Animal Dream Interpretation
Animals often appear in our dreams as symbols from our unconscious. It is thought that certain animals have specific meanings. Of course, one needs to look at the overall context of the dream and determine how it might relate to his particular life situation in order to get a more accurate interpretation. Below are some animals that are commonly in dreams and a suggested interpretation of what they may symbolize.
Ants and Anthills
It is fairly common to dream of ants. Ants may signify that there is something in your life that is bugging you. They may also mean that you have unfinished business that you need to tie up or an important task you need to complete. Ants can also represent hard work and community. Dreaming of an anthill may show that you have family and a group of friends who are supportive of you.
Bears
Bears represent strength, calmness and introspection. If you dream of a sleeping bear, it could mean that you need to do a little soul searching on something that is going on in your waking life. If the bear is chasing you it could symbolize that you are running from something that you need to face. If the bear is standing upright it may indicate that you also must stand up for your beliefs.
Cats
Cats are a symbol of feminine power as well as intellect and spiritual protection. If you dream of a black cat it could by a symbol of concealed secrets.
Dogs
Just as in the waking world, in the dream world dogs signify loyalty and friendship. If the dog is barking in your dream it could mean that you fear others are gossiping about you. If the dog bites you, you might have a guilty conscience. If a dog attacks you in your dream it might mean that you are too impulsive while dreaming of a dog leading you could be a sign of confidence.
Elephants
Elephants symbolize steadfastness, strength and control and show that you have the ability to overcome obstacles in your life. If you dream of riding upon an elephant it shows you have the ability to be a leader in your relationships and career.
Lizards
If you dream of lizards it might mean that you need to be reminded to keep yourself grounded in your waking life. In addition, it could be a warning to be careful around certain people. If the lizard runs from you in your dream it may indicate that you are experiencing stress and fear over issues going on in your waking life.
Hawks
Hawks symbolize freedom. If a hawk flies in your dream it could also mean that you are being ambitious in your waking world but if the hawk is caged, it might mean that you are not able to express your inner self.
The above animal interpretations are generalizations based upon what the animals may symbolize to the unconscious mind. The meanings could be different for you based upon your life experience with that particular animal.
Dream Interpretation Books
In times past, dream interpretation was taken much more seriously since dreams were considered to foretell the future. A well known example is found in the Bible with the dream of the seven fat cows and seven skinny cows. This was interpreted as a warning of seven years of bountiful harvest which were to be followed with seven years of famine. Because of this dream, a plan was devised to store food during the time of plenty so there would be reserves to draw from during the famine.
Today, dream interpretations are not taken so literally but rather tend to deal with the dreamer's state of mind and are considered to be messages from the subconscious about events that have passed or are ongoing. The subconscious tends to deal with symbols and tries to communicate in this manner. Therefore, many dream interpretation books exist which give meanings to these symbols so the dreamer can try to make sense of his dreams. Below are a couple of popular books on dream interpretation.
Dream Dictionary: An A to Z Guide to Understanding Your Unconscious Mind
This book was written by Tony Crisp who is a dream therapist. Crisp tries to help the reader understand why dreams occur and how they can impact the dreamer's family and work relationships. This is a comprehensive collection of dream interpretation material with the latest scientific discoveries in the field of dreams and nightmares.
Creative Dream Analysis
This popular book was written by Gary Yamemoto who is a respected speaker and consultant. He has helped many individuals, organizations, and corporations with issues that hinder growth and success. Staying within his field of personal and professional development, Yamemoto shows readers how to analyze dreams for messages which help to further one on the path of success and personal satisfaction.
The above books are just an example of what is available. You can easily find more, even books which are simple dream symbol dictionaries. The key to successful dream interpretation is to learn how to decipher the symbols your subconscious sends you. You don't necessarily need a dream interpretation book to do that. Some dream therapists suggest you start by simply recording your dreams as soon as you wake up each morning and to look for patterns in your dreams which emerge over time.
Even though dreams may not be taken seriously in modern times as harbingers of future events, they still play a very important part in all of our lives, and if interpreted properly, they may even be useful for helping us to gain more self understanding. If your dreams are disturbing or you are especially curious to discover their meaning, you can always enlist the aid of a dream therapist to help you uncover what they are trying to reveal.
Keeping A Dream Journal
If you are trying to learn how to lucid dream, or if you are seeking to understand what your dreams mean, then keeping a dream journal is an important step. By keeping a dream journal you will learn how to better recall the dreams you are having plus it will enable you to spot patterns in your dreams. Keeping a dream journal is not difficult or time consuming but it does require discipline as you need to record your dreams immediately upon awakening on a consistent basis in order to see results.
It is important to keep the journal right at your bedside along with a pen so that you can reach for it right as you wake up. Also be sure to have a flashlight or lamp at your bedside so you don't need to get up and turn on a light first. Dreams are often fleeting and tend to fade away rapidly so it is important to jot down the details immediately. When you first write down the details of your dream, just mention the high points that will jog your memory of the dream later. Once you have written down the important points, then read them to yourself while remembering the flow of the dream and make a few more quick notes if you need to. If you have the time, go ahead and write out the dream now, but if you do not, then just leave it until later and rely upon the important points to jog your memory into remembering the entire dream.
If you cannot recall it later, don't worry too much about it as you should have enough basic information recorded with your original notes. You should do this even if you awaken in the middle of the night. In that instance particularly, you would not want to take the time to write a detailed description of your dream as it might prevent you from falling back asleep. Just quickly jot down the key points and then go back to sleep. It may sound difficult, but once you have the routine down you should find that you can fall asleep easily enough if you haven't over stimulated yourself. If you find that you have difficulty recalling a dream as it happened it sometimes helps if you start at the end and run the dream in your mind in reverse.
It is also a good idea to date your dreams and time them if possible. This can be valuable information when it comes to trying to decipher their meaning. Sometimes it can take quite awhile for a pattern to emerge and once it has, it helps to be able to go back and correlate your dreams with what was happening in your waking world at the time.
Keeping a dream journal can be a great self discovery tool. It takes a little effort in the beginning to stick with it since it is so preferable to just go back to sleep if you awaken at night. It also helps to set the alarm for a few minutes earlier in the morning so you know you have the time to write down your dream notes instead of being in a rush to get your day started.
Tips For Lucid Dreaming
At night while we are sleeping, we dream. Most of the time we are not aware of the dreams and many times we don't even remember them upon awakening. However, there is a different and unique type of dreaming which is known as lucid dreaming. With lucid dreaming, you are aware that you are dreaming and can possibly even control the dream. Some people spontaneously lucid dream, but most people need to learn how to do it. Below are a few tips to help you set the stage for a lucid dream.
Get a Good Night's Sleep
One key to dreaming well and learning to lucid dream is to sleep well and for at least eight hours. It is thought that the longest and most intense dreams come after about eight hours of sleep. Of course you can and will dream at intervals throughout the night also, but the better you sleep, the easier it will be for you to see results because you are not being awakened at all hours.
Develop Your Dream Recall Ability
The ability to recall your dreams is very important as it will help you to learn your own personal dreamscape. Learning to recognize when you are sleeping is a vital step in lucid dreaming. One way for you to recall your dreams is to keep a dram journal. Jot down the high points of your dreams as soon as you awaken. It helps if you keep the journal right by your bed and grab it while the dream is still fresh before it floats from memory. It isn't necessary to keep detailed notes, but rather just write down the high points. Soon you will begin to identify patterns and recurring dreamscapes. Additionally, as you are falling asleep, reinforce to yourself that you will remember your dream upon awakening. Before long, your dream recall will vastly improve.
Learn to Recognize Your Dreamscape
By recalling your dreams, you will soon notice details which are consistent in your dreams which can be used to signal your unconscious that you are dreaming. The whole point of this is so that when you slip into a dream, it triggers your subconscious to alert you on some level that you are dreaming. Once you are in this state, you can then consciously direct your dreams while you are still asleep. You may wonder why one would want to learn such a technique. Some people want to learn to lucid dream simply for the sake of being able to do so. Others use lucid dreaming to help them solve problems that are going on their waking world. Learning to lucid dream takes time and is not necessarily easy and takes a good deal of patience and practice.
Dealing With Bad Dreams And Nightmares
Everyone has had a nightmare at one time or another, especially during childhood. Most children do experience nightmares during the developmental years of 3 to 8 years old. Bad dreams are so common among children that they are considered to be a normal part of growing up and treatment is not required unless the dreams are repeated and very distressing. Children often have nightmares about monsters or scary animals and the same type of dream manifests in adults as being chased by people or a person. Adults too have occasional nightmares and that is considered normal. In fact, up to 10% of adults report having nightmares as often as once a month.
Nightmares can be triggered by many different things. Medications or illegal drugs might be a cause as well as suddenly stopping drugs or alcohol. High fever and illness can also cause bad dreams. In children, bad dreams are often a result of learning to deal with fears which are a normal part of growing up. Additionally, trauma such as surgery, death of a loved one, accidents, assault, and war can cause nightmares. Stress is often a culprit in bad dreams also; worry over finances, health issues and relationships can manifest nightmares, and as such, more sensitive individuals might experience more instances of bad dreams and nightmares than other people.
It is usually fairly easy to determine the cause of your nightmares. If it isn't obvious, then you should talk with your doctor to find out if the cause might be a medication you are on. Children should be encouraged to talk about the nightmares, but if the bad dreams are very distressing for them or they occur very often, then you should discuss the situation with your child's doctor.
Nightmares can actually be useful in that they help both adults and children to process trauma that has occurred and can be a normal part of the process of healing. Nightmares can be made less distressing by talking about them. Children can be encouraged to draw pictures of the dream to make the monsters seem less scary.
We all dream, even if the dreams are not remembered, and we all occasionally have nightmares. These bad dreams are often just the result of the subconscious trying to deal with the various fears and stressors that arise in daily life. Bad dreams are usually not a cause for alarm, but if you have any concerns, discuss it with your doctor. A simple adjustment to your medications may be all it takes to put a stop to the nightmares. In some cases, it might help you to see a therapist to get to the cause of the nightmares so you can work through the issues which trigger them.
What Do Recurring Dreams Signify?
Although there has been intense interest in dreams and dreaming since ancient times, no one knows for sure why we dream. It is generally accepted however that there is a relationship between the dreamer's state of mind before falling asleep and the dreams that ensue during the night. Dreams are usually very symbolic and unlocking them requires that one deciphers the meanings of the symbols and how the message relates to their waking life.
Some people experience recurring dreams. A recurring dream is one which the dreamer has on multiple occasions. It is thought that the dream recurs because the subconscious is desperately trying to get the attention of the dreamer and deliver a message about some aspect of his current life events. A recurring dream is a signal that there is something going on in the dreamer's life which needs to be dealt with. Often, recurring dreams contain common symbols such as flying or teeth falling out. We will take a look at these two examples below.
Dreams of Flying
If you experience a dream about flying, it might indicate that you have a desire to be free of, or escape from, a situation in your waking life. Until that situation is resolved in waking life, the dream of flying may turn into a recurring dream. In some instances, this can make the dream useful as it constantly prods you to realize you are feeling restricted or bound by the situation until you realize you need to take steps to change the situation. In other instances, the situation may be something beyond your control and tin that case, the flying dream may be telling you that you need to come to terms with the situation and make peace with what you cannot change.
Dreams of Loose Teeth and Teeth Falling Out
Dreaming of your teeth falling out could indicate that you feel as if you are not being seen or hear at work or in a personal relationship. This type of dream seems to be more common among shy people and can be very disturbing if it turns into a recurring dream. One way to deal with this issue and help to put an end to these dreams is to take assertiveness training or a communication enrichment program to learn how to make your voice heard.
You can see how recurring dreams can be a useful tool for personal growth in helping you to identify issues in your life that you need to deal with. If the dreams are particularly disturbing, you may want to consider consulting with a dream therapist who is experienced in interpreting dream symbols so you can discover what it is that your recurring dream is trying to reveal to you.
Common Dream Themes
We all dream and the dreams can sometimes be bizarre, scary, or even funny. We are often left wondering what on earth caused such a dream to manifest. Many times though, dreams are common and tend to be universal in that everyone has the dream in some form or another. Patricia Garfield wrote a book called The Universal Dream Key about dreams that transcend all generations and cultures. She conducted an international survey and discovered the top then dream themes that we all share.
Dreaming of Being Attacked and Chased
Being chased in a dream is extremely common and may even result in a nightmare. This type of dream is often the result of being under a lot of stress in the waking world.
Dreaming of Being Injured or Dying
There is a myth that if you dream of dying, then you will die in your sleep. That myth has been proven to not be true simply because dreams of dying are so common and the dreamer suffers no ill effects. Death in a dream such as this is usually a symbol for something else going on in the dreamer's life which is no longer thriving or wilting so to speak. This could be a relationship or a personal attribute and is not necessarily a bad thing.
Dreaming of Car Trouble or Losing Control of a Vehicle
This is another very common dream which is thought to symbolize the feelings the dreamer has in waking life of not being in control. The dream probably invokes fear as control of the car is lost and it veers over a cliff, and in waking life the dreamer may be feeling fear and stress that his life seems to be out of control.
Dreaming of Property Loss
Dreaming of your house being destroyed by fire is distressing. It might be a symbol from your subconscious that it is dealing with the loss, or fear of loss, of something very important to you in your waking life.
Dreaming of Poor Performance
If you dream of some aspect of poor performance in your dream, you may be feeling like you are constantly being tested in your waking world.
Dreaming of Drowning and Falling
These dreams are also extremely common and can be very distressing. It is possible that these dreams signify that you are feeling very overwhelmed in your current life situation. A drowning dream might be interpreted as your basic survival instinct trying to take over to rescue your situation since drowning battles your natural instinct to breathe.
Dreaming of Being Nude in Public
Another quite common dream theme, dreaming of being nude might indicate that you are feeling vulnerable in your waking life.
Dreaming of Missing the Bus, Plane, etc
If you dream of missing your ride, it may mean that you feel like you are missing out on something that's happening in your waking world.
Dreaming of Things That Don't Work Properly (Phones, Doorknobs, etc)
If you have a dream that your telephone is not working properly, it might be a signal from your subconscious that a part of your body is not working properly. It could also indicate that you are losing touch with something or someone in your waking life.
Dreaming of Natural Disasters
This type of dream may arise if you feel that you have personal problems which are raging out of control.
These are ten of the most common dream themes that we all share. You probably have had some of these dreams yourself and will probably have many more of them in the future. Now you have an idea of what they might mean.