I Finally Made It Upstairs

“…go to your inner room…”  ~ Matthew 6:6

I had a dream the other night that was just like so many I’ve had before, with one important distinction: I made it upstairs. 

I frequently dream about my house (well, it’s not my real house—it’s the one I often have in dreams) and the many rooms in it. I usually have access to the ground floor and I’ve been to the basement, but there is a second and third floor I can kind of see but can’t access. What I see is dark and empty—just wood beams and cobwebs. So when I finally made it up there recently and saw what was now inside, it was as exciting as if it were real.

The rooms upstairs were filled with light! They had curtains, couches, and beds, and I could tell people had been there. There was even a darling kitchen with a very inviting table and chairs. I remember thinking, “This is a full apartment up here where someone could live!” So of course I had to look into what this could mean. 

If you’ve ever worked with dreams and their meanings, you might be familiar with the symbolism of rooms and houses. In fact, for many years I worked with a yoga therapy mentor who was also a Jungian psychologist. When I brought these room dreams to her years ago, she shared with me that dreams of houses and their rooms can often represent the self—your psyche, inner life, or soul. I’ll have to do a bit of journaling around what my dream means to me, but I will say it is exciting to know these hidden rooms within me are now full of life and offering a safe place to sit, sip some tea, read a book, or take a nap. 

Funny enough, when I shared this dream with the Zoom room students of Online Yoga Membership, I learned many of us have these dreams. So many hidden rooms and dream houses to explore! 

These dreams remind me of a life-changing book I read a couple years ago: The Interior Castle, by Teresa of Ávila. In it, she describes the soul as a vast, luminous castle with many rooms, where the spiritual life is a gradual movement inward—from distraction and fear toward intimacy, clarity, and union with the Divine. Each room represents a deepening level of awareness, humility, and love rather than spiritual achievement. It’s truly a beautiful book, and I highly recommend it. 

Things like dreams, rooms, symbols, and archetypes always fascinate me in how universal they are. It’s like they have imprints in our DNA, and we are all united by them to one degree or another. I think it’s part of what draws me to labyrinth work. Labyrinths themselves are an archetype of the journey of life. Just like St. Teresa’s rooms that move inward towards unity, a labyrinth walk slowly winds your way to the center. And as you walk inward, there can be a releasing of mind chatter, allowing you to arrive at that inner “room” ready to listen and receive. 

In many ways, walking a labyrinth is like yoga asana.  You calm the body with movement and breath, then the mind will follow. Once the mind has settled you have access to the deeper parts of yourself–your inner room.

✨ If you’d like to experience this in person, I’m hosting a Community Labyrinth Walk on Sunday, February 1, at Butler Park (near Auditorium Shores) in downtown Austin, from 2–4 pm. It will be a celebration of sorts–stay tuned to learn why… I’ll send a registration link soon, but mark your calendar if you’d like to join!

So, do you also dream of rooms in your house? Are you curious about what’s hidden inside your interior castle? I hope you take some time to ponder this a bit. What is within you that is ready to be seen and known? What inner rooms are ready and waiting for your arrival? 

May you walk with deep trust into your mysterious inner room, and may you discover a room full of light and love ready for you to enjoy. 

Much love