Ice Palace Dream

Ice Palace Dream

Dream

Dear Dr. Ian, I keep having a dream where I am staying in a really magnificent ice hotel miles from anywhere. From the outside, it looks like a huge glittering palace with shining towers and spires. Although you would expect it to be frosty and cold, it feels really warm inside with water streaming down the walls. The palace has thousands of windows made from clear ice and although I can see out, no-one seems to be able to see in. Every now and again, there is a loud crack as some part of the hotel collapses. No one seems to notice though. What does this mean? Am I going bonkers?

Meaning

When we dream of a hotel, we are considering the aspects of our identity that we choose to show to others in our waking lives. The hotel in your dream symbolises a temporary identity that you are presenting to other people but this identity is not really your true self and feels quite distant from who you really are. Dreaming of water reflects feelings and emotions in waking life, so dreaming of ice indicates that you are appearing emotionally cold to others.

People in your waking life is probably experience you as someone who appears cool and distant. You may behave icily towards others and often give them the cold shoulder or a frosty stare. From the outside, you enjoy looking magnificent and imposing in your splendid isolation. Inside, you know that it is a different story where your feelings are running warmly and freely.

The loud cracks you hear are when you think your cool and imposing facade is crumbling. In waking life you are terrified of letting your defences down and that is why you assume this cold blooded exterior. However, to be your true self, you need to thaw your frosty relationships with others by revealing the warm and caring person behind all your defences.