The Dream Dictionary from A to Z [Revised edition]

Can You See the Future in Your Dreams?

For I dipt into the future, far as human eye could see, saw the vision of the world and all the wonder that could be.

– Tennyson

Déjà vu dreams involve dreams of a person, place or thing and then, the following day or a few days afterwards, you encounter whatever featured in your dreams. Precognitive dreams are similar in that they offer glimpses of the future, but they differ in that they predict real-life events the dreamer is typically not familiar with or can have absolutely no conscious awareness of. Déjà vu dreams, in contrast, could be explained as simply being highly likely scenarios because the people, things, and situations you later encounter in your waking life are ones that you are personally familiar with.

Precognitive dreams are rare but there have been many instances when people claim to have dreamed of events they couldn’t possibly have guessed or known about before they happened. For example, many people reported dreaming about 9/11 before it occurred. Other people tell of canceling trains or flights because of a foreboding dream, only to later hear that the train or plane has crashed. There are even reports of people who dreamed the winning numbers of the lottery.

Research suggests that up to 30 percent of people have had precognitive-type dreams. Most dream researchers dismiss precognitive dreams as coincidences, but in recent years a select group of scientists have warmed to the theory that dreams might actually be able to offer us a view of our future or a potential future. Their theory is inspired by the scientifically proven phenomenon of ‘presentiment’: bodily signals, such as a raised heart rate and increased sweating, that something is about to happen before it actually happens. If this intuitive physical sensing of the future can happen to us when we are awake, then it may also happen to us in our dreams while we are sleeping.

Science has a long way to go to prove that it might be possible to see the future in your dreams but the fact the theory is being researched and taken seriously is wildly exciting. We know even less about time – what it is and how it works – than we do about dreams. Both time and dreams remain elusive but enduring mysteries, united by the theme of eternal possibility.

How to Interpret Your Dreams

If the dream is a translation of waking life, waking life is also a translation of the dream.

– René Magritte

If you have ever wondered why dreams often appear so difficult to understand or make sense of, it is because the information they contain is relayed to you in a different language: the language of symbols. If you want to understand your dreams you need to learn their symbolic language.

People alive or dead, known and unknown; animals both domestic and wild; landscapes and buildings familiar and strange; and any number of symbolic objects such as shapes, colors, signs, numbers, jewelry, food, clothing, and so on, are just some of the countless number of images that can populate your dreams. These images are not to be interpreted literally but personally. They are your own thoughts, feelings and ideas translated into a series of images that are like ordinary scenes in your daily life. For example, if you feel overwhelmed, you may have a dream you are swimming but finding it hard to keep your head above water. If you feel stressed, you may have a dream where you are being chased by an unknown threat. The number of images that your mind can translate into dream symbols for you to interpret is practically endless.

Words just can’t convey the countless powerful thoughts and feelings that symbols do. These symbols are often chosen from something that has caught your attention in waking life, triggering a memory, conflict, or concern that resonates both in the present and in the past.

Remember, in the majority of cases everything you see, do, feel and sense in your dream is about you. Everything in your dream says something about you. It really is the world of your dreams. If you have seen the movie Inception you may recall the scene when everyone turns to stare at the dreamer. That’s exactly how dreams work. The people in your dreams are all aspects of you, the things in your dream all say something about you, as does the storyline or plot. Waking up to the reality that you are dreaming about yourself is illuminating and gives you a head start as far as dream interpretation is concerned.

Now that you understand that you are the world of your dream, the next step is to interpret the symbols your dreaming mind is sending you. One tried-and-tested way to uncover the meaning of your dream images is by association. You simply express the first thing that pops into your head when a trigger image from your dream is given. If you don’t immediately get an associative thought, try working through all your feelings about that image. For example, say you saw a bird in a dream. Do you like birds or do they make you nervous? Try to discover what the image means to you right now, for the meanings of your symbols will change over time.

The more you think about and try to interpret your dreams, the more you will begin to understand the significance of your personal images. You’ll probably find that you dream the most about the things that you are familiar with: your family, your colleagues, your friends, your pets. Each time you dream about these familiar things they will have personal significance for you alone. What aspects of your personality do these symbols represent to you?

Remember, most dreams are not to be taken literally and you need to do a bit of detective work to get to the real message. Just because you dream that a friend is dying does not mean that they will die, but rather that some aspect of your relationship with him or her or some aspect of your life is ending. Death in dreams suggests endings of some kind but also new beginnings. In fact, interpreting dreams literally can be harmful. As pointed out earlier, you have your own set of unique dream images and symbols. If you love cats, what a cat means to you and what a cat means to someone who can’t stand them will be very different. Always bear in mind that your dream symbols and images and their interpretation are unique to you.

If you struggle to understand your dream symbols turn your attention to the emotions of your dreams. How did your dream make you feel? Was it joy or sadness or love or fear? Then, when you have identified the emotion, observe it – but don’t identify yourself with it. You are not your emotions. Your emotions teach you something and you always have choice or free will over what you want to do with your life.

As well as noticing the emotions, start asking questions of your dream. Who are you in the dream? Is there a dream theme? Why did certain people or events or other symbols appear in your dream? Don’t try to get answers in every case. See what associations come up because sometimes just asking the question and paying attention to what surfaces in your awareness following a dream is enough. Bear in mind that everything in your dream is there for a reason: to tell you something about you. If someone you know appears in your dream, what aspect of them is reflected or needed or not being acknowledged within you?

Although the images and symbols in your dreams do need to be interpreted, their purpose isn’t to mystify you. They are simply trying to convey a message. If you do find yourself getting tense, confused, or frustrated when trying to interpret a dream, let it go. Dream interpretation is best approached with an open mind and in a relaxed, optimistic state.

You don’t need to interpret every single dream you have. In the same way that some movies are more compelling and thought-provoking than others, some dreams – such as those when you do fantastic things like flying into space or lying on a sandy beach – are simply to be enjoyed. You don’t always have to dig deep for meaning. It’s good to be aware that a dream might contain a message of importance, but don’t get obsessed with finding meanings for every single detail – just interpret what you can.

Dreams, like life, are full of big and little stuff. Don’t sweat the ‘small stuff’.

Capturing Your Dreams: How to Recall

Dreams are illustrations…from the book your soul is writing about you.

– Marsha Norman

By far the biggest stumbling block to tapping into the inspiration and insight your dreams offer you is not remembering them.

If you don’t think you dream, think again. Everyone dreams. You simply aren’t recalling them. We all dream several dreams a night. Experts believe we each have 100,000 dreams over the course of our lives. So, you might be wondering why you can’t remember a single one.

The dreams you have when you are close to waking up are the ones you are most likely to remember, but with a little effort you can boost your dream recall. Remember, research has shown that dream recall is good for you emotionally and will improve your creativity. The following dream recall trips are extremely effective and will have you remembering your dreams in no time if you keep practicing them every day and night. In fact, the more attention you pay to your dreams by thinking about them, writing them down, working with them and reading and re-reading this book, the more likely you are to remember them. Like everything in life, where your attention goes is where things tend to manifest. Your dreaming mind responds the more attention you pay to your dreams.

 Wake up earlier: Set your alarm clock 10 minutes earlier as this may interrupt a stage of REM sleep where dreams are more likely to happen.

 Set the intention to dream: Before you go to bed set your intention to dream. Tell yourself several times when you close your eyes to sleep that you will remember your dreams when you wake up. Think about how much you would love to remember your dreams and how much fun it is to do so. You may also want to write down ‘I will remember my dreams when I wake up and I’m looking forward to it’ on a piece of paper before you go to sleep. Place that piece of paper next to your bed.

 Visualize: One way to make sure you remember your dreams is to talk to yourself in a positive way. You may also want to try this simple visualization technique:

 When you feel sleepy, turn off the lights and settle down in your favorite sleeping position. In a relaxed way, think about your dreams. Breathe in for a count of five, and out for a count of ten. Repeat this, and then breathe normally. Now imagine you have just woken in the morning and, as you slowly move back into consciousness, you reach for your pen and write down your dream. Bring your attention to the present again, and feel comfortable, warm, and sleepy. Tell yourself out loud so you can hear yourself speaking that in the morning you will remember your dreams.

 Keep still: When you wake up in the morning (or in the night) remain in the position you woke up in, preferably with your eyes closed, as this will help you recall the dream. Any kind of movement will distract your mind. Keep as still as you can and try to remember your dreams. If you can’t recall anything let your mind wander for a while as the chances are dream images will form. Remember, on waking your awareness hasn’t shifted fully from dreams to daily awareness so use this twilight time to re-enter your dreams.

 Write your dream down immediately on waking: As soon as dream images appear write them down or speak them into a voice recorder. Don’t be tempted to get up, brush your teeth, or get dressed and start your day first as this will distract your brain and your dreams will vanish from your memory.

 Keep writing: If you can’t remember anything, write down: ‘I can’t remember anything now but I might later and I will write it down then.’ This sets the intention that you are ready to start remembering your dreams and if dream images appear in your day (and sometimes they do) you will record them.

 Self-care: Be aware that medication, alcohol, too little sleep, anxiety, and stress overload can all block dream recall. If you are consistently not remembering your dreams, practicing relaxation, stress reduction, and self-care in your daily life will boost your chances of better dream quality and recall.

 Diet: Studies have shown that supplementing your diet with vitamin B6, or ensuring you eat a diet sufficient in B6, will improve dream recall. Sources of B6 include eggs, sunflower seeds, tuna, dried fruit, and turkey.

 Unplug: Avoid screen time for at least an hour before you go to bed.

 New Age: An herbal cushion of mugwort mixed with sage and lavender and placed under your pillow or an azurite crystal beside your bed are alternative suggestions for better dream recall you may want to experiment with. Calea Z herbal tea is also believed to boost dream recall, but (as with any herbal remedies) consult your doctor first to ensure it is safe to take.

 Live your dreams: Studies have shown that the more attention you pay to dreams and dreaming when you are awake, the better your dream recall. Your dreaming mind loves it when you incorporate elements of your dreams into your waking life. For example, if you were wearing red in your dream wear red during the day, or if someone you know was in your dream make a point of reaching out to them. When you do this your dreaming self will know you are taking it seriously and will reward you – as everyone likes to be taken seriously.

Capturing Your Dreams: How to Record

Keeping a notepad and pen beside your bed and recording your dreams immediately on waking is one of the best ways to help your dream-recall. Although some people prefer a voice recorder – and you may find talking through your dream easier to do – if you record your dreams in writing you give them greater authority. You also create permanent visual reminders that can help trigger creative associations.

Some dreams are so vivid you can’t forget them but many are so fleeting they can vanish without a trace, so it is crucial you capture them as soon as you can. Immediately on waking, write down your dream or dreams – even if this is in the middle of the night; don’t brush your teeth first or leave it until your alarm clock goes off. If you do that, you’ll probably forget all about it and will lose a valuable dream.

When you write down your dreams abandon any attempt to be logical: dreams don’t speak to you logically. Dreams are not linear or rational. They speak to you in a timeless language of emotions and personal symbols. As you write them down be sure to write everything in the present tense as this helps you step back into the dream as if it were happening again.

If you just don’t think you have time to write down your dreams in the morning because mornings are always so rushed, set your alarm five or ten minutes early and remind yourself of the wealth of creative insight and guidance you might be missing out on. To save time just jot down some key words and feelings from your dreams.

Later in the day, you can transfer the information to a dream diary – one specifically set aside for your dreams. In this diary note down the date of your dream, any people involved, the moods and feelings expressed, prominent colors, numbers, or shapes, the problems and conflicts encountered, prominent symbols or stories, information about the dream landscape, whether it was past, present, or future, and, finally, how the dream ended or the story of the dream. Refer to the Dream Types given previously to see if you can identify which type of dream you had.

With practice you will soon get the hang of remembering and writing down your dreams. Writing down your dreams will also help you see them from an outsider’s perspective and make it easier for you to connect dream symbols to your waking life. Read what you have written and see if you can figure out what your dreams are trying to tell you. Remember, it is the personal association your dream symbols trigger that matters the most. Your dream mind wants to bring to your awareness whatever is unconsciously holding you back, so constantly remind yourself of the importance of what you are doing.

If something surfaces that makes you feel uncomfortable you always have the choice to make changes in your waking life. Just because you dream about something terrible does not mean it is going to happen. Your dreaming mind is simply using alarming imagery to alert your attention to aspects of yourself or your daily life which are blocking your chances of happiness. The more you deal with uncomfortable emotions in your daily life the less alarming your dreams are likely to be. In short, frightening dreams only tend to occur when you have issues and problems in your waking life that are triggering them.

Writing down your dreams creates a fascinating record of your dream life for you to look back on in the future to see if there were any connections you didn’t see at the time. Identifying these connections in hindsight can make it more likely you will now notice them in the present.

Finally, be sure to use the entries in the A–Z Reader section of this book to help you unlock the meaning of your dream themes and symbols. But never forget that the best book you will ever read about dreams is the one you write yourself – your dream journal.

Dream-maker

The dream was always running ahead of me. To catch up, to live for a moment in unison with it, that was the miracle.

– Anaïs Nin

Some dream experts believe it is possible to take charge of your dreams and turn them into creative and helpful experiences that can help solve problems in your waking life. To do this you have to get your waking mind to work more fully with your dreaming mind; you need to think about what problem or issue you want your dream to resolve. This is a process called dream incubation. You are becoming your own Oracle!

Step-by-step Guide to Dream Incubation

1. Decide what you want to dream about, what you want your dream to resolve or help you with, and what question you want answered.

2. Write down your question or desired dream on a piece of paper as if you were going to send it to a friend – because that’s what your dream self is. Be as specific as you can, but don’t ask about silly or trivial matters, such as ‘Should I send someone a Facebook friend invite?’

3. Read this over and over again during the day and keep it in your mind, during the day and again as you get ready for bed.

4. Once in bed, read over the question again and ask your dreaming self to bring you the answer during sleep. Put the paper under your pillow or right beside your bed so you can reach it easily.

5. Tell yourself before you go to sleep that you will have the dream you want and trust yourself to dream the dream that you ask for.

6. Tell yourself you will remember your dream. Be prepared to write down the dream when you wake up and be open to whatever comes to you.

7. Leave your dream intention to incubate. What you are doing here is programming your dreaming mind or self – giving it a particular task to focus on.

8. Stop thinking about your intention to dream. Let it go. Relax and calm your mind before you sleep and don’t stress about whether or not you are going to have a dream. You may not always want to ask your dreaming self a question; you may simply want a happy, harmonious dream. If this is the case, think of a place or person you’d like to dream about – perhaps a vacation or loved one – write down a simple description and ask your dreaming self in the same way to give you a happy, inspiring dream.

9. Be willing to keep trying and to experiment as long as it takes.

See what insights your dreams bring you, and if you find dream incubation productive and feel confident enough in the wisdom of your dreams, you may want to use your dreams to help others. Let someone you know and trust give you a question they want an answer to. Then dream on it for them. Tell them what symbols your dreaming mind came up with for them to see if it offers them any helpful insights.

Dream-catcher

What if you slept, and what if in your sleep you dreamed, and what if in your dream you went to heaven and there plucked a strange and beautiful flower, and what if when you awoke you had that flower in your hand? Ah, what then?

– Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Asking your dreaming mind to send you answers to questions you may have can offer you intriguing insights. It may also encourage you to take your fascination with your dreams to even greater heights with a technique known as lucid dreaming.

Lucid dreaming is the ability to know you are dreaming when you are actually dreaming. Once you are aware that you are dreaming you can then take control of your dream and what happens in it. For example, you can decide to fly or visit any place you want in your dream. It’s an incredible high! You can quite literally move mountains and change the world to suit you. Anything is possible.

Knowing you are dreaming is one of the most spectacular and surreal experiences. It is also empowering. You see, if you can choose what happens in your dreams this can give you the confidence to begin to explore hidden potential in your waking life.

Most people have at least one lucid dream during the course of their lives, but lucid dreaming on a regular basis is rare. Everyone can learn lucid dreaming, but it takes a lot of focus, time and practice. There are certain techniques you can learn. Keeping a dream journal is one of them, as is performing regular ‘Am I dreaming?’ reality checks during the day to confirm whether you are dreaming or awake. But how to increase the likelihood of lucid dreaming is the subject of a book in itself. (If you have questions about lucid dreaming, please get in contact with me: see here.)

Eyes Wide Shut

Dreams are not meant to put us to sleep but to awaken us.

– Camille Goemans

Whether you decide to practice dream incubation or not, remember that any dream you have has the potential to take you into a world of mystery and wonder that can keep you spellbound for days trying to understand it. The dream interpretations that follow will help you unravel some of the mystery – but never forget that you are the dreamer and you do the dreaming, and that, in understanding your dreams, you can reach a better understanding of yourself.

Use the explanations offered in the pages that follow for the interpretation of your dream symbols and combine them with your own circumstances to work out an understanding of the likely significance of your dreams. In this way, your innermost feelings, hopes, and fears can be highlighted, hopefully resolving issues in your waking life and enriching it by revealing your hidden strengths and creativity.

Dreams offer you an incredible opportunity to connect to your inner world to illuminate your waking life. They help reveal who you really are, and understanding their true meaning is the beginning of understanding yourself. In the words of Aristotle, ‘knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom’. So, take the time to enjoy the excitement, mystery, wonder, creativity, and pure magic each and every dream brings. Keep your eyes wide open by day and wide shut by night. Dare yourself to discover and believe in yourself and the beauty of your dreams – wherever they may lead you…

A–Z BEDSIDE READER