I think what we understand (rather than theorise) about dreams always has to be subjective, Kath, and as you described this as a dream I had no doubt that was what it was - also, emotion is the key. Really interesting too about Tolkein's wave, ethelmay. We may have universal dream experiences of light/movement/uneasy emotion, but these take different forms - orb, wave, roughs and smooths - in different families/groups. That difference is what I find interesting...