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Dream Interpretation
(see bottom of post for links to help you interpret your dream symbols not listed here!)
Dreaming,
we all do it. Some of us dream vividly, some very vaguely. Some of us
even dream in black and white. I'm sure more than one of you know that
all-to-common dream feeling of trying to scream, and making no sound. Or
trying to move and being unable, or it being like your held down with
lead. What about those people, places, or things we seem to constantly encounter, universally? What does it all mean? Anything? The experts think so:
According to Domhoff:
"'Meaning' has to do with coherence and with systematic
relations to other variables, and in that regard dreams do have meaning.
Furthermore, they are very "revealing" of what is on our minds. We have
shown that 75 to 100 dreams from a person give us a very good
psychological portrait of that individual. Give us 1000 dreams over a
couple of decades and we can give you a profile of the person's mind
that is almost as individualized and accurate as her or his
fingerprints."
Hall: Dreams as a Cognitive Process:
Calvin S. Hall proposed that dreams are part of a cognitive process
in which dreams serve as ‘conceptions’ of elements of our personal
lives. Hall looked for themes and patterns by analyzing thousands of
dream diaries from participants, eventually creating a quantitative
coding system that divided the content of dreams into a number of
different categories.
According to Hall’s theory, interpreting dreams requires knowing:
- The actions of the dreamer within the dream
- The objects and figures in the dream
- The interactions between the dreamer and the characters in the dream
- The dream’s setting, transitions, and outcome
The ultimate goal of this dream interpretation is not to understand the dream, however, but to understand the dreamer.
Read More on Expert Opinions Here
Now,
there are some very universal dream symbols, and dream themes. A dream
diary is a great way to keep track of your dreams, and notice any
recurring symbol or theme. Dream recording should be done immediately
upon awakening. How much of your dream do you remember at the time? How
much at the end of the day? The next? I'm certain I read once that we
forget 50% of our dreams in the first 5 minutes after waking up. The
next step is to go about interpretation. I'm going to include the most
common below, and then some links for Dream Dictionary's for you to
examine your past and future dreams.
Common Symbols
Babies-
"Babies in dreams are symbols of purity, rebirth, and vulnerability.
Again, it’s important to recognize what’s happening with the baby to
figure out how it relates to your life. A crying or abandoned baby could
mean that you’re not paying enough attention to your own needs. Perhaps
you feel especially needy and vulnerable right now, or you might have
doubts about being able to take care of someone other than yourself."
Another source says babies " can symbolize a literal desire to produce offspring,
or your own vulnerability or need to feel loved. They can also signify a
new start."
Yet another: "Baby is a new idea.
A child is the result of uniting of a male and female. In the
language of mind this represents the cooperative use of the aggressive
and receptive principles to create something new"
Work
" Dreams about your job suggest
that certain work habits need fixing–either not being on-task enough or
working too much. When worries about job performance leak into our
subconscious, there’s a lack of balance somewhere, either in
effectiveness or in leisure time."
Another source goes further in detail to say: "
To dream that you
are at work indicates that you are experiencing some anxiety about a current
project or task. The dream may also be telling you that you need to "get
back to work". Perhaps you have been slacking off and need to pick up
the pace. Stop procrastinating. Alternatively, the dream reflects your success.
To dream that you
are at your former work suggests that there is an old lesson that you need to
learn and apply to your current situation.
To dream
that you have been replaced at work represents your concern about your current
job security. You feel that you are in a precarious position at work or in some
group project."
Bugs
Creepy-crawlies are the manifestation of problems that we’re not
facing. Bugs on your skin mean an unsettling change is taking place in
your life. The more bugs you encounter in your dream, the greater your
problems and unconscious anxieties.
Elsewhere:
"To
see a bug in your dream suggests that you are worried about something.
It is symbolic of your anxieties and/or fears. What is literally bugging
you? Consider also the popular phrase "bitten by the bug" to imply your
strong emotional ties or involvement to some activity/interest/hobby.
Alternatively, the bug may be representative of your sexual thoughts.
To dream that
there are endless amount of bugs coming out of your hair suggests that
something is weighing on your mind that you are confused about. Perhaps
you are making a big deal out of minor matter. Alternatively, the dream
refers to concerns over your public image."
Candles
If the candle is aflame, that might mean good luck’s coming your way,
or at least that there’s a reason to be hopeful. If it’s not lit, the
candle could represent a lack of initiative or not living up to one’s
promise. A candle that’s blown out has to do with leaving something
behind, which could be good or bad.
Another source: "To
see a burning candle in your dream signifies that good luck and hope
will be coming your way in small and steady amounts. You are in a
comfortable stage in your life and may be seeking spiritual
enlightenment.�Lit candles are also symbolic of intellect,
enlightenment, awareness or the search for truth.
To see an
unlit candle denotes feelings of rejection or disappointments. You are
not utilizing your fullest potential. If you try to light the candle,
but it won't light, then it represents grief. You are in denial about
something. To see a candle blow out in your dream indicates that you are
surrendering a significant aspect of yourself. You are letting go of
something that used to be important to you."
Death
This makes for a sad dream, but death isn’t as ominous a theme as
you’d think–it’s more about change on the horizon. If someone you know
dies in a dream you have, think about your connection to that person. Is
there an aspect of your relationship that needs changing? Or is there
something about the person’s life that you’d like to see manifesting
itself in your own? Death-related dreams might also be about incoming
change or the dreamer’s need to change.
Elsewhere states that death of a friend or loved one represents change (endings
and new beginnings) and is not a paranormal prediction of any kind. If
you are recently bereaved, it may be an attempt to come to terms with
the event.
Mirrors
"Mirrors in dreams reflect our inner qualities–both how others
perceive us and how we see ourselves. If the mirror is foggy or clouded,
however, that means we’re not seeing things accurately and need to
figure out why. Shattering a mirror is allegedly bad luck in real life,
but in the dream world, it represents breaking away from the inner self."
From another source: "To
dream of your own reflection in the mirror suggests that you are
pondering thoughts about your inner self. The reflection in the mirror
is how you perceive yourself or how you want others to see you. You may
be contemplating on strengthening and changing aspects of your
character.If you dream that that you do not see your reflection in a
mirror implies that you have lost your self-identity. Perhaps you have
changed for the benefit of others that you don't know who you are
anymore.
To break a mirror in your
dream suggests that you are breaking an old image of yourself. You may
be putting an end to an old habit. Breaking a mirror is also an old
symbol for seven years of bad luck. To see a cracked or broken mirror in
your dream. represents a poor or distorted self-image. Alternatively,
it means that you have put an end to your old habits and ways"
People (I
would also like to say I once read that the people we see in dreams
(even if we don't know them) have the faces of people we've seen
somewhere before. We don't just make up a new face in our dreams. Fact
check anyone?)
Would you guess the people we encounter in dreams are variations on
ourselves? Pay close attention to these figures, because they represent
personality traits we don’t acknowledge, either because they’re hidden
or because they’re negative. When the person’s a stranger, it usually
means the former; when he or she is familiar, it tends to signify the
latter, although it could also mean that you should take a closer look
at the ways in which you interact with that person in real life, and
perhaps change your behavior toward him or her.
The former definition is mirrored by this source "People (other dream characters) are reflections of your own psyche, and may demonstrate specific aspects of your own personality."
Hair
Hair in our sleep
life has multiple meanings, including sensuality, self-image, and
strength. If you’re cutting your hair, that symbolizes taking power over
your life and letting go of unnecessary burdens. Brushing or fixing
your hair alludes to heightened self-consciousness. Hair falling out has
to do with fear of getting old and/or physical weakness.
This source sees it a bit different: " hair has significant ties with sexuality, according to
Freud. Abundant hair may symbolize virility, while cutting hair off in a
dream shows a loss of libido. Hair loss may also express a literal fear
of going bald or becoming unattractive."
Tears
If you’re crying in a dream, you’re likely grappling with a pent-up
emotion that you’re not letting go of in real life, and it’s a way for
your subconscious to provide you with the emotional outlet you deny
yourself otherwise. If someone else is crying in your dream, it could be
a message to you to be mindful of the thoughts and feelings of those
around you.
We get much more in detail here: "To
dream that you are crying signifies a release of negative emotions that
is more likely caused by some waking situation rather than the events
of the dream itself. Your dream is a way to regain some emotional
balance and to safely let out your fears and frustrations. In your daily
lives, you tend to ignore, deny, or repress your feelings. But in your
dream state, your defense mechanisms are no longer on guard and thus
allow for the release of those feelings that you have repressed during
the dayTo see someone
else crying in your dream, may be a projection of your own feelings
onto someone else. If you do not cry in your waking life, then seeing
someone else cry may be a little easier to deal with then seeing
yourself cry.
To wake up crying represents some suppressed hurt or previous trauma
that is coming up to the surface. You can no longer suppress these
emotions. They need to be dealt with head on.
To dream that no one hears or responds to your cries represents your
helplessness, difficulties and frustrations in trying to communicate
with others. You feel that your words are falling on deaf ears. Perhaps
your dream is telling you to be more vocal and work harder to get your
point across.
Roads
Traveling down a road during a dream is like traveling down the path
to your goals in life. Sometimes it’s windy or full of potholes, which
means you have hardships to overcome. If it’s smooth, you’re making good
choices and feel confident about your future success. And if the road
ahead looks dark and looming, it might indicate that you’re making
choices along the way without all the information you need, which could
produce difficult outcomes
Again,
we see a similar definition: aside from being literal manifestations,
convey your direction in life. This may be time to question your current
"life path".
Water
Whether it’s a rushing river or a calm ocean, water represents our
emotional state. Calm, clear water means that we’re generally content
and peaceful at the moment. Murky, rough water suggests we’re feeling
overwhelmed by negative thoughts and not making choices that support our
emotional well-being
Other source: Water comes in many forms and can symbolize the
subconscious mind. Calm pools of water reflect inner peace while a
choppy ocean can suggest unease.
30 Common Dream Symbols
Guide for Interpreting Dreams
Online Dream Dictionary(my favorite, been using it for over a decade. Very detailed.)
So Dreamers, questions for today: What are your most common dream symbols (not themes)? What does it mean to you; do you feel these interpretations are accurate? Ever had a dream come true? Leave a comment with your input!
Bonus:
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