Water is one of the images that recurs most often in dreams. Are you wondering what it can mean to dream of water? There are many ways to interpret such a dream. Write down all dreams of this type in detail, think about your personal life and then try to understand what they can mean for you. Remember that dreams are strictly personal, there is no universal interpretation system.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Transcribe Your Dreams
Step 1. Keep a dream journal
If you want to be able to interpret a dream, you need to keep a dream journal, since they are quickly forgotten. Writing down your dreams every morning can help you remember important details.
- Keep a notebook and pen handy on your nightstand so you can start journaling first when you wake up. People tend to forget the details of their dreams quickly after waking up.
- Write down as much detail as possible. Don't just focus on the water, but also on other aspects of the dream. What happened in the dream? Who was there with you? In what environment did it take place? How long did the dream go on?
Step 2. Reflect on your daily worries
Dreams often offer valuable insights into the emotions you are repressing, consciously or unconsciously. What are the thoughts that recur in your daily life? Which issues draw most of your attention? If you spend a lot of time thinking about your career, the dream may be about this very topic. If, on the other hand, you are concerned about a romantic relationship, your dream may be trying to tell you something about it.
Step 3. Write down the emotions you feel during the dream
The emotions you feel during your dreams are just as important as the details you can remember. What did you feel during the dream? Happiness, sadness, enthusiasm, stress? Did the emotions stay the same all the time or did they change gradually?
Step 4. Break down the elements of your dream
As you analyze the dream, break it down into its elements and delve into each of the images involved. Think about what emotions these images arouse in you and what they represent for you.
Let's take the case of a dream in which you floated in the middle of a clear lake, lying on a sofa. Do you recognize the lake of the dream? Was it a specific lake or any body of water? What color was the sofa? Did it have any specific meaning to you? Was it a sofa you had already seen or just any piece of furniture?
Part 2 of 3: Interpreting Your Dream
Step 1. Learn more about the theories on the dream meaning of water
Water is one of the images that appear most frequently in dreams. As you try to interpret your dream, learn about the various theories about the dream meaning of water.
- Culturally, water is often associated with the theme of purification and transformation. From baths to baptism, water is seen as a purifying element. We often dream of water while we are facing profound existential changes.
- Different types of water can mean different things. Floods, for example, are associated with catastrophe and mourning. Sometimes you dream of a flood when you feel overwhelmed by events. Dirty and cloudy water can indicate fear or confusion, because it evokes a sense of uneasiness and the unknown.
Step 2. Analyze the emotions you feel at the thought of water
Although the symbol of water suggests a wide range of associations, many psychiatrists and psychologists agree that the subjective connection with what a symbol represents is more important than its universal meaning. What does water mean for you personally?
- What are the emotions you feel in contact with this element? Are you a swimmer or a beach lover? Or are you afraid of water? Can you swim or not? Have you had any bad experiences with water?
- Do you recognize the body of water? Is it a specific lake or sea? Do you have a personal relationship with this body of water? Is it a good or bad relationship?
Step 3. Be the expert
When it comes to interpreting a dream, don't rely too much on the opinions of others. You are the best judge of your moods: when it comes to interpreting a dream, your feelings are the most important thing. If you are feeling confused, you can certainly seek the opinion of friends and family, but ultimately it is your opinion that matters.
Step 4. Put all the elements together
After analyzing the various aspects of your dream, try to come to a conclusion. Based on your thoughts, emotions and characteristics of the dream, what do you think it could mean?
- Let's go back to the example of the floating sofa on the surface of the lake. In this example, let's say you are a married woman in her thirties, looking for a child. The prospect of raising a child worries you a little, because you would like your parents, who live far away, to play a more important role in your child's life. The lake of your dream is Lake Maggiore. You grew up in a coastal town and have many fond memories of you as a child swimming in the lake. In the dream you are often in the company of your mother and your younger brother. The dream sofa has a sofa cover with a similar pattern to that of your childhood sofa, which was in your parents' house. During the dream you are almost always happy, but you are a little anxious at the idea of returning to shore.
- As is often the case with dreams involving water, the dream described could represent the response to a stressful situation you are experiencing. While you are excited about the prospect of becoming a mother, you also have some doubts about it. The uncertainty of the dream, also marked by the absence of a clear destination, reflects the feeling of stress you feel at the idea of starting a family. It may be that you feel a little homesick, because in the dream there are images from your childhood. Your dream may indicate that you need to work through your fears about motherhood and find ways to get closer to your family.
Part 3 of 3: Recognize the Limits
Step 1. Realize that science has limited knowledge of the mechanisms behind dreams
Dream interpretation has always been a great success, but science still knows too little about the mechanisms underlying dreams and their biological usefulness. Many of Freud's theories have been discredited and much of the research done on dream interpretation remains unanswered. Keep in mind that while recurring dream interpretation can be fun, it's best to take the results with due caution.
Step 2. Stay away from dream dictionaries
Dream dictionaries are not the best if you want to try a serious interpretation. Although some symbols have cross-cultural significance, dreams are for the most part deeply subjective. Rather than consulting a dream dictionary, it is more useful to deeply examine your thoughts and desires to analyze a dream.
Step 3. If recurring dreams are disturbing, talk to a psychotherapist
If you often have recurring and disturbing dreams, it could be a sign of psychological distress. If a recurring dream gets to the point of upsetting your daily life, you should talk to a psychiatrist or psychologist about it.
