Dreamt My Own Death...

I have had vivid, unusual dreams as long as I can remember, even before I was taking medications listing such as potential side effects.  If I could write stories as wonderfully plotted as some of my dreams, I would be ecstatic.  Last night's dream, however, left me feeling just plain odd. 

I was about to go home.  I have no idea where I had been, but only remember this particular dream beginning with an option of two roads from which to choose.  A somewhat scruffy man began to lead me down the road on the left side of the fork but, before we'd gone far, we veered off into what appeared at first to be a very deep, dark ditch.  A man with tree branches jammed into his eyes and out the back of his head was writhing in the dense undergrowth.  He was reaching for me and the man who'd been escorting me was prodding me deeper into what then evolved into an all-encompassing dark environment of gnarly trees, roots and wriggling vines.  There were zombie-like people here and there, some with their midsections bursting with worms (gads!), others with their faces contorted in pain or rage or some un-nameable emotion.  If it slithered, was slimy, or disgusting, I fought my way through or around it!

Just when I thought I would never escape that hellish place, I clawed my way over a ridge and found myself in a setting so sunny and serene that I began to fly upwards!  (I fly in a lot of my dreams.)  Other folks were flying upwards, too, but for some reason there was a ceiling to this gorgeous blue sky, so we were all sort of hovering.  I was told by one of the other folks that we couldn't continue until our whole family was there with us, but I chose not to listen.  I continued flying upwards and, when I reached the ceiling, I went right through it.  I was greeted by someone who told me the families were just about to sit down to a meal and that I could join my family.  I recall walking only a few steps and found my parents and a group of folks about to sit down at a long table.  The joy of seeing my parents remains with me as I write this.  Of COURSE, I woke up just after I hugged them close to me. 

So...maybe I was dead to begin with in the dream, I have no idea.  What a scare, though, to think I'd ever have to go through a horrid place like that!  What a RELIEF that I ended up in a wonderful place, reunited with my parents.   Thing is, what is the meaning of this dream?   Is it a warning?  I'd enjoy your thoughts - good, bad, or in between.