In-house dream counsel III: The Face Tattoo

Week 2, Semester 2

By Tilly Houghton

The dreamer: an environmentally conscious MLS second year.

The dream:

• “I had a dream that my friend lost odds and had to get a face tattoo and she ended up with a purple mustache that curled up tattooed on her upper lip.  And then filled in eyebrows but they were really sloppily done and kinda looked like MS Paint?? I have no idea.”​

The interpretation:

Losing odds: Fear of unexpected change impacting the people you care about and how that also impacts you. Depending on what the bet was, there might also be a question of being able to control your actions versus external chance.  Maybe this is what taking the Property exam is meant to feel like?

Face tattoo: Permanency and visibility, which indicates that these aren’t minute changes, but ones that have drastic consequences. The tattoo on her face means that it might also have to do with identity and how others perceive this person. Was it a Mike Tyson- style piece, or just, like, block letters of the lyrics to ‘Wannabe’ by Spice Girls on her forehead?

Purple moustache: Moustaches seem like a patriarchal symbol to me – an outward display of power and status specifically for men (when women have them, they’re ostracised), so take from that what you will. However, it does seem like this change could be good. It illustrates that there is a newfound power which defies preconceived societal expectations. The colour purple is also interesting because of its historical connotations with feminism and queerness.  

Sloppy eyebrows: Expression and (in)ability to express emotions clearly. Maybe that comes with the newfound territory, maybe it’s an internal worry about how to respond to your own forms of communication with yourself, others, or your friend. With clerkship season coming up, you may find yourself worrying about the interactions you have with others--are they genuine? Is there another infamous spreadsheet doing the rounds this time?  Probably, this is MLS after all.