I have had the same dream for as long as I can remember. The people in the dream never change but as I grow older I now know who they are or at least some of them.
The dream starts as friends family and I are going down a semi-dry creek bed. There is fire everywhere. I do not know how the fire starts I just know it is there. The fire incompases the world. It is like a forest fire or grass fire and it cannot be put out. People are running to large boats to go into the water because it is said to be safe. Something in my heart tells me not to go to the water it is not safe. I am leading my friends and family to a safe place I cannot identify yet and trying to pick up others along the way. All the time thinking water is not safe. Some of my friends and family believe me and follow me others go to the boats as I beg them not to. We stop at a large boy of water and I see a boat and it is filled with people trying to escape the fire. I know I do not want to see what is going to happen but something forces me to watch. The boat goes out in the deep part of the water far away from the fire and something comes from under the water and pulls the boat down. Everyone on the boat dies. We keep walking finally we reach our destination. Other family members are there ones that I could not find. We are surounded by woods in a house with some open land directly around the house. We can see the smoke in the distance but I feel safe here. Weeks or months pass not sure of the time but the fire never comes. I do not know how long the fire lasts but eventually it is gone and others start to come. I know them but I do not know from where. Most of the land is burnt we start to clean and rebuild. Everything is peacefull. I have had this dream sinse I was a little girl. I remember it as early as 5. I am now in my 30's. The people never change. I always look the same never a child. The dream has come back in the past few months. This dream has haunted me for most of my life. I could use help with meaning or put some closure on this dream.

Sorry to be so long in replying. That this dream has been with you for more than twenty five years, and goes back to early childhood, leads me to think it's based on some traumatic incident or incidents, long repressed from concious recall, from very early childhood. It is as though, rightly or wrongly, you perceived yourself as thrust into a leadership role for which you could not possibly be prepared.

Now, that said, I think I should point out that none of the regulars here are psychiatrists or otherwise-certified mental health professionals. Marcia and Jonathan have some special qualifications; but the rest of us (and that's not many) have only our own experience to guide us. Though we're prepared to give such insights as we have, you might want to consider taking this to a qualified professional.

One thing that might help, whether you take that route, or continue to post here, or to rely on your own dreamwork, is to ask yourself: "How does this dream impact my waking life?" How do you feel when you awaken from it? How do you see it as affecting your opinion of yourself? If you can get a grasp of the impact it is having on you, you may get a better idea of what it is trying to tell you,

Best wishes,
Bob

makes sense

I never put two and two together. I started to have the dreams about the same time my grandmother started to need care. I was in 2nd grade and they left her to babysit but I was the one changing diapers. She passed a few years latter, I blamed myself. I can not complain she is the reason I am who I am, and I would not change it. The dream bothered me for years because I could not save everyone. I guess that is my subconscious telling me that no matter how hard I try I will never be able to save everyone.

Thanks,
Ann

Don't forget, though: you and others do reach a place of safety and of new beginnings! You couldn't save everyone, and at the start that new land is rough, with much work to be done; but it is peaceful!

You couldn't save everyone. No human being can. But you did the best you knew, and should give yourself credit for it and work on this "new beginning" not just with your waking mind, but in partnership with your dreaming mind.

All the best,
Bob