“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?