Dream Interpretation Basics: A No-Nonsense Guide to Interpreting Dream Imagery

Everyone has had one of those deeply symbolic dreams that had them wondering if it was the late night chili burrito or something more profound and meaningful that caused it? How does one go about discovering the true meaning behind a dream?

A walk down the aisle in the new age section of the local bookstore in search of the dream interpretation book will most often result in confusion and disappointment. There are hundreds of books promising to interpret dream images, but each one contains differing explanations for common dream symbology. The reason for this can range from differing belief systems, culture, legend & lore, guesswork, or personal preference of the authors.

Symbology Basics

In order to find the true meaning, one has to get back to basics. Write down as much about the dream as can be remembered; colors, shapes, feelings, symbols, time frames (past, present, future), animals, people, and landscape. Not all of these things may have a specific meaning, but it may help shed light on other aspects of the dream.

Next, break the dream down into segments. What was the overall theme of the dream? Were there any reoccurring images? What were the feelings that surrounded these things? Were there aspects of the dream that just didn't seem to fit?

Now it's time to do a bit of research into the psyche, for instance, if the dream contained the image of a spider, in the personal experience of the dreamer, what does a spider represent? For some people, spiders elicit a strong fear reaction, perhaps a warning. For others, spiders may mean weavers or builders, female energy, patience, etc.

Once the dreamer's basic meaning for the symbol has been discovered, add in other factors. Keeping with the example of the spider, was it in a web? Was it building a web? Where was it? Was it on the ground or some other location? All of these details must be considered in order to give a more accurate interpretation. If something doesn't seem to fit, set it aside while the rest of the dream is interpreted.

Tying it all Together

Once all of the elements of the dream have been broken down into their simplest forms, try seeing how it all fits together. This is where the additional elements, such as color, feeling, etc., may be woven into the interpretation. Not everything will be important to the interpretation, so don't feel that everything has to have a purpose. Dreams are mostly the efforts of the subconscious trying to figure something out.

Now factor in any problems, situations, or events that have been on the mind of the dreamer recently. Overlaying the dream symbols onto the problem or concern may show a possible solution that the dreamer was subconsciously seeking.

Through this simple process, one may be better able to understand what message the dream may hold, and remember that not all dreams will have meanings. It is important to try not to project ideas onto the images, but carefully work through what the symbols may mean. Over time, it may be possible to build a uniquely personal symbolic database for the dreamer.

Nov 13, 2008 7:23 AM

Guest :

what is the meaning of an eagle locating you in the mist of others and petch on your right hand

Jan 14, 2009 12:20 PM

Guest :

I don't particularly give interpretations of anything. Dreams are highly symbolic and might mean absolutely nothing, but worries and daily stresses. However, I was struck by this imagery of the eagle. I've always respected eagles as symbols of animal power and prowess--they have great eyesight with the abililty to see great distances, are quite strong, and they are great parents. I would think that such a powerful creature in your dream means that somehow power or powerful influences are a part or will be a part of your life. The eagle in his keen eyesight chose you. Perhaps you will take or be chosen for some special task, job, career path, or special endeavor. For many people (those who are not left handed), the right hand is also the hand that guides their actions, the hand by which they carry out tasks, the hand that carries the most power. Could it be that you will be influenced by power, guided by some powerful quest or purpose?

Feb 19, 2009 5:36 PM

Guest :

I dream three or four times a month about my grandparents, especially about my grandmother. They passed away a few years ago, but I frequently dream that I am living in their old house out on the farm and, although it needs to be fixed up, it is more like it was when I was young than the ruin it really is now. Often my grandparents are still there, going about their normal chores. Once, recently, I had an extraordinary dream in this vein: My husband and I were fixing up the house so that we could live in it. My husband was outside working while I sorted through things inside. I was sitting on the floor outside my grandparents' bedroom when I looked up into what should have been their bedroom but was now an old, old kitchen! There was a little girl about 7 or 8 years old that I knew immediately to be my grandmother, although the girl had bluer eyes than my grandmother's greenish ones. Her mother was in the room with her back to me, and they were making biscuits on a wood stove. My grandmother-as-a-child was walking around the room helping her mother with various aspects of the cooking, and she was wearing an old-fashioned navy blue sailor dress and a matching bow. She looked at me and smiled, but didn't stop her activities. I was thrilled! I wanted to shout for my husband to come see our "ghosts", but didn't want to scare them away. In the meantime, however, my father (who had been outside helping my husband with something he was working on) came in loudly. I was afraid he'd frighten the "ghosts", so I told him what was going on. He was . . . surprised, to say the least, that the ghost of his deceased mother as a girl was in a "kitchen" that was where her bedroom should have been. He kind of muttered about the ridiculousness of it all and went into the kitchen where . . . my grandparents (his parents) as their elderly selves were having breakfast! He began telling them, in an irritated way, that now there were GHOSTS in the house, and they clucked and shook their heads. I took this opportunity to go to the window and call my husband in to witness all this wonderful strangeness ("ghost" grandmother and great-grandmother PLUS living grandparents!), but when he got inside the ghosts had gone and all that were left were my "real" grandparents having breakfast with my dad. This was still wonderful, and I was so tremendously happy in my dream and upon waking. (That's the common thread with all these dreams.)