Spirita and Dreams

Awakening Your Intuition

2009-04-04T23:03:00.003-04:00

Intuition is the wisdom within you: when you know who’s’ calling before you pick up the phone; when you take an immediate liking to someone after only briefly seeing them in a picture and when you feel excited at the thought of a meeting that has not yet happened. When you listen to and trust your intuition, you begin to notice that it gently and beautifully points the way and offers you the truth in every situation...more

Anxiety Dreams

2007-12-11T14:51:00.000-05:00

Dreams in which we worry about things are very common. The worry in dreams may seem to be about something insignificant when compared to situations in our waking lives, or seem to have nothing to do with them. However, dreams are almost always connected in some way with our daily lives; our subconscious uses symbols rather than straightforward imagery to get a point across. It is important to examine such dreams closely so that we may discover areas in our lives about which we are uncertain, areas we perhaps had not given enough or any thought to. It is essential to find the source of the anxiety in our waking lives; once a thing is identified its power is diminished greatly...more

Trees, Flowers, Gardening in Dreams

2007-05-10T09:55:00.000-04:00

Plants have roots that work their way deep into the dark and fertile earth; their leaves and branches endeavor to reach the sky, the light and the warmth – they are an ideal comparison for the complex workings of the dreamer’s mind, stretching from the dark depths to the spiritual heights. The unconscious mind has its dark places, just like the roots of a plant, which can be nurtured towards the light of understanding. Branches, leaves and flowers are the visible symbols of the mind and can tell of your mental and emotional health...more

Daydreaming

2007-04-24T15:22:00.000-04:00

Daydreaming is often neglected in the study of dreams. Most people don't even consider it as a type of actual dreaming. In fact, daydreaming is another type of lucid dreaming. The symbols that are in daydreaming may still be applicable just as they are in nightly dreaming.
Daydreaming is the impulsive thinking, creating, and recalling of images or experiences of the past or future. In simpler terms, you basically let your imagination run away with you...more

Violent Dreams

2007-04-24T15:17:00.000-04:00

Violent dreams are relatively common and may be a reflection of the confusion and conflict that the dreamer experiences in daily life. Dreams with violent themes suggest that the dreamer has unconscious negative emotions such as fear, anxiety, and anger. If you are not dealing with these feeling consciously, your dreams are compensating and bringing into awareness the need for honest reflection and emotional balance in daily life...more

Fear-Provoking Dream Symbols

2007-04-24T15:16:00.000-04:00

Dreaming about frightening symbols is very common. They may represent negative forces inside of yourself and in your life. Most of the MONSTERS are representing your own negative characteristics and tendencies. It usually symbolizes the most negative and least developed part of you. It may be that part of you that is ignorant and destructive. The monster in your dreams could be your fear, bad temper, negativity, smoking habit, or anything else that is hurtful and needs to be changed. The way that you deal with the monster in your dream is generally symbolic of the way you are dealing with the equivalent negativity in your daily life...more

Flying Dreams

2007-04-24T10:45:00.000-04:00

Flying dreams are common and are often associated with ambition, personal empowerment and breaking free from limitations. Most of us have soared like a bird in our dreams. The more creative we are, the more likely we are to have frequent flying dreams. A dream in which we can fly suggests that our mind is reaching for new heights. It is the search for, and exploration of, possibilities that lie beyond the reality of our everyday life. The flying dream often happens when there is opportunity for advancement in our life and may indicate optimism about our future...more

Flying Dream Dictionary

2007-04-24T10:40:00.000-04:00

Flying Free

Flying free means that you can achieve your ambitions easily. Only modest efforts are required to steer you to success. The area you are flying over can give you further clues-for example, flying over your home indicates domestic success, flying over your place of work suggests career success.

Sprouting Wings

To sprout wings in a dream confers upon you the qualities of a visionary pioneer. The wings refer to the ethics and principles of a higher order than that of human law. To dream of having birds' wings means that you will have the gift of foresight and may be able to fly into the future. Angelic wings suggest that you will soon hear news from unexpected higher authority...more

Water In Dreams

2007-04-24T10:37:00.000-04:00

Water is a very common but powerful dream symbol. Its meaning varies with the details and the mood of the dream. Water is a deeply spiritual symbol representing the "water of life" or the "flow of life." Like the waters of the womb, it also represents security, life and birth. Water usually represents our feelings and emotions (rough, smooth, clear, murky, etc.). The nature of the water can reveal our emotional state of mind...more

Fire in Dreams

2007-04-24T10:34:00.000-04:00

Dreaming of fire could be both a negative dream as well as a positive dream. In both aspects looking into the dream could bring on much self awareness. Dreaming of firecould be because of a transformation in life. The flames could be the burning of any barriers that are in the way...more

Earth Elements in Dreams

2007-04-24T10:32:00.000-04:00

Earth element in dreams is the second most common dream image we encounter on a nightly basis. Unfortunately, we don't always recognize it. That's because the earth is there - just like air - and we tend to take it for granted. Besides earth's frequency in our dreams, it's the image that most closely identifies our physical being. It's the element considered the least spiritual or psychic...more

Sexual Dreams

2007-04-24T10:31:00.000-04:00

All dream activity relates in some way to sex. Most people would consider this an extreme point of view, but it is true that sexual imagery is a vital part of dream content. Dreams have a lot to teach you about your sexual nature, your fears, and your anxieties.

Dreams are a rich source of fantasy and can be a way to deal with unfulfilled desires from waking life...more

Dream Symbols - Kiss, Kissing

2007-04-24T10:28:00.000-04:00

The meaning of a kiss in dreams is determined by the context of the dream and other symbols. Kisses in dreams can also appear in somewhat unpleasant context such as a kiss of betrayal or death or unwanted sexual advances.

If you're kissing someone, are you enjoying the kiss? If you have warm feelings toward this person but are not necessarily attracted to them, the kiss may simply represent support, friendship or trust...more

Dream Symbols - Romantic Sex

2007-04-24T10:26:00.000-04:00

Did you wake up feeling warm and fuzzy after cavorting with the man or woman of your dreams? Perhaps you dreamed of being carried away by Prince Charming, meeting your dream lover on the beach or making love before a crackling fireplace with wine and roses.

Dreaming about romance may remind you that the romance part of your marriage or relationship has slipped to the back burner...more

Dream Symbols - Breasts

2007-04-24T10:24:00.000-04:00

If you confided to Sigmund Freud that you had dreamed about breasts, he would be likely to suggest that you have an unhealthy attachment to your mother. If your mother's personality includes a controlling nature, Freud would be correct and may further suggest that your own independence and full potential are being squelched...more

Dream Symbols - Forced Sex

2007-04-24T10:20:00.000-04:00

Occasional dreams of rape do not always mean that you have aggressive or masochistic desires. For men, forced sex in a dream may signify a desire to achieve power and be in control. More seriously, it may be a sadistic expression of sexual desire.

For women, dreams of rape may represent insecurity with sexuality, phobias or masochistic fantasies. Dreams of rape and forced sex can be disturbing. Both involve a betrayal of the deepest form of intimacy...more

Animals in Dreams

2007-04-24T10:18:00.000-04:00

We can see different animals in our dreams. Their actions towards us in our dreams can vary – they can be friendly, they can speak to us, they can just appear at the background of our dream and they can be rather aggressive. Depending on what the animals are doing in our dream we can interpret it.

Animals in dreams can take on almost any conceivable character or symbolic role. From some of the earliest recorded human dreams, animals have revealed much about the meaning of a particular dream...more

Birds in Dreams

2007-04-24T10:16:00.000-04:00

Snakes in Dreams

2007-04-24T10:15:00.000-04:00

Dogs in Dreams

2007-04-24T10:12:00.000-04:00

Cats in Dreams

2007-04-24T10:10:00.000-04:00

Horses in Dreams

2007-04-24T10:08:00.000-04:00

To see a black or dark horse in your dream, signifies mystery, wildness, and the unknown. You may be taking a chance or gamble at some unknown area. ..more

Wolf in Dreams

2007-04-24T10:05:00.000-04:00

How to Contact Your Guardian Angel

2007-04-24T09:58:00.000-04:00

Follow this simple exercise to help you contact your own Guardian Angel.
*A Peaceful Environment
To connect with your Angel, create a space that is attractive and peaceful. Candles, flowers, lovely pictures, inspiring music and beautiful things all help to create a positive mood.
*Become Receptive
You are surrounded by the energies of your thoughts and emotions. It is difficult for your Angel to reach you if you are surrounded by negative emotions such as rage, fear or hurt. Try to let go of these emotions as much as possible so that you become more approachable...more

Angels in Dreams

2007-04-24T09:56:00.000-04:00

Dreaming of angels always means that you study your present attitudes. The angel is a divine messenger that can give you some new insights in finding a new way. If a woman dreams of an angel, the angel represents a longing for harmony, emotional connection and guidance. Seeing an angel symbolizes good luck and shows the strength of your character...more

Using a Dreamcatcher

2007-04-24T09:53:00.000-04:00

The design of the dreamcatcher is a hoop with crystals, feathers and beads attached, joined to a web-like net with a hole in the center...more

Family in Dreams

2007-04-24T09:51:00.000-04:00

Dreams featuring our family members can be reassuring. They may give us confidence and support, or they may concentrate on present long-term problems from which we have little prospect of escape.

To have a Mother in dream usually signifies the love or pains we still feel in connection with her. Mother can represent all we want in a caring and loving relationship, or perhaps all we didn't get...more

Dreaming About Drowning

2007-04-24T09:48:00.000-04:00

Dreaming About Death

2007-04-24T09:46:00.000-04:00

Telepathic Dreams

2007-04-24T09:44:00.000-04:00

Telepathic dreams are dreams that carry a message from one person to another. We tend to have this type of dream with someone we are very close to. This type of communication has no barriers, through space and time. This is unspoken knowledge, to connect ones thoughts to another's in dreams. It is the special communication that is shared on a regular basis between soul mates. Conscious or unconscious, thoughts are a projection of energy. We may send our own or receive others' intentional or unintentional thoughts as mental visions in dreams...more

Chase Dreams

2007-04-24T09:37:00.000-04:00

Dreams About Teeth

2007-04-22T10:25:00.000-04:00

Nudity In Dreams

2007-04-22T10:23:00.000-04:00

Lucid Dreaming

2007-04-22T10:19:00.000-04:00

A lucid dream is a dream in which the dreamer is fully aware of the fact that he or she is dreaming. With practice, you can induce lucid dreams and maintain your lucidity for extended periods. Anything you can do while awake you can do in a lucid dream.
When you have a lucid dream, that’s when the magic happens. Anything can happen, then. You can fly like a bird, you can talk to a long-lost loved one...more

Food in Dreams

2007-04-22T10:18:00.000-04:00

Numbers in Dreams

2007-04-22T10:16:00.000-04:00

Feelings and Emotions in Dreams

2007-04-21T15:16:00.000-04:00

Anger

To dream that you are feeling anger forewarns that you will be involved in a terrible and tense situation. It also forewarns that once solid ties will be broken. In your dream, you may have a safe outlet to express such emotions. You may have some suppressed anger and aggression that you have not consciously acknowledged...more

Dreams about Cheating

2007-04-21T15:13:00.000-04:00

Healing Dreams

2007-04-21T15:11:00.000-04:00

The Four Rules of Dream Interpretation

2007-04-21T15:09:00.000-04:00

1. Everything Is Me

For the beginner, this is probably the most difficult aspect of dreams to accept. Dreams of family members, friends, enemies, - all represent various aspects of the dreamer's personality.Solid things such as houses, buildings, cars, etc. reflect the physical body. Symbols of fire in dreams, such as fire, bombs, electricity, etc. represent the dreamer’s emotions.Air, atmosphere or the interior of a room show the dreamer’s state of mind. Water symbols i.e. sea, rivers, lakes, canals, etc. reflect the spiritual or cultural life of the dreamer. How water appears or is organized indicates the dreamer's philosophy of life...more

Recurring Dreams

2007-04-21T15:07:00.000-04:00

Why Should We Bother Remembering Our Dreams?

2007-04-21T15:05:00.000-04:00

1. Our dreaming mind has access to information that is not readily available to us when we are awake. Our dreams may reveal our secret desires and subconscious feelings.

2. In remembering our dreams, we will have an increased knowledge about ourselves, about self-awareness and self-healing. Dreams are an extension of how we perceive ourselves. They can be a source of inspiration, wisdom, and joy...more

How to Remember Your Dream

2007-04-21T15:03:00.000-04:00

Remembering your dreams will require some effort on your part. But what your dreams can offer and tell you about yourself will be well worth it. Here are some tips in helping your dream recall:

1. Before going to bed, keep a clear mind. Tell yourself that "I will remember my dream when I wake up". This is actually a proven and effective way to help dream recall. Having too many thoughts on your mind can distract you from remembering your dream in the morning...more

Nightmares

2007-04-21T15:01:00.000-04:00

Pregnancy and Babies in Dreams

2007-04-21T14:58:00.000-04:00

Dream Theorists: Sigmund Freud

2007-04-21T14:56:00.000-04:00

Freud began to analyze dreams in order to understand aspects of personality as they relate to pathology. He believed that nothing we did occurred by chance; every action and thought is motivated by our unconscious at some level. In order to live in a civilized society, we tend to hold back or urges and repress our urges and impulses. However, these urges and impulses must be released in some way and have a way of coming to the surface in disguised forms...more

Dream Theorists: Carl Jung

2007-04-21T14:54:00.000-04:00

Like Freud, Jung believed in the existence of the unconscious. However, he didn't see the unconscious as animalistic, instinctual, and sexual; he saw it as more spiritual. Dreams were a way of communicating and acquainting ourselves with the unconscious. Dreams were not attempts to conceal our true feelings from the waking mind, but rather they were a window to our unconscious. They served to guide the waking self to achieve wholeness. Dreams offered a solution to a problem we are facing in our waking life...more

Sleep Paralysis

2007-04-21T14:52:00.000-04:00

Weather in Dreams

2007-04-21T14:49:00.000-04:00

Weather in dreams is a symbol of a moods and emotions.

Sun

Sunlight in your dreams is never a negative symbol. Its presence, even in the most disturbing dreams, has reassuring quality. Sunshine usually represents happiness, life-giving energies, growth, and positiveness. Old dream interpretation books say that sun shining on you is an omen of good fortune and good will...more

Meaning of Blood in Dreams

2007-04-21T14:46:00.000-04:00

How to Incubate Dreams

2007-04-21T14:44:00.000-04:00

Dreams about Being Lost or Trapped

2007-04-21T14:41:00.000-04:00

Dreams of Traveling

2007-04-21T14:38:00.000-04:00

House in Dreams

2007-04-21T14:35:00.000-04:00

Body in Dreams

2007-04-21T14:28:00.000-04:00

Dreaming about your body generally suggests that you are dreaming about your personal identity. Because your body so potently depicts the image you have of yourself, any changes, distortions or collapse of the body image in your dreams suggests similar effects in your personality or the way you feel about yourself.
Any part of your body you dream about has two possible associations...more

Frequently Asked Questions About Dreams

2007-04-21T13:30:00.000-04:00

Do dreams have meaning?

Although scientists continue to debate this issue, most people who work with their dreams, either by themselves or with others, find that their dreams are very meaningful for them. Dreams are useful in learning more about the dreamer's feelings, thoughts, behavior, motives, and values. Many find that dreams can help them solve problems. Further, artists, writers, and scientists often get creative ideas from dreams...more

Awakening Your Intuition

2007-04-21T13:29:00.000-04:00

Intuition is knowing something instantly without reasoning. The word “intuition” comes from the Latin word intueri, which means to look within.

The good news is that you have the ability to access your intuition at any time. Even better news is that with practice you can sharpen your ability to perceive your intuition naturally and easily and benefit from its direction.

Intuition is the wisdom within you: when you know who’s’ calling before you pick up the phone; when you take an immediate liking to someone after only briefly seeing them in a picture and when you feel excited at the thought of a meeting that has not yet happened. When you listen to and trust your intuition, you begin to notice that it gently and beautifully points the way and offers you the truth in every situation.

Intuition shows up in a countless of ways and is referred to by many different names: a sixth sense, a vibe, a gut instinct or a hunch. Intuition is perceived through physical sensations, dreams, synchronicities, instant flashes, images and emotions. Every individual has his or her own way of intuiting information. When you pay attention to your intuition and practice using it, you will become fluent in its language and be able to understand its delicate messages.

When you rely on your intuition you are consulting the best expert on you. When you quiet your mind and become present in the moment, you will hear your subtle inner voice telling you what your heart desires and what is best for you. Using your intuition invites opportunities and possibilities that bring greater peace and clarity to all areas of your life. Your intuition is your personal guidance system that inspires your decisions and actions and cultivates authentic and purposeful living.

Trees, Flowers, Gardening in Dreams

2007-04-08T09:43:00.000-04:00

Trees
Trees in dreams have roots that run deep into one’s emotional landscape, often thought of as symbols of the past, steady growth, age, experience, time and continuity. It is possible when viewing trees in dreams this way to see a small wood as representing the family and a large forest symbolizing the history of one’s society, culture or ethnic group. Roots are a source of wisdom and collective experience, the way you feel about trees in your dreams can be weighed against how you feel about your own roots.

Different kinds of trees can have different symbolic meaning depending on your cultural background; they are often given sacred or political value in different parts of the world. The oak tree is frequently connected with longevity, strength, reliability and resilience; the willow tree with death and enchantment; and the evergreen holly with its bright red berries can be connected with cheer during the long, dark winters.

Some of the people in ancient Britain regarded the tree as a symbol of tribal power and special trees were chosen to make totems, also if they won a battle with a rival tribe they would uproot one of their trees and bury it upside down in the ground as a demonstration of their superiority and dominance. Although these ideas linked with trees are ancient they are still part of many people’s collective consciousness, often reappearing in dreams.

Flowers and Vines
Flowers are usually thought of as beautiful and relaxing; they are also connected with giving and receiving, especially between loved ones. Flower gardens can be a symbol of order over creativity, where wild flowers can represent the beauty of intuition and artistic nature - a deep unhappiness may be represented by dreams of dead flowers. Dreaming of climbing plants may reflect a need to escape a situation, or a feeling of being tangled up in life’s complexities. Climbing plants like honeysuckle, clematis and vines are thought to represent one’s ambitions.

Fruit and Vegetables
Fertility and readiness are associated with ripe and succulent fruit. Because of the Adam and Eve story, many link apples with seduction and temptation; but they can just as easily represent the Fall/Autumn, or the fruitfulness of one’s developing unconscious. If you dream of fruit that is past its ripeness it is said to represent a missed opportunity or a loss of fertility.
You are said to be concerned with nourishment, fullness or abundance if you dream of vegetables; or feel are lacking these things if the vegetables are spoiled or of poor quality. Some dreams may be of a sexual nature, depending on the shape of the vegetable and your feelings in the dream.

Gardening
Dreaming about gardening, and how you felt about gardening in the dream, can reflect the way you feel about your work and career. Just as work can either be enjoyable and fulfilling, so can gardening; but gardening can also be tedious and vice versa. People respond to gardens emotionally and are often uplifted by the many hues displayed in gardens and the way in which they can enrich one’s life; but weeds can choke a garden and distract from its beauty, which may demonstrate a problem with your working life that needs taking care of.

Daydreaming

2007-04-07T10:22:00.000-04:00

Daydreaming is the impulsive thinking, creating, and recalling of images or experiences of the past or future. In simpler terms, you basically let your imagination run away with you

As well as being ignored by scientific study, daydreams are often disregarded and considered silly unrealities by the people that have them. This, in reality, is not true. Many of the signs in daydreams should still be looked at and interpreted just as your regular nightly dreams. Even such things as worrying and imagining what is to come in the day ahead can be considered a daydream.

If one worries about the future and imagines a bad outcome for what will happen in a situation, they are daydreaming as well as setting themselves up for failure. By daydreaming, you imagine what will happen in the future and in turn it is more likely to happen because that is what you believe. To positively affect your life, next time you are worrying, think positively. By using the technique of positive daydreaming to your advantage, you can make good out of almost any situation. Positive daydreaming is completely healthy, so go ahead and try it!

Themes Of Daydreaming

These are some of the things that might be running through your subconscious mind when you daydreaming.

Disaster- Dreams of this nature would include natural, social, and emotional worse-case-scenario events. These types of dreams would most likely represent worries and fears. Some advice would be that next time you have a dream of this nature, try to imagine the positive outcome instead of the negative side of things.

Glory- If you have a dream that you are a hero of some kind, it usually shows that you want to be noticed. This sometimes means that you feel inferior in your waking life and it can serve to motivate you.

Escape- This would usually inquire that you usually are far away from your everyday life, perhaps on an exotic vacation. This usually symbolizes that in your waking life, you are feeling stressed and need a release.

Love- Daydreams of falling or being in love are the most common types of daydreaming. This may inquire finding love as one of your direct goals. Depend on your actions in the dream to see what it may mean. If you are seeking love by making others jealous, it may mean you are looking for a new status and craving attention.

Revenge- Daydreams in which you are seeking revenge on someone is usually a way to vent your anger toward that person. It is healthy to have these types of dreams occasionally, but if you repeatedly have these dreams, it is an indication that you may act on your thoughts.

Analyzing Yours Daydreams

To help you find the meaning of your daydreams, you would first want to try connecting your dream with an emotion that you are actually feeling in your present day life. Most daydreams are linked to some emotion or situation, even though it may take you awhile to pinpoint the exact cause. You would also need to think about how you feel in your daydream. This could also be connected to a feeling you have in your waking life. Just as in your nighttime dreams, recurring themes usually indicates a feeling or situation that you need to confront and deal with. Usually the dream will go away with the problem.

Fear-Provoking Dream Symbols

2007-03-10T16:04:00.000-05:00

Dreaming about frightening symbols is very common. They may represent negative forces inside of yourself and in your life.

Most of the MONSTERS are representing your own negative characteristics and tendencies. It usually symbolizes the most negative and least developed part of you. It may be that part of you that is ignorant and destructive. The monster in your dreams could be your fear, bad temper, negativity, smoking habit, or anything else that is hurtful and needs to be changed. The way that you deal with the monster in your dream is generally symbolic of the way you are dealing with the equivalent negativity in your daily life.

Seeing or interacting with the DEVIL in your dreams may have several different meanings and the interpretation depends on the details of the dream. However, it almost always points to something negative and disturbing in your personality, daily life, or environment. Carl Jung called such dark figures "the shadow" and said that they represent the negative ego personality and qualities which are painful and regrettable. You may have dark thoughts or have engaged in negative actions and now are experiencing guilt, fear, and anxiety.

You can't get around the fact that bones are symbols of death. If you are dreaming about a SKELETON it does not necessarily mean that you are dreaming about physical death. This is a good dream because it is telling you that you may need to begin "filling up" with feelings, adventures, work, or general enthusiasm for life. It may be that your style of living and relating to people has been "bare to the bone" and your soul can't take it any more.

To see a SPIRIT, a disembodied personality, in a dream may symbolize thoughts or feelings on death, but very often it shows a past memory or experience that still haunts you, perhaps because it has never been fully felt.

Dreaming about VAMPIRES suggests that you may be feeling overwhelmed in some areas of your life and are struggling with negative thoughts, feelings, and actions. You may be currently concerned about ethical or moral issues and are experiencing anxiety as a result. The vampire represents personal attributes or negative habits that drain energy and resources or cause emotional exhaustion. If you are being attacked by a vampire, you may perceive yourself as a powerless victim. Interpreting this dream's message may help you to identify the source of your negative feelings and helplessness.

In dreams the sense or presence of EVIL is often depicting those things you have so repressed that they are no longer properly alive and healthy. They therefore need meeting and being brought into proper recognition and expression.

If you wake up from any of above mentioned nightmare and are very frightened, just remember that your mind created those images and that their purpose is to teach you something about yourself.

Violent Dreams

2007-03-05T21:04:00.000-05:00

If you are being ATTACKED, then maybe you are feeling somewhat vulnerable in some area of your daily life. If you are doing the attacking, it may be that you are releasing some of your frustrations and anger while expressing negative feelings in such ways that you are unable to do in daily life.

If you are KILLING someone in your dreams, you are probably expressing hostile feelings. Consider this an opportunity to look at your negative feelings and decide what would be the best and the least destructive way to address them. If you are a witness to a killing, you may be reflecting on changes going on around you that you don't particularly like.

SHOOTING someone or being shot yourself may reflect aggression, powerlessness, release of strong and dangerous emotions, and/or symbolize a conclusive event in a particular situation or relationship.

Dreaming about a WAR or a battle suggests that the dreamer has internal conflict. One part of personality or psyche may be battling with another for control and the dream reflects this internal war. Another reason for dreaming about war is that you may be faced with a situation that requires you to be aggressive or assertive and to come to terms with opposition. War veterans and others who have experienced war first hand may, from time to time, have such dreams based on memory and trauma.

Body in Dreams

2007-02-13T10:34:00.000-05:00

Any part of your body you dream about has two possible associations. One is a link with the actual body organ or part, and the other is its psychological meaning. The condition you see your body in often represents what you fear or feel about yourself, maybe unconsciously.

HEAD in dreams usually relates to your mental cleverness or intellect, your thoughts. But it is also often to do with attitudes and decision making.

ARMS represent the power to express emotions, desires and ideas, to construct or destroy. Arms might also be referring to ability to love, give, take, create, defend, or reach out.

LEGS in dreams point to the things that support you in life. This support may depend upon parents, job, money, religion, friends or your own confidence.

ABDOMEN in dream may be directly about your physical health or diet needs. If so it will in some way be connected with food or activities bringing illness or health. When, in your dream, you are feeling pain or discomfort in this area or any other area of the body, consider how well that part of your body is functioning in real life.

If you are ILL in your dream, you should pay attention to your health. At times our unconscious gives us warnings before we are consciously aware of any symptoms. At the other hand, dreaming of illness is often a way of showing you that you have painful feelings that need to be attended to. Often these feelings were experienced and not fully felt at an earlier period of your life, and now need to be healed or released.

When considering the interpretation of feeling PAIN in your dream, first look at you physical health. If you are feeling pain in your daily life, it may carry over into your dream state. Additionally, if the pain is emotional in nature, question the painful feelings and attempt to identify their source. The dream state is usually a safe way to experience negative feelings with which you may not want to deal.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dreams

2007-01-23T20:05:00.000-05:00

Does everyone dream?
Yes. Laboratory studies have shown that we experience our most vivid dreams during a type of sleep called Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep. During REM sleep the brain is very active, the eyes move back and forth rapidly under the lids, and the large muscles of the body are relaxed. REM sleep occurs every 90 - 100 minutes, 3 to 4 times a night, and lasts longer as the night progresses. The final REM period may last as long as 45 minutes. Less vivid dreams occur at other times during the night.

Why do people have trouble remembering their dreams?
Some people have no difficulty in remembering several dreams nightly, whereas others recall dreams only occasionally or not at all. Nearly everything that happens during sleep— including dreams, the thoughts which occur throughout the night and memories of brief awakenings—is forgotten by morning. There is something about the phenomenon of sleep itself which makes it difficult to remember what has occurred and most dreams are forgotten unless they are written down. Sometimes a dream is suddenly remembered later in the day or on another day, suggesting that the memory is not totally lost but for some reason is very hard to retrieve. Sleep and dreams also are affected by a great variety of drugs and medications, including alcohol. Further, stopping certain medications suddenly may cause nightmares. It is advisable to discuss with your physician the effect of any drugs or medications you are taking.

How can I improve my dream memory?
Before you fall asleep, remind yourself that you want to remember your dreams. Keep a paper and pen or tape-recorder by your bedside. As you awaken, try to move as little as possible and try not to think right away about your upcoming day. Write down all of your dreams and images, as they can fade quickly if not recorded. Any distractions will cause the memory of your dream to fade. If you can't remember a full dream, record the last thing that was on your mind before awakening, even if you have only a vague memory of it.

Are dreams in color?
Most dreams are in color, although people may not be aware of it, either because they have difficulty remembering their dreams or because color is such a natural part of visual experience. People who are very aware of color while awake probably notice color more often in their dreams.

Do dreams have meaning?
Although scientists continue to debate this issue, most people who work with their dreams, either by themselves or with others, find that their dreams are very meaningful for them. Dreams are useful in learning more about the dreamer's feelings, thoughts, behavior, motives, and values. Many find that dreams can help them solve problems. Further, artists, writers, and scientists often get creative ideas from dreams.

How can I learn to interpret my dreams?
The most important thing to keep in mind is that your dreams reflect your own underlying thoughts and feelings, and that the people, actions, settings and emotions in your dreams are personal to you. Some dream experts theorize that there are typical or archetypal dreams and dream elements that persist across different persons, cultures, and times. By thinking about what each dream element means to you or reminds you of, by looking for parallels between these associations and what is happening in your waking life, and by being patient and persistent, you can learn to understand your dreams. It can be helpful to keep a dream diary and reflect on many dreams over a long period of time to get the truest picture of your unique dream life.

What does it mean when I have the same dream over and over?
Recurrent dreams, which can continue for years, may be treated as any other dream. That is, one may look for parallels between the dream and the thoughts, feelings, behavior, and motives of the dreamer. Understanding the meaning of the recurrent dream sometimes can help the dreamer resolve an issue that he or she has been struggling with for years.

Is it normal to have nightmares?
Nightmares are very common among children and fairly common among adults. Often nightmares are caused by stress, traumatic experiences, emotional difficulties, drugs or medication, or illness. However, some people have frequent nightmares that seem unrelated to their waking lives. Recent studies suggest that these people tend to be more open, sensitive, trusting, and emotional than average.

Is it true that if you dream that you die or that you hit bottom in a falling dream, you will in fact die in your sleep?
No, these beliefs are not true. Many people have dreamed that they died or hit bottom in a fall and they have lived to tell the tale! You can explore the meaning of these kinds of images just as you would explore any others that might occur in your dreams. However, if any aspect of your dreams worries or distresses you, talk to a professional mental health practitioner about your concerns.

Can dreams predict the future?
There are many examples of dreams that seemed to predict future events. Some may have been due to coincidence, faulty memory, or an unconscious tying together of known information. A few laboratory studies have been conducted of predictive dreams, as well as clairvoyant and telepathic dreams, but the results were varied, as these kinds of dreams are difficult to study in a laboratory setting.

Is it possible to control dreams?
You often can influence your dreams by giving yourself pre-sleep suggestions. Another method of influencing dreams is called lucid dreaming, in which you are aware you are dreaming while still asleep and in the dream. Sometimes people experience this type of dreaming spontaneously. It is often possible to learn how to increase lucid dreaming, and thereby increase your capacity to affect the course of the dream events as they unfold. Some things are easier than others to control, and indeed complete control is probably never possible.

Do “challenged" people have dreams?
Some of deaf people have dreams in which the characters communicate via sign language.
If the people were born blind, they have no visual imagery; the dreams consist of impressions from the other senses - touch, hearing, smell, and taste. If the people were sighted and then became blind, their dreams contain visual imagery - but these visual dreams might cease to occur eventually.

House in Dreams

2007-01-15T14:49:00.000-05:00

It is common to dream about houses. They usually symbolize our emotional and psychological selves. All of your experiences, stages of development, and parts of your conscious and unconscious life may be represented by that house. The house may be representing issues concerning a particular dilemma in your life, or it may be more general and comprehensive. Either way, if you pay attention to the details in this dream, you may learn a thing or two about yourself.
Each part of the house may deal with a different part of you.

The BASEMENT is built first. Dreaming about a basement and understanding the dream may provide you with valuable information which may lead to greater self-awareness. A recurring dream about basements (i.e. being in a basement, cleaning a basement, furnishing a basement, etc.) should not be ignored. These dreams may be symbolic of your unconscious, instincts and intuition, and degree of awareness of a current situation or a problem. The look of the basement may provide you with clues about your current feelings and state of contentment. If the basement is a mess, and you see great disorder and clutter, it suggests that you may be experiencing confusion and that it is a very good time to "sort" things out emotionally and psychologically. At times, the activities which are going on in the basement of your dream may be based on past experiences or childhood memories.

The KITCHEN is the heart of the house. For most families, the kitchen is a place of warmth and nourishment (emotional as well as physical). Examine the conditions of your dream kitchen and you may become aware of some emotional needs and feelings toward yourself and others.

BATHROOM in dreams is equally valuable symbol. It suggests that there is a need for emotional and psychological cleansing. You may need to get rid of emotional and psychological baggage.

The ATTIC is the last thing built. Consider the details of the dream and try to figure out what your unconscious is trying to tell you. The attic symbolizes the higher self or the best self. Some think that the attic symbolizes the sum total of your life's work or it may predict how well you will do in old age. If the attic is full of "neat" stuff, it may imply that you are accomplishing wonderful things and are living up to your potential in this lifetime.

Dreams of Traveling

2006-12-12T20:41:00.000-05:00

We often dream of traveling in planes, cars, trains, etc. Traveling is representative of our journey through life. These dreams could represent our current movement toward goals or passageway through life. Difficult traveling conditions such as a dark road, a bad storm, or an accident in a car, or other vehicle may be symbolic of the difficulties that we experience in our daily journey through life. Other times dreaming about traveling to a fun place and having a great time could be a form of compensation or wish-fulfillment. This type of a dream can be an escape from our daily life and form of transcendence into a beautiful dream world.

Dreaming about anything that transports us is a reflection of our ability to get somewhere in life, to motivate ourselves and other people. They also portray the ambitions, attitudes and care, or lack of it that drive us in life. The manner in which we make our way through life involves us in countless relationships of various sorts. The CAR is a symbol of such meetings and partings. But car dreams may also relate to the business of driving our actual vehicle in everyday life and the manner in which we do so. Therefore some car dreams may warn us of attitudes we have that are dangerous, not just in relationships, but actually on the road.

The BOAT often depicts how we are dealing with the ups and downs of life, with its tides, currents and changing weather. Or perhaps the boat is showing how life is dealing with us, rather than we with it. Many boat dreams are actually about a relationship, what we face, what our involvement is with one or more other people. Therefore in some dreams it would represent sexual adventures. Sometimes the boat portrays the journey of our own self-discovery as we begin to investigate the contents of our unconscious. The journey we take on it then stands for our adventure into the unknown, and our means of coping with what is experienced.

The BUS in dreams usually signify our waiting for events to take us somewhere or being involved with strangers or other people in a direction we are taking or depending on social events to get us to where we want to go. It could also mean we are trying to get somewhere in life or trying to leave something or someone behind.

The PLANE, or flying in one, may indicate swift changes, perhaps only temporary. It can also mean a jump into the unknown, getting away from our ordinary life, a business endeavor or opportunity. Sometimes it even suggests a search for or moves to romance.

The TRAIN could be symbolic of our need to move on and to do things in an orderly and chronological manner. Sigmund Freud said that the train is usually a phallic symbol and that a train going through a tunnel represents intercourse. Freud also said that there are other possibilities to this symbol. For example if we missed the train in our dream, we may be fearful of missing important opportunities. Jung thought that the train ride represented the way a person moves and behaves just like everyone else and that the dreamer may be striving for completeness.

Dreams about Being Lost or Trapped

2006-12-05T21:19:00.000-05:00

In your dream you are lost, perhaps feeling desperate. You may be trying to find your way in a forest, in city streets, inside a large building, or in some other maze-like structure. The circumstances vary. You may be buried alive, or caught in a web or a cage, or trapped in some other manner, usually feeling terrified.

Lost or trapped dreams are common. Some people have them frequently, others only in crisis. They typically occur when you feel great confusion or conflict about how to act in some waking situation.

Usual meanings: You maybe feeling lost, trapped or confused by something, that you've lost your way and don't know what to do or where to turn. This links with feelings of uncertainty, lack of direction or conflict, of not understanding what is involved in the present situation you are in. The dream environment you are lost in will define what the confusion or conflict connects with. Sometimes this lost feeling arises because there are issues or changes in your life you have not acknowledged or do not want to acknowledge.

Questions to ask yourself:

Being lost variation:
Where were you trying to go in the dream? Home? School? Business?
Where did you become lost? What is it about the area in which you became lost that was most disturbing?
What circumstances seemed to lead you astray?
What action did you take to find your way in the dream?
What area of life is currently mystifying to you?

Being trapped variation:
Where did you become stuck in the dream?
What is restricting your movement?
How did you try to rescue yourself in the dream?
What waking situation in your waking life does this remind you of?

How to Incubate Dreams

2006-11-25T20:34:00.000-05:00

When we do "dream incubation," we request a dream on a particular topic. This is a valuable skill because the topic might be a problem or a dream-world activity which we want to experience. Incubation occurs naturally from our daytime experiences. The unconscious mind incorporates these topics into dreams because it wants to consider them further in the form of symbolic drama. To a degree, we can manage this process to make it more productive to program dreams which confront the issues which seem important to us. We have all had an incident in which we went to sleep thinking about a problem and then, when we awoke, we had the answer. Our unconscious mind deliberated on the topic throughout the night in dreams. The issue might be related to our career, health, personal relationships, or other decisions or conflicts.

Dream Incubation Technique

1. Develop a phrase for your incubation. Follow these guidelines for an effective incubation:
- Make one simple sentence, using the fewest number of words to express your intention: "I will dream about my sister."
- Use positive terms: "What can I do to feel healthier?" rather than "Why do I feel sick?" The first incubation will probably give solutions; the second might create a nightmare which depicts the problem but no answer.
- Use either a question ("What should I do to experience more happiness?") or a statement ("I want a dream in which I learn how to be happier").

2. Associate the topic with an emotion. When you repeat the incubation phrase, feel the emotion which is related to it. Our dreams seem to be generated primarily by our emotional arousals rather than by our intellectual interests, so an incubation which has an emotional component is more likely to be pleased by the unconscious mind.

3. Visualize the desired dream. While awake, use your imagination to "see" yourself absorbed in the dream, doing the incubated action or receiving the desired information. Or picture yourself awakening in the morning with a memory of the incubated dream.

4. Use sensory aids. Visualization lets us "see" internally, but we can also use our external vision; use objects which correspond to the incubation. For example, if you want to dream about your father, look at his photograph, talk about him, or watch a home video or listen to a cassette recording in which he is present.

5. Repeat the incubation throughout the day. Say it many times, silently or aloud.

6. Be relaxed while doing the incubation. The incubation phrase can be repeated at any time, but it might most effective if we say it while we are doing a relaxation technique. Be certain that you want to know the answer. If we fear that the response to incubation will upset us, we might be less successful with the incubation.

7. Gather the related facts for problem-solving incubations. The unconscious mind needs data to process during its problem-solving purpose; it cannot operate in emptiness.

8. Repeat the incubation just prior to sleep. Review the factors and feelings involved in the incubation, with calm reassurance that the unconscious mind will provide a resolution.

9. Search for the solution in your dream interpretation. When you awaken, recall your dreams, and explore them for any feelings or symbolic images which might refer to the incubated topic. The correlation might not be apparent at first, but it might appear as you study the dreams further.

10. Be patient. Incubation might not occur until a few days after we request it. Perhaps this delay occurs because of "scheduling conflicts"; the unconscious mind has other matters to investigate during the limited time selected for dreams, and our topic is not a priority. Or maybe the incubation won't occur until we rephrase the query, or until we are psychologically "ready" to hear the answer, or until the unconscious mind has formulated its response, or until we have mastered one of the skills of incubation.

11. Be alert to dreams which tell you to back off from inappropriate incubations. Your unconscious mind may simply send you a message in form of “don't-waste-my-time" dreams.

Meaning of Blood in Dreams

2006-11-08T10:14:00.000-05:00

Blood is the life-giving and it may symbolize our strengths and weaknesses and our physical and mental health. If you are currently experiencing a very difficult time in your life, you may have dreams with bloody and frightening images. Don't worry; you may be venting your fears! Some believe that when you see blood in your dream, the distressing situation in your life which is at the root of the dream has come to an end, and the worst is over. In some Eastern European cultures, where symbols were often thought of in terms of good or bad luck, light blood represented good news, dark blood bad news.

When you see bleeding in your dream most often it relates to emotional or psychological hurt and loss of energy. Emotional hurt could mean hurtful remarks, for instance being told we are not loved - these can drain our motivation to live and may be depicted as blood. To dream that you are bleeding or losing blood, signifies that you are suffering from exhaustion or that you are feeling emotionally drained. It may also denote bitter confrontations between you and your friends. Your past actions has come back to haunt you.

For women there is obviously a strong link between bleeding and menstruation. Women often dream of blood or of someone bleeding shortly before or during their periods and when they are pregnant. Therefore in women's dreams involving blood, the blood may depict whatever feelings, pleasure, difficulties are associated with menstruation for the dreamer. Then it can suggest fertility, and can be a painful cleansing and difficult period of releasing the old. The old dies away and leaves space for the new to grow.

Weather in Dreams

2006-11-07T10:13:00.000-05:00

Weather in dreams is a symbol of a moods and emotions.

Sun
Sunlight in your dreams is never a negative symbol. Its presence, even in the most disturbing dreams, has reassuring quality. Sunshine usually represents happiness, life-giving energies, growth, and positiveness. Old dream interpretation books say that sun shining on you is an omen of good fortune and good will.

Rain
Rain naturally cleans, refreshes, and "provides life-giving moisture." It could suggest a period of renewal and fertility (reproduction or creativity). Raining can be a release of emotion in a pleasant relaxing manner.

Storm
The storm in your dreams may be a reflection of some difficulty in your life. Storms are anger, violence, and release of emotions in a dramatic way.

Clouds
Your positive energy and idealism could be represented by white clouds and your more negative personal characteristics, and private thoughts, by dark storm clouds. Dark clouds and a heavy downpour indicate feelings of isolation and helplessness.

Snow
Snow symbolizes chilled and unexpressed emotions or emotions which have been repressed for an extended period of time. The snow in your dream suggests that you or someone else is emotionally cold, unresponsive, and indifferent. Clean, white snow may represent innocence, truth, peace and relaxation. Virgin snow, as you may see it covering a beautiful landscape, may represent new beginnings or a new way of seeing things and dirty snow may represent guilt.

Ice
Ice is associated with the emotions and the unconsciousness. Dreaming about ice suggests that you may have some emotions or denied psychological issues that are not readily accessible to you. These feelings may be negative (I.e. fear and anxiety about death or sexual frigidity). This dream may be pointing to feelings or thoughts that are inaccessible to you or to that part of you that is inaccessible to others.

Wind
The wind in your dream could be symbolic of your own spirit or the life force. The wind may represent changes in your life. The greater the force of the wind signifies the grater change. A very gusty wind could represent stress and turmoil but also the energy that you need or have to make changes. The sound of the wind is considered to be special because it is a sound of nature and has spiritual significance.

Sleep Paralysis

2006-11-04T20:55:00.000-05:00

Dreaming that you or someone else is paralyzed could be very frightening. Depending on the details of your dream and your current situation in life, there are several different, but equally reasonable interpretations. The fear that paralyzes you in the dream may be symbolic of the fear that you are experiencing in daily life. You may feel somewhat unable to change a current situation which may manifest itself in your dream in a form of paralysis. In addition, this dream may be cautioning you to stay still and do nothing for now in regard to a real-life situation that is on your mind and may be problematic for you. In the dream you may be "frozen with fear" and it is up to you decode what that fear is and what it represents.

Also dreams of being paralyzed reflect the state that our body is in when we are dreaming. The phenomenon is referred to as sleep paralysis, REM paralysis, or sleep immobility. This paralysis occurs to prevent us from actually acting out our dreams. Although the scenario varies, the theme is the same. We may try to run and find that we cannot move our legs. Or we may try to scream, but nothing comes out. Symbolically, our paralysis may be rooted in our anger and frustration. We may be so angry at someone that we actually try to raise our arm during our sleep, but fail to do so.

The slow motion imagery in a dream signifies our need to re-think and justify our actions and determine if our waking situation is being exaggerated.

Dream Theorists: Carl Jung

2006-10-31T13:03:00.000-05:00

In the beginning, Carl Gustav Jung (1875-1960) studied under Sigmund Freud. Eventually, their differing views on dreams caused a major rift and each went their separate ways.

Like Freud, Jung believed in the existence of the unconscious. However, he didn't see the unconscious as animalistic, instinctual, and sexual; he saw it as more spiritual. Dreams were a way of communicating and acquainting ourselves with the unconscious. Dreams were not attempts to conceal our true feelings from the waking mind, but rather they were a window to our unconscious. They served to guide the waking self to achieve wholeness. Dreams offered a solution to a problem we are facing in our waking life.

Since dreams were a way of communicating with the unconscious, Jung felt that the imageries in dreams were a way of revealing something about ourselves, our relationships with others, and situations in our waking life. Dreams guided our personal growth and helped to self-achieve our potential.

Often discussing what is currently going on in your life, helps to interpret and unlock the cryptic and bizarre images of your dreams. Jung believed that we all possess the necessary tools to interpret our own dreams. There is no one correct way to interpret a dream. The meaning of your dreams is a personal judgment and is up to you on how to interpret them.

Dream Theorists: Sigmund Freud

2006-10-30T14:01:00.000-05:00

Considered the father of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) revolutionized the study of dreams with his work "The Interpretation of Dreams". Freud began to analyze dreams in order to understand aspects of personality as they relate to pathology. He believed that nothing we did occurred by chance; every action and thought is motivated by our unconscious at some level. In order to live in a civilized society, we tend to hold back or urges and repress our urges and impulses. However, these urges and impulses must be released in some way and have a way of coming to the surface in disguised forms.

One way these urges and impulses are released is through our dreams. Freud understood the symbolic nature of dreams and believed they were a direct connection to our unconscious, what Freud refers to as the Id. The Id is centered on pleasure, desire, unchecked urges and wish fulfillment. During our waking hours, the desires of the Id are suppressed by the Superego, which acts as a censor for the Id. The Superego enforces the moral codes for the Ego and blocks unacceptable impulses of the Id. Because your guard is down during the dream state, your unconscious has the opportunity to act out and express the hidden desires of the Id.

Some basic components of the Freudian dream theory include the following:
1. Dreams are NOT meaningless or random events.
2. All dreams have causes, which generally come from emotionally charged life events.
3. The themes and issues that are experienced in dreams are so emotionally charged and threatening to the ego that the individual cannot deal with them directly.
4. The dream is a facade which disguises anxiety or guilt - provoking thoughts and feelings.
5. In order to understand the dream, the individual must attempt to look past the façade and discover the real issue in the dream.
6. Psychoanalytical techniques, including free association, can be used to interpret dreams.
7. The content of dreams is mostly composed of sex, aggression, wish fulfillment, and childhood memories.
8. Dream analysis is difficult because of resistance on the part of the dreamer.

Pregnancy and Babies in Dreams

2006-10-25T15:03:00.000-04:00

To dream that you are pregnant, symbolizes an aspect of yourself or some aspect of your personal life that is growing and developing. You may not be ready to talk about it or act on it. This may also represent the birth of a new idea, direction, project or goal. If you are really pregnant and having this dream then it represents your anxieties about the pregnancy. Women in the first trimester of their pregnancy tend to dream of tiny creatures, fuzzy animals, flowers, fruit and water. In the second trimester, dreams will reflect your anxieties about being a good mother and concerns about possible complications with the birth. Finally, in the third trimester, as your body changes and grows, dreams of whales, elephants and dinosaurs and other larger animals may also start appearing at this stage.

To dream of giving birth or see someone else giving birth, suggests that you are giving birth to a new idea or project. It also represents a new attitude, fresh beginnings or a major upcoming event. A more direct interpretation of this dream may represent your desires/ anxieties of giving birth or the anticipation for such an event to occur.

To see a baby in your dream signifies innocence, warmth and new beginnings. Babies may symbolize something in your own inner nature which is pure, vulnerable, and/or uncorrupted. Babies may represent an aspect of your self that is vulnerable and helpless. To dream of a crying baby, is indicative of a part of yourself that is deprived of attention and needs some nurturing. Alternatively, it represents your unfulfilled goals and a sense of lacking in your life.

Nightmares

2006-10-23T20:47:00.000-04:00

We all have nightmares at various parts in our lives. They are quite normal. Nightmares are a subcategory of dreams. The distinction of a nightmare is its frightening and/or emotional content. We tend to wake up in fear in the midst of a nightmare. Because of its frightening nature, we tend to remember our nightmares and the vivid details. They have a bigger impact upon our waking mind and its images stay with us throughout the day. One reason for nightmares may be a way of our unconscious to get our attention about a situation or problem that we have been avoiding. It is time to take notice and confront a problem or situation. Nightmares serve an important purpose in showing us what is troubling us from within our deeper levels. Discussing, analyzing, and understanding our nightmares can lead to a solution for some problem, internal conflict or personal difficulty.

In general, stress, trauma, fears, insecurities, feelings of inadequacy, health problems, marital issues, etc may all be reasons for having nightmares:

Childhood and Family - Present nightmares can be rooted in past neglect and trauma from childhood. From lack of love, neglect, alcoholism, to severe abuse can be the most destructive influence on a person's life. Nightmares may be a sign of such inner turmoil.

Life - The way our life is going and the larger society as a whole can contribute to nightmares. Our perception of the world, heath, natural disasters, finances, crime and our inability to control such events may sometimes lead to nightmares.

Relationships - Our intimate relationships and our daily interactions with people can also be a source of nightmares. Marital difficulties or pregnancy are other possible causes. We may be paranoid about how we think others perceive us or fear that others do not understand and see who we really are. Isolation and unhappiness may appear in nightmares as abandonment and loneliness.

Stress - The way we handle and deal with stress can trigger nightmares. Nightmares are a normal response to unacceptable levels of fear and stress. People diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder frequently have nightmares about their traumatic event, like war, rape, death of a loved one, car accident, plane crash, terrorism, etc.

Work - Stress, job security (or there lack of), change in jobs, co-workers, unresolved work problems, or general dissatisfaction with what we do can manifest into a nightmare. The nightmare may reflect feelings of frustration and an inability to control our work-related issues. People in high-stress level or high-risk jobs often report of having nightmares. Nightmares of this nature may appear as you being attacked, chased, or being out of control.

Having nightmares are normal, but a high frequency of nightmares can be a sign of being overwhelmed and excessive stress which should be dealt with. Nightmares can be an important resource for self-knowledge and emotional discovery. They convey an important message and help clear up the conflict in our life.

How to Remember Your Dream

2006-10-18T13:43:00.000-04:00

Remembering your dreams will require some effort on your part. But what your dreams can offer and tell you about yourself will be well worth it. Here are some tips in helping your dream recall:

1. Before going to bed, keep a clear mind. Tell yourself that "I will remember my dream when I wake up". This is actually a proven and effective way to help dream recall. Having too many thoughts on your mind can distract you from remembering your dream in the morning.

2. Have a regular bedtime and wake up time. Make this your routine. Going to bed and waking up at a regular time every day aids in dream recollection.

3. Avoid alcohol consumption before going to bed. It may hinder you from remembering your dream. Eating fatty foods too close to bedtime can also divert bodily resources away from the brain and hinder dream recollection.

4. Keep a pencil/notebook next to your bed so that it will be within reach as soon as you wake up.

5. Do not get out of bed immediately. Upon waking from a dream, lay still in your bed, keeping your eyes closed and moving as little as possible. Wake up slowly and stay relaxed. Hold on to the feelings you have and let your mind wander to the images of what you have just dreamt. Were you frustrated, terrified, or happy?

6. Write down as many details in your dream as you can, no matter how minute or seemingly unimportant it may be. Do not judge the content or worry if it makes sense. The idea is to get it down on paper so you can evaluate it later.

7. Sometimes it may help to draw pictures. Even if you are not an artist a simple drawing can help to jolt details of your dream.

Why Should We Bother Remembering Our Dreams?

2006-10-17T13:47:00.000-04:00

1. Our dreaming mind has access to information that is not readily available to us when we are awake. Our dreams may reveal our secret desires and subconscious feelings.

2. In remembering our dreams, we will have an increased knowledge about ourselves, about self-awareness and self-healing. Dreams are an extension of how we perceive ourselves. They can be a source of inspiration, wisdom, and joy.

3. Learning to recall our dreams may help us become a more assertive person. In remembering our dreams, we are expressing and confronting our feelings.

4. Remembering our dreams can help us come to terms with stressful aspects of our lives

Recurring Dreams

2006-10-16T14:23:00.000-04:00

Most dreams contain messages that serve to teach us something about ourselves. Unfortunately many times we forget what we dream about as we go about our daily routine. With recurring dreams, the message may be so important and/or powerful that it just will not go away. The frequent repetition of such dreams forces us to pay attention and confront the dream. The dream is trying desperately to tell us something.

Recurring dreams are quite common and are often triggered by a certain life situation or a problem that keeps coming back again and again. These dreams may reappear daily, once a week, or once a month, but whatever the frequency, there is little variation in the dream content itself. It usually points to a personal weakness, fear, or our inability to cope with something in life - past or present.

The repetitive patterns in dream can reveal some of the most valuable information on us. It may point to a conflict, situation or matter in our waking life that remains unresolved or unsettled. Or some urgent underlying message in our unconscious is demanding to be understood.

Following are some tips in overcoming recurring dreams.

1. In understanding our recurring dream, we must be willing to accept some sort of change or undergo a transformation.
2. We must be willing to look within ourselves and confront whatever we may find no matter how difficult it might be.
3. We must be able to look at the dream from an objective point of view and try to get pass the emotional and reactive elements of the dream and get down to the symbolic images.
4. Be patient and learn to accept ourselves truly and fully.

Often times, once we discover what our recurring dream is trying to tell us, these dreams will change or altogether disappear.

The Four Rules of Dream Interpretation

2006-10-13T15:23:00.000-04:00

1. Everything Is Me
For the beginner, this is probably the most difficult aspect of dreams to accept. Dreams of family members, friends, enemies, - all represent various aspects of the dreamer's personality.

Solid things such as houses, buildings, cars, etc. reflect the physical body.
Symbols of fire in dreams, such as fire, bombs, electricity, etc. represent the dreamer’s emotions.
Air, atmosphere or the interior of a room show the dreamer’s state of mind.
Water symbols i.e. sea, rivers, lakes, canals, etc. reflect the spiritual or cultural life of the dreamer. How water appears or is organized indicates the dreamer's philosophy of life.

2. Cause and Effect
All the symbols in dreams are linked to show cause and effect. In other words find a symbol to show the cause of the problem and another symbol to illustrate the effect.

3. Personal Responsibility
The dreamer is ALWAYS responsible for what happened, is happening, can happen or will happen in the dream. On the surface these seem to be outside our control but when we apply this rule we find that we are responsible for our own progress.

4. Avoidance
Look for what you are trying to avoid in the dream. This is what you need to accept or face up to in waking life. Dreams try to create wholeness or completeness in the dreamer by drawing scattered aspects of his personality together.

Healing Dreams

2006-10-12T11:13:00.000-04:00

Healing dreams serve as messages for the dreamer in regards to their health.

We can actually receive a diagnosis through a dream. Hippocrates and Aristotle said that dreams can reveal our illnesses. Medical information can come to us in dreams even before we exhibit symptoms, because the body and mind are aware of disturbances which might be too subtle to be detected by a medical exam or our wakeful awareness.

Dreams can help us avoid potential health problems and help us to heal when we are ill. When we ignore aspects of our functioning, our dreams will redress the balance by giving 'symbolic' expression to these aspects, while at the same time attempting to give healing for the 'conditions' which cause us to ignore these aspects in the first place.

If the messages and healing in dreams are constantly ignored or blocked we may develop a physical problem in an area affected by the imbalance. This allows us to predict from dreams the physical problems a person will develop far in advance of any physical symptoms. More importantly, our dreams show us what has caused us to be the way we are. With this knowledge we can address the cause rather than the symptoms of an illness.

Dreams about Cheating

2006-10-11T15:15:00.000-04:00

To dream that you are cheating on your spouse, fiancé, or significant other, suggests feelings of self-guilt and self-betrayal. You may have compromised your beliefs or integrity and/or wasting your energy and time on fruitless endeavors. Alternatively, it reflects the intensity of your sexual passion and exploring areas of your sexuality. It is actually a reaffirmation of your commitment. Furthermore, it is not uncommon for people approaching a wedding to have dreams about erotic experiences with partners other than their intended spouses. Most likely, such dreams represent the newness of your sexual passion. It may also signify anxieties of changing your identity - that of a spouse.

To dream that your spouse or significant other is cheating on you indicates your fears of being abandoned. You may feel a lack of attention in the relationship. Alternatively, you may feel that you are not measuring up to the expectations of others. This notion may stem from issues of trust or self-esteem. The dream could also indicate that you are unconsciously picking up hints and cues that your significant other is not being completely truth or is not fully committed in the relationship.

Feelings and Emotions in Dreams

2006-10-10T13:31:00.000-04:00

Fear and anxiety are the most commonly expressed emotions in dreams. Anger ranks next. Fear, anger, and sadness occur twice as often as pleasant emotions. The feelings we experience in dreams are not symbols of something else but are reflections of our real feelings. Such feelings may not have been repressed during the day and as a result are coming out in your dreams.

Anger
To dream that you are feeling anger forewarns that you will be involved in a terrible and tense situation. It also forewarns that once solid ties will be broken. In your dream, you may have a safe outlet to express such emotions. You may have some suppressed anger and aggression that you have not consciously acknowledged.

Anxiety
To dream that you are experiencing some anxiety is a reflection of what you may be feeling during your waking life. You may have repressed thoughts, unexpressed emotions, resentment, and hostility that are triggering your anxiety dream.

Confusion
To dream that you are confused, may reflect your true confused state of mind and the nonsensical events of your dream. Isolate the single element in your dream that is confusing to you and analyze the meaning of that particular symbol. Alternatively, dreams of confusion signifies that you are being pulled in opposite directions or do not know which viewpoint is right.

Delight
To dream that you are experiencing delight signifies a favorable and positive turn of events and much pleasantness.

Embarrassment
To dream that you are embarrassed signifies hidden weaknesses and fears. You may feel that your self-confidence has been undermined. This dream also suggests of insecurities about your sexuality.

Fear
To dream that you feel fear signifies that you achievements will not be as successful as you had anticipated. You are having anxieties in certain circumstances of your life. However, your worries will be temporary and short-lived.

Guilt
To dream that you feel guilty about something, relates to how you are handling your successes and failures or competence and incompetence. You may feel undeserving of your achievements or on the other hand, you may feel that you have let other down. Alternatively, it is also symbolic of repressed and negative feelings that you may have about yourself.

Happy
To dream that you are happy, may be a compensatory dream and is often a dream of the contrary. You may be trying to compensate for the sadness or stress in your waking life.

Jealousy
To dream that you are jealous of another's fortune signifies misfortune and difficulties in climbing the social ladder.
To dream that you are jealous of another person, signifies that such feelings may be carried over from your waking life this dream may reveal you unconscious feelings of jealousy toward that particular person.

Love
To dream of love of being in love, suggests intense feelings carried over from a waking relationship. It implies happiness and contentment with what you have and where you are in life. On the other hand, you may not be getting enough love in your daily life.

Pain
To dream that you are in pain signifies that you are being too hard on yourself with regards to a situation that was out of your control. It may also be a true reflection of real pain that exists somewhere in your body.

Peace
To feel peace in your dream indicates an end or a resolution to an emotional issue or inner conflict. It may signal and end of a cycle and the pause before the beginning of a new endeavor. It also suggests that you have reached a new level of stability and calmness.

Numbers in Dreams

2006-10-06T10:52:00.000-04:00

If a particular number is prominent in a dream, it may be worth considering its significance and symbolic meaning in terms of the ancient traditions of numerology.

One - The number One is the number of communication, versatility, and reason. It may also refer to the self. Examine your own views, and see that they are communicated to the people around you.

Two - The number Two signifies diligence, care, and perfectionism. This may make you unpopular with other, less meticulous people, but the dream may be suggesting that you should take more care.

Three - The number Three suggests not only diplomacy and sensitivity, but also indecision. A dream involving this number may be prompting you to make up your mind about something in waking life.

Four - Determination, force, passion, being obsessive and possibly jealousy are the emotions traditionally represented by the number Four. It is also an even number suggesting a good balance of emotion and feeling.

Five - The number Five is traditionally representative of study and learning. It is also regarded as an optimistic number, and the number of justice.

Six - Number Six signifies emotion, but rather than the passion of number four, it is a more sensual emotion directed at stability.

Seven - Individuality, freedom, and honesty are all represented by the number Seven. So too is tactlessness in the expression of feelings that may not be shared by less adventurous people.

Eight - Eight is a number that has traditionally been associated with hard work, ambition, patience, and practicality.

Nine - Nine is the number of inventiveness, originality, optimism, and independence of the mind. However, this particular number is sometimes turned to perversity and unpredictability.

Food in Dreams

2006-10-05T14:05:00.000-04:00

To see food in your dream, represents physical and emotional nourishment and energies. The different types of food can symbolize a wide range of things. Generally, fruit is symbolic of sensuality.

Frozen foods may imply your cold emotions and frigid ways.
Eating certain foods refers to qualities that you need to incorporate within your own self.

To dream that you are storing food indicates a fear of deprivation. You do not trust what you already have.

To see or eat stale food in your dream, suggests that you are feeling sluggish and emotionally drained. You need to be invigorated and revitalized.

Lucid Dreaming

2006-10-04T10:13:00.000-04:00

"What dreaming does is give us the fluidity to enter into other worlds by destroying our sense of knowing this world...Dreaming is a journey of unthinkable dimensions, a journey that, after making us perceive everything we can humanly perceive,makes the assemblage point jump outside the human domain and perceive the inconceivable." - Carlos Castenada

A lucid dream is a dream in which the dreamer is fully aware of the fact that he or she is dreaming. With practice, you can induce lucid dreams and maintain your lucidity for extended periods. Anything you can do while awake you can do in a lucid dream.

When you have a lucid dream, that’s when the magic happens. Anything can happen, then. You can fly like a bird, you can talk to a long-lost loved one, you can tell your boss to take this job and shove it, you can travel to beautiful lands in the blink of an eye, and you can make elephants appear...the possibilities are endless. Lucid dreams are very vivid...it is impossible to fully explain how powerful and REAL lucid dreams seem, until you actually experience one. Then it is a dream you will never likely forget!

Nudity In Dreams

2006-10-02T12:48:00.000-04:00

Dreaming that we are completely or partially naked is very common. Nudity symbolizes a variety of things depending on our real life situation.

Dream about nudity is often a reflection of our vulnerability or shamefulness. We may be hiding something and are afraid that others can nevertheless see right through us. Metaphorically clothes are a means of concealment. With clothes, we can hide our identity or be someone else. But without them, everything is hanging out for all to see. We are left without any defenses. The dream may tell us that we are trying to be something that we really are not. Or that we are fearful of being ridiculed and disgraced.

Dreams About Teeth

2006-09-30T20:52:00.000-04:00

Dreams that our teeth are falling out are one of the most common dreams. Such dreams are not only horrifying and shocking, but often leave us with a lasting image of the dream.

One theory says that dreams about our teeth reflect our anxiety about our appearance and how others perceive us. Another rationalization for these falling teeth dream may be rooted in our fear of being embarrassed or making a fool of ourselves in some specific situation. These dreams are an over-exaggeration of our worries and anxiety.

The loss of teeth in our dream may be from a sense of powerlessness when we are having difficulties expressing ourselves or getting our point across. We feel frustrated when our voice is not being heard. This dream is an indication that we need to be more assertive and believe in the value of our own opinion.

Chase Dreams

2006-09-29T15:26:00.000-04:00

The way we respond to anxiety and pressure in real life is typically manifested as a chase dream. Running is an instinctive response to physical threats in our environment. Often in these dream scenarios, we are being pursued by some attacker who wants to hurt or possibly kill us. We are running away or hiding. Chase dreams may represent our way of coping with fears, stress or various situations in our waking life.

The attacker who is chasing us in our dream may also represent a part of ourselves. Our own feelings of anger, jealousy, fear, and possibly love, can assume the appearance of threatening figure. We may be projecting these feelings onto the unknown chaser.

To dream that we are chasing someone means that we are attempting to overcome a difficult goal or task. We may also be expressing some aggressive feelings toward others.

Telepathic Dreams

2006-09-28T21:05:00.000-04:00

"I think we dream so we don't have to be apart so long. If we're in each others dreams, we can be together all the time."
Hobbes (Bill Watterson's comic characters Calvin and Hobbes)

Telepathic dreams are dreams that carry a message from one person to another. We tend to have this type of dream with someone we are very close to. This type of communication has no barriers, through space and time. This is unspoken knowledge, to connect ones thoughts to another's in dreams. It is the special communication that is shared on a regular basis between soul mates. Conscious or unconscious, thoughts are a projection of energy. We may send our own or receive others' intentional or unintentional thoughts as mental visions in dreams.

Some people have the very same dream as the person next to them in the bed. Others have had a twin dream with exactly the same details as a friend or relative miles away. Is it possible to be thinking of someone strongly and cause them to dream of you? I believe it is.

Dreaming About Death

2006-09-26T14:27:00.000-04:00

Dreaming about death is very common and it can be interpreted in many different ways. Death is usually a symbol of some type of closure or end. It implies an end to one thing and a beginning of another.

Death dreams usually have positive symbolism. If you are the dead person in your dream, it could imply that you would like to leave all of your worries and struggles behind and begin a new chapter in your life. Dreaming about death of someone that you care about may express your fear about losing them. Dreaming that one of your parents died may express fear of loss, but it also may be an unconscious valve through which you release anger and other negative feelings. In some cultures dreaming about death and dying is a very good omen that represents longevity and prosperity.

At times we dream about deceased relatives or friends simply because we miss them. These dreams may be disturbing but most likely are a form of wish-fulfillment or are based on memory through which we relive old experiences. Some people believe that in dreams they meet up with the deceased on the inner planes and engage in "real" interactions with them. It is normal to miss and long for the people that we loved and that have left the physical body. Therefore, it is not surprising that they will pop up in our dreams from time to time.

Dreaming About Drowning

2006-09-26T13:22:00.000-04:00

Dreaming that you are having difficulty breathing and are in danger of dying as a result may carry important messages for you. This type of a dream experience is usually very frightening, and at times people are awakened from their dream due to the fear. This dream may have several different explanations and the catalysts may be forces from either within the individual’s emotional and psychological makeup or circumstances on the outside of the individual.

The suffocation is either due to internal forces or an external situation. The dreamer may experience great difficulties when it comes to free self expression. They may have difficulties in expressing their fear, anger, love, or any other powerful emotion and are literally choking on them in their dream.

Choking in your dream suggests that you are having problems in communicating your thoughts, needs, and feelings. Additionally, smothering may imply that the dreamer can not accept certain situations in their life and is feeling suffocated by a current problem.

Dreaming about drowning is very common and it may have positive significance. This dream suggests to the dreamer that he may be overwhelmed by unresolved emotions, old issues, or a current crisis. It suggests that a release of the old is necessary in order to emerge and begin anew. This dream serves to awaken the dreamer to embrace and to effectively cope with problems and negativity in his life.

To interpret this type of dreams accurately consider all of the details in it, think about your daily life and those things that cause you great stress and restrict your freedom. Finally, try to connect your dream with your daily life experiences and unlock the symbolism that the dream holds for you.

Family in Dreams

2006-09-25T13:20:00.000-04:00

Dreams featuring our family members can be reassuring. They may give us confidence and support, or they may concentrate on present long-term problems from which we have little prospect of escape.

To have a Mother in dream usually signifies the love or pains we still feel in connection with her. Mother can represent all we want in a caring and loving relationship, or perhaps all we didn't get. We may dream about our mothers in many different forms. She may be disguised in our dreams, and it is our job to find her in there. The general image of "mother" in a dream may symbolize a variety of feelings and ideas: caring, nurturing, love, acceptance, hard work, sacrifice, etc.

Traditionally, a Father dream can be seen as symbolizing authority and power. In our dream we may be expressing our attitude about strengths and weaknesses as they relate to our position in life and our general attitude toward society.

Siblings are a fantastic source of dream material. Our siblings are important to us emotionally and psychologically. We are bound to them on some level throughout our lives; thus, they will appear in our dreams in many different forms. We learn important lessons about ourselves through our brothers and sisters. They are a reflection on us, and we can not escape their presence and their love, hate or any other emotion. If you have many unresolved issues with your siblings, it is likely that they will frequently appear in your dreams.

Using a Dreamcatcher

2006-09-22T19:46:00.000-04:00

A dreamcatcher isn't just a mobile - it can have a positive effect on the way we dream.
Dream catchers are a Native American tradition based on the belief that dreams are filled with meaning and purpose. Native Americans designed and employed dreamcatchers so that no vital message contained in their dreams would be lost.

The design of the dreamcatcher is a hoop with crystals, feathers and beads attached, joined to a web-like net with a hole in the center. It protects us from harm while we rest, catching good dreams as they pass by and getting rid of any bad dreams as they drop through the hole in the middle.

Hang your dreamcatcher from the ceiling above your bed, allowing your dreams to pass through.

Angels in Dreams

2006-09-21T11:40:00.000-04:00

How to Contact Your Guardian Angel

2006-09-20T08:58:00.000-04:00

Angels are high spiritual beings, recognized by many religions in the world. We cannot see or hear them under normal circumstances, but everyone has a Guardian Angel. Yours is near you all the time, loving you. Angels are always available to comfort and support you and will help when they know you are ready to receive their help. All you need to do is quietly and calmly send out a thought requesting their assistance.

Your Angel can help you :
*When you're feeling depressed
*When you're feeling in need of emotional support
*When you're feeling lonely

Follow this simple exercise to help you contact your own Guardian Angel.

*A Peaceful Environment
To connect with your Angel, create a space that is attractive and peaceful. Candles, flowers, lovely pictures, inspiring music and beautiful things all help to create a positive mood.

*Become Receptive
You are surrounded by the energies of your thoughts and emotions. It is difficult for your Angel to reach you if you are surrounded by negative emotions such as rage, fear or hurt. Try to let go of these emotions as much as possible so that you become more approachable.

*Count Your Blessings
Take a few minutes to count your blessings, think good thoughts about people you know and make sure you're calm, relaxed and centered.

*Create a Golden Aura
The easiest way to relax is to breathe deeply, softening your body on each outbreath. Imagine yourself breathing golden light until you are enclose in an egg of gold. Angels find it easier to connect with you when your aura is golden.

*Feel Your Angel's Touch
Mentally ask your Angel to step into your aura and touch you. Expect a physical sensation, or a fragrance of feeling of great love. You may feel the light touch of an angel wing or a waft of air across your face. Even if you feel nothing, trust that your Angel has responded and is very close to you.

*Ask Your Angel's Name
Ask your Angel what its name is and accept the first name that comes to you. Ask for any help you need.

*At the End Thank Your Guardian Angel

Animals in Dreams - Wolf

2006-09-18T20:54:00.000-04:00

To see a wolf in your dream, symbolizes beauty, solitude, mystery, self-confidence and pride. You are able to keep your composure in a variety of social situations and can blend in with any situation with ease and grace.

Negatively, it represents hostility and aggression. It may also reflect an uncontrollable force or situation in your life. In particular, if the wolf is white, then it signifies valor and victory. You have the ability to see the light even in your darkest hours.
To dream that you kill a wolf, indicates betrayal and secrets revealed.

Animals in Dreams - Horses

2006-09-18T11:49:00.000-04:00

To see a horse in your dream, represents a strong, physical energy. You need to tame the wild forces. The dream may imply that you have been horsing around. Or perhaps you need to be less arrogant and "get off your high horse".

To see a black or dark horse in your dream, signifies mystery, wildness, and the unknown. You may be taking a chance or gamble at some unknown area. It may even represents occult forces. If the horse is white, then it signifies purity, prosperity and good fortunes. To dream that you are being chased by a white horse, may be a pun on chaste. Perhaps you are having difficulties dealing with issues of intimacy and sexuality.

To see a dead horse in your dream, indicates that something in your life that initially offered you strength is now gone. This may refer to a relationship or situation.

To see a herd of wild horses in your dream, signifies a sense of freedom and lack of responsibilities/duties. Perhaps it may also indicated your uncontrolled emotions.

To dream that you are riding a horse, denotes that you will achieve success through underhanded means. You lack integrity. If you are riding a horse that is out of control, signifies that you are being carried away by your passions.

Animals in Dreams - Cats

2006-09-18T09:08:00.000-04:00

To see a cat in your dream, signifies much misfortune, treachery, and bad luck. However, for the cat lover, cats signifies an independent spirit, feminine sexuality, creativity, and power. If the cat is aggressive, then it suggests that you are having problems with the feminine aspect of yourself. If you see a cat with no tail, then it signifies a lost of independence and lack of autonomy.

To dream that a cat is biting you, symbolizes the devouring female. Perhaps you are taking and taking without giving. You may be expressing some fear or frustration especially when something is not going as planned.

To see a black cat in your dream, indicates that you are experiencing some fear in using your psychic abilities and believing in your intuition. You may associate the black cat with evil, destruction, and bad luck. If you see a white cat, then it denotes difficult times.

Animals in Dreams - Dogs

2006-09-17T14:45:00.000-04:00

To see a dog in your dream, indicate a skill that you have ignored or forgotten, but needs to be activated. Alternatively, dogs may symbolize intuition, loyalty, generosity, protection, and fidelity. Your own values and intentions will enable you to go forward in the world and succeed. If the dog is vicious and/or growling, then it signifies some inner conflict within yourself. It may indicate betrayal and untrustworthiness. If the dog is dead or dying, then it indicates a loss of a good friend. Alternatively, it represents a deterioration of your instincts.

To dream that a dog bites you, suggests that you have lost your ability to balance aspects of your life. You may be hesitant in approaching a new situation or have no desire to move forward with your goals.

To see a happily barking dog in your dream, symbolizes pleasures and much social activity. If the dog is barking ferociously, then it represents your habit of making demands on people and controlling situations around you. It could also mean unfriendly companions.

To dream that you are buying a dog, indicates your tendency to buy your friends or buy compliments/favors. Alternatively, it suggest a need for you to find companionship.

To dream that you are dressing up your dog, signifies your attempts to cover up your own character flaws and habits.

Animals in Dreams - Birds

2006-09-14T14:50:00.000-04:00

To dream of a chirping and/or flying birds, represents joy, harmony, ecstasy, balance, and love. It denotes a sunny outlook in life. You will experience spiritual freedom and psychological liberation. It is almost as if a weight has been lifted off your shoulders.

To dream of dead or dying birds, foretells a period of coming disappointments. You will find yourself worrying over problems that are constantly on your mind.

To see bird eggs in your dream, symbolizes money.
To see birds hatching in your dream, symbolizes delayed success. To see a bird nest in your dream, symbolizes independence, refuge and security. You need something to fall back on. Alternatively, it may signify a prosperous endeavor, new opportunities, and fortune.

Doves

To see doves in your dream, symbolizes peace, tranquility, harmony, and innocence. In particular, to see white doves in your dream, symbolizes loyalty and friendships. It may also represent a message and blessing from the Holy Spirit. You have let go of your thoughts of hate and revenge.To dream that doves are mating and building a nest, symbolizes a joyous home life filled with tranquility, pleasure and obedient children.

Chickens

To see chickens in your dream, symbolizes cowardliness and a lack of willpower. Chickens also represents excessive chatter and gossip. Listen closely to what people may be saying about you or what you are saying about others.

Crow

To see a crow in your dream, represents your annoying habits and the darker part of your character. The crow may serve as messengers from your unconscious.

Flamingo

To see a flamingo in your dream, represents you sense of community and cooperation. It also indicates new experiences or situations. Alternatively, you may be overly concerned with your physical appearance

Duck

To see ducks in your dream, either represents spiritual freedom (if flying) or it represents the unconscious (if swimming). Ducks are rather multi-talented animals that can walk, swim and fly and thus may represent your flexibility and in blending into various situations. Alternatively, the dream may also indicate that you are setting yourself up or being set up for the kill as associated by the phrase "sitting duck". Also, the duck may be a pun on "ducking" some issue or situation, instead of confronting it head-on.

Swan

To see a swan in a lake or pond, is a good omen, signaling a future of prestige and wealth. Swans are symbolic of grace, beauty, and dignity.

Rooster

To see a rooster in your dream, indicates that you or someone is being a show-off. It is an indication of cockiness and arrogance. You have little or no regards for others.To hear a rooster in your dream, symbolizes bragging and self-glorification.To see roosters fighting in your dream, signifies rivalry and quarreling.

Turkey

To see a turkey in your dream, indicates that you have been foolish. You are not thinking clearly. Alternatively, it may represent Thanksgiving and thus, a time of togetherness and family,To see sick or dead turkeys in your dream, denotes an attack to your pride.To see a flying turkey in your dream, foretells of a rapid rise from obscurity to a position of prominence.To dream that you hunt turkeys, signifies that you will acquire wealth through dishonest means.

Eagles
To see an eagle in your dream, symbolizes nobility, pride, fierceness, freedom, superiority, courage, and powerful intellectual ability. Eagles also indicate self-renewal. You will struggle fiercely and courageously to realize your highest ambitions and greatest desires.

To see an eagle chained down in your dream, represents a desperate situation where you are feeling restricted and confined. You are unable to express yourself and be who you really want to be. Consider also what the eagle is chained down to for additional clues as to what might be holding you back.

To see a nest of young eagles in your dream, signifies your advancement up to the top of the social ladder.

To dream that you killed an eagle, signifies your ruthlessness. You will let nothing stand in your way of ambitions and obtaining your goals, even if it means hurting those around you. If someone else kills an eagle, then it indicates that your fame, fortune and power will be ruthlessly taken from you.

Goose

To see a goose in your dream, symbolizes fertility and motherly love. The goose may also represent a message from your unconscious.

Hen

To see a hen in your dream, symbolizes gossip and calamity. You have a tendency to brag about minor things. The hen is also a maternal figure. Consider also the metaphor of being "hen-pecked" or that you feel being picked on.

Hummingbird

To see hummingbirds in your dream, suggests that small ideas/concepts may possess much potential and power. Alternatively, it indicates your flighty thoughts and frivolous ideas. It may be a metaphor for your inability to commit to a relationship.

Penguin

To see a penguin in your dream, signifies that your problems are not as serious as you may think. It serves as a reminder for you to keep you cool and remain level-headed. Alternatively, a penguin seen in your dream suggests that you are being weighed down by your emotions or by a negative situation. You need to find some balance and inner harmony.

Ostrich

To see an ostrich in your dream, suggests that you are not facing reality and living in a world of your own. You may be in denial or unwilling to accept a situation. Alternatively, the ostrich can symbolize truth and justice.

Owl

To see an owl in your dream, symbolizes wisdom, insight and virtue. The owl is also synonymous with death and darkness.To hear the hoot of an owl, denotes disappointments and forewarns that death creeps closely in the wake of joy and health.To see a dead owl, signifies a narrow escape from desperate illness and death. Death in this sense may also represent a symbolic death, as in an important transition in life.

Animals in Dreams - Snakes

2006-09-14T09:59:00.000-04:00

In some cultures snakes are highly regarded and symbolize the ability to transcend into higher levels of consciousness or into areas of knowledge that exist outside perceived time and space. In the pre-Christian days, snakes were considered symbols of fertility, healing, and nurturing. Post Adam and Eve, snakes are often considered symbols of temptation and evil, anger, and envy.

Snakes emerging out of the ground may represent your unconscious or repressed materials coming to your conscious mind. Freud thought that the snake was a phallic symbol. Most snake dreams seem to be disturbing and they leave the dreamer feeling anxious and afraid.

There are no simple interpretations to the snake dreams. Each dreamer must consider their own situation and all of the details of the dream. Sometimes snakes may be phallic symbols and other times they represent negativity in our lives that hampers our progress and constantly threatens us. In the long run the snake may be a positive symbol; it may represent difficulties that lead us to the center of personality and result in feelings of completeness.

Nevertheless, to see a snake or be bitten by one in your dream, signifies hidden fears and worries that are threatening you. Your dream may be alerting you to something in your waking life that you are not aware of or that has not yet surfaced. The snake may also symbolize dangerous and forbidden sexuality. The snake may also refer to a person around you who is callous, ruthless, and can't be trusted. As a positive symbol, snakes represent transformation, knowledge and wisdom. It is indicative of self-renewal and positive changes.