Dream Analysis and Interpretation
What is your opinion on dreams? Do they mean anything to you? Or, are you a skeptic? Well, I was, until I came to understand that any activity of the mind, conscious or subconscious, impacts on the individual in one way or another.
Whether you believe dreams are processes of thought not fully developed during waking hours, unexplained, spiritual or mental influences, or, just our fantasies being played out, one thing is certain: dreams have meaning.
The technique presented here recognizes a symbolic language that is meaningful only to the dreamer. Here, briefly, are the steps of the technique:
- Write down your dream as soon as possible so you remember all or most of it.
- Make separate lists of the objects, persons, and circumstances in the dream.
- For each object, person and circumstance write down (a)the real meaning, and (b)the symbolic meaning.
- Re-write your dream replacing all objects, persons and circumstances with their symbolic meanings.
- Finally, reflect on your life situation so as to bring relevance to your dream.
Definition of Terms
- Objects-
- These are nouns, sometimes described by adjectives. They include identifiable animals, places or things.
- Persons
- These are people, whether identified by name or not.
- Circumstances-
- These describe actions: what was thought, said or done, when, where and how.
- Real meaning-
- The everyday, ordinary meaning as you understand it to be.
- Symbolic meaning-
- Symbols represent personal feelings about, and emotional reactions to objects, persons and circumstances. (Ask yourself: How do I feel about 'x'? What does 'x' do for me when I think about it? What is the significance of 'x' in my life? The answers will be symbolic in nature. Only you can do the interpretation.)
- Life situation-
- This is reality. It describes what you consider to be the most important things in your life at the present time.
Please go to F.A.Q. for further clarification.
Let's look at a real axample: "Dad, mom and I were travelling in a car on the sands along the seashore. We were pretty close to the water and sometimes the waves would rush on the shore in front us. We got out of the car for whatever reason and suddenly a huge wolf swallowed up mom. I tried, unsuccessfully, to get the wolf to vomit mom while dad just stood there saying, 'we should have been travelling north instead of south'." End of dream.
It's Analysis:
THE OBJECTS REAL MEANING SYMBOLIC MEANING The sea Vast expanse of water Insurmountable situation The car Transportation Need to reach a goal Sandy shore Unstable surface Uncertainty and doubt Rushing waves Turbulence Obstacle or hindrance Huge wolf A vicious animal Danger or death PERSONS REAL MEANING SYMBOLIC MEANING The dreamer The star Life situation Her mom The female parent Support, dependability Her dad The male parent Strength, discipline CIRCUMSTANCES REAL MEANING SYMBOLIC MEANING Travelling by car Mobility Goal-seeking Left the car Stopped travelling Goal-abandonment Wolf swallowed mom Death Loss of support and dependability Get wolf to vomit Pleading act Cry for help Dad's comment Admonition Failure Preliminary Interpretation
In her dream the dreamer was seeking 'support and strength' (being with mom and dad). She was hoping to find a solution to her 'pressing problem' (their travelling in a car). The hopelessness of her situation was characterized by 'doubt and lack of confidence' (unstable ground), the sheer 'magnitude of the problem' (vast expanse of water), intermittent 'obstacles' (turbulence of the waves), and the final 'abandonment of her goal' (stopped travelling). Her worst fears were realized when the very people she relied on failed her (admonition from her dad and death of her mom).
In symbolic form, therefore, the dream reads as follows:
I need advice in solving a problem which is causing me a lot of stress. The problem is so unmanageable and I meet so many obstacles that I am beginning to doubt my ability to deal with it. My self-confidence is at the point where I feel like giving up altogether.
Final Interpretation
At this stage the dreamer's real life situation must be invoked. As it happened, the dreamer of this dream was under tremendous stress from the pressure of adjusting to the demands of a new and more responsible position. She is, by nature, a perfectionist who detests mediocrity. She will abandon or refuse a challenge which she thinks will end in failure.The dreamer confided that she reached a point where she felt the demands of the new position was becoming overwhelming. It is more likely than not that her present situation triggered the dream. It was recommended that she sought help.
DISCLAIMER: The procedure contained in this technique is provided for information purposes and without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied. The user assumes the entire risk as to the accuracy and the use of this technique. This technique may not be distributed for profit..