Dream Symbols

Our dreams have been a source of fascination since the beginning of time. Clients sometimes ask me to help them interpret a dream that’s intrigued them, or which has been of great concern to them. I feel that the best people to interpret dreams are the dreamers themselves, but I will always give my take or feeling on the deeper meaning of the dream, and suggest they take my version on board only if it truly resonates for them.

Many cultures see dreams as life lessons, as a means for our ancestors or loved ones in spirit to connect with, and to communicate with us. Amongst those cultures, much emphasis is placed on dreams as a means of prophecy. Often these dreams are meant to guide us or to warn us of impending danger, but sometimes they are meant to just to show us that we are indeed loved by those in the spirit world.

Dreams are often most profound when they seem the most crazy ~Sigmund Freud

Often too, I have found, we can wake up with a sense of peace in our hearts, knowing we’ve communicated things to another soul. This could be something which was perhaps left unsaid at the time of their transition to the other side. The veil between this world and the next is a thin one, and using our dreams can help us to build a bridge between the worlds.

Although some people tell me they never dream, I feel that we all have the ability to dream when we slip into an altered state of consciousness during our sleep cycle. Our dreams are a natural part of life’s rich tapestry, revealing parts of ourselves which we otherwise might fail to see. In opening up to the dream state we can work on healing our deeper fears and issues.

If you don’t usually recall your dreams, you can instruct the mind to remember the dream before falling asleep. When you wake up, take a moment to jot down any memory of dreams before the thoughts of the day take over.

Our subconscious mind responds to the language of symbols. The actual interpretation of a symbol varies from person to person, and we usually have our own individual reference system. Our guides and ancestors use the symbols we identify with to relay information to us.  So much depends on what an image means to us personally, for example, a snake can signify a bad omen for some and  for others it may suggest that there is a dishonest person around them. In certain African cultures, a snake can represent an important ancestor and it is therefore of spiritual importance. If one dreams of a snake after a newborn is delivered, it is seen as signifying that there is a lot of ancestral support around the baby. A snake lying close to a baby’s cot would be honored in those cultures.

Dreams are more real than reality itself, they’re closer to the self ~ Gao Xingjian

Below are a few symbols I have encountered in my work. Many more can be found by researching dream symbols, or by connecting with your guides and angels for subliminal suggestions as to what they mean for you.

Butterfly – Rebirth, change, a state of fleeting calmness.

Cave – Womb, rebirth, the past, Mother Earth.

Door – A portal between worlds.

Egg – Cycles of life, beginnings, fertility.

Fire – Transformation, energy, transition.

Key – Solutions, immobility, sexuality.

Knife – Distrust, warning, discord.

Mountain – Spiritual quests, in search of wisdom, challenges, an obstacle.

Murky water – something is unclear, clouded emotions, something is yet to be revealed.

Owl – Wisdom, death, warning.

Rain – A drought is over, blessings, fertility, gifts.

Rainbow – Hope, peace, unity, link between this world and the next.

River – Movement, cycles, life begins to move forward, transition.

Snake – Change after being in limbo, earth energies, feminine mysteries.

Tools – Helpful gift, hard labor.

Tornado – Major change, a matter of concern diminishes.