Love Jesus

Have you ever had a dream that felt so real, you wondered if it was real? Maybe the dream left you shaken, and maybe it seemed to have some hidden meaning that you couldn’t quite put your finger on. Perhaps the dream felt like it had some deeper insight into your life. If so, you’re not alone. Many people around the world believe that dreams can provide us with glimpses into something beyond our everyday existence. Virtually every culture has traditions and practices for interpreting dreams as a way of gaining insight about our lives and our inner selves. While most of us are not fluent in the language of symbols used in many different cultures to interpret dreams, there are common themes across different beliefs about what dreams mean and how they can be understood. The following guide will help you understand why we have dreams, how they reveal something about who we are, and what they mean when they happen to us.

What are dreams and why do we have them?

Dreams are our inner psyche’s attempt to solve a problem or answer a question we have been working with but can’t quite solve. Although dreams are often mysterious and confusing, they are actually a part of our everyday life, as common as eating and drinking. Some experts estimate that about 75% of people have recurring dreams on a regular basis. We have them when we are sleeping, when our conscious mind is turned off. The dream is a product of the unconscious mind, a place within us filled with repressed thoughts and feelings, as well as creative impulses and desires. Because most people don’t allow their unconscious mind to be heard, dreams are often a way for the unconscious mind to push itself forward and get its message across.

Identifying the Symbols in Your Dreams

The first step toward interpreting your dream is to identify the symbols that appear in it. If you can identify the symbols that appear in your dream, you can use them to gain insight into your inner concerns and issues. If you are not familiar with dream analysis, you may be surprised by the wide variety of symbols found in dreams. The following chart lists some common symbols found in dreams, along with examples of how each symbol might appear in a dream. Keep in mind that one symbol can have many meanings, depending on your personal associations with it. If you have trouble identifying the symbols in your dreams, try writing down your dream and then asking yourself questions such as: What is the dream setting? What are the characters in the dream? What did you do in the dream? Was there a snake in a dream? You can also ask yourself questions that help you identify symbols such as: What am I feeling? What is the most significant event in the dream? What recurring objects appear in the dream?

Understanding the Symbols in Your Dreams

As you explore the common symbols found in dreams and their meanings, think about how these symbols apply to your life. For example, if you dream of being pursued, this could be connected to feelings of being overwhelmed in your daily life. Or if you dream that you are being chased by an animal, you might feel like you are being chased by problems in your life. While it is helpful to consider what these symbols mean generally, the real value of dream interpretation of the dream about getting shot and not dying about comes when you can apply these symbols to your life, based on your unique experiences and associations.

Decoding the Meaning of Your Dream

Now that you’ve identified the symbols in your dream and explored their meanings, you are ready to begin interpreting your dream. One way to begin interpreting your dream is to put all of the symbols together and create a story from them. You may also want to write out your dream and use symbols to write down your thoughts and feelings. Another way to interpret your dream is to look up the symbols in a dream dictionary, such as the one below. As you read the definitions, see if any of them seem to fit your dream. If you don’t find a dream dictionary that resonates with you, you can make your own dream dictionary. To do this, create a list of common dream symbols and their meanings. You can also create a journal and write down your dreams and what they might mean.

How to Remember and Record Your Dreams

The best way to begin exploring the meaning of your dreams is to start recording them. Almost any method for remembering and recording your dreams will help you recall more details and symbols associated with your dreams. Keep a dream journal: If you keep a dream journal, you can record your dreams immediately after you wake up. If you wait too long to record your dream, you may forget important details. Keep a dream diary: If you don’t like the idea of writing down your dreams in a journal, try keeping a dream diary. A dream diary is simply a calendar where you write down the date and the details of your dreams. Once the dream is written down in a diary, you don’t have to take the time to write a full-blown journal entry.

Bottom line

To be honest, I haven't slept much this week. I have a kitten now that I have to take care of a lot (he's only one month old.) These are five dreams I had this week that I think are trying to tell me something deeper.

Basically, I only had bad dreams.  The first feeling/emotion that I experience after waking up from a bad dream is relief. I feel relieved because the nightmare is over and I am back in the safety of my bed. I also experience a sense of confusion, however. The nightmare may be over, but the images and emotions it elicited are still fresh in my mind. I may not understand why things happened the way they did in the dream, or what the symbols represented. Sometimes, a bad dream can leave me with more questions than answers. But regardless of this feeling of confusion, I am always grateful to be awake and safe in my bed. This happened to me the next day I woke up from a dream about someone standing at your door.

The next dream I had (it was on Tuesday I believe) was a dream about a tree falling. I was sitting in my car in front of my house and then suddenly, a tree fell on my car. Normally,  you start to wonder if there is something wrong with you because the dream felt so real. You feel sick to your stomach as the adrenaline begins to wear off and the tears start to flow. Your whole body feels sore and you desperately need a hug. You feel fragile, like glass that's about to shatter. These were my feelings! 

The last dream I had on Friday was a dream about skydiving. Unusual dream, huh? I can’t explain why I had this dream and what it means, but I saw it in my dreams.