What Are Your Dreams Telling You?

“Last night I had an unusual dream. I dreamed that I was flying. When I moved my arms up and down, I moved higher and higher into the sky. I felt as free as a bird.” Marianne, age 35

“I had a bad dream – a nightmare – that kept coming back. I walked out of my bedroom, and a monster came out and chased me. One night, when the monster was chasing me, I turned back and said, ‘Leave me alone! ’I haven’t had the dream again since then.” Jason, age 14

What do these dreams mean? For thousands of years, people have tried to interpret the meanings of dreams. The ancient Egyptians believed that dreams predicted the future. The ancient Greeks believed that they were messages sent by the gods. Freud believed that they were a window to your subconscious. Many modern dream researchers have come up with many theories about dreams. They consider that dreams tell us what is going on in our lives.

Usually flying is a positive symbol in a dream. Flying in dreams means success, control, confidence, and “being on top of it all.” So Marianne, the person who had the first dream, may be in love or may have success at work.

Monsters in dreams often represent fears. For Jason, the monsters may represent the adults who control his life. Or, they may represent his fears about growing up. But Jason showed that he was able to conquer his fears.

Here are some common symbols in dreams:

Snakes: If you dream about snakes, there will be good changes in your life. For the ancient Greeks, dreams with snakes were the most positive ones. And dream interpreters still say the same today.

Teeth: If you dream that your teeth fall out, you may be worried about your appearance. Or it might mean that you have dental problems!

Big waves: Water in dreams often means emotional concerns. A big wave probably means an emotional worry. If you can guess the problem, you’ll be able to solve it and be happier.

Falling: If you dream that you are falling, you may feel that your life is out of control. Slow down, and figure out how to solve your problems.

So what are your dreams telling you?