Where's the party in your dream world? The type of party and your feelings about it are the key to interpreting your dream. A birthday or anniversary celebration at home can symbolize personal achievement or growth, since homes typically represesnt aspects of the self. Dreaming of the company picnic or Christmas party could indicate a need to take a "mental health day," possibly with your co-workers. Formal, "black tie" affairs represent your career or goals. A wild party involving sex would symbolize sexual drive or frustration.
Your feelings about the party can help you identify hope, fears or insecurities. For instance, dreaming of being overdressed or out of place at a party would symbolize a lack of confidence and poor self-image. Being the subject of gossip or being ignored would indicate insecurity and a need for approval.
Abraham Maslow definition of the "self-actualized" person is that of someone who "has become strong enough to be independent of the good opinion of other people, or even of their affection. The honors, the status, the rewards, the popularity, the prestige, and the love...have become less important than self-development and inner growth."
The only person you really need approval from is yourself. If you are at odds with who you really are, you're not being true to yourself. This can cause great unhappiness and depression. Perhaps it's time to quit that high paying yet boring office job that makes your mother proud and you miserable. You may have only taken the job to please your family, but you'd rather work with a small non-profit agency that helps change lives. It may be time to go for it.
May all your dreams come true!
Parthena Black is a professional social worker and ordained minister with experience in tarot and runes. For private spiritual counseling and intuitive readings via e-mail, please visit her at oymygoddess.com.