Scientific or woo-woo? The meanings behind dreams have fascinated and stumped those in the scientific fraternity and those who connect through cards and intuition for many decades. Dreams are both mysterious and magical – a function of humanity that is complex and colourful.
No one truly knows why we dream or how these images are conjured by the brain while we are in slumber. The act of hallucinating and what it means differs depending on culture and religious background. In modern psychology, understanding dreams has become an important tool in understanding the human mind, the depths of our thoughts and emotions and how we can harness this knowledge to help us.
I had this recurring dream when I was about eight years old that I can still remember now. I dreamt the exact same dream for three nights in a row and it shook me. Basically, it was the end of the world – orcas breaching in Wellington Harbour, an eruption from the sea to the sky, the sky turning black and me running from school to home, frightened that I wouldn’t get there. (We lived in Seatoun at the time).
I’ve had other recurring dreams throughout my life. My favourites are the flying ones, where I fly across fields or towns. In one, bizarrely, I was a chicken. That was weird. But I’ve also had terrifying dreams of running, being chased by soldiers and being shot in the head, waking me up with a fright.
I know, through my intuition and self-imposed dream work, that the dreams when I’m running away from soldiers wanting to shoot me are when I’m not facing into important issues in real life. I also know that when I have my favourite flying dreams things are going well and I feel good – free.
Sigmund Freud would deduce that these dreams are entirely symbolic representations of my inner wish fulfilment. In 1899 he published his seminal book The Interpretation of Dreams where he explored the concept of dreaming – what he determined was the royal road to the unconscious. This book introduced psychoanalysis and was a revolutionary approach to understanding the human mind and behaviour. He suggested that dreams are wish fulfillments – they represent unconscious desires, thoughts, motivations and fears.
This was revolutionary because prior to this, dreams had been thought of as magical and mystical and of no scientific or actual consequence.
Freud distinguished between the manifest content of a dream (what we remember when we wake up) and the latent content (the hidden psychological meaning). The manifest content is often the distorted version of the wish that the dreamer’s mind tries to fulfil, while the latent content is the underlying wish itself.
So, while I dreamt about the end of the world, what I was really dreaming about was a big change coming. And in real life it did – we moved from Seatoun to Raumati South and I wasn’t happy about moving away from my primary school friends.
When figuring out the latent content of dreams, Freud would use a technique called free association which is when the person says whatever comes to mind about a dream’s elements, leading to insights about the unconscious wishes the dream represents. He would consider how the dreamer felt about the dream. The content of dreams, the storyline, imagery, sounds etc. can be coded or symbolised and are not necessarily literal. Freud also considered suppressed sexual desire to be the main cause of psychological problems in humans – which would be expressed in dreams.
Another important figure in the analysis of dreams is Carl Jung, the Swiss psychiatrist who founded the idea of analytical psychology. He worked with Freud in the early years when this radical new understanding of the mind was faced with fierce opposition. Jung was touted to be Freud’s heir.
But they disagreed and then split irreconcilably in 1913. Jung believed that the events and symbols that appear in dreams attempt to lead people towards wholeness through a dialogue between the ego and the self. He also believed that certain symbols and archetypes are shared among all humans. Our collective living and shared cultural and evolutionary experiences create a collective symbolism of dreams for all.
Dreaming happens when you’re in the phase of sleep called Rapid Eye Movement, REM. This is when your brain is more active. REM is important because it stimulates the areas of the brain that help with learning and is associated with increased production of proteins. Getting to this stage of sleep represents a good night’s sleep. However, sleep cycles are roughly 90 to 110 minutes so you will have a few periods of dreaming each night. Some nights you don’t remember dreams, and some you do. Everyone dreams to some degree, if you don’t feel like you’re dreaming or you’re struggling to remember them it could be an underlying sleep issue and is worth checking out.
So, what have you been dreaming about and what could it mean? The best way to learn more about your sleeping habits is to make a note of them. Start a dream diary that you keep handy by the side of the bed and write down everything you can remember.
Common Dream Interpretations:
Your partner cheated on you
This can be more about you than your partner – especially if there are no trust issues and it’s coming out of left field. Perhaps there was an infidelity in your past, either in this relationship or another and it’s something you’re not content with. Or there may be something else that’s making you feel like you’re being cheated out of time and attention – it could be work, golf, friends, or a hobby. Ultimately this dream is letting you know that there’s some kind of imbalance and there’s something that needs to be corrected.
You cheated on your partner
This can feel just as concerning however it is likely to represent an inner doubt about the other person’s loyalty or a fear of the safety of the relationship. It might be as simple as you feel like you’re not getting enough quality time, they’re not being fully transparent about something, or you’re worried about where their priorities lie.
You’re running late to something important
If your work or schooling is deadline based, then this is pretty self-explanatory. If not, you’re likely feeling the pressure for a timeline and worried about not making it. It’s also quite common when you’re starting something new whether that be a job or a relationship.
You’re standing on a cliff and then fall into nothingness
Dreams of falling can be associated with feeling out of control or overwhelmed. You may also be feeling unsupported or insecure. It means there’s something significant in your life that you’re not feeling in control of, the result makes you feel untethered. Consider what this could be and what steps you can take to regain control.
You’re peeing
This is really symbolic. Rather than it being about needing to go to the toilet it’s also a signal that you are releasing stress, tensions, anxieties and any pent-up emotions. It signifies a detoxification and is quite positive. The level of built-up tension in your dream is relatable to the level of tension in real life ie: absolutely busting to go, could show that you have a high level of stress or you are holding on to a lot. It can also mean that you lack privacy – maybe you are an outgoing person who shares a lot of information. Or perhaps you trust people too easily. If you watch yourself pee in your dream it means it’s time to evaluate your circle of friends and keep your goals to yourself. This is especially so if you dreamt about peeing on someone else – that symbolises that you are losing control of yourself to the thoughts and actions of others.
Your teeth are falling out
This can reveal anxiety around someone or something. It could indicate that you are feeling concerned about your competence, strength or power – your ability to ‘take a bite’ out of the world. It can also signify a loss and is related to times of change and transition.
You’re in a position of power
Don’t worry, you don’t need to get your ego in check if you’re suddenly dreaming about becoming the boss or leading the world. Grandiose dreams can be pretty fun, but they can also highlight the gap between your ambitions and goals and where you really are.
You’ve lost your voice and you’re unable to call or shout for help
As terrifying as these are, sometimes it’s actually not a dream but the result of sleep paralysis. During REM, the sleep cycle in which we dream, our bodies experience REM atonia, a natural paralysis during the REM cycle. This stops us from physically acting out our dreams. People who experience sleep paralysis usually wake up before the REM cycle is complete – a kind of in-between stage. It can feel incredibly frightening and the best thing to do is try to go back to sleep.
You’re pregnant
This could symbolise something new that is growing or developing inside you. It could be work related, or a creative endeavour or feeling positive about a big step in life.
You die or someone you love dies
While death dreams can feel like a bad omen, they usually mean an end to something in your life, or a big change. Your subconscious shows this change in the form of death so that you can understand the finality of it. Perhaps there is something that you can’t let go of, but you should. There are exceptions to this – on the off chance that you are having some kind of prophecy you will feel it in your body differently. Your intuition will let you know. Also consider how much news or what kinds of movies to TV shows you’ve been watching. Death anxiety was at an all-time high during the pandemic, mostly because of how much was discussed on a frequent basis all around us.
You’re in an exam you haven’t prepared for
That horrible feeling of sitting in a room with the pressure of taking a test that you’re not ready for can give you the worst back-to-school vibes you’ve ever had – at any stage of your life. What this really symbolises is that you are feeling inadequate and unready for the next stage of life. It can also mean that you are lacking in self-confidence or self-esteem. Consider the fact that when you’re at school, failures become part of public record and that makes failing devastating. Rather than failing at something at home, where your parents or family can shield you from it. So, consider what is ahead of you and plan, plan, plan to prepare you for the best outcome.
You’re naked in public
Most people have dreamt this in some iteration – whether it’s standing in front of a class, or doing a presentation at work and suddenly realising that you are naked. It doesn’t mean you want to be naked in public but is much more likely to be related to feeling embarrassed about something about yourself that other people don’t know about you. You feel ‘laid bare’ or exposed. It could also indicate that you feel guilty or inferior or may be triggered by feeling neglected or deprived of attention in the past. The context of the dream and other symbols in it should help you unravel what this really means.
You’re flying
My favourite dream is when I have the ability to rise up off the earth and fly across fields or places like a superhero. I always feel incredibly happy. There have been times when I’ve tried to lift off and had to take a few starts to do it, then the joy of flying takes over. This symbolic dream often conveys liberation, freedom, transcendence and the ability to rise above challenges. It can also signify that you have freed yourself from obstacles and difficulties. Or perhaps you have figured out the solution to a problem that has been plaguing you. Or a new direction is the right direction, if you had any doubt. If only we could levitate and fly in real life!
Try A Dream Analysis:
1. Start a dream diary, and date each entry.
2. As soon as you wake up, before you look at your phone or utter a word to another, write down your dream in as much detail as possible.
3. Include how you felt during the dream – what emotions were you experiencing during the dream? How did that influence the dream?
4. Could you influence the dream?
5. How did you feel when you woke up?
6. Explore personal associations – what do the symbols or events in your dreams mean to you? Are they linked to anything historical? Or have you read or seen something that has influenced you?
7. Over time, consider any emerging patterns. Do you dream certain things at the same time each week or month?
8. Make a final note to jot down anything relevant – anything you watched or read that day that might be linked. Anything you ate. Is there any significance to the date?
