I have had a reocurring dream of a woman I dated and have known for 7 years. I am married to a different woman, but a couple nights ago I had a dream that this girl was sitting next to me instead of my wife. Also last night I had three different dreams about this same girl: The first we were dating, the second we got married, and the third we were living together. A couple years ago I had the same dating dream with the same woman. What does this mean?

Offhand, I'd say this woman personifies your "feminine side"; and traits that her waking world counterpart had - or, more likely, seems to have - in a greater degree than your waking world wife. (I emphasize "seems to have" because there's a lot of truth to the old "grass is greener" adage.)

Dream companions of this nature are not uncommon. I've had one show up now and then for 25 years. Have even met her daughter or, perhaps, grandaughter. They can "mean" anything: compensation for the way your working life is going, an alternate past, a guide to your subconcious mind, a tease and practical joker ... the list is limitless and the meaning is ultimately yours to determine. In time, I think you'll find her to be much different than her waking world counterpart.

Don't take her as an alternative to your wife. She's not. When dream girls complement your waking life, they can be wonderful. When they compete with it, trouble's ahead.