Learning To Interpret Your Dreams

While the exact nature and purpose of dreaming remains shrouded in mystery, science at least tells us that it is a universal experience. We all dream, most likely every night. Many people don’t remember their dreams and therefore incorrectly assume that they rarely or never dream.

Research on dreams and dreaming has shown that an estimated 95 to 99% of people experience dreams. Dreaming is most common during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, when brain activity is heightened and our eyes move about every 90 minutes throughout the night.

On average, a person may have several dreams per night, although they may not always remember them when they wake up. The frequency of dreaming can be influenced by several factors, including age, stress levels, and sleep quality.

There are many theories as to why we dream. Most believe that dreams help us consolidate memories, process emotions, solve problems, or even prepare us for tasks. However, the most important reason we dream is often downplayed or even ignored, which is that our dreams are inherently spiritual and serve a higher purpose.

The fact that our dreams are messages from the spirit realm and a higher power is unfortunately one of the most forgotten truths of ancient wisdom deeply rooted in many religious and spiritual traditions. Dreams have piqued human curiosity for thousands of years. Ancient civilizations, from the Egyptians to the Greeks, revered dreams as portals to the divine, messages from the gods, or glimpses of the future.

We have forgotten the age-old fact that God speaks chiefly through dreams and visions ~ Carl Jung

Even today, the spiritual nature of dreams continues to fascinate and inspire, offering profound insights into the human psyche and our connection to a greater cosmic order. Those of us who are spiritually aware still consider dreams to be one of the most powerful ways to receive guidance from spirit and the divine. We know from experience that our dreams often contain direct messages, confirmations, and forewarnings that offer insight into our life’s path, personal challenges, or spiritual growth.

The challenge of dreamwork as a spiritual practice is that our dreams are encoded in symbolism that is not always easy to interpret when we manage to remember them, but accurate dream analysis and interpretation can be developed as a practice. All it takes is a little patience and persistence.

Dream Symbolism

Dreams take place in the subconscious mind, which operates differently than our normal waking consciousness. Therefore, it uses symbols, emotions, and fragmented abstract narratives to express things that are difficult to articulate directly in waking logic. This subconscious “dream language” can feel very strange and unfamiliar, even bizarre, and requires interpretation.

Dream symbols and messages also have very personal meanings and connotations tied to our own unique experiences and journeys. A house in your dream could represent your childhood home, a place of safety, or a feeling of suffocation, depending on your own associations. This personalization makes dream symbols seem much more difficult to decipher than they actually are for the individual.

In the dream state, our conscious mind goes “offline” while we switch over with full access to the subconscious and a higher level of consciousness. Our human ego takes a back seat and we become more open to receive and perceive beyond our everyday waking reality; our deceased loved ones, ancestors, spirit guides and the angels come to us in this state to teach, guide, advise and warn us.

By developing your personal dream interpretation skills, you can gain valuable insight into your waking life challenges and your spiritual growth path. The key lies in dreamwork, a practice that involves actively engaging with your dreams to understand their messages.

The interpretation of dreams is the royal road to a knowledge of the unconscious activities of the mind ~ Sigmund Freud

Dream Journal

A dream journal is a dream reader’s best friend. I always recommend keeping a dream journal by your bed so that you can write down whatever you remember the moment you wake up. Sleep dreams do not stay with you long, the information dissipates the longer you are awake, so write it down!

Don’t worry if you don’t remember all the details, you will remember the important parts. Also, don’t worry about grammar or coherence – capture the emotions, sensations, symbols, and even seemingly insignificant details. Over time, recurring themes and patterns may emerge, providing valuable clues to your subconscious concerns.

Dream Incubation

Dream incubation is a technique in which you consciously try to direct your dreams toward a specific theme or topic. It’s like planting a seed in your mind to receive guidance, healing or insight through your dreams.

Historically, dream incubation has its roots in ancient civilizations such as the Greeks and Egyptians, who used dedicated temples or sanctuaries for dream healing and guidance. These practices often included rituals of purification and offerings to invoke the help of deities or spirits associated with dreams. In modern contexts, you can adapt these techniques using mindfulness practices, journaling, prayer, meditation, or ritual invocations.

Before you go to bed, choose a specific topic, theme, or question that you’d like to dream about. This could be anything from solving a problem to receiving creative inspiration, or even just wanting to explore a particular place or situation. Next, set the intention for your desired dream theme by repeating it as a mantra or affirmation, writing it down in your journal, praying or meditating on it, or even visualizing the dream scenario in your mind’s eye. Then simply relax your mind and body as you drift off to sleep. Be receptive to the possibility of having a dream related to your chosen theme.

Dream incubation isn’t guaranteed to work every time. It may take some practice and experimentation to find what works best for you. And even if you do have a dream related to your chosen theme, the content may be symbolic or metaphorical. You’ll still have to interpret the meaning of the dream in the context of your own life.

A dream which is not interpreted is like a letter which is not read ~ The Talmud

Dream Recall

Not everyone remembers their dreams vividly, if at all. To improve your dream recall, establish a sleep routine and go to bed with the intention of remembering your dreams. As soon as you wake up, before you open your eyes and definitely before you get out of bed, take a few minutes to replay the dream in your mind and write down any fragments you remember. Consistency is key here – the more you practice this every morning, the easier it will be for you to recall your dreams.

Dream Interpretation

Dreams are full of symbolism and abstraction, and there’s no one-size-fits-all interpretation. Don’t rely on dream dictionaries for meaning. There’s no dream dictionary that has the definitive meaning of every dream symbol. You are the ultimate interpreter of your own dreams. The only relevant meaning of a dream symbol is the one that resonates most with you personally. Consider the context of your life, your current emotional state, and how the dream elements relate to your waking experiences.

Emotions also play an important role in interpreting the meaning of a dream. Did you feel frightened, angry, excited, or empowered? Pay close attention to the emotional tone of a dream, as it usually provides clues as to what spirit and the divine are telling you.

This is why journaling is so important, because often we do not see the meaning of a symbol right away, but over time we can look back at our notes more objectively and begin to see the themes and patterns in our own “dream language. Don’t interpret dreams in isolation. Look for connections to your waking life. Are you facing an important decision? Is there a conflict you need to resolve? Your dreams may offer insight or guidance on these issues.

Not every dream will have a clear message. Some dreams may simply be a reflection of the day’s events or a way for your brain to process emotions. Don’t be discouraged if you can’t decipher the meaning of a dream. Sometimes the journey of exploration is just as valuable.

I have often been in doubt and sometimes shaken in my convictions, it has always been the interpretation of dreams that has given me back my certainty ~ Sigmund Freud

Dream Resources

While dreamwork is primarily a personal journey, there are additional resources available to assist you. Consider joining an online dream interpretation group or reading books by Jungian or Freudian dream analysts. Remember, these are additional tools, not a substitute for your own intuition.

While dreamwork is a powerful tool for personal exploration, there are times when professional dream readers and psychic consultants can be a valuable addition to your dream interpretation journey. Some dream readers specialize in specific [psychic] techniques, such as Jungian dream analysis, which explores the symbolism associated with the collective unconscious. Psychics and mediums, on the other hand, use their psychic abilities such as clairsentience (feeling/sensing), clairvoyance (seeing), and mediumship (spirit communication) to provide additional insight into your dreams.

While we are the ultimate interpreters of our own dreams, we sometimes get stuck in our own subjective lens, which can cloud the clarity of our interpretation. We all have blind spots in our self-awareness. A skilled dream reader can help you identify recurring themes or patterns in your dreams that you may be missing. They can also help you explore alternative interpretations that you may not have considered. This can be particularly insightful when dealing with difficult emotions or challenging situations in your waking life.

Sometimes dreams can trigger strong emotions, and it can be helpful to have someone acknowledge and validate those feelings. A supportive dream reader or interpreter can create a safe space for you to explore your emotional response to the dream content.

If you do consult a psychic advisor or dream reader, be sure to find a reputable professional. Do your research before you seek professional help. Look for someone with experience, positive reviews, and a clear explanation of their approach.

Also remember that while professional dream readers and psychic consultants can be valuable resources on your dream interpretation journey, it is best to view them as guides and advisors, not magicians or fortune tellers. By combining your personal dream work with their expertise, you can gain a richer understanding of your dreams and unlock the profound insights they offer. Remember, the most important interpreter is always you – trust your intuition and enjoy the exploration!