Last night I dreamt about doors. Each dream I recalled during the night contained a number of doors. If Jung was correct – and who is to question Jung – and I am each person and element in my dreams therefore, I am a door. The metaphor, I am a door, provides me with one way of identifying who I am and how I currently experience/engage life. The door helps me name how I am in relationship to myself, to the other(s), and to the Transcendent (i.e. God, the Divine, the Great Being of Life, etc). This ‘door’ that I am is an inner door and my seeking to understand this door is crucial to my well-being. So, gentle reader, I invite you to explore with me your inner door as I explore mine this morning.
What does our inner door look like – the door of our heart or of our soul? Is it transparent? Can I-you-we look through it? What will we find if we do look? Perhaps it is not transparent; perhaps it is constructed of heavy oak or solid steel. This door might be keeping someone out who is seeking entrance – someone who wants us to welcome him or her into our hearts. On the other hand this strong door could be a symbol of my strength to live a life of integrity, conviction and commitment. The door of our heart might be flexible like a folding door is flexible; this door allows plenty of space for new growth to occur. Our inner door could be like a screen door – light, airy, open yet a bit opaque. I’ve always seen a screen door as an invitation to enter. One of the doors in my dreams last night was a revolving door; I was stuck going around and around and when I did manage to extricate myself from this door I found myself standing outside looking in. I can name a number of places in my life where I am going round and round so this type of door made sense to me this morning.
Perhaps we have a one-way mirror door; we can see out but no one can see in. The person can only see his/her reflection. This could be a signal to the other that we are not transparent AND it could be a helpful mirroring of the other to the other (Who are the folks who are mirrors in my own life?). Perhaps our doors are double and triple bolted from the inside; we do not want to be hurt again or we are too tender to open ourselves up to others at this time in our life. On the other hand, I know only too well that at times I keep my door securely locked because I am fearful that the other will be dismayed – perhaps ‘shocked’ is a better word – at what he/she will see if I allow them in; my shame and guilt bar the door to my heart. Sometimes our doors are shattered open by life’s events and we are fully exposed to the world because of this shattering experience. Sometimes this is a transforming experience; at other times we quickly re-build the door and strive to ensure that is more solid than before.
In my dreams last night several doors had signs either hanging on them or had words deeply etched into them. What are the signs that we put up or what are the signs that we have etched into the door of our heart? Welcome. Enjoy your visit. Come in, rest a while. Enter at your own risk. Do not disturb. No trespassing. NO ENTRANCE HERE. No longer at this address. Moved and no forwarding address. Be Aware of the. . . Wipe your feet before entering.
How often does the door of our heart change – moment to moment, daily, yearly, perhaps only generationally? How often do I allow externals decide for me what type of door I will present to my self and to my world? When do I allow others to ‘name’ or choose the type of door I will hang? Given my current door, how does it support my growth and development? What purpose(s) does my current door serve? What sign do I currently have hanging on my heart’s door or what words have I etched into the door of my heart? What else emerges for you gentle reader as you ponder the door of your heart?