Interpreting dreams is a fun way to discover what escapes our rationality. Many also believe that dreams help to understand more clearly what happens to us when we are awake. If you're curious, start keeping a dream journal. Then, try to analyze each element that characterizes them in order to deepen their meaning and, finally, identify their general meaning.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Keeping a Dream Journal
Step 1. Put the diary on the nightstand
Keep in mind that dreams visit us every night even if we don't remember them when we wake up. However, we can learn to recall their content by taking a few notes. Then, put a pen or pencil next to the diary. This way you can write what you dreamed of as soon as you open your eyes.
- Don't forget to take your diary on the go as well.
- It is advisable to note the date. If you want, you can also leave some space under each item in order to insert the respective interpretation.
Step 2. Keep your eyes closed as soon as you wake up and try to remember what you dreamed of
Then write it down. Make it a habit to write down your dreams each morning while you are still in bed. The memory will be more precise in semi-sleep. If you wait even a few minutes, it will begin to fade.
- Don't even go to the bathroom, otherwise you risk forgetting it!
- Also consider the thoughts that accompany awakening because it is very likely that they would have taken on a dreamlike guise if you had continued to sleep. For example, if you suddenly have a word, color, or song that you haven't thought about for a long time in your head, it could serve for your interpretation.
- The more details you can recall, the more precise the interpretation will be.
Step 3. Write down everything you can remember
For example, consider what you were doing, who you were with, how you felt emotionally and everything you saw that could symbolize something. Take note of as many things as possible. Some people even sketch drawings of what they dream about! Notes might include:
- Emotions felt;
- People present in the dream;
- Animals;
- Dream setting;
- Colors;
- Any means of transport;
- Possible trips;
- Plot of the dream, if any.
Step 4. Don't see a texture where it isn't
It is normal for dreams to make no sense. However, the conscious part of the mind tends to enrich them with invented elements. Don't be tempted! Just write down what you remember, even if it's just a series of random emotions and images. This way you will be able to make general sense rather than create a story.
- Avoid fantasizing by altering the dream content by focusing only on the emotions you felt, what you saw and the adjectives you would use to describe it.
- For example, you may dream of being lost in a forest, chased by a wolf. In addition to writing the story and the sensations experienced, try to draw some trees to represent the forest between some words like "lost", "chased" and "wolf".
Step 5. Do not interpret the dream as you write it
You risk influencing the content of your notes, making you change or omit important details. First try to record only what you dreamed of. You can interpret it later.
Step 6. Find a title
In this way, you are in a position to identify a theme or grasp a detail that struck you the most. However, don't put too much weight on the title. Choose the first one that comes to mind. It will help you get a clearer idea of how you feel in the dream.
For example, you could title the dream of the forest in the following ways: "The hunt", "The forest of fear" or "The terrifying race"
Part 2 of 4: Analyzing Dreams
Step 1. Ask yourself a few questions
This is a great place to start because this way you can start analyzing dreams. The questions vary according to their content because you will have to ask yourself what meanings and relationships are established behind each single element that compose them. Here are some examples:
- I was alone?
- Who else was there? Did I feel the presence of someone?
- What emotions did I feel?
- What does this part of the dream mean to me?
- How would I describe it?
- What does this scene mean to me?
- What is the significance of this action?
- When was the last time I saw this object in real life?
Step 2. Identify latent emotions
The emotions felt during the dream can indicate a certain state of mind that is accompanying you in real life. However, the imagined situation does not necessarily represent exactly what is happening in reality. Apparently, the dream may have no correlation with your daily life, but you can find direction by reflecting on the sensations that characterized it.
- For example, ask yourself: "What feelings / emotions did this dream leave me?" and "When was the last time I tried them in real life?".
- For example, you may feel trapped or really scared if you dream that you are being chased by a wolf in the woods. This scene could indicate a sense of helplessness in some situation that scares you in real life.
Step 3. Examine the scene
The place where the dream is set is an important element, as is the atmosphere you breathe. For example, the woods can be peaceful and sunlit or dark and eerie. Also, it is important to consider personal associations with this place.
- Ask yourself: are you scared? Does it cause you stress in reality? Does it represent your comfort zone? Has something unpleasant happened to you in such a place? Does it look like a place that really exists, where you felt happy?
- For example, a beach could have different meanings for two different people based on their experiences and the respective associations they tend to establish. It could be a pleasant place for those who have had a nice vacation, but distressing for those who have almost drowned in the sea.
Step 4. Reflect on the people and animals that appeared in the dream
Consider the experiences lived in contact with the dreamed individual or animal and what it might symbolize. Also, you should recall how you feel about him. Were you in conflict? Was he trying to help you? Was he just a marginal figure? Take all of these aspects into account in your interpretive analysis.
- Have you recently had a fight with the person you dreamed of? In this case, the dream content may have a relationship to this disagreement.
- Alternatively, ask yourself if the dream person represents anything in your life. For example, if it is your favorite teacher, it is possible that your unconscious is suggesting you to study.
- More than representing themselves, the people who appear in dreams tell us something that is part of us. For example, dreaming that a family member enrolls in university could reflect their own personal desire to study and seize the consequent life opportunities rather than representing that person's aspirations.
- If you are afraid of dogs, they could pose a threat in a dream. However, if you own a dog that guards the house, they could mean safety in real life.
Step 5. Consider the images and symbols
It can be any element present in the dream. Ask yourself what it might mean. What sensations does it trigger? What thoughts does it raise? How can it serve you in real life? Think about what this might mean.
- If a series of images and symbols occur to you, focus on what seems most important.
- If you often dream of the same images or symbols, try using a specially developed interpretation scheme to understand their meaning and interpret a certain type of dream faster. For example, you may dream many times of a free bird when you feel good or in a cage when you feel trapped.
Step 6. Find the recurring theme
To persistently characterize your dreams could be a thought, an emotion, a symbol, etc. Whatever it is, try to connect this theme to real life. In some cases, the relationship could be clear, but at other times it could be configured as a metaphor to be explored more in depth.
- For example, if losing something and not being able to remember and keep your belongings is a recurring thought in your dreams, you can connect this feeling to a real-life situation in which you have lost something that you need to work or study.
- On the other hand, if you repeatedly dream of being chased and threatened, it could be a metaphor that indicates a sense of insecurity at work or school.
Step 7. Use help only if you get stuck
Dream books and dictionaries are widely used tools to analyze the latent content of dream activity, but many experts doubt their effectiveness because the same symbol can mean different things depending on the individual. It is best to focus on the personal feelings experienced during the dream and the meaning of each imagined element. However, try using these aids to improve your analysis or seek further interpretations.
- You can find dictionaries and dream books in print or online.
- For example, you may have had several dreams characterized by a common recurring symbol. Try searching for the general meanings of that symbol to outline an interpretative key.
Part 3 of 4: Recognizing the Common Places of Dreams
Step 1. Ask yourself if something has ended in your life when the theme of a dream is death
Although hideous, dreams centered around the idea of death are usually not about actual bereavement. In this case, think about what's going on in your life. A dream death event means that something in reality has come to an end, usually to give way to a new beginning.
Let's take the example of the moment you graduate. Although this is the end of a journey, it kicks off an exciting new phase in your life
Step 2. Reflect on the vehicles that appeared in the dream
If you dream of taking a means of transport, it could be related to the direction you are giving your life, the control you have over it and the obstacles you encounter along the way. If you are driving, you most likely feel in control of yourself, but if someone else is behind the wheel, perhaps something in your existence is beyond your control.
A broken down car could, for example, mean that you are going through a difficult period
Step 3. Associate flight with the possibility of self-determination
Consider the emotions experienced during your "dream" flight. If you dream of flying high and you have a feeling of well-being, it probably means that in real life you have freed yourself from a burden or that you feel in control of yourself. However, if you dream of flying low to the ground and moreover with difficulty, it could mean that you feel weighted down or that you do not have full control of your existence.
Step 4. Recall the feelings related to the fall
Falling in a dream can have various meanings. It could indicate on the one hand lack of control over one's life, but on the other hand the desire or need to get rid of something. Pay attention to the emotions you feel during the "dream" fall to understand what meaning to attribute to them.
- If you feel calm, you are probably shedding a burden that takes you to the bottom in reality.
- If you are afraid, you may feel that you are no longer in control of your life.
Step 5. Find out if there is anything you are avoiding when you dream of being chased
Usually, dreaming of a chase means that in real life there is something that you would like or should face. Maybe you feel like you are running away from a problem while your unconscious is telling you to fix it.
For example, you may be behind with work and need to organize yourself in order to catch up
Step 6. Try to understand why you dream of losing yourself
In general, the feeling of loss or the search for something we have lost indicates in the dream a sense of anxiety and frustration in reality. You are likely to feel "lost" in some aspect of your life.
You may not be able to find a job because you are not qualified enough or do not have the necessary experience
Step 7. Reflect on your performance if you dream that you are unprepared for an exam
Having to take an exam for which you are not prepared is a rather common dream, fraught with anguish. It could indicate that you don't feel up to a task or that you think you haven't studied as well as you should.
Step 8. Consider the fact that nudity is often a symbol of vulnerability
Nudity represents exposure to the world and, therefore, shows us helpless and defenseless. If the dream of being naked is accompanied by a sense of frustration, perhaps you feel the need to hide something or you have the feeling that you are lacking solid support. If, on the other hand, you feel comfortable, it probably means that you agree to show what you feel.
Step 9. Don't panic if you dream of losing your teeth
Typically this type of dream indicates anguish, a sense of inability or helplessness. Maybe you don't feel ready to take on new responsibilities in real life. By reflecting on the reactions that you or other people in the dream have in the face of tooth loss, you can better understand your feelings about this dream event.
For example, if you dream that your mother doesn't care if your teeth are falling out, it could mean that you are convinced that she does not care about the difficulties you are facing in real life, with all the emotional burden that comes with it. Alternatively, it could also indicate that you subconsciously acknowledge that your mother trusts you because she knows you are capable of taking on new responsibilities
Part 4 of 4: Determine the Meaning of Your Dreams
Step 1. Keep in mind that dreams do not predict the future
According to some people, dreams are premonitions about the future, but experts warn about the fallacy of this belief. Rather, they are stories we tell ourselves while we sleep. In some cases, they can help us understand a situation experienced in real life or manage certain emotions.
If you have a disturbing dream that scares you, don't worry about it coming true. On the contrary, reflect on the feelings you have experienced. Ask yourself if a situation you are experiencing really favors this state of mind
Step 2. Join all the pieces
After analyzing every single part of the dream, try putting the pieces together. This way you will get a deeper interpretation.
- What is the link between a scene and the people or symbols that animate it?
- To what extent does each part of the dream affect the others?
- Considered as a whole, what meaning does what you dreamed of in your eyes?
Step 3. Connect the dream to real situations
Some dreams are easy to interpret. Maybe you recently met a person or you came across a situation that recurs in a dream. However, other dreams are metaphors for things that happen in reality. Analyze them to determine what connection they have with what you are experiencing.
- For example, if you dream of something that happened to you the previous day, the interpretation is quite simple. If you've had a fight with your mom and dream of a fight with her, you don't have to dig deeper.
- However, if you dream of a house fire that you can't escape, it's probably a metaphor for something that's really happening in your life.
Step 4. Follow your instincts
Only you really know yourself! As a result, you are the best person to interpret what you dream of. If you think it has a certain meaning, accept it.
Step 5. Decode dreams involving love and sex
They rarely have any bearing on the feeling of love and sexual attraction as we know them in real life. Very often, they indicate associations that concern the most intimate sphere of our life. Maybe they represent a greater closeness to the dreamed person or a part of ourselves that we are learning to accept.
For example, if you dream of having sex with someone you barely know, ask yourself what this person represents. Maybe you like his sense of humor or his expansiveness. In this case, it could indicate that you are maturing these qualities
Step 6. Pay attention to recurring dreams or patterns
If you have the same dream several times, it is likely that your unconscious is trying to communicate something to you or maybe you are having a difficult time. Pay particular attention to recurring dreams or patterns.
- Notice when and how often they recur and if they seem triggered by something.
- Analyze them as usual, but especially pay attention to what they might mean in relation to real life.
- If they disturb your sleep, consult a mental health professional to help you interpret them.
Step 7. See a therapist if dreams are troubling you
In rare cases, dreams can negatively affect our daily life. For example, some people have recurring nightmares that can generate fears. Although they are just fantasies that have no real counterpart, they can still be scary. Fortunately, the therapist can help you understand the most distressing dreams.
Advice
- Trust your instincts! If something seems important to you, it probably is. Don't let your rational side take over.
- Sometimes dreams don't have very deep meanings. They might just be about something that happened recently.
- The secret is in practice. If you are constant, you will gradually improve.
- Interpret dreams to understand the emotions that harbor in your mind and solve the problems you may have in life. However, don't regard them as premonitions about the future.
- Dream dictionaries can be useful tools, but they don't offer 100% safe interpretations.
