Common Dreams And Their Meanings

Everyone dreams (even if we don’t always remember them after the fact) and researchers have found that the majority of us have dreams with similar themes. For years people have tried to interpret the fleeting images that we see when we go to sleep – some interpretations are outright bizarre, while others are pretty understandable.

Car Troubles

In these types of dreams you are usually in or near a car or some other type of vehicle which is out of control or has other problems that seem insurmountable. For example, the brakes may have failed, you may have lost control of the steering, or be heading over a cliff or crashing. You can either be the driver or the passenger. This is a very common type of nightmare and it occurs in all people – not just those who can drive. This dream usually means that you are feeling powerless over something in your life – or that you are heading for a crash (metaphorically speaking).


Faulty Machinery

In the faulty machinery dream you are trying to operate mechanical equipment which either fails to work, or fails to work in the way that you expect it to. The vast majority of these dreams involve a telephone – either trouble dialing, losing a connection, or dialing a wrong number. It can involve a lost Internet connection, or something manual like a jammed or broken machine. This dream often means that you feel you are losing touch with reality, or that a part of your body or mind is not functioning as it should. It can also occur when you are feeling anxious about making a connection with another person in real life.


Lost or Trapped

Dreaming about being lost is very common and will usually occur when you are having conflict in deciding how to react in a situation in real life. In the dream you are trying to find your way out of an area – such as a forest, city streets, a large building, or other maze-like structure. Another way this dream plays out involves you being trapped, buried alive, caught in a web, or unable to move for some other reason. This is often accompanied by a feeling of terror. This dream usually means that you are trapped in real life – unable to make the right choice.


Missed a Boat or Plane

In this type of dream you are rushing to catch a bus, train, plane, or other type of public transport – but you miss it – usually by a fraction of a second. Rather than feeling fear in this dream, you usually feel frustration. This dream can also occur in a different form, in which you arrive late for an important performance or sporting event that you are supposed to participate in, only to find that the event has already begun. This dream usually means that you feel that you have missed out on an important opportunity in your real life. It will often occur when you are struggling over an important decision.


Failing a Test

This dream usually manifests itself in people who have been out of school for a long time. In the dream you are prevented from passing a test in a variety of different possible scenarios. In one scenario you find that you are unable to make it to the test on time, often through being unable to find the test room. In other versions you are unprepared (either through lack of study) or you are missing equipment. This dream usually means that you are feeling tested in some way in your real life. You may feel that you are unprepared for something or playing the wrong part in life.


Ill or Dying

In this dream, you (or a loved one) are ill, injured, or dying. It is a moderately common dream and, not surprisingly, occurs often at the onset of an illness. Aside from becoming ill, this dream can mean that you are emotionally hurt or are afraid of becoming hurt. The dream may also be warning you of an upcoming physical risk to yourself or a loved one. When it is someone else in the dream that dies, it can mean that you feel that part of yourself (that you see represented by that person) is dead. It may also mean that you wish the person would go away, or that you fear losing them.


Being Chased

Dreaming of being chased can be a truly horrifying experience. Most often the chaser is a monster or some person that is frightening, and occasionally it may be an animal. You may be surprised to know that this is the most commonly experienced nightmare theme. The meaning of these dreams is that someone, something (possibly something as obscure as an emotion) is making you feel threatened. One way to determine the root of the threat is to ask yourself who or what in your real life most closely resembles the “creature” or circumstance in your dream. It is also worth noting that sometimes this dream is a replay of an actual event in your life.


Bad or Missing Teeth

Teeth dreams are fairly common and they usually involve the discovery of extremely decayed or missing teeth in your own mouth. Sometimes you will dream that you open your mouth and your teeth begin to fall out. The fact that the majority of people today have reasonable teeth (perhaps with the exception of the British), it is not surprising that we feel so emotionally disturbed by these dreams. So, what does it mean when we dream about missing teeth? At the most basic level it means that we are afraid of being found unattractive. At a deeper level, it can signify a fear of embarrassment or a loss of power in real life. Oh – I was just kidding about the “British” thing!


Dream Nudity

In this type of dream you are in a state of undress, partial undress, or inappropriate dress (for example wearing pajamas to work). Occasionally you are the witness of another person who is naked while you are clothed. This is often accompanied by feelings of embarrassment and shame, but occasionally with the feeling of pride or freedom. The meaning of this dream is that you are feeling exposed, awkward, or vulnerable, or you are afraid that you have revealed too much of yourself (such as a secret or a very personal feeling) in a real life situation. An interesting fact about this type of dream is that it occurs much more frequently in people who are involved in a wedding ceremony in their real life.


Falling or Sinking

We have all had falling dreams – it is such a common dream, in fact, that myths have arisen over them; the most common myth is, of course, that you will die if you hit the ground in the dream. I can assure you, having hit the ground in more than one falling dream, that this is not true at all. In the falling dream we are usually falling through the air and frightened. Occasionally we may be sinking in water (and in danger of drowning). Typically a person having this dream is feeling insecure or lacking in support in their waking life. These dreams often occur when you are overwhelmed in life and feel ready to give up. If you have this dream you should evaluate your current situation and try to locate the problem that is overwhelming you. Deal with it and this dream should go away.


School

Discipline. Instruction. You have the skills to resolve a problem. This type of dream relates to your current "lesson in life," and if you learn how to interpret it, you'll find out how you are progressing. If the people you used to know in your school are friendly toward you (especially people of the opposite sex), it can show you have a healthy self-esteem. This type of dream relates to your current "lesson in life," and if you learn how to interpret it, you'll find out how you are progressing. If the people you used to know in your school are friendly toward you (especially people of the opposite sex), it can show you have a healthy self-esteem. To dream of attending school, indicates distinction in literary work. If you think you are young and at school as in your youth, you will find that sorrow and reverses will make you sincerely long for the simple trusts and pleasures of days of yore. To dream of teaching a school, foretells that you will strive for literary attainments, but the bare necessities of life must first be forthcoming. To visit the schoolhouse of your childhood days, portends that discontent and discouraging incidents overshadows the present.

Sexual
Sexual dreams are usually very common for young individuals, and they are mainly straight forward. The need for sexual, love and care is in the root of every living creature.

Baby
Happiness. Rebirth. Trust. Happiness. Rebirth. Trust. As an object in dreams, a baby or child represents something that requires great care and attention. The meaning can change depending on whether it is your original responsibility or one that has been passed off on you by someone else. These dreams may also have wish-fulfilment content for women who are in their childbearing years. For men, the dreams may be anxiety-related, especially if you are sexually active without wanting to experience the consequences of fathering a child. As an object in dreams, a baby or child represents something that requires great care and attention. The meaning can change depending on whether it is your original responsibility or one that has been passed off on you by someone else. These dreams may also have wish-fulfilment content for women who are in their childbearing years. For men, the dreams may be anxiety-related, especially if you are sexually active without wanting to experience the consequences of fathering a child. To dream of crying babies, is indicative of ill health and disappointments. A bright, clean baby, denotes love requited, and many warm friends. Walking alone, it is a sure sign of independence and a total ignoring of smaller spirits. If a woman dream she is nursing a baby, she will be deceived by the one she trusts most. It is a bad sign to dream that you take your baby if sick with fever. You will have many sorrows of mind.

Food is knowledge. The saying “food for thought” comes from the idea that knowledge feeds the mind and soul just as physical food feeds and nourishes the physical body. Pay attention to what you are “feeding” yourself.


Games are the dreamer’s perspective of life. “Game of Life” or we can say the “games people play” and how they play them. Games have to do with learning skills, rules, talents, showmanship, training, practice, winning or losing, teamwork or solo performance.

Killing indicates change. Killing of yourself indicates a part of yourself and is a good thing when it is an undesirable trait, but a warning if the trait is a good quality. Killing of an animal is the killing of a habit that that animal or its qualities may represent to you. Killing can also be viewed as an expression, such as the death of a relationship or job.

Money symbolizes exchange value and worth. Things of value would be a new talent you weren’t aware you had, a new quality or gift within you. It could also represent a new vision or new understanding of something. Look at how you are receiving money/valuables to interpret how you feel about yourself.

Mountain is a challenge or obstacle. Depending on your mind set, you may see a mountain representation of something that you feel is an overwhelming obstacle, or you may view it positively as a great challenge you are ready to take on. A mountain can represent your life, your job and task you’re involved in, a project or a goal.

People. All people represent aspects or personality of the Self. These are characters in the dream – parts of you, some you know and some you don’t know. Some you don’t like and some you love. The successful businessman, the glamour girl, the bag lady, the playboy, the thief, the idiot, the comic, friends, relatives are all parts of our Self.

We are made up of many people. As in Shakespeare’s words, “All the world’s a stage and we are merely the players.”Our dreams are our inner stage and we are everything and every character.

Roads symbolize your direction in life. The direction of your life is determined by your desires and goals. There are highways, streets, roads, dead-end streets, bumpy roads, smooth roads, etc. You can make a right turn, a U-turn or a left turn (not right or unpredictable).

Teacher/Guide is your higher Self. This is your source of knowledge. The soul holds the complete plan for its maturity and its desires and goals here in this lifetime and all others before and after this lifetime.

Water is the source of all life. It represents conscious life experiences. These are our everyday, physical, waking interactions, situations, and circumstances that arise and bring opportunity for growth and enrichment. Water can also represent emotions and feelings overall.

Missing an important event because you are late.
This can indicate regret over a missed opportunity, inability to make a connection, or desire to pull oneself together. In Dream Power: How to Use Your Night Dreams to Change Your Life, Cynthia Richmond suggests asking questions of dreams in order to understand what this common symbol means to you. For example: What are you missing? Who is disappointed by the missed event? Is it only you or are there others involved?

Flying.
Interestingly, Grant and Emptage interpret flying dreams as boasting about sexual powers. The important part of the dream is how you are flying; since the flying itself represents your ambitions, are you flying successfully, or trying and failing to fly as high as possible? From there, they make the leap to feelings of sexual inadequacy, but such feelings of low self-esteem could cover inadequacy of any kind, not just sexual.

Snakes.
Snakes have been a fear in dreams for quite some time. The ancient Egyptians used to make snakes out of clay and place them at the doors of their homes to frighten away nightmares, believing that snakes were bringers of bad dreams and that the clay snake would keep real ones away. Dreammoods, an online encyclopedia of dream meanings, reports that snakes signify some hidden threat. This makes sense, as most of us fear the “snake in the grass.” Like most other symbols, though, this one has many meanings that depend on context. Snakes shed their skin, so they may signify renewal and transformation. This may be a frightening experience, as most people are uncomfortable with change, or it may be very positive.

Dream: I am being guided by a spirit

Description: You encounter a deceased person who was significant in your life and a message is conveyed. There are several variations on this theme that may leave you with a feeling of wonderment, bittersweet joy or exaltation. They may also inspire you to change your life path or give you a belief in an afterlife. They feel real.

Frequency: Many of the motifs are common; others are rare. These dreams typically occur during active grief, which may last years.

Usual meanings: "I'm okay", "I'll always love you", "Go ahead", "Congratulations", "Here's a gift", "Please forgive me" and others.

Dream: I am discovering new spaces

Description: You discover a marvelous new space. There are several variations to this theme. You may open a door in your ordinary house to discover a whole new room or section of the house that you had no idea was there. You may be walking in a familiar neighborhood and come across an area or a vista that you have never seen before. These new spaces are invariably beautiful, spectacular or special in some positive way. This dream often contains a door or window.

Frequency: Discovering new spaces is a fairly unusual them. This dream typically occurs when you feel that a new aspect of your personality is opening up, a potential you had not anticipated.

Usual meanings: You feel as though you've found something wonderful and amazing that you didn't know was there before. This may be just what you want, or something that you want to explore. You may feel as though things are opening up, that you feel free.

Dream: I experience natural beauty or miracles

Description: You are strolling through overwhelming natural or man-made beauty. The dream may involve abundant, lush flowers or vegetation and grand trees. You may bathe or swim in healing waters or be kissed by soft rain. Caressing winds may cool your face. You may be touched by warming sun rays or watch a spectacular sunset. Perhaps you will glide down ski slopes or across the ice, feeling invigorated and happy. All the glories of the natural world offer delight, often with musical background. Beautiful structures, including cathedrals, temples and marble halls, are sometimes the settings of these dreams. Classic courtyards with splashing fountains may invite you, feathered fans cool your brow. You may gaze into a glowing hearth or follow the light of a candle. You may engage in mystic dances or rituals or witness miracles.

Frequency: Dreams of beauty are rare. You may have them when you follow a spiritual practice, or you may be gifted with one during a crisis.

Usual meanings: You feel transported by the incredible scene before you. You may feel that life is amazing and that you are part of something exalted.

Dream: I am traveling happily

Description: You are traveling happily by bus, train, ship, airplane or other public transport. Your dream may involve various preparations to travel or other activities en route to the transport.

Frequency: Very infrequent. Most dreams about travel deal with complications. Pleasant travel dreams may arise when you feel content with how life is going at the time of the dream.

Usual meanings: Things are going smoothly; you're making the connections you want; you're pleased with this opportunity; you have what you need.

Dream: I am flying, swimming or dancing joyfully

Description: You are flying, feeling free. Your flight may evolve as an escape from some bad situation. In an alternate version, you may be moving freely through water or dancing with abandon.

Frequency: Although the frequency of this dream varies widely, those who have experienced it often remember it as a favorite dream.

Usual meanings: You feel great, able to soar as high as you wish, you feel as though your possibilities are limitless and that you can transcend anything. Flying dreams can also be tied to spiritual aspirations. Swimming may suggest the feeling that you can explore your depths confidently, and dancing may reflect joy in your body, an increasing sensuality.

Dream: I am well dressed

Description: You are particularly well dressed and are feeling pleased about it. You may be responding to the harmony, style, cut, texture, comfort or attractive color of the outfit that you are wearing. The attractive dream clothing may be a special costume, such as a wedding gown or a ball gown. This dream often arises out of satisfaction with your body or life role at the time of the dream. It may also emerge from a desire for a special outfit, or a wish to look good on a certain occasion. In all the variations of this theme, you feel good about the way you look in the clothing, or you admire how good someone else looks.

Frequency: A fairly common pleasant dream among all people and ages.

Usual meanings: You feel good about yourself; you feel attractive; you feel as though your body is in good shape; you feel warm, cozy and protected; you feel stylish; you look fit, sexy; you want to look like you do in your dream. May relate to a recovery from an illness.

Dream: I excel on a test or in performance

Description: You do extremely well on a test in school or perform superbly in some other situation. In other versions, you perform outstandingly in a play or a musical, sporting or other event. Famous colleagues may praise you.

Frequency: Occasional. It usually occurs when you feel confident about your abilities in waking life.

Usual meanings: You feel confident of your abilities or preparation.

Dream: I am having a pleasurable experience with a vehicle

Description: You are in or near a car that is in some way delightful, often through giving you the freedom to move in the direction you want with ease and complete control, or driven by someone you find attractive.

Frequency: An occasional dream among both drivers and nondrivers.

Usual meanings: You feel as though things are going well for you, that you feel powerful and energetic and able to control your movement through life and transform difficulties. A car in a dream may simply fulfill your wish to own that car, but its physical appearance may reflect your attitude toward your own body.

Dream: I am being menaced by a spirit

Description: You are being berated by someone who is deceased. You may feel terrified, guilty, resentful or abandoned. There are a number of variations to this jarring but rare dream theme. It may range from mild admonishment to an outright curse, or a sense of being haunted.

Frequency: Dreams of being menaced by a sprit are unusual. Some people have them occasionally, others only in dire conditions. They typically occur when you feel guilty, responsible for a death, ambivalent about the deceased, or extremely anxious about an impending or recent death.

Usual meanings: You feel alarmed, questioning whether you have done all that you could. You may question whether you are responsible for what occurred or could have done more to help. You may be questioning whether you did the right thing, feeling guilty or that you are being punished for something.

Dream: I am injured, ill or dying

Description: You or a loved one is injured, ill or dying, usually accidentally.

Frequency: Moderately common and frequent, it sometimes occurs at the onset of a fever or illness.

Usual meanings: You feel emotionally hurt, damaged or fear becoming so. You feel like you're coming apart. The dream may be warning you of an oncoming physical risk to yourself or a loved one. When another dies in a dream, it may mean that you feel that a part of yourself represented by that person feels as if it were dead. It may also express your wish that the person would go away or a fear of losing them.