Do our dreams really mean anything? Sometimes, we might interpret their symbolism quite literally: ‘We were in a tunnel with a paisley cat and these two witches told us to sing a folk song while someone chased us with a butcher’s knife.’ But maybe there’s more to our dreams than meets the eye. Let’s take a look!
Humans have puzzled over the secret meaning of dreams for nearly as long as we’ve had a written record. Though the science remains unsettled as to what, precisely, dreams tell us about our unconscious mind or our emotional state, many assume they must offer some insights.
‘Dreams are the voice of our unconscious,’ says Suzanne Bergman, a dream specialist and social worker in Los Angeles, ‘a universal language that connects our deepest feelings and concerns to visual images.’ They’re like the notes our inner self jots to us as we sleep, as if to say: ‘Here’s what’s swirling around in you.’
So, if you’ve ever wondered why you keep having the same dreams, you’re not alone. Seven staple dream themes and what they might mean about you:
- Sense of feeling lost or trapped: have you ever dreamt of wandering in a labyrinth or trapped in a maze, not knowing how to get out? The goal is formulated like: ‘I want to conquer a maze’ or ‘I want to overcome the fear of getting lost’.
- Near-misses: Dreaming about missing a train, plane or other mode of transport? This could be your subconscious telling you that you are regretting, or missed out on, something in your waking life.
- Car Trouble: Dreams in which the dreamer is involved in a car accident, or where the car breaks down or gets stuck, or where the dreamer loses control of the vehicle. These might indicate feeling out of control in the real world or that life’s journey is aimless.
- Failing a Test: If you don’t dream about missing your school bus or forgetting to go to class, you might remember dreaming about flunking some exam. This too is a failure dream that occurs even in adults long after they’re out of class. This can express being tested or evaluated and feeling anxious about how you will match up.
- Chase: You often dream of being pursued by someone or something you can’t see or didn’t even know was there. You flee from a mysterious inexorable force or an actual scary person. This is a common dream theme. It commonly reflects anxiety or the need to avoid feeling something, usually sadness or anger.
- Crippling cavities: Falling, crumbling, lost teeth; speaking difficulties These dreams can be a sign of insecurity, fear of being judged, or a lack of confidence.
- Falling or Sinking: Dreams of falling or sinking can be frightening or alarming. You are unsafe, you could fall a long way and be hurt or killed, or you are failing and unable to move forward in some way. Whatever the exact circumstances, you are in a place of helplessness or uncertainty, and probably not happy with your situation.
Thus, the next time you feel like lying in bed and trying to understand the meaning of your dreams, think again: they might actually be giving you a lot more information about yourself than you think. Regularly noticing recurring themes and emotions can be a great way to understand your subconscious, and potentially your emotional wellbeing.