Steps to Understanding Dream Symbols and Interpretation

Dreams can come in almost any form, using a wide variety of symbols and storylines. To understand their meaning, it is important to recognize the feeling level within the dream as well as the specific symbols used.

Step 1: Writing Down the Dream

The first step is to write down the dream as fully as possible.

Sample Dream: A woman was on a bus with a spiritual leader and members of a spiritual group. A man got on the bus wearing a dark coat and hat. He started robbing everyone. The woman had $600 in her wallet. She was lying in a sleeping bag. She wanted to hide her wallet, but her left hand was asleep, and she could not move.

Step 2: Recording Dream Symbols

Next, identify all the symbols in the dream and write down possible meanings.

• Woman - Feminine, creative part of self
• Bus - Large vehicle for growth
• Spiritual leader - Her own higher self, spiritual teacher
• Spiritual group - Growth conscious parts of self
• Man - Masculine, assertive, strong part of self
• Dark - The unknown
• Coat - Cover, hiding
• Hat - Role she plays
• Robbing - Stealing energy
• $600 - Six represents guidance, higher teachers, pay attention
• Wallet - Identity
• Sleeping bag - In a cocoon, hiding in a womb
• Left hand - Receiving hand, passive
• Asleep - Numb, not allowing others to give back

Step 3: Interpretation

The feminine part of the woman has a large capacity for growth, and many parts of herself are focused on growth and being led by her higher self. However, she has suppressed the assertive part of herself, allowing people to take her energy without standing up for herself. The number six in the dream is a message from her guidance to be more assertive.

She is afraid of losing her identity by being assertive, and she is unable to act because she is "zipped up" in her cocoon. Her inability to receive help and allow others to give back to her is the main message of the dream.

Levels of Interpretation

Dreams can be interpreted on different levels. While there is a literal meaning, it is usually not the correct interpretation. However, the interpretation depends on what you ask for.

For example, a woman asked for insight into her marriage. She dreamed of walking with her husband in a desert, approaching a trader selling fake wedding bands made of tin. Her husband's face was distant, and when they stopped at a small house, she was greeted by a stranger who embraced her with warmth and love. She realized that these were qualities missing from her relationship.

This dream revealed that her relationship was not based on mutual love, symbolized by the barren desert. The dreams that followed confirmed this realization, and she eventually knew she had to leave the relationship. Although difficult, the dream offered her a positive solution, and once she ended the relationship, she wondered why it had taken so long to see the truth.

See Also: Symbols, Feminine, Masculine, Identity