Three Rats

The dream this morning features rats. My youngest brother, Bruce, and I are staying in a friend's house. I am sleeping on a big king size bed. It is late at night. There are several lights turned on in the house. I have a lamp at my bedside and down a dimly lit hallway, to the kitchen, there is a light on as well.

Near the kitchen there is a pantry closet. In that closet are three large rats. They are making a lot of noise as they ferret about in there dining on food and ripping open packages. Suddenly, these three rats tumble out the closet door into the hallway. I can see their silhouettes. Their heads bob about as they sniff looking for more food to pilfer and pillage.

I see them wander about. Two rats head straight for the kitchen. One rat takes off for rooms beyond there. Another rat stays in the kitchen. It is pounced upon by a orange tabby cat. The cat leaps and screams as it attacks the rat. It is an epic battle of rodent versus feline. The third heads to my bedroom. My brother walks in at the same time as rat number three. Bruce leaps up on the bed and we are both watching the rat. On the floor I have a t-shirt and the rat burrows under the shirt and looks up at us sniffing and bobbing all the while. I scream and wake up.

I have always had an aversion to rodents. They are filthy creatures. They destroy and contaminate food stores and spread diseases like plague. I believe I was a victim of the bubonic plague in a previous life or perhaps I have some genetic memory of it's devastating effect. This might explain why I hate them so much.

The rats of my dream have many associations that we can consider. While they were in the closet they were consuming the food of our host. Rodents have an insatiable appetite. They represent disease, fears and anxieties of things unseen. They are eating away at my peace of mind and confidence. I am presently having worries about my expenses and I am slowly watching the "rats" consume my savings.

The killing of at least one rat in the dream is something of a victory. The cat represents my feminine nature overcoming at least one pest. The first rat did escape to possibly do more damage. That third rat has come to terrorize me and literally, and figuratively, take the shirt off my back.

The rats are curious and a threat. It seems I will have mixed results at overcoming these pending threats or problems. This dream disturbs me.

The old nursery rhyme about three blind mice keeps coming to mind. Scholars say the origin of the rhyme dates back to England's, 16th century queen, "Bloody" Mary the first. The story goes there were three noble men, who did not think very highly of her, and the queen caught wind of it, and had all three of them burned at the stake for conspiring to kill the queen.

Perhaps the feminine aspect of me is going to become bitchy and do some damage? Maybe the wife is going to get ugly over all the things about to be let loose on our house and family?

My youngest brother is here in the dream. Perhaps, I will be having a comrade with me, to weather all these troubles? I like the thought of having someone at my side, even if they are not much practical help, it gives me hope.

So, in conclusion, what do we make of this dream with rats? I don't like it. I need to gnaw on some breakfast and gets some coffee in me. I can't deal with the rats until I do. Maybe I need to think like cat and attack life's problems like one? Today, I will do my best to survive and say no to rats.