While we use the term "dream dictionary", it is in fact a misnomer, given that nobody but you is able to define your dream symbols. Rather, the purpose of this "dream dictionary" is to help you think laterally about the interpretational possibilities within a given dream symbol. Ultimately, the best dream dictionary for you is one that is created by you, based on your own associations with your dream symbols.

It is our sincere hope that this free dream dictionary will be helpful to you when you are interpreting your dreams. If you have anything you would like to add to the free dream dictionary... contact us and tell us what it is! Our free dream dictionary is designed to be fun and user-friendly. The Dream Dictionary also contains links to related words and topics. We are always adding symbols to our free dream dictionary, so if you don't find what you're looking for today, it will probably be here tomorrow! If you need help interpreting a dream click here.

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 *** Please remember that dream interpretation is very personal and the meaning of symbols for any individual may depend on his/hers life experiences and needs.

All dreams come in the service of health and wholeness," even (especially?) the ones that may initially upset or confuse us. Even so, dreams can be powerful experiences, and dreams do have the potential to unleash some very deep and raw emotions. If you think it would probably be fun and spiritually uplifting to try your hand at dream analysis/interpretation, by all means go ahead.

If, on the other hand, you actually suspect that you have a serious emotional disturbance and you are hoping that dream work would really be a form of do-it-yourself psychotherapy, please consider picking up the phone and calling in a professional person to guide you through the process. If you do decide to go it on your own, I think it is wise to consciously seek to identify (and actualize) dream messages that facilitate a more positive, loving, and healthful life.

Don't EVER allow your dreams to encourage you to do anything destructive to yourself or others. If you find that your dreams are interfering significantly with your waking life, it would certainly be a good idea to seek professional psychological counseling. Assuming you're still with me after that warning...There are a dizzying array of methods and techniques of dream analysis! Which one(s) you choose is(are) largely a matter of personal preference. A method that provides profound, earth-shaking revelations to one person may seem trite and hokey to another. Let your own feelings (and your own common sense!) be your guide.

Everyone dreams although many people do not remember their dreams or do not pay them any attention. Yet dreams often contain significant information for us, putting light on what has happened in our lives, or what is happening and providing insights about our future. In many ancient traditions dreams were considered to be messages from the gods.

Dreams are a powerful way to improve your emotions and your relationships. Don't take your dreams literally - they speak to us in symbols. Everything in each dream - the weather, how you feel, the theme, the scenery, the people and any sounds, numbers or colors all mean something.

Dreams are often a response to our daily thoughts, activities and sensations. They are often, then, a reflection of what has consumed our minds in the preceding day or two. Dreams are apparently a necessary part of our being. Experiments have been done in which adult subjects were given drugs that progressively eliminated their rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. It is during REM that dreams occur. The depriving of the ability to dream resulted in marked personality changes in such subjects. They became increasingly abrasive and anxious and found it difficult to concentrate. It was also shown that the younger a person is, the more important dreams are to their well being.

Scientific studies have resulted in some universally accepted conclusions about dreams. Firstly, it is apparent that everyone dreams, even those who would deny it. Dreaming is as natural as breathing. Babies dream much more than adults. Infants, in fact, spend about 70 percent of their sleep time dreaming. In comparison, adults spend just 24 percent of their sleep time in the dream state. It appears that animals also dream.

Researchers have long known that sleep can be divided into stages. Initially we are in a light sleep stage. From there we progressively enter into a deeper sleep until we reach what is known as the Stage IV sleep state. From here we enter into a lighter stage before moving into the REM stage. REM sleep is accompanied by darting movements of the eyes, even though they are closed. It is as if the eyes were watching a movie playing on the closed eyelids. During REM the brain is operating as if the body were awake. It is during REM that dreams occur.

It generally takes the sleeper about 90 minutes to pass through all of the stages of sleep. Once the REM stage is completed, the process starts again. During the first cycle, REM lasts for only about five minutes. This, however, gradually increases until during the final cycle, a person in the REM stage for up to fifty minutes. So, in a normal nights sleep a person will spend between ninety and one hundred and twenty minutes in the REM dream state.

Dreams are very easily forgotten. In fact, we generally only remember the last one we have each night. Realizing that we all dream so often, however, can give us a little balance when it comes to looking at the meaning behind our dreams. A dream is not a special occurrence with a special meaning. It is something that everyone does many times every night. Of course there are many people who would interpret your dreams for you. The greatest argument against their effectiveness, however, is the fact that there is huge discrepancy among these experts as to the interpretation of dreams. One expert tells you that your dream means this, while another gives an entirely different interpretation. Another problem with professional dream interpretation is that psychotherapists from different cultures ascribe different meanings to dream symbolisms based on what they are familiar with. This, again, has led to wildly different interpretations of the same dream.

A tendency among dream analysts of recent times has been to teach people to interpret their own dreams. It is felt that each person is aware of his own thoughts, feelings and experiences and is, therefore, in the very best position to know what his dreams actually mean. This, however, leaves the interpretation of the dream open to our own bias. In other words we can make the dream fit into any interpretation that we wish.

The general scientific consensus is that dreams are a necessary way for our subconscious mind to exercise itself. They warn about attaching undue significance to any interpretation of dreams. We are advised not to take our dreams too seriously, but rather to enjoy them for what they are an essential part of our sleep process.

In order to develop a better understanding of your dreams, it's always wise to keep a dream journal. It does not have to be extensive. Upon awakening write down the most prevalent symbols, colors and events in your dream. Additionally, try to remember the mood of the dream or your feelings in it. As you are writing in your journal you can begin writing your own personal dream dictionary. In the back of the journal, you may keep a list of the most outstanding or powerful dream symbols.
 

What Dreams Mean: - Dream Resources