Dreams have been interpreted for thousands of years, but they still remain a mystery. Dream images relating to cetaceans, such as whales and dolphins, often symbolize a mysterious connection between the clear and alert mind of the day and the one that dreams. If you have dreamed of whales or dolphins, you may be interested in knowing better their meaning.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Interpreting the Dream
Step 1. Make a note of the dream
Interpretation always begins with the memory of what one dreamed of. Get in the habit of writing down your dreams as soon as you wake up to train your brain to remember them. Keep a notebook by your bed and use it as a diary.
- You can also use mobile apps. Some are even designed to find connections or recurring patterns between dreams or help you interpret them.
- If writing early in the morning is too tiring for you, you can use the recorder on your smartphone.
Step 2. Think about the feelings you experienced during the dream
Your feelings at the sight of the whale or dolphin are very useful information to understand the meaning of all dream images. For example, if you have felt happy watching the dolphin or have swam with these animals with joy and pleasure, then it means that you would like to be more carefree. If you have been afraid, you are probably going through a very stressful time and are worried about losing control.
- Write down any emotions you feel about the dream, even if you feel it doesn't make sense. Don't allow the conscious side of your mind to filter the message that the unconscious (the dreaming mind) is trying to convey to you.
- If, in the dream, you yourself were a cetacean, think about how you felt in those clothes. Did you feel like you were freer, more confident and happier? Or did you feel lonely, scared and uncomfortable?
- Remember that all elements of the dream are potentially meaningful. Focusing on a single dream image is a mistake.
Step 3. Pay attention to what the animals were doing
Were the cetaceans in the water or on land? If you dream of an animal in its natural environment, it means that you may feel insecure about what your role is in the world. If the whale or dolphin were underwater, know that dreams set in the underwater world often symbolize the dark side of human nature, aspects of your being that you don't want to see.
- Dreaming of a dolphin indicates your willingness to listen to the subconscious, the emotions.
- These animals are typically inspirational images in dreams, symbolizing optimism and social altruism.
Step 4. Analyze the details
In a dream, every image is important. If you're looking to play one involving dolphins or whales, try to think of everything you can remember. Even the smallest detail can prove to be important.
- Some dream interpreters believe that the dreamer is represented by every element of the dream images. For example, if you dream of a pod of dolphins playfully swimming in the waves until they are caught by a net, then it could mean that you are trying to take control of your carefree nature.
- If the dream involves saving a whale, perhaps you are actually trying to save an important relationship or a part of yourself that is in danger of death.
Step 5. Evaluate the symbolism of the dolphins and whales
Since they are mammals that live underwater, they both represent the fusion of the conscious and the unconscious. When these animals appear in a dream, the message may be that it is time to act on something you have always kept inside of you or to tell the truth about an important issue.
- The whale often symbolizes awareness and intuition. Dreaming of this animal many times indicates that the time has come to listen to your inner voice.
- Since the whale is the largest mammal in the world, a dream about it may also tell you that you are feeling overwhelmed.
- Think of something specific you can remember about the animal. For example, did the dolphin swim alone or in a pack? Did he seem healthy or sick to you? If you have dreamed of a dying cetacean, perhaps you have the feeling of losing the connection with your inner "me".
Part 2 of 2: Connecting Dreams to Real Life
Step 1. Evaluate the significance of dolphins in your life
When did you first see one? Are you a fan of these animals or do they make you feel uncomfortable? Have you had any negative experiences in the sea or in the water that you can associate with dolphins? If you went to the beach after a friend died, you might associate dolphins with grief.
- Since dreams are different for everyone, you are the best person to interpret yours.
- While these animals are often associated with positive symbols, you are the only one who knows exactly what they mean to you.
Step 2. Examine your feelings about whales
Your dreams are unique and refer to your specific experiences. For this reason, no two people will share the same dream interpretation. For example, you might associate a whale with calm, independence and strength. On the contrary, you may believe it is a dangerous animal, a "killer whale" or an unimaginable source of fear.
- The real experiences of a dreamer shape the meaning of the various dream images.
- Your emotions are the best guide to interpreting the meaning of the presence of a whale in your dreams.
Step 3. Consider recent events that may have affected your dreams
Have you watched any documentaries about the brutal slaughter of animals? Or in the last few days have you discussed with a friend the possibility of going to the beach? If whales and dolphins were part of your recent "awake" life, then they are likely to appear in dreams.
- If the emotions you feel in the dream at the sight of the cetaceans have changed recently, try to understand what are the current events that may have triggered this change.
- Remember that dolphins and whales, like other dream images, are not to be interpreted literally. The study of the meaning of dreams is based on emotions rather than rational thinking.
- If your feelings about these animals change in each dream, then look for other elements that can provide you with more information.
Step 4. Look at any recurring patterns that appear in dreams
If you often dream of whales and dolphins, try to understand if there is a common thread that binds these dream experiences. For example, are you generally happy to see these animals? Do you usually see them running away from something scary through a very narrow escape route? Are they part of a very large landscape and can you only see them from a distance?
- If similar experiences are proposed to you several times in dreams, then you may need to solve a certain situation in real life.
- Take note of recurring thoughts and emotions, as well as frequent images that appear in dreams. For example, if you often think, "I'm going to die if this happens again," try to figure out what those words really mean.
Step 5. Learn to remember dreams
Research has shown that most adults have at least 4-6 dreams per night. These develop during REM sleep, the time when the sleeping brain is as active as if it were awake. The best way to remember dreams is to keep a dedicated journal.
- As you become more aware of your "dream life", you will begin to better understand the symbols that are important to you.
- There is research that shows that dreams can help you better understand your "alert" personality. Dreams also have a certain diagnostic value with regard to psychological problems related to personal dynamics.
