GLAMOUR

Couple Time, December 2002

"Your love & sex dreams -- decoded"

Yikes! Is your subconscious trying to tell you something? Experts explain five readers' puzzling dreams.

THE DREAM: "I was out at a restaurant with friends, and the waiter who came over to take our order was. . .my boyfriend." -- SUSAN, 26, NEW YORK CITY

WHAT IT MEANS: Restaurants represent a wish to be nurtured, so dining out shows that she may be hungry for some TLC in her waking life. "In general, dreams reveal the status of your relationship and point out any warning signs," says Lauren Lawrence, author of Private Dreams of Public People. "In this case, Susan clearly wants to be cared for, especially since he's waiting on her -- but only in a situation where she feels in control."

THE DREAM: "After a party, I went home and had sex with a guy. When I looked up at him, it was my ex!" -- FLORA, 22, ATLANTA

WHAT IT MEANS: Visions of ex sex don't necessarily indicate that the dreamer is lusting after a reunion; they can denote unfulfilled needs in a current romance. The obvious meaning: "She wants a better time in bed," says Charles McPhee, author of Ask the Dream Doctor. Still, R-rated dreams aren't always literal, notes Lawrence. "She may be just craving more emotional intimacy."

THE DREAM: "When my husband started working longer hours, I dreamed that he was moving into a fancy apartment with another woman he was marrying for tax reasons." -- DANA, 32, NEW YORK CITY

WHAT IT MEANS: No, this dreamer is not an accountant -- she's feeling a quality-time debit in her relationship. "The other woman represents her husband's career," McPhee says. "She's afraid he's being seduced by it."

THE DREAM: "I made out with Lance Bass of 'N Sync. It was like my boyfriend didn't exist." -- KOREY, 26, OMAHA, NEBR.

WHAT IT MEANS: "Successful dream contact with celebrities shows high self-esteem -- it's nice to think that we're celeb material," says McPhee. But this dreamer probably isn't obsessed with Bass. "He could represent someone she knows who has similar qualities," adds Lawrence. And believe it or not, "she may be wishing for an encounter with someone who has the initials L.B."

THE DREAM: "My boyfriend and I were at our rehearsal dinner, and everyone was having a great time. Suddenly, we realized that we'd forgotten to buy wedding rings!" -- LAUREN, 25, PHILADELPHIA

WHAT IT MEANS: "Rings symbolize confinement," says Lawrence. "This doesn't mean she feels too encircled by her boyfriend; she just has trepidation about marriage." But at least they both forgot, says McPhee -- they're in this adventure together.

-- NINA WILLDORF