The other night, I had a dream in which I pulled a book from my bookcase and inserted between the pages was exactly $15,001. The cash was in the form of a $10,000, $5,000, and $1.00 bills. Feeling excited, I took the cash to show my parents who happened to be sitting on my front porch. My father checked his wallet just in case some of his own money may have somehow found its way into my book, but all of his cash was in his wallet. As he put his wallet into his back pocket, a gang made up of Japanese men walked across my yard. One these men saw a cigarette lighter laying on the porch ledge and decided to walk up and take that lighter. My father then stood up and said "hey" as he shoved the gang member. The gang member insulted us as he gave back the lighter. I woke up at this point. I have two points I would like to make. First, my father passed away about a year and a half ago but the dream did not have the same feel as some visitation dreams I have had. Second, I have been stressed out over money and depressed about life in general. What do you all think this dream could mean? Part of me thinks it's about money, but I also think it goes deeper than that. Just can't put my finger on it.
I think the fact that you found three bills in different denominations could have to do with you comparing the value of things in your life. This could have to do with your worries about money. That the money was in a book could have to do with your gaining value from your knowledge/experience. The fact that you didn't get the money from your father could be your unconscious' way of telling you that you are capable of achieving things for yourself without his help now that you are gone. I think the lighter could represent your father's soul/spirit/memory. In the dream you worry that it could be taken away from you (he will be forgotten), but then you realize that his presence in your memory is too strong. Was your father good at handling money? Do you think that if he were around, he might be able to help you with your money problems?