Interpreting Common Dream Images
The images encountered in dreams can
sometimes be confusing, and many dreams seem to defy logical explanations.
One reason this is so is that dreams tend to often use symbolic language
to tell their story, and the stories told by the unconscious mind can be
quite different from those experienced during waking hours. It is helpful
to understand some common interpretations of some of the most frequently
encountered dream symbols.
Arms
Dreaming of arms, or of being
enveloped, can represent an unconscious desire to live your desires. This
kind of dream often represents a type of wish fulfillment. If you
dream of your arms being tied or otherwise obstructed, you may be feeling
"tied down" or restricted in your waking life.
Boss
Many people assume that dreaming
about the boss is due to anxieties about their job, but more often the
boss in your dream represents a different authority figure in your life.
In some cases, the boss may represent part of your own psyche that is
controlling other parts.
Cats
Cats in a dream can have many
different meanings, depending on their context within the dream and on the
individual dreamer. Some common interpretations of cats include
representations of intuition, magic, femininity and sexuality. The
dreamer's personal feelings about cats are a key part of discovering their
meaning in the dream world.
Death and Dying
Many people think that dreams
about the death of themselves or a loved one are prophecies, but that is
rarely if ever true. Dreams about death or dying are often manifestations
of other fears and anxieties.
Eating
Dreams about eating are most
commonly metaphors for needing intellectual or emotional nourishment, not
physical nourishment. As always, the context of eating in the dream will
provide important clues to its meaning.
 Fire
Dreaming about fire often
symbolizes passion or sexuality. Carl Jung felt that fire was a symbol of
transformation.
Garden
Dreaming about a blooming garden
may symbolize the growth of the soul, whereas a dream about a weed
infested or dead garden may indicate that the dreamer is seeking
additional spiritual nourishment.
Hands
Hands can be either a positive or
a negative symbol, depending on their place within the dream and the
context in which they appear. The appearance of clasped hands can
symbolize agreement or unity. A dream featuring washing hands can indicate
that the dreamer has unresolved issues that must be addressed in the
waking world.
Job
Dreaming about being at work can
indicate a feeling of being overworked, or of being overwhelmed by career
issues. It can also be a sign that you need to be more productive at
work.
Lock
A lock in your dream may represent
the dreamer's inability to obtain what he or she needs. It can also be an
indication that something is locked up inside, things like emotions,
talent or memory.
Nurse
Dreaming about a nurse can
indicate an unresolved need to be taken care of.
Ocean
Dreams about oceans or other large
bodies of water are often representations of the subconscious. The state
of the water in the dream is indicative of the dreamer's emotional state.
Therefore, dreaming of calm seas can indicate a quiet emotional life,
while dreams of high tides and tidal waves can indicate emotional
disturbance.
Purse
The interpretation of this symbol
depends on its context. A purse can represent a place to keep secret
possessions safe, but losing your purse in a dream can indicate that you
fear the loss of your power or possessions.
School
Dreams of school or classrooms can
represent learning experiences in the dreamer's waking life. Classroom
dreams can also indicate that spiritual learning is taking place. In
addition, school or classroom dreams can indicate a yearning for the
simpler life that childhood represents.
Train
Sigmund Freud viewed trains as
phallic symbols and this interpretation is sometimes valid. Dreaming about
missing a train may mean you feel you have missed an important opportunity
in your waking life, while dreaming of being a conductor can mean you feel
you are in control of your life.
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