This essay recounts visitations by ancestral spirits whose presence was synchronous with the sudden onset of neuromuscular symptoms at two similar junctures in the author’s life. These spirits and their association with a complex of survivor’s guilt were revealed in dreams. Creative engagement of psyche and soma was possible thanks to an astute physical therapist, a former analyst who appeared in a dream, and the current analyst who correctly perceived the lifelong pattern. A ritual for the ancestors brought the recent striking episode to a meaningful conclusion. This essay models an approach to symptoms that allows their symbolic and psychodynamic dimensions to be discovered.

这篇文章讲述了祖灵的造访，这些祖灵的出现与作者生命中两个类似时刻突然出现的神经肌肉症状同步。这些精神及其与幸存者内疚情结的联系在梦中显露出来。多亏了一位精明的物理治疗师，一位出现在梦中的前分析师，以及正确感知终生模式的现任分析师，精神和躯体的创造性参与才成为可能。为祖先举行的仪式使最近引人注目的事件有了一个有意义的结论。这篇文章模拟了一种处理症状的方法，可以发现它们的象征和心理动力学维度。