Everyone dreams – even if you don’t think you do. Some dreams are vivid and some abstract. Have you ever thought to interpret them to see what they may mean? Often you can gain insight into what’s going on in your head.
As a small child of about five or six, I used to have scary dreams about cemeteries. I don’t know why I did, but they were always spooky. Years later, I wondered if it had something to do with a past life.
It’s not that I had any experience with death when I was young. In fact, I never saw anyone dead until I was 30. Still, the images I saw in my dreams were frightening.
As I grew older, I started having recurring dreams about tidal waves and volcanos and was always running away from them. Some time later I learned that type of dream could be a sign I was feeling suffocated by something like a job or a relationship.
Symbols in Dreams Are Not the Same for Everyone
Much has been written about symbolism in dreams but that doesn’t mean night visions are cut in stone. Each person has different situations, anxieties, and thought processes. But, they can be fun to figure out.
Dreams about death are rarely a premonition that you or someone else will die. They may mean something mundane, like you’re stressed about losing your job. Death is often interpreted as dealing with a major change in your life and may serve as an outlet for stress.
An animal in your dream usually has something to do with the way you connect with the natural world and survival. If a wild beast is chasing you, it may signal you have blocked certain emotions like fear and are living them in your sleep.
Have you ever dreamed you were naked and couldn’t find your clothes? It may be a sign of sexual desire, though often it’s you revealing your true self to someone else or even to yourself.
If your sense of security is in danger, say if a spouse is sick or you’re about to go through a divorce, you may dream you’re being pushed out of an airplane against your will or have your belongings stolen by a thief.
Falling in a dream is startling and might feel like you’re losing control, but it could also mean you’re releasing your fears.
Flying is similar to falling. If you’re flying and gliding it could signal freedom from something that had been stifling you.
Or, you may be afraid you’ll fall which could be a sign you lack confidence or are afraid to fail. Next time you have a flying dream, instead of worrying about it, take in the view and enjoy the moment.
Keep a Dream Journal
It helps to keep a journal next to your bed so you can write down your dream the moment you get up. If you don’t, your dream will disappear into the ether. Remembering dreams takes practice but they’re always illuminating. Think of it like going to the gym. It takes practice to make them stick.
As soon as you wake up, lay in bed for a few minutes before getting up. Repeat the dream several times to yourself so you remember as many details as you can. Once you have it in your head write it down immediately.
Take a look at what you wrote later in the day and see if you can remember even more details. Some may come back to you.
You can also manipulate your dreams by setting an intention before you go to bed that you’ll dream about a certain person or thing. This could help you achieve a goal or discover something about yourself you haven’t been able to figure out.
What to Do with Your Dreams Once They’re Written Down
Writing down your dreams is a good way to solve problems that are causing discourse in your life. They may also aid in your creativity. For instance, if you’re a writer, a dream can help you write a story or may inspire a masterpiece if you’re an artist.
Let’s Have a Conversation:
What do you remember of you latest dream? Do you keep a dream journal? Have you found any interesting insights as a result of keeping a dream journal? Please leave a comment and let’s see if we can figure out your dreams.
