meat dreams...

I have dreams occasionally where I eat land meat and then remember I don't after consuimg it, which casuses me so much confusion and frustration in my dreams. Like a dilema. Since I've not partakin in land animals for over 4 years I still occassionally have dreams of eating them, and feeling bad afterwards or while consuming. Can any of you relate? (I always forget I don't eat them in my dreams til after a few minutes of consuming)

My fiance went pescaterian with me and he's reported them too (sorry not totally veggie). I think it might mean subconscious cravings but I'm not sure. I believe dreams tell you something but it can be very hard to understand.

Any thoughts?

 

You're only 22. You're like wet cement.

You have to examine the "why" of your chosen path. Spiritual maybe? Health?

Look for good substitutes for what you liked as a meat eater. I still enjoy tacos, etc, because I did.


x

 

I'm not sure how this relates to dreams. but I know about good subsitiutes, thats not the issue... But I am very much exploring my path, ask all the veggies on here I annoy... I don't take anyones opinion without consulting my soul. I just wish my soul had a better way of communicating

p.s. how old are you?

 

Im vegan and get these kinds of dreams all the time...For me, its just because the subject is more pronounced in my life...im part of veggie forums and communities...i often have to explain my position to people...i have to take care over what i eat, i tell people about it, i discuss these issues with others...And with all that focus on meateating vs vegatarian/veganism in my days, its not surprising it relflects in my dreams

It could be the same for you. As others have said, find good substitutes for foods you enjoyed, and make sure youre getting all your nutrients. I wouldnt read too much into it though unless you feel youre not going the right way in your heart, really

 

Dreams are often a soapbox for things your waking conciousness would rather not deal with. Thats why I asked you to examine the why of things.

How old am I?

You can't count that high.



x

 

i occasionally have dreams of eating shrimp for some reason, but i always rationalize it to myself in the dream...i tell myself it's just a shrimp and it doesn't think.

and it's usually one huge shrimp...like the size of a dog and i'm holding it in my hands.

then i eat it. and then afterwards i am confused as to why i ate it.

i dunno, that's the only meat eating dream that i have.

 

i get these very occasionally, its just my mind playing tricks because i care about what i eat, kinda like im just registering and confirming to myself tht i havent eaten any meat by accident or anything by worrying about it

maybe

 

I do, believe me. I am always asking why, all of the time, but it's rare I get a clear answer. It's like the world is playdough and I can make it seem anyway I want if I think it through enough, but when I want to know if something is absolute truth I find it hard to find, impossible really. It's almost like there is NO truth, and I'm just tailoring myself on how I want to live. I'm a self admitted hypocrite, and I can talk myself in circles about the issue. But regardless I'm still looking for answers, that I hope will one day find. I hope, because otherwise I might live a very confused life.

 

I have dreams about eating meat I didn't even eat when I did. Like hamburgers, I hate those!!! but I do enjoy a good veggie burger, like Ruby Tuesday's, the best!!!!

I believe dreams have meaning. I guess it's probably just me wrestling with the issue, or perhaps I'm lacking a nutrient? I don't think the second since I was a total vegetarian for 2 years and following that pescaterian for another 2. I have studied up on it, alot. And I had these dreams while total veggie. I guess I was really wondering apart from what they mean is, are they common?

 

I'd agree with the others up here and say it's just a subject you've got on your mind. Since you do think about this stuff a lot, obviously, and you are still debating and settling in your head about why you do/don't do the things you do/don't do.

In the last 6 years of my life, I quit doing pharmaceutical speed, then quit drinking liquor, then quit smoking tobacco, land meat, fish, eggs, and dairy (in that order). In the case of the first three items on that list, particularly the liquor, I have had a few difficult periods since quitting. Even a couple of slip-ups, where I broke down and drank "just this once" and immediately regretted it. It's been a while since I've done that, though, because for the last couple of years once my triggers start getting hit and i begin thinking about it... knowing that I "shouldn't" and have told myself I "wouldn't" but still seeing some attraction there... But before that attraction got strong enough for me to do something about it, my dreams took over, either by giving me that experience to remind me why I don't, or by giving me the chance to TURN IT DOWN in a dream. That might seem weird, but one time that settled me more than any other, I'd been having a difficult time of it and wanting to drink, and in my dream someone offered me liquor and I turned it down, stating the reasons why I wouldn't. When I woke up my mind was settled about it and it no longer felt like a temptation.

 

And I think dreams of this sort are VERY common btw. Ask anyone who's quit ANYTHING and they will have occasional dreams about it. Shit, my mom told me she still has occasional dreams of smoking cigarettes, and she quit 30+ years ago!

 

thanks for the advice. But I don't turn down the meat in my dreams. I eat it and forget that I don't eat that stuff to begin with until after I've had a few bites. does that mean I shouldn't be partially or at all vegetarian?

I envy you for just knowing what you want... I think I do, but I just can't stop wrestling with it. But I very much enjoy your insight. You have given my posts respect when others thought I was looking for conflict. The truth is I have conflict within myself that I want to release. The way to do so is just so blurry for me...

 

I quit ciggarettes but I don't have dreams about them. But yes maybe it is common. But I have a feeling my dreams mean something deeper, like most dreams. Ever hear of spirit guides? supposively your inner demons get communicated to you so you can work them out, or your guardian angels, if you want, work with you to communicate in that way. It's confusing but supposively that is their way, or well thats why understanding at least I know I'm getting into something offtopic... This is my spiritual side speaking. I'm into this shit

 

I don't always know what I want. And sometimes it take a LONG time for me to figure it out. But over the last few years I've found that the way I can feel best, physically and spiritually, is to live slowly, breathe deeply, think things over. While I'm contemplating a big issue I try to live my life (at least in the respect I'm debating) in the least harmful way possible. What's the rush? Why do you want to eat that fish? After you're finished with it, like the hamburger in your dream, will you wonder WHY you "had" to eat it? Will you realize that you could have satisfied your body, gotten the same results, by a less harmful action?

 

Before I quit meat, it was hard too, but I went cold turkey for a couple of reasons, mostly health and spiritual growth. Before I quit I didn't even like seafood, so it was not a problem, but after two years and not being able to answer questions as this, "why are fish so bad, or as bad as land animals to consume?", I just couldn't answer this at the time, So I became pescaterian to search for the answers I need, to appreciate vegetarianism in it's fullest, and not just spuing peta bullshit, but my own reasons! Now I think i've found those answers but they're not complete. I think in my mind I have reverted back to the stage of eating meat where I just have to quit!! Now I like seafood and it's my new meat (I am addicted to sushi quite literally), but do I want to quit? I do when I hear the tales of the coral reefs and fish farming, but I still feel so weak to do so. I have reverted back to an omnivore and I just need a good kick in the ass to get over it! that or accept myself the way I am now...

 

Well, then, maybe you just need to make the plunge. At some point, you'll find you've already read what there is to say on the subject. Other people's opinions, the facts of the industry, etc. have swayed you to the point that it seems you want to/feel you should stop. So at this point, what makes you continue? Just that you like the taste and are "addicted"?

IMHO, the best reasons to stop are entirely internal, whether physical, spiritual, or emotional. But the difficult thing is you don't find those reasons until you've already made up your mind. What I would do if I were you, in this situation, is go to an aquarium, or even better a bay, reef, or other such natural habitat. Take a good look at the creatures there and pay close attention to the feelings and ideas that come to you, as someone who consumes the flesh of those creatures. Follow that with 4-8 weeks of a completely veg*an life, meditate on what you're doing and your reasons for it, and then repeat the trip. See what's changed.

See, it seems to me that you are debating more of the spiritual side of things than anything. This is stuff that can almost never be "proved". It is internal, and you can only gauge it for yourself. When you started eating fish again, it was because you couldn't think of a reason NOT to. After all this time, maybe it's time to re-examine your reasons from this different perspective.

 

A lot of addicts talk about having dreams about relapsing back into the habit. I have had meat dreams that were so real I woke up almost crying its not any fun.

 

Your right. I watch alot on animal planet, especially blue planet, but at the same time I study different cultures and how different people believe different things, that should be respected. Thats why I call myself a hypocrite, bc I see so many sides to this issues, and cannot take just one. But at the same time I repect veganism the most out of my choices!! even though I am not. Yes it is an excuse, I'm addicted (only to sushi though) but I just need to get over it and go the better path.

but why is it so hard? because my mind won't let go of other alternatives yet... but thank you for your help. and I agree with you.

 

*shrug* At some point you need to recognize what is right for YOU, personally. This doesn't mean you need to lose interest or respect in other cultures and other belief systems. At some point you'll know you don't want sushi because you don't eat fish. Instead you'll find something new to love - a big veggie stir-fry with rice and wasabi, a homemade miso with lots of seaweed... And when you are asked why you don't eat fish, what's so bad about it, etc. you can answer that that's just who you are and what you eat. You feel better and have a better connection with the world around you this way. And most importantly, it is your own personal decision. I understand the urge and feeling of responsibility to justify your actions and habits to everyone who asks for an explanation. But when it comes down to it, it's a personal choice and you don't go around asking them to justify their reasons FOR eating what they do. (This is what really gets me - I have to justify NOT taking a life for a meal, and yet someone else can eat 5 animals without thinking in one day and think I'm the weirdo.)

A little perspective, quickly, before I try to actually accomplish something with my afternoon... I grew up in the Unitarian Universalist faith. In UUism you don't have "Sunday school" but "religious education". As a child you study the beliefs of individuals and cultures around the world, so that as you grow up you have some perspective and knowledge by which to form your own belief system. Knowing the beliefs of another culture, I can have the utmost respect for those beliefs without holding them true for myself. For example (here's an easy one) I believe Jesus lived. I believe he was a truly great person, visionary, etc. but I do not believe he was the "son of god" (anymore than any of us are) or that he was resurrected. I have no less respect for people who DO believe these things, but they aren't part of my own personal creed. Life is an active thing, and you need to live it according to what is right for YOURSELF... nobody else.

 

There is no need to over-analyze your dreams. I think sometimes you just dream things because you thought of something for one second or it came up in conversation briefly that day and thats it. I've had dreams of eating cheeseburgers and stuff and I wake up really grossed out and freaked out. I did actually used to love cheeseburgers but meat really weirds me out now and even if I crave it, I remind myself that its a dead animal and who would want to eat that!? Maybe that day I heard someone say "let's go get a cheeseburger" or something like that. You really shouldn't over-analyze it, in my opinion.