Cats are domestic friends, dangerous wild animals, and inspirational muses for artists. In dreams, they can take on different meanings based on the context. They are generally believed to represent femininity and the intuitive side of our soul.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Remembering the Dream
Step 1. Recall the feeling you had during the dream
The feeling you experienced in relation to the cat is much more indicative than any interpretation you can read in the dream dictionary. Were you happy when you saw the cat? Or did you feel scared? Try to understand why it aroused this mood in you.
- To better understand the feeling that the dream cat gave you, think of other elements that you can remember. For example, if you were drowning and the cat saved you, then you may have felt a great surprise and gratitude. This may make you realize that sometimes help comes from unexpected places or people.
- Was the cat familiar to you? Whether or not you know it in real life, you may have felt a sense of familiarity with the animal. Maybe it's a symbol of safety.
- If the cat has caused you to feel fear, perhaps there is something in your life that is worrying or scaring you. For example, if the animal attacked you in the dream, it could mean that you are feeling assaulted by some real circumstance.
Step 2. Remember that every detail of the dream is important
Think about where the cat was. Was it outside, like a wild animal, or indoors, like a domestic cat? What other elements were found next to the animal? For example, if he was outdoors on a moonlit night, then you should also consider the dream symbols of the full moon, a dark house, a rustle of dry leaves under his feet, an owl, a cold breeze and so on. Street.
- Dreams express emotionality, not rationality. Perhaps the cat was swimming underwater, quietly (and unrealistically) happy. You don't have to worry if the dream doesn't make logical sense.
- As you write down each element, think about the feeling it gives you. The dream comes from the subconscious and you yourself are the best person to understand its meaning.
Step 3. Keep in mind that dreams are subjective
Since they arise from the subconscious of the mind, they are completely personal and mirror your nature and your experiences. A cat in your dream may not have the same meaning as a cat in someone else's dream. Many people believe that this animal is a personal symbol, which concerns only the single individual.
- Consider what it represents specifically for you. Are you allergic to cats? Did you have a cat when you were a child? If there is any specific meaning that connects you to cats, it is likely to be part of the dream interpretation.
- Remember that the purpose of dream interpretation is to understand yourself better. They are hardly able to predict the future, give you lucky lottery numbers or give you the answer to an algebra problem.
Step 4. Think about the characteristics of the dream
Some interpreters believe that the aspects of the dreamer lie within the different elements of the dream. The cat could represent yourself or a part of you. Try to think about what characteristics you might have in common with him.
- Was the cat in the dream special in some way? Were the circumstances familiar? Or was it a new or unlikely situation?
- Dreams create a connection between the conscious side and the unconscious of the dreamer. The sensations, thoughts and ideas present in the unconscious can emerge through dream images and symbols.
Step 5. Consider the traditional meaning of the cat in dreams
These animals are part of the ancient dream images, they symbolize intuition, femininity, softness, independent spirit, creativity, power, misfortune, vulnerability, bad luck and cunning. Anything you can remember about the cat you dreamed of will help you understand its meaning.
- If the cat was playful in the dream, perhaps it means that you want to be a little more carefree in life.
- If he was aggressive, you may be going through some difficulties with the feminine side of your nature.
- If you have lost your cat in the dream, it may indicate that you are not as independent as you would like to be.
- The health of the animal can also indicate something. For example, if he is sick it could indicate that you are not paying enough attention to your intuition. You have become too rational and in this way you have weakened your "sixth sense".
Step 6. Learn about possible alternative interpretations
If you dream of a wild or stray cat, it could indicate that you find your neighbor dangerous (or this is something you fear). If the cat bites you in the dream, it could represent the loss of something important to you.
- Although cats are generally a symbol of independence, dreaming of a puppy often represents vulnerability and the need for someone to take care of you.
- Images in dreams can be simple or even complex. When you want to understand what it means to dream of a cat, you must be open to a wide range of different interpretations.
Step 7. Don't be afraid if you have dreamed of a black cat
Unlike the common belief that the black cat brings bad luck, it is not actually associated with any particular misfortune. The most important aspect to take into consideration to understand a dream is the state of mind you feel towards the cat, how you relate to him and how he relates to you.
- In the past, any cat that appeared in a dream was considered a symbol of bad luck. However, this view changed as popular culture began to feel more comfortable with mystical themes.
- Cats often represent sensuality and femininity. When women dream of a cat, they may be dreaming of their own sexual power. When the dreamer is a man, then the animal could represent his sexual fulfillment or his intuitive nature.
Step 8. Remember that you are the most prepared expert to interpret your dream
If the cat represents any meaning to you, what any dream dictionary says doesn't matter. Reading it, you can understand that it describes a wide range of possible meanings. As you become more adept at remembering dreams and deeply evaluating every detail that composes them, then you will be able to find the true meaning.
- Pay attention to the presence of repetitive patterns or patterns. Do some elements recur regularly? Have you noticed how often you dream of a certain cat or different cats?
- Your observations should answer the five fundamental questions of journalism: who, what, when, where and why. Always ask yourself this question: How did I feel about this element?.
Part 2 of 2: Learning to Understand Your Dreams
Step 1. Write
Most dream science experts recommend keeping a dream journal. It is a simple notebook to keep on the bedside table along with a pen or pencil. As soon as you wake up, grab these writing tools and try to write down everything you remember from the most recent dream.
- Try to describe every dream you have, no matter how difficult it is to remember it clearly.
- Fill in as much detail as you can, even if they are random and weird. List the colors, places, characters, sounds, emotions and objects. Each element has a possible meaning.
- Don't worry about grammar or spelling. No one else will read your notes except you.
- If it is easier for you to use an application on your mobile or tablet, then you can keep the diary on your mobile device. The main thing to remember is to keep your writing material near the bed so it is available as soon as you wake up.
Step 2. Take note of the feelings aroused by each dream
The moods you experience during dreams are not symbolic, but real emotions. Most people suppress negative feelings during the day, but they surface in dreams. Learn to recognize them in relation to each element present in the dream image, so as to interpret it better.
- The feelings expressed in dreams can help you manage depression, guilt, or other complicated emotions you experience in real life more effectively.
- The most common moods that surface in dreams are fear and anxiety followed by anger and sadness.
Step 3. Learn to recognize recurring images
Over time, you will begin to notice that similar themes and patterns emerge from different dreams. For example, if you find yourself dreaming often in stressful situations, albeit with different details, then it is important to observe how this distressing situation manifests itself in real life.
- There are applications that provide instant analysis of dream details.
- These applications focus on the patterns of images and words present in the dream, rather than reading the "plot" or recognizing the individual meanings of the elements.
Step 4. Try to rethink the details
Once you have noted the dream, go back to sleep. Later, when you are fully awake, reread what you have written and look for meaning in your notes. Each dream experience is a mine of metaphorical meanings that you can interpret in many ways.
- Many experts claim that the dreamer should not think about what he dreamed of in literal terms. For example, a dream about skydiving does not generally mean that a person wants to jump out of an airplane.
- Sometimes a detail is not a metaphor, but only a means that the person uses to process information. For example, people who lived most of their lives before the advent of color television often dream in "black and white".
Step 5. Learn about dream interpretation
Some analytical psychotherapists incorporate dream analysis into their therapeutic practice. If you like the idea, consider learning more about dream interpretation or find a good therapist who uses this approach.
- You can find many dream dictionaries both online and in bookstores. These are interesting and entertaining books, but the real analysis of dreams is a much more complex and delicate subject than these texts suggest.
- Dream interpretation was an established part of the psychoanalytic models used by both Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung.
- Jung's interpretation of archetypes found in dreams has formed generations of psychologists and scholars.
