Abandonment
You must consider this dream’s varying aspects in order to
interpret it. Your unconscious may be giving you messages
regarding what needs to be kept and needs to be let go.
Traditional dream interpretations say that if you are the one
being abandoned in your dream, it is a dream of the contrary and
you may experience reconciliation or recovery from trouble or
illness. Please remember that the unconscious is attempting to
compensate for an imbalance in the conscious. For example if you
are overly attached to someone in daily life, in the dream state
you may be abandoned by him/her. This is an attempt by the
unconscious to make you aware of your dependency.
Abdomen
Dreaming about any body part is a way to bring the dreamer’s
conscious attention to it. When, in your dream, you are feeling
pain or discomfort in this area or any other area of the body,
consider how well that part of your body is functioning in real
life. Being health-conscious is a positive thing and both
psychological and physical factors need to be considered. At
times our unconscious knows that something is wrong even before
we have any symptoms. “Old wives’ tales” tell us that
this is a dream of the contrary and that you will have lots of
vigor and good health.
Abortion
A woman that had this experience is most likely to have
many dreams about it. Even though the dream may be disturbing or
anxiety-provoking, it is a healing dream. It is possible that in
your dream state you are working toward acceptance and are
resolving any unconscious feelings. If a man is having this
dream, it usually means that he is experiencing guilt feelings
and may be anticipating failure of some kind. If a woman who has
not had this experience is having this dream, it may be a warning
about her health or may indicate that she is feeling significant
anxiety about current endeavors.
Actor
Sometimes dreaming about a famous actor or
actress may be a wish-fulfilling dream, or it could hold
important messages about ourselves. We admire celebrities and may
wish to have some of their characteristics. Consider the
personality traits or any other trait that attracts you to that
person. This will help you figure out why you are dreaming about
him or her. If you are dreaming that someone is acting, you may
be dreaming about yourself. The dream could be pointing out some
of the roles that you play in life. Among the many roles we play
are parent, spouse, lover, student, professional, etc.. We behave
somewhat differently in each of those roles. The actor in your
dreams could be showing you how well you “play” some of
your roles in life or how others perceive you.
Adultery
Many people seem to have dreams about committing adultery or
about their spouse committing adultery (cheating or being cheated
on). In this dictionary there is a definition for cheating and
here I will add a few more thoughts about this dream topic. Many
dreams come from the private unconscious and are a reflection on
thoughts, fears, desires, issues or are a response to stressful
or anxiety provoking situations. The details of the dream need to
be considered before attempting an interpretation. Details such
as who is cheating on whom and what are the circumstances
surrounding this dream event, need to be established. At times
people have dreams about cheating on their spouses as a response
to a long and monogamous relationship. The dream may be a
compensation for boredom, monotony or unhappiness. On the other
hand, the dream could be about you connecting to deeper parts of
self, which is represented by a desirable person of the opposite
sex. On rare occasions a person may suspect, or feel on some
level, that their mate is not faithful but is not willing to
admit this consciously. Thus, in the dream state the individual
confronts his fears and from there may begin to deal with the
situation on a conscious level.
“The
dream reveals the reality which conception lags behind.”
Franz Kafka
Aging
Dreaming about old people or your own aging
may have several different meanings. An old man may symbolize
wisdom and forgiveness while an old woman may represent life and
death. In general, aging may represent the wisdom that a person
acquires through experience. The dream may also be giving you a
message in regard to life’s lessons. This may be a good time for
you to apply some of your experience and knowledge to a current
situation. This dream may also be a reflection of your concerns
about aging. If you are thinking about your mortality and do not
welcome maturing and age, the dream may be bringing out some of
your worries and/or vanities.
Airplane
We received an interesting amount of mail about dreams
containing planes and plane crashes. It appears that people often
dream about being in a plane crash, witnessing a crash, or being
bombed or shot at from planes. Airplanes, like all other
vehicles, symbolize a portion of your life’s journey. The part of
your life which is represented is usually a memory, material from
your unconscious mind, or something that is physically far away
from you. Since we use planes to travel to places that are far
away, the logical progression of this interpretation is that the
airplane is symbolic of an event, individuals, or emotions that
are either in the past, physically apart from you, or deep in the
unconscious and far from conscious thought. Disturbing dreams in
which you are being bombed or where you see a bloody crash scene
may be trying to bring up issues and feelings that have been
buried in the unconscious mind (from the past or the present) but
are still powerful and disturbing to the dreamer. The more
powerful, vivid, and disturbing this dream is, the greater the
necessity to interpret and obtain a satisfactory meaning. See
also: Car, Travel.
Alcohol
Understanding the symbol of alcohol in your dreams
depends on the relationship you have with it in daily life. If
you drink regularly, you need to look at the other details of
your dream more carefully. However, if you drink rarely or never,
then this dream could represent a need for you to escape from
your daily stress and your desire to get quick relief. The
alcohol could be suggesting a need for healing and getting in
balance. Your unconscious mind may be suggesting outrageous
things in hopes that you get the message to “have fun, dream
dreams, and get out of your own head!” Please keep in mind
that the purpose of dreams is to raise our consciousness and to
assist us in having better lives. The message in the dream about
alcohol is most likely not encouraging you to drink but it may
represent a need to feel better or get better.
Alien
Occasionally, people will have dreams about UFO’s and
aliens. What these dreams symbolize, collectively or individually
is difficult to explain and understand. Meeting and talking to
aliens may suggests that significant changes are coming into your
life and, at the moment, things feel strange and foreign to you.
If you dream that you are the alien, it suggests that you may
feel detached from some parts of yourself and from others. You
may be a stranger in your immediate surroundings, and some
self-evaluation and familiarization is suggested.
Alligator
This cold-blooded animal could hold several
different meanings in your dream. It could symbolically represent
something from your memory, emotions, or a current situation or
individual in your life. Some think that the alligator represents
verbal power used in a destructive way (angry and hurtful words).
Others believe that it represents an enemy. Consider the details
in your dream and your level of fear. This dream symbol should
encourage you to look at some of your more “dangerous”
emotions, memories, and experiences. The alligators in your
dreams will begin to lose the power to frighten you as your
understanding increases. Carl Jung said that all wild animals
indicate latent affects (feelings and emotions that we do not
readily deal with). They are also symbolic of dangers (hurtful
and negative things) being “swallowed” by the
unconscious.
Ambulance
In old dream dictionaries, dreaming about an
ambulance could be labeled as a dream of warning. In more modern
terms, your unconscious mind may by attempting to convey
information that you have been unwilling to deal with
consciously. Pay attention to your physical body and see if your
health is an issue. Otherwise, this dream may be pointing to some
urgent situation in your life. Consider all of the details in
your dream. Examine your daily life and make an attempt to see if
there is something that requires your immediate attention.
Amputation
This is a frightening dream which may be due
to anxiety and fear. It suggests feelings of frustration, anger,
and powerlessness on the part of the dreamer. This dream may also
be related to a radical removal of something from one’s life.
Some believe that you are trying to get rid of something that is
no longer desirable or necessary or that the limb or the part
being amputated has lost its power. According to New Age
thinking, the right side of the body is usually associated with
the ability to give emotionally, psychologically and physically
to yourself and others, while the left is linked with the ability
to receive. Carl Jung said that the left side represents the
unconscious while right indicates the conscious.
Amusement
Park
This dream may be pointing to one of your
perceptions about life or be symbolic of life itself. You may see
some parts of your life as lively, interesting, adventurous and
entertaining. On the other hand, depending on the details of the
dream you may see yourself as being on a wild ride, where nothing
is terribly serious and life is a perpetual “roller coaster
ride.” If you have been dealing with a significant amount of
stress in your daily life or have been overworked, this dream may
be a form of compensation. The dream’s message may be to
encourage you to find time for fun and relaxation as well as to
remind you that life is full of ups and downs and that a
light-hearted attitude may be a refreshing change.
Anchor
Dream interpretation is very personal and each dream
speaks to you in the most intimate way. The anchor symbol could
have varying meaning depending on what is going on in your life.
It may be saying “Stay put!” or “This is a good
place to lay down your anchor.” Dreams involving anchors are
hints from your unconscious and may suggest a need to reflect and
economize.
Angels
In the past ten years there has been a renewed
appreciation and interest in angels. They represent goodness,
protection, and the heavenly realm. As a dream symbol they may
attempt to focus the dreamer’s attention on his own divine
qualities and the supportive and loving aspects of life. Some say
that dreaming about angels is a symbol of good luck, while others
believe that you will see an angel in your dream around the time
when there is a birth or death in your family, or in your close
circle of friends. Angels are mystical and spiritual symbols;
traditionally they have been the messengers of God. The
interpretation of your dream angel depends on your own views.
Generally, the message coming up from your unconscious may be of
important magnitude, so record your dream and think about all of
its details and implications.
Anger
This may be a carry-over from your daily life. In our
dreams we can experience and express such feelings safely.
Feeling great anger in your dream may be disturbing but pay
attention to it and attempt to deal with all of your emotions in
a more appropriate and productive manner.
Animals
Carl Jung said that all wild animals indicate latent
affects (feelings and emotions that we do not readily deal with).
They are also symbolic of dangers (hurtful and negative things)
being “swallowed” by the unconscious. The
interpretation of the animal in your dream depends on your
relationship with it in daily life. Animals represent the
qualities in our character or specific aspects of our
personalities. They could symbolize our more intuitive and
instinctive parts, or they could serve as messengers for the
unconscious. Please look up each animal individually by name.
Anxiety
Experiencing much anxiety in your dream state may be
related to your current difficulties and everyday life. Gaps may
exist between the way things are and the way you would like them
to be. Older interpretation books suggest that when you dream
about anxiety, the contrary is true and that your worries will be
lessened. However, always keep the compensatory nature of dreams
in mind. If you are not feeling anxiety during the day, it could
be that you are ignoring it and that it will appear in your
dream. Therefore, look at the details of your dream and attempt
to identify the anxiety-provoking situations in your daily life.
Apology
This dream always has something to say about our
relationships, the relationship that we have with ourselves
and/or with others. Apologies are associated with forgiveness and
honesty. Thus, consider the details of your dream and consider
whether an apology is necessary in order for you to move forward
in a particular relationship or with an area of your personal
life.
Apple
This simple and basic fruit is a powerful
symbol in religious writings, literature and in dreams. It
fundamentally represents knowledge and the freedom that is
associated with it. With knowledge and freedom we are in a
position to make positive or negative choices. The apple should
be interpreted with the consideration of all the other details in
the dream. Is the apple a symbol of positive movement and
spiritual and emotional liberation, or is it a symbol of runaway
passions and the resulting negativity? Are you giving into
temptation and making hurtful choices or are being wise and
enjoying the fullness of life?
Aquarium
Water in all forms is a very meaningful
symbol. It may represent emotions, the unconscious, sexuality,
and, at times, life itself. Before interpreting this symbol first
consider the other details in the dream and the overall quality
of the dream experience. The aquarium could represent a portion
of your life or a “slice of life.” Aquariums are
generally balanced and fully contained ecosystems. People enjoy
aquariums because they find them soothing and relaxing. Thus,
this dream’s message may be a call for contemplation and
relaxation. It may represent life in a small setting as a
compensation to the stress and, at times, overwhelming complexity
of daily experiences. See also:
Water, Ocean, and River
Armor
Armor could represent your defense
mechanisms, those things that you use to protect yourself from
self and/or others (e.g. denial and repression). Physical
barriers may keep others away, as will your more negative
behaviors and attitudes. On a more spiritual note, some believe
that dreaming about armor may be a good sign which represents a
shield of protection from difficulties and temptation.
Arrow
The interpretation of this dream symbol may
vary depending if the arrow was a tool or a weapon, or a sign
pointing direction. Dreaming about an actual arrow may have a
range of meaning that includes swiftness, powerful and speedy
intuition, mental alertness, precession, illuminating thoughts,
and, last but not least, it could be a phallic symbol. To
interpret the dream, consider its setting, context and emotional
tone. Then, attempt to connect and apply the suggested symbolism
to your current situation or state of mind.
Attack
Research shows that the content of most
dreams is more frequently unpleasant than pleasant. Most people
have experienced violent dreams or dreams in which they are being
attacked. To understand your dream consider all of its details
and think about whether you are the attacker or the attackee. If
you are being attacked, then maybe you are feeling somewhat
vulnerable in some area of your daily life. If you are doing the
attacking, it may be that you are releasing some of your
frustrations and anger while expressing negative feelings in such
ways that you are unable to do in daily life.
Attic
Any part of a house usually represents a
part of yourself (dreamer = house). The attic is the last thing
built. Consider the details of the dream and try to figure out
what your unconscious is trying to tell you. Some believe that
the attic symbolizes the higher self, or best self (i.e. the self
that is in contact with the eternal). Others think that the attic
symbolizes the sum total of your life’s work or it may predict
how well you will do in old age. If the attic is full of
“neat” stuff, it may imply that you are accomplishing
wonderful things and are living up to your potential in this
lifetime.
Avalanche
The material which makes up the avalanche is
snow, and snow is frozen water. Water symbolizes your emotions,
the unconscious, and, at times, life itself. Therefore, this
dream is about rapidly and violently descending emotions and
thoughts. Emotions which may have been repressed have finally
been unlocked and may be overwhelming you. You may have this
dream during emotionally turbulent times of your life, or in your
dreams you may be remembering and reliving some difficult
emotional experiences. Old dream interpretation books say that
burial in an avalanche may result in good luck in the near
future. Therefore, they think that it is a dream of the contrary.
Ax
An ax is generally associated with destruction. We use it to
break things up, and in popular horror movies it is used to kill
people. The ax can also be used to carve and create art,
furniture or other tools. If your dream was violent, then you may
be experiencing frustration, anger and hostility. If there was no
violence in your dream, then the ax may be positively interpreted
as a symbol of productivity and creativity. Either way, an ax is
a powerful tool, and as a dream symbol it may be saying something
about your personal power and its expression.