Cats, Closets and Dreams

Last night I had a strange and vivid dream. I usually remember my dreams upon waking, but they usually fade away by late morning. However, this one stayed with me all day, and I kept coming back to the imagery -- rich, obvious and very Jungian. I have been trying to figure out what it means all day...

In my dream, I was traveling on business, and was renting a small apartment in a town I'd never visited before. Upon my arrival, the realtor in charge of renting the apartment showed me around, then told me that something unpleasant had happened, and that I may not want to look in the closet. I didn't ask any questions as to the nature of the incident.

Throughout the dream, I spent time with various colleagues, whom I had not met before this trip, and all made references to the closet. I recall thinking that while these people were nice, and I didn't mind hanging around with them during my visit, they weren't people I would have chosen out of the whole pool of humanity to be my friends. There was nothing specific that I didn't like about them, it was just a feeling.

Upon arriving back at the apartment with a colleague after having been out and about, I came in through a side door, which opened onto a set of stairs leading up to the living area. On the stairs was a very friendly cat. My colleague commented that the cat wasn't usually so friendly toward strangers. When we got upstairs, she mentioned the closet.

I woke up soon after this portion of the dream. I never did look in the closet. I had this strong feeling that not knowing would be way better than seeing whatever might be in there. I knew that if whatever-it-was-in-the-closet was incredibly disturbing, I wouldn't be able to stay in the apartment.

My surface analysis was that it was obvious that the closet represented a part of myself or my life that I have not explored. The scary thing in the closet is some aspect of myself that I am afraid to confront, feeling that it is better to deny it than to confront it and not be able to live with it. As for the cat, in many cultures they are seen as messengers or conduits to the spirit world -- good or evil. According to the Dream Moods website, "for the cat lover, cats signifies an independent spirit, feminine sexuality, creativity, and power."

However, although I've been meditating on my dream's possible meanings, I have not come to any conclusions. Seeing things clearly for other people comes quite naturally for me. What is it that I can't see about myself?