While no one can say for certain exactly where dreams come from or how they operate, there is good reason to believe that these mysterious clusters of sound and image are vitally important to our physical and emotional well-being.
Sigmund Freud believed that dreams connect us to the unconscious mind. Carl Jung, taking this theory a step further, insisted that dreams are more than a path to the individual unconscious; rather, the universal symbolism in dreams reflects archetypal images.
Since we all have personal experience with certain symbols, we must incorporate our own learned significance when attempting to interpret dream images. I include here ten of the most common dreams and the generally accepted meanings for dream images, but each dreamer must go beyond the standard interpretation and discover how these symbols relate to his or her situation.
The subconscious is aware of signals that may be ignored or repressed by the conscious mind. In order to bypass the denial system, you may want to try one or more of the following tricks:
- Title your dream. This is helpful in establishing objectivity and identifying the theme of the dream.
- Determine what one image or situation in your dream is out of place. For example, if you dream of traveling to visit a distance relative (who really exists) and you make the trip on the back of a turtle, your mode of travel would be out of place (unless, of course, you really do travel on turtles). In this case, you will want to consider the significance of the turtle.
- Determine the emotional tone of the dream. Is it pleasant, frightening, frustrating, exciting? More often than not, the emotion surrounding the dream events is a significant clue to its meaning.
Despite the varied cultural and ethnic backgrounds and experiences of individuals, we all tend to have the same sort of dreams.
- Being chased. This type of dream often results from a feeling of overwhelming stress in some area of our lives. If you dream of being chased by someone you know, you must consider that this person is somehow contributing to your anxiety. If you dream of being chased by a stranger, it's possible that the stranger represents some aspect of yourself. Ask yourself: What life issue is threatening to overwhelm me? What fear looms over me at this point in time? Am I feeling guilty about something?
- Falling. Dreams of falling often come from the fear of losing control. Ask yourself: What part of my life is out of control? What relationship is so threatening that I would take desperate measures to end it? Who fails to provide the emotional support I need to feel secure?
- Out of control vehicle. Generally, a car, plane, train, or other vehicle is the symbol for our life's path. Ask yourself: Has my life (vehicle) taken an unexpected direction? What part of my life (vehicle) is moving too fast? Who is driving me?
- Forgotten test. Long assumed to mean that the dreamer feels unprepared for the task at hand, this dream may also signal a sense that one is being tricked, that we are being “set up.” Ask yourself: How am I being tested? In what way am I unprepared? Am I under pressure to perform?
- Naked in public. As with all the dreams, the emotional tone of this one is important to the meaning. Does your nudity cause you to feel embarrassed? Or are you proudly showing off your wares? Ask yourself: Am I afraid that my secret/s will be revealed? Have I misrepresented myself in some way? Am I feeling insecure, vulnerable, exposed?
- Being trapped. This type of dream will usually carry an element of fear or of frustration. Ask yourself: What is holding me? What obstacle stands between me and success? What habits do I need to break free from in order to move forward?
- Flying. Most people who dream of flying find it pleasant, but this may also be a frightening dream for some because it may represent a loss of inhibition. Ask yourself: Do I feel that my emotional restraint is weakening? How is my spiritual nature taking flight? What tethers in my life have been cut?
- House damage. A house often symbolizes our personal universe, with each room representing a different body part. Ask yourself: What threatens the stability (foundation) of my life? Who or what has damaged or disturbed my life plan? What health issues have I ignored?
- Missing the plane / train / boat? Travel images often signify an emotional journey of discovery. Ask yourself: What opportunity for growth have I missed? Is procrastination making me late for my destiny? What spiritual progress am I overlooking?
- Natural disaster. Disasters come in many forms, but in general they all represent unexpected and uncontrollable change. Ask yourself: What upheaval has threatened my foundation? What change has struck from the blue, bringing chaos with it? In what way am I feeling inundated?
Please see my article Dream Symbols and Their Meanings at here.
for more information about what your dreams are trying to tell you.
