In ancient times, dreams were considered as the will of the gods to communicate with men; while today, a psychological significance is attributed to this normal phenomenon.
The first to attempt to explain the meaning of dreams was the well-known father of psychoanalysis Sigmund Freud who, in this regard, in 1899 published a book entitled ” The Interpretation of Dreams.” From then to the present day, various psychoanalysts and psychologists have tried to suggest different interpretations that were able to explain why we dream and what meaning can be attributed to such a phenomenon.
In the field of psychoanalysis, the most widespread theories about the interpretation of the meaning of dreams are undoubtedly those of Freud and those of the Swiss psychoanalyst and psychiatrist Carl Gustav Jung. Of course, there is also no shortage of dream interpretations based on urban legends or popular beliefs which, however, will not be considered in this article.
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The meaning of dreams
What did you dream about tonight? If you think you are not dreaming enough, keep a dream journal might help you. Remembering dreams is an exercise in memory, but also a work of introspection through which to find a connection with one’s deep emotions.
In fact, if the interpretation of real dreams is a complex process, it is also true that most dreams can be traced back to a sort of “format”, that is, types of dreams that we all have, and which have meanings that can be united. Writing down our dreams, analyzing them, connecting them with the most frequent meanings, can be a good way to focus on some knots in our life, and start working on ourselves. Also, there are many superstitions around the world about dreams which are different in many cultures.
How to orient yourself in the labyrinth of dreams? We give you some points of reference with this article, in which we have collected the meanings of the most frequent dreams. The literal definition of a dream is: ” Mental activity that occurs during sleep.” This activity can be more or less clear and detailed, it can have a more or less coherent narrative structure, it is characterized by mainly visual sensations and, sometimes, it can foresee the emotional involvement of the individual.
Meaning of Dreams in Psychoanalysis
The theme of the meaning of dreams in psychoanalysis was addressed for the first time by Freud who formulated very specific theories on how these phenomena should be interpreted.
Shortly after Freud, another psychoanalyst formulated new theories – completely opposite and discordant from Freudian ones – proposing a completely different way of interpreting the meaning of dreams: this is the Swiss psychoanalyst and psychologist Carl Gustav Jung. Curiously, the latter first found himself in agreement with Freud’s interpretation of psychic phenomena, and then departed from it and embarked on a different interpretative path. More specifically, a few years after the publication of the book “The interpretation of dreams,” disagreements arose between the two psychoanalysts that led to their “separation” and the birth of two different currents of thought regarding the interpretation not only of the meaning dreams.
Meaning of Dreams according to Freud
According to the model of interpretation proposed by Freud, dreams are characterized by the presence of masked contents which manifest themselves in the dream in the form of symbols and which represent a message from the unconscious. This message, according to the father of psychoanalysis, should contain forbidden and latent desires concerning above all the sexual sphere (even if, apparently, the dream has nothing to do with the latter) and which the individual does not express on a conscious level since they are considered unacceptable or inconvenient.
Going into more detail, the masked contents are called latent contents, while the symbols through which they manifest themselves (for example, people, animals, objects, etc.) are called manifest contents. According to Freud, the revelation of the latent content of a dream can only take place if the manifest content is analyzed and interpreted.
Therefore, the latent content is considered as the true meaning of the dream which is nevertheless “censored” by the ego and made rationally acceptable through the creation of the manifest content.
The latent content, therefore, would represent the message of the unconscious; while the manifest content would represent the conscious content, the one that is elaborated and then remembered and told by the dreamer.
Meaning of Dreams according to Jung
Gustav Jung’s theories about how to interpret the meaning of dreams differ considerably from those advanced by Freud. According to Jung’s theory, in fact, dreams cannot be interpreted as a manifestation – albeit indirect as presented through symbols (manifest contents) – of a latent or hidden desire, but should be considered as something much more complex that goes beyond by the will and conscience of the individual.
Furthermore, Dr. Jung makes several criticisms of Freud’s theories, with particular reference to that of “disguise”. The Swiss doctor, in fact, wonders why the unconscious should “mask” people and objects by identifying them with other people and objects apparently not connected to each other. According to Jung, in fact, the unconscious shows in dreams exactly what it wants to show, without “disguises” or “subterfuges” (if one dreams of his friend Mario, the unconscious wants to speak exactly of his friend Mario). The theory of the Swiss doctor also statesthe purpose for which these dreams manifest themselves . Jung therefore wondered, “What is the purpose of the dream I had and where will it take me?”.
Meaning of Nightmares
According to several psychologists, nightmares would indicate the inability to manage particularly anxious or conflict situations in real life. Some people claim to have recurring nightmares, probably related to very difficult times in their life; while it happens to other individuals that the nightmare then turns into a positive dream. Again, the interpretation may not be simple. However, turning to specialized figures such as psychologists could still prove useful in this sense, since – even if negative – they are always dreams. Nightmares can contain many of our phobias that we are struggling in everyday life. In this way our mind is trying to heal us and to make us feel better.
Meaning of Dreams between Magic and Popular Beliefs
Often and willingly, popular beliefs tend to give dreams a meaning that is not so much psychological as it is linked to hypothetical magical powers. In fact, it is not uncommon for dreams to be interpreted as signs, warnings or as the prediction of something that is about to happen (premonitory dreams).
The interpretation of the meaning of dreams on a psychological basis, of course, has nothing to do with the realm of magic and divination and, indeed, deviates (or at least should deviate) totally from them.
In other cases, however, common thought offers a very precise interpretation of dreams which, however, does not take into consideration the subjectivity of the individual, offering, on the contrary, a unique interpretation based on the dreamed element and not on the person’s experience. that makes the dream. Even if the interpretations of this type could prove to be at least in part truthful, in order to provide a correct determination of the meaning of dreams, a careful subjective analysis is always necessary that takes into consideration the aspects of the dreamer’s life.
Interpretation of common dreams
Man has always dreamed and has always assigned dreams an important role in giving meaning to life. But do dreams really mean anything? Or are they just residues of daytime life? It has often been argued that dreams have to do with the past with some painful memory repressed. Today we know that the contents of dreams have to do with what happens to us emotionally in our present. In the dream we experience what really touches us in a profound way. In this sense, paying attention to dreams means accompanying the natural process of elaborating our life experiences and grasping their meaning.
Dreaming of falling
Fall, spread your arms and suddenly the thud, but we are in bed! Dreaming of falling can be an extremely vivid and realistic experience, so much so that it often interrupts sleep. The meaning of this dream is associated with control, or rather with fear and lack of confidence in one’s potential.
Is there a change on the horizon in your life? The stress that builds up under the skin at night can manifest itself in an experience that allows us to experience difficult emotions, such as anxiety and fear. The absence of body control becomes a way to express our fears on a psychological level in the face of the chaos of events. It can also be related to shame and guilt about something.
Be careful though. Dreaming of falling can also be considered through a different aspect. During the phase of falling asleep a process of relaxation takes place: especially in moments of acute fatigue, the dream of falling would be part of these physiological mechanisms in a phase of semi-sleep.
Dreaming of the high school exam
An incredibly widespread dream: it can be the high school exam, a particularly important or difficult university exam, or another test that we have experienced as intense. Or you can still dream of still being in school , put under pressure for a question or a check of which perhaps, in a dream, we do not even know the issues.
Dreaming of reliving events of this type unites two times: past and future, the need to go back through a moment already lived and at the same time go towards what awaits us, in which to find our place. The state exam is a strong symbol, rite of passage and entry into adulthood.
Those who are particularly critical of themselves and have a tendency to judge themselves severely can often relive this dream, which can also tell the fear of not feeling up to it, the fear of authority and the need to demonstrate. how much is it worth. Where are you at? Tackling the important exams again stimulates us to meditate on the time of our life, the goals we still want to achieve and what we are experiencing in the present, coming to terms with yesterday’s dreams.
Dreaming of losing your teeth
According to popular tradition, the teeth that fall out in a dream symbolize the loss of loved ones. Furthermore, the type of tooth would tell the relationship of proximity to a certain person: main teeth, such as molars or incisors, would be indicative of people very close to us.
In reality, mourning should not necessarily be considered prophetic, it would rather be loss in a symbolic and emotional sense. Are you going through a period of change? This can reflect on the important relationships in your life, from interpersonal relationships at work to friendships and family relationships.
The annoying feeling, of fear and shame, of a toothless mouth or a wobbling tooth is deeply linked to self-image and personal identity. The most intimate relationship is that with ourselves and the teeth, a symbol of growth and vital force, can speak of a fear strongly linked to the vision of ourselves.
Dreaming of getting married
On the altar with you the face of someone you love may appear, but also that of an unknown person. It is one thing if you are experiencing the preparations for marriage or in your couple you are discussing life changes and transformations in the relationship, another aspect has to do with the sense of transformation and union within oneself. Marriage symbolizes the reconciliation of different aspects and parts of oneself. Marriage is also the arrival of a new phase, an important commitment to make or a novelty that you are mentally preparing for and that perhaps you are trying to metabolize, on which the unconscious is working.
When living a relationship, dreaming of marriage can indicate a question to think about: how did you feel and who was next to you in the dream? Positive or negative, your relationship may need a change.
Dreaming of giving birth
The interesting state does not necessarily have to refer to real life. Dreaming of being pregnant or giving birth to a child is a symbol of novelty and the creation of new possibilities, from the emotional sphere to work or study. Birth is regeneration, a stimulus for new beginnings, therefore also the ability to mend tears, the desire for pacification and overcoming mistakes.
Do you have an idea in mind? Maybe it’s time to start opening your heart to new projects. A child is the representation of pure life, so then the sensations experienced in this dream can reconnect you to a deep and ancient part of you that is asking you to listen.
Dreaming of death
Contrary to what is feared, death even among the Tarot cards has a positive value, linked to regeneration and transformation. Of course, the price of change is something that is only known by experiencing it on the skin. How did you feel in the dream? Each transformation also brings with it the end of something and this may not be free from a certain amount of suffering.
According to Carl Gustav Jung, death in a dream is always synonymous with change, an inner movement that marks the opening of new possibilities and concepts. But also a change in one’s thinking towards life.
Dreaming of flying
Absence of limits, joy, expansion: these are the sensations that are often reported on the experience of flying, a dream that, especially in certain moments of life, can become recurrent, in particular, during childhood and adolescence. It is perhaps no coincidence that at a young age, when our patterns of existence are more open and our mind lives in a condition of extreme flexibility, even our dream life transmits this idea to the body: the existence of a territory with infinite possibilities.
Dream of a house
The house represents ourselves. What do you remember about the dream? Getting lost without recognizing the home environments, or, on the contrary, returning to a home that has meant a lot to us from an emotional point of view can offer a very different message to meditate on. Sometimes it is an imaginary house that we dream of, an imaginative collection of places that have been part of our lives, where real places never before come together. In any case it speaks of us, of how we are inside and what we are looking for in this phase of existence.
How are you experiencing your emotional bonds and what do you want from life right now? Refuge and nourishment, but also a world to inhabit and furnish, the house can give you an indication of the type of future you would like to give life to, your deep fears and where you would like to be.
Dreaming of swimming
Water, a symbol of renewal and regeneration: it is associated with the unconscious and emotions, which is why it can also reveal our fears and anxieties hidden at a deep level. Dreaming of swimming… where? In the open sea, in the swimming pool, in a swamp. How did you feel? You can swim bravely in a storm or feel fear, joy, disgust: the dream is a mirror of our inner universe and can contain an indication of how we are dealing with the emotions of this period.
Dreaming of being chased
Is there anything you are avoiding? Sometimes we try to escape from what scares us, yet behind a great fear there can be an important awareness. Remember that the dream stages different sides of ourselves in the form of a metaphor: the other, who follows you, is a part of you. What would happen if you turned around and faced those chasing you? This also applies to recurring dreams: focusing on a detail that allows you to realize that it is a dream helps to “wake up” to awareness and create a lucid dreaming experience.