I had a crazy/amazing dream a while back, and thought I'd post it before I forgot it...
I died (I don't remember how now), and went to the Underworld (as in the Greco-Roman one). I know I saw what must have been Hades there. I was cast into a tank with an enormous shark in it, with only a spear to defend myself. Undaunted, I wrestled with the shark, managing to avoid its bite. I wound up on its back, and drove the spear through its head, killing it. Then I found myself standing outside the tank before Hades. From his gesture, I could tell that he was offering me a reward. I knew that I could basically have anything I wanted. I told him that I wanted to eat the shark, at a feast with him. He smiled with appreciation at my bold wish, and his servants prepared the feast. Afterwards, he sent me back to the world of the living
A little background is necessary to explain this dream, I think. After discussing it with my wife, I think this is what it means:
A bit over a year ago, I lost my job as a scientist at a biotech company. I'd not been very happy there, anyway (I worked too many hours, for not enough pay, and had to take a lot of crap...). My wife had been encouraging me to consider alternate careers, but while I'd looked into some alternatives, I didn't really take it that seriously... til I was laid off (along with about 80% of our division). Then I threw myself with great vigor into applying for the local medical school. I studied for the MCAT as well as searching for people within my social networks who knew professors and/or administrators at the school. Eventually my efforts paid off, as I met a guy who was nextdoor neighbors with the President. He arranged a meeting for me with the President who was so impressed with me that he said at the end "Either way, you'll be here in the Fall, as a faculty or student. It's just up to you whether you want to pay us, or want us to pay you." I chose to go to school.
So I think in the dream my death represented the loss/death of my previous career (my professional death). The shark represented my previous career. My killing it represented my victory over it. Eating it with Hades represents my determination to use it still in my new career (I plan to specialize in oncology, where I can still use quite a bit of my previous training).
