Universal Landscape: Evidence of wounding; protection that is instinctive.
Dreaming Lens: Did you sustain a cut in your dream? Was there evidence of a cut after the fact? Were you cutting someone else? Was someone else cutting you? Were you cutting yourself? What was the implement or tool used? How badly were you hurt? Was there bleeding?
Personal Focus: The skin is the largest organ of the human body. Comprised of three layers, its primary function is to separate the outside and inside of the body, offering a mildly protective shell for the tissue beneath it. Cuts in the skin hinder the effectiveness of that protection and the body quickly responds to any injury it may sustain.
While a cut opens the body to risk, the healing response is powerful and immediate. As the brain releases chemicals that block pain and ease stress, the blood begins to clot, closing the opening made by the cut. The immune system responds with protective mechanisms that fight off infection. Seen in this light, the larger portion of the experience of a cut is on the healing side of the equation. It is this response that becomes the essence of this symbol’s meaning.
A cut leaves a mark that is the evidence of the wound. Depending on whether the wound occurs in the dream, or appears to have happened in the past, indicates where you are in the process of responding to some hurtful moment in life. Additionally, your interpretation will vary depending on the part of the body that is affected. The arms relate to strength and action, the legs connect to movement and motivation. The hands represent creativity, and the face connects to the persona one shows to the world.
See “Body Parts” for more thoughts to augment the meaning you assign this symbol. Additionally, consider that a cut on an exposed part of the body means your wound is visible to others. An area that is generally covered by clothing may connect to the ability or desire to hide your wounds.
The phenomenon of “cutting” is a ritualized addiction where a person deliberately cuts their body as a stress-relief mechanism. People who cut will describe a satisfaction in having an interior experience of emotional pain expressed physically on the body. Being cut in a dream, whether self-inflicted or otherwise, is a similar action by the unconscious mind to express inward pain in an outward manner.
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