Friday, July 26, 2024. The weather outside is wonderful. Low to mid-80s, dropping to the low 70s at nightfall; with lots of sunshine in the a.m.
Today, which also happens to be my birthday, is usually a day that I don’t work. Although I like to think that I am always working (because that’s what it seems like). Today is also Lauren Lawrence’s Dream analysis on the NYSD, which is always something to think about. Her subject today is a dream of Madonna’s.
Although I am not a fan of Madonna’s work, I am a fan of her career. Her greatest talent is her drive. And it is something to be admired; she’s 100% committed and she has realized an enormous success with her efforts.
Coincidentally I’ve lived in an area near Madonna both here in Manhattan as well as in Los Angeles. I know this only because I’ve actually seen her in the area. In LA however, I saw her frequently because we lived on and around Doheny Drive in the hills. I frequently saw her when she was doing her daily run from her house, down the hill and along Sunset to the Beverly Hills Hotel and back. What was always astounding was seeing her return from the flats to the hills because she did her return run backwards! up the hill (not a short walk by any means). I remain astounded by her drive and her energy all these years later.
Her “dream” that Lauren analysizes exemplifies her natural intensity. Amazing always.
Lauren sent this message with Madonna’s dream:
Madonna had related this dream in a Vogue interview in 1996. I interpreted the dream and faxed it over to Liz Rosenberg, Madonna’s long time agent. Liz called to tell me Madonna was especially grateful for my interpretation as it allayed her fear that the dream was a bad omen.
So, later on, when I was collecting dreams for Private Dreams of Public People, Madonna approved my inclusion of her dream in the “Musical Dreamers” section of my book. She sent along two wonderful, dreamy photos with her eyes closed.
SOCIETY DREAMS: Madonna
by Lauren Lawrence
The Dream: I dreamt I went to a doctor and she said, “Oh, the fetal heartbeat is really weak. I want to do an ultrasound. And when she did, she said, “The baby’s dead. You have pushed yourself too hard, and the baby’s dead.” And I watched the baby detach itself from the placenta and sort of float around in my stomach, and I was sobbing hysterically, thinking, “I’ve killed my baby, My God, I’ve killed my baby.” (Vogue, November ’96).
The Interpretation: Dreams of expectant mothers are often rife with anxiety over the well-being of their babies. As such, this is a common anxiety dream. What is different here is that Madonna remembers dialogue important in understanding the dream’s true meaning. It is no wonder that the doctor who makes the harsh prognosis “the baby is dead” is female, as Madonna is the doctor.
Similarly, the dead baby is Madonna lamenting over the death of her own youth. Tears flow from the sad pronouncement that Madonna is baby no longer, for the role of motherhood — a selfless position requiring endless patience and dedication — alters one’s lifestyle. This change in self-image is what engenders sorrow: The caretaker can no longer be footloose and fancy free. The dreamer’s “what-have-I-done” attitude may represent feelings of unreadiness to assume the daunting task of motherhood. In this view, one understands that Madonna sobs hysterically for the loss of her childhood.
In another view, watching the baby detach itself from the placenta is revelatory: The baby is not merely viewed as an extension of the parent. The detachment symbolizes the non-symbiotic nature of the mother-to-be: Madonna does not wish to control or manipulate as a parent, but will allow her child the freedom and space it needs to develop an independent spirit. All in all, the core of the dream reveals Madonna’s conscientious nature — she is already watching her baby with steadfast motherly concern.
For private dream analysis, contact laurenlawrence@aol.com
