I was driving my soft top mustang in a bad snow storm, I lost control of the car and started flipping the vehicle finally to a dead stop on someone's front lawn. As my last flip was occurring I rolled down the window, thinking to myself that I might not get out of the car if the doors were jammed from the impact. I opened the door and walked out of the car to be approached by two men from the house where I landed on their front lawn. I went inside to call a tow truck and upon leaving their house to get to my car I noticed that the car was just finishing burning up completely ruined. Thinking to myself I just lost my car, I have no fire insurance to cover this.

Is there any special interpretation for this dream? It is really bothering me. Should I take it as a premonition about fire insurance for my car or is it symbolic to other things happening in my life? If you can help, please answer.

--Signed All Burned Up

Dear All Burned Up:

Dreams frequently use cars to symbolize the status of our lives. Whether the car is new, used, clean, dirty, dented, being repaired, being painted, stolen, borrowed, all has significance in relation to the dreamer.

When we lose control in our personal lives, this feeling is often reflected in dreams in which we lose control over vehicles. We may be driving a car and suddenly find that the brakes or the steering wheel don't work. Usually an “out of control” dream will contain a clue to its source. For example, if we feel out of control with regard to a family situation we may find that, in the dream, instead of driving the vehicle we currently own, we are driving an old family car or a car that reminds us of our family. If we feel out of control with regard to drugs and alcohol there likely will be drugs and alcohol implicated in the dream, for example, beer cans in the back seat, or trying to avoid the police. If we feel out of control with regard to particular relationships in our lives we may find in the dream that another person was driving our car, and that we felt frightened or uncomfortable.

The fact that your dream bothers you indicates its significance. I recommend you reflect upon the dream and see if you canít figure out what memories, feelings, or relationships it makes you think of. If a drug or alcohol problem is indicated, stop or seek help. If it's an unhealthy relationship, think about getting out of it. If it's unsafe sex, recognize what your body is telling you and practice safe sex. Once you re-claim control of the situation, you wonít have these types of dreams anymore. Good luck!