Dream Elements

I keep having this recurring theme in my dreams the last few weeks. Last night this came up and also one other day this week. I am trying to dive into a pool. Inevitably I am unable to do it. I can get in the water in the regular way, jumping in feet first, getting in from the side, going down the steps etc... When I get in the pool in these ways, the water acts normal and my body acts normal, but whenever I try to dive into it, I can't. It's strange because I know and can remember that I have been able to dive into a pool in the past, and can do it proficiently even if it is not beautiful or perfect. But every single time I go to dive in the water, I barely break the surface and end up doing some sort of flip or body contortion that puts me right back on top of the water and I can't get down underneath the water and have that feeling of smooth cutting through the water, going deep and then resurfacing when you dive in properly. It's a frustrating feeling knowing that I have the capability of doing this, but physically not being able to do it for some reason.

So I sit and try to analyze this dream element. (not my strongest suit. This is Risa's realm of understanding) I have heard and read that water in dreams represent your emotional state. The state of the water often reflects your emotional state. In my real life I think of pools as highly chlorinated, so sterile (in a sense) and clean. They are also easily available to me because I have a pool in the back yard. Most times in my dreams there are other people there in and around the pool swimming and diving and enjoying the pool. I am rarely if ever alone. The water is calm, I just can't dive into it. And I really want to, because I know I can and I get frustrated because I know I have done it before, but just can't seem to do it again even though I want to and should be able to.

So I'm obviously trying to work through something emotionally. Trying to do something or feel something that I was once good at and didn't have trouble with, but am struggling to do now. I don't like thinking about and trying to figure things like this out because it makes me look inside and that is terrifying to me because sometimes my insides are dark and scary and I don't like to face some of the truths that I see staring back out at me. Hows that for crazy town? The good thing is that I don't feel like I wake up exhausted from these dreams and trying to understand them. I know there are plenty of people that don't give a lot of thought or credence to dreams, but I believe that for me, dreams are not necessarily prophetic or visionary (I don't assume to be a prophetess or anything like that) but I do believe that they are a way for me to examine and try to understand things I don't like to deal with in my waking life. And I don't think every dream has some sort of message, but when I get repeating themes, I think there is something my subconsciousness is trying to work through.