Ummm, was that a question? Have I given any indication that I’m interested in hanging out?

The art of dream interpretation is an ancient practice that dates back thousands of years. Therefore, it is not surprising to find common motifs in dreams as well. It is important to note that the idea of interpreting dreams or using dream dictionaries is not a popular one or highly recommended, especially with dream therapists and workers. The reasoning is that although humans share a ‘collective memory,’ we are also individuals. To fully engage with a dream, one must be mindful of these nuances, including personal associations, experiences, and emotional content. But take comfort in knowing that when we remember a dream, it means we can do something about it. Here are just some of the few themes and tips on what dreams might be telling us.

Whenever I am involved in an astrological counseling situation about health, I look to the 6th house. The 6th house is Virgo’s house, which, if you know anything about astrology, is NOT the Zodiac’s sexiest sign. I’m a Virgo ascendant, and I’m told that this will guarantee that I’ll always look younger (and more innocent) than my years, will ensure a grounded, realistically-astute relationship with the world, and will give me a predilection towards a life of service. Unfortunately, it also portends a ridiculous degree of detail orientation, a constant stream of mental and sometimes verbal criticism (of self, others, the world, God – whatever presents itself) and a preoccupation with health and wellness.