Dreaming Lens: Were you writing an e-mail in your dream? Were you reading one? Were you in anticipation of receiving an e-mail? Was your e-mail sent successfully, or were you getting error messages? Were there problems with your computer? Were you receiving spam? Were there attachments, such as photos or video?
Personal Focus: E-mail is a communication venue of the new world order. We are simultaneously brought closer together and further isolated by this almost instantaneous way of connecting our thoughts to the minds of other people. The realm of the intellect is represented by this image. The newness of Internet technology imbues the symbolic meaning with a sense of uncharted territory in the world of thought and interpersonal expression. We live in a time where the technology has evolved faster than our ability to formulate a universal sense of etiquette and propriety. Its speed implies spontaneity. However, the ability to edit and alter our words prior to sending the finished product adds a dimension of control that should not be overlooked when arriving at an accurate interpretation.
Words typically account for about twenty percent of any verbal interaction. Absent from the e-mail experience are the crucial elements of tone and body language. Despite this enormous limitation, most people approach e-mail as if they are clear and accurate when they are, in fact, subject to projection and presumption. In this way, an e-mail in a dream connects to communication that is assumed to be lucid, but may not be received with the same intention with which it was sent.
The immediacy of the writer and the keyboard allows for an enormous amount of editing. We read as we type and retype as we read, changing our words till we are satisfied with the final product. This can insert a subtle lack of authenticity and spontaneity that did not exist with handwritten or typed letters. This image invites you to consider what role restraint or manipulation may be playing in your thought process. Writing an e-mail might represent a need to figure something out that needs direct and immediate attention. Anticipating a reply may represent wanting an answer to a question you are seeking.
Who you write to or receive e-mail from will help you uncover what areas of your psyche need to be interacted with. An e-mail from supervisors at work might point to a search for inner authority. A reply from a beloved might connect to decisions around romance and relationship that require fast consideration. Junk mail and spam might point to undeveloped thoughts or ideas that are routinely cast aside as valueless. They can also represent a general sense of overwhelm with sensory input that may not feel important to you. [1]