Dreaming of Borders: Symbolism and Psychological Meaning

These dreams often crop up during periods of change when we are facing some level of constraint or reevaluating personal boundaries. In other words, dreams relating to national frontiers, boundaries walls, fences, and even ‘invisible line separators’ have strong metaphorical meanings regarding constraints, transitions and the self.

Dream Analysis: Borders Overview

Dreams involving borders usually serve the following purposes:

1. Self Boundaries

• Emotional limits— violation or healthy.
• Space within and outside of a relationship.
• Passivity or activity.

1. Life Changes / Achievements

• Gaining a new job.
• Change in partner.
• Change of self.

1. Self Contradictions

• Ethics issues.
• Contradicting urges.
• Question of self.

1. Social Restrictions

• Social reality.
• Cultural norms.
• Politics.

Basic Examples of Border Dreams

1. Crossing A Border

• Positive: New beginnings, growth in individuals.
• Negative: Fear of the unknown, worries about change.
• May denote travel goals or metaphorical change in life.

2. Being Denied at a Border

• Lack of self-imposed social life.
• Feeling excluded or rejected from a certain group.
• Cowardly self-imposed personal obstacles.

3. Guarding a Border: Surveilling Border Post

• Moving with extreme caution/protectiveness.
• Requesting tighter boundaries.
• Obsessive behaviors.

4. Disappearing Borders: Lacking Boundaries

• Losing one’s individuality.
• Merging into other people, collectively lose self.
• Not being able to distinctly identify oneself.

5. Changing Borders

• Changing set of relationships.
• Changing set of priorities.
• Personal changes.

Cultural Influence on Setting Borders on Self

These borders mean different things among different cultures:

• Western cultures/ traditions: Bendable set marked boundaries, highly focused on individualism.
• Eastern philosophies: May approach borders and boundaries in a more flexible manner.
• Indigenous perspectives: Often perceive land and people as one and the same.

Contexts matters to history as well:

• Might envision the Berlin Wall as a symbol of tearing people apart.
• City walls of yesterday might be seen as protective structures.
• Vision of contracting borders could signify an anxiety towards globalization.

Psychological Interpretations

Freudian Perspective:

• Viewed as psychologic protection.
• Penetrating the borders is seen as releasing feelings of repression.

Jungian View:

• Boundaries as metaphysical entry to the subconscious.
• Boundary figures as symbolic sentinels.

Modern Psychology:

• Dreams about borders are perceived to be a symbol of contrasting attitudes.
• Boundaries depict reality in real life.

What Your Border Dream May Be Telling You

1. Evaluate Your Current Boundaries

• How well are you able to maintain limits?
• Do you feel like you need to put stronger barriers?

1. Look At Changing Phases of Life

• What new things are you experiencing right now?
• Are you opposing growth that is absolutely important?

1. Think Of Relationships

• Are other people honoring your limits?
• Do you feel like you need to change your boundaries?

1. Review Self Improvement Goals

• What is shutting doors on opportunities available?
• What steps can be taken to open more doors?

How to Work With Border Dreams

1. Dream Journal

• Write down border details.
• Feelings attached to the dream should be recorded.
• Find parallels that are evident in waking life

1. Active Imagination

• Envisage changing the border
• Envisage crossing successfully
• Have dialogues with the people guarding the border

1. Reality Application

• Deal with real boundary problems.
• Form specific plans to address changes needed.
• If necessary, practice being more direct.

When Border Dreams Signal Concern

Seek professional help when the dreams entail:

• Recurrent nightmares of someone being trapped
• Boundaries causing extreme anxious feelings
• Borderline violent confrontations
• Overbearing stuck-ness feelings sold out

Transforming Border Anxiety

1. Change the Perspective on Boundaries

• Treat borders as arms that shield_ranges when required
• Treat them as temporary in constrictors

1. Set up Rituals for Change

• Treat change of living as a party
• Mark what is achieved, record personal milestones

1. Practice Boundaries

• Small, easy-to-do limitations set at first
• These steps should later extend to a more flexible zone.

Conclusion

Images that depict borders represent borders in borderless landscapes while crossing borders illustrate people crossing borders sans borders. Scrutinizing borders gives the metaphor to contemplate both the sculpted countless boundaries and borders controlling freedom. In relaxing analyzing the myriad dreams where we escape rock-bottom barriers grows our compass limitations fog-shaping our experiences.

No matter if borders in your dreams feel comforting or suffocating, they bring you to reflect on: Which boundaries serve you and which ones are restraining your full potential?

Have you had a memorable dream involving borders? Discuss your experience and your interpretation of it in the comments below.