The other night I dreamt of this
> MASSIVE jet black dog ( more like a bloody cow in
> size!) and damned ugly too. Bit like a bull mastiff.
> All rippling muscles etc. A woman had him on a lead,
> and I wondered if he was as vicious as his
> appearance suggested. But no - he seemed a bit
> neglected? Had a streamer of tissue hanging/dangling
> off his face and I knew it was a tumour...
> She released him and he climbed up this grassy hill
> held in by a wall, went to the edge of the wall, and
> I thought about telling here her dog would break its
> legs if he jumped, but she was engrossed chatting to
> folk, so I didn't and the dog did jump down. He
> buckled a bit, then started to hurl himself trying
> to climb back up the wall. I thought "this animal is
> so THICK!" It fell back, then raced headlong towards
> me, but not - cos he went crashing into another wall
> and crumpled. He was thick because he could have
> thought to enter the higher ground through the
> opening (as before) only he didn't.
>
Is this just some random insane dream? Or is it: the
dog = the tumour? Sorry to sounds as if I expect you
to have all the answers here , LOL! (It was one
extremely ugly bugger too btw!)

I am asking because I have cancer and am wondering if the dog in some way represents the tumour? So - any and all ideas gratefully received!

So what does a dog mean to you?
Is it a trusting, faithful companion?
Is it an artful, sly scavenger?
Is it a bitch?
Or just something less than human?

This sounds like a Staffordshire. They've been in the news a bit recently, and a friend of mine tells me that the dog-rescue places are full of them at the moment.

If the dog is you, who has been neglecting you? Who is the Lady? Who is your owner? If it IS you, I suggest that your self-image and self-esteem are both unusually low. You need to boost your self-esteem.

Were you doing something that hindsight makes you regret?

Or do you feel that having cancer has dimished you spiritually and reduced you to the level of a beast?

I'm just throwing out questions here. No need to answer, other than in your own mind.

Tas, the 1st thing that popped into my head was your son. ???

Now this is all very interesting indeedy!
I have some thoughts of my own regarding the cancer itself, and factors surrounding both it and the demise of my late mother, plus of course all the attendant crap which has resurfaced ( a bit like pond scum!) over the last few months.

I'm going to sit on my thoughts for a bit, but thanks to you two for your input, and anyone else feels like bunging in their tuppenny worth - pleas - feel free!

Are you familiar with the story of "Black Angus", the hellhound of death? Well it looks like your prospects are good with the removal of the cancer.

Not off the top of my head, no Quasi. There are a great many tales of black dogs in Scotland; any chance of a reminder?

Sorry to hear about your cancer that you are getting rid of.

From a Jungian point of view all aspects of the dream are aspects of you, so Fred's ideas are right on the button.

Other thoughts -
1) the "stupidity" of the dog - could it be the walls are different treatments and it is banging into them but wants to overcome them? Unsuccessfully so... I'm sure Q's story will show this.
2) next time you have this dream, try being kind to the dog. Things that are loved become lovely to us. Perhaps the dog will also become beautiful and the errant cells become beautiful flesh instead of "wrong" flesh.

Best wishes
x

Hmm. I had considered this last idea too - then I thought about it - why on earth should I give energy/identity to this thing that's invading me? I didn't feel animosity to it (the dog) of feel scared of it - just that it was moronic - and maybe best put out of its misery...

Here you are Tas, the most well-known of these legends is "Black Shuck":

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Shuck

What if the Dog is your body, and the Lady is your mind? The Dog has failed you and you have let it off the leash. It's in trouble. You are disengaged. Perhaps you should pick up the leash again and help the creature. And the Mind needs a vessel.

Indeed I'm curious as to who the lady is. Anyone you know, Tas?

The lady as Hekate has black dogs, easy enough to look that up for references, one of my witchlings often sees them before events. I reckon your magick is the lady (higher self, witch mother whatever) and that the dog is you as magick in life-force and that the magick if slightly neglected is where such things as cancers can take root. Too much worrying about others, kids, mum when she was alive and a bit of neglect of yourself hon?

Next Wednesday is the first anniversary of Bruce's death.

He was a big black lab who was built like a brick out-house with rippling muscles.

He died of a tumour in his mouth so he had a a flap of skin hanging out of the side of his mouth.

He also had cataracts so he tended to walk into things.

Your dream dog didn't try to lick you to death did it?

Hey, im not very good at interpreting dream but i used this site to help me along. I though you might be interested in it.

http://www.dreammoods.com/dreamdictionary/

Bloody hell Andy, that is scary! This one didn't but he did have an awful lot of spare drool!

Jape, I can see where you are coming from.

Thanks to all.