Psychologists generally define love as an intense feeling of liking, affection or an enduring sentiment towards a person combined with a strong desire to be with that person. In dreams, sexual images are more frequent than the ephemeral images of love; it was this which encouraged Freud to develop his theories about sex and sexual energy as being more powerful in dreamland than love itself. The connection between love and the erotic is therefore often inescapable in Freudian dream analysis, and the sexual interpretation of dreams became for Freud the key to unlock their meaning.
Jung, on the other hand, saw the world of dreams and love quite differently from Freud. He rejected Freud’s heavy emphasis on sex and instead saw dreams not only as a way to understand what was wrong with a person, but also as a way to encourage the creative development of a person’s whole potential. Dreams could therefore be a way of improving and encouraging feelings of wholeness, love and tenderness towards oneself and others in waking life.
Most dream analysts draw on the theories of both Jung and Freud when exploring the concept of love and dreams but they also ask the question: is the person in your dream really the object of your intense feelings of love or is there another way to read the dream? For example, dreams in which you fall in love or are reminded of the passionate early days of a relationship may have nothing to do with actual relationships but may be urging you to inject some passion into your life. They may also suggest that you are yearning to be loved and cherished. Try to remember who or what aroused feelings of love or passion in your dream.
If it was your partner and you are deeply in love in waking life, your dream may have been reaffirming your lasting affection. If, however, you are past those heady days of romance and passion, your dream may be reminding you of the chemistry that drew you to your partner and how easily it can be rekindled.
If you had a dream in which you found yourself in love with someone who in waking life is a friend, a colleague or someone you don’t really know but see on the journey to work every morning, you may find the experience unsettling, especially if you are in a committed relationship. It is possible that you feel drawn to that person in some unconscious way but are ignoring those feelings in waking life because they are inappropriate. Our dreams are often quickly prompted by a perhaps irrational attraction; if this is the case, your dreaming mind is allowing you to experience your desires in a safe environment in which no one can be hurt.
If you are not in a relationship, however, then such a dream may be urging you to acknowledge or express your feelings for that person. Bear in mind, too, that you may not dream of the actual person but may find them represented symbolically. For example phallic symbols, such as spears, swords or tall buildings may represent the man a woman is attracted to. Look also for puns concerning the object of your desire. Your lover may also be represented by an animal such as a kitten in your dream. In waking life, do you feel the need to be protected and adored in the same way? Alternatively, if you are not attracted to the person in your dream in any way in waking life, there may be something about them that you admire and wish to cultivate yourself: for example, a way with words, a flair for fashion, a musical talent, an exciting job or a carefree lifestyle. Try to work out with which aspect of that person’s character and life your dreaming mind has pictured you falling in love. To sum up, as with most emotions, in your dreams love is usually an expression of that feeling or a compensation for not receiving it in waking life.
[1]To dream of love symbolizes strong emotions brought by a current relationship in your waking life. It suggests joy and satisfaction with your present state in life. This may also connote the opposite, particularly a yearning to get into a romantic relationship and experience the bliss of being loved unconditionally.
To dream of a couple in love suggests that success is within reach.
To dream that your friend is in love with you indicates that you are romantically interested in your friend. You might have fallen in love with your best friend and cannot take your mind off the possibilities of taking your platonic relationship to a different level. Alternatively, the dream may also imply that you have come to recognize certain traits of your best friend and integrated them into your own character.
To dream that you are making love in public indicates a gush of sexual urges and desires. This might be a call to let go of certain inhibitions in expressing how you truly feel. Then again, your dream may be a reflection of how you see your own sexuality as it relates to political and social standards. You may be confused with your notion of relationships, sex, marriage, love, and gender differences/roles.
[2]A dream about being in love suggests intense feelings carried over from a waking relationship. It implies happiness and contentment with what you have and where you are in life. On the other hand, if you’re not in a love relationship in real life, this dream suggests that you are not getting enough affection in your daily life. Hug someone! To see a couple in love or expressing love to each other, indicates much success ahead for you.
If you dream of saying “I Love You”, you will achieve happiness and contentment the moment you learn to take a realistic approach to life. However, if in your dream you expressed love to someone who is already in a relationship in real life, you will experience disappointment in love.
If someone told you “I Love You” in your dream, you are learning to enjoy what you have and where you are in life. You may also be craving to hear these three little words when you are awake! Also see “Love Letter” and “Love Triangle”, below.
[3]To dream of loving any object, denotes satisfaction with your present environments.
To dream that the love of others fills you with happy forebodings, successful affairs will give you contentment and freedom from the anxious cares of life.
If you find that your love fails, or is not reciprocated, you will become despondent over some conflicting question arising in your mind as to whether it is best to change your mode of living or to marry and trust fortune for the future advancement of your state.
For a husband or wife to dream that their companion is loving, foretells great happiness around the hearthstone, and bright children will contribute to the sunshine of the home.
To dream of the love of parents, foretells uprightness in character and a continual progress toward fortune and elevation.
The love of animals, indicates contentment with what you possess, though you may not think so.
For a time, fortune will crown you.
[4]For most of us, love is a full-time obsession . We are concerned about the love of our parents, children, co-workers, friends, and many, many others. There is nothing more important to our emotional, psychological, or spiritual well-being than love.
It is a vital part of any growth process. We need to have a healthy dose of self-love so that we can, in turn, love the world. Dreams may be filled with images of love, friendship, compassion, and lust. In the end, it is all about acceptance and belonging.
To be loved is to feel accepted and have a sense of belonging. In our dreams we may be trying to figure out this mystery called love.
The dream may be wish-fulfilling or compensatory in nature. It may be spiritual or practical, but always deals with a significant part of our psyche or our daily lives.
[5]For a correct interpretation of the dream you must first consider who it was who loved you, and at the same time, who was the object of your love. Overall, love in dreams represents the desire to achieve an idealized relationship that is difficult to achieve. Although it can also be a reminder for you to pay more attention to your partner, thus avoiding neglect of that person’s love.
From the oneiric point of view, to dream that you are loved and blessed augurs hardship. Instead, to dream that you are often disgraced or rejected often implies happy days.
[6]If the dream involves happiness in love, then happiness and contentment lie ahead.
If the dream involves an illicit or forbidden love, the dreamer is hiding things - perhaps even from herself.
If the dream is of observing the love between two other people, this portends the consummation of some of the dreamer’s own hopes and wishes.
If the dream involves choosing between two rival lovers, the dreamer faces a difficult choice. Astrological parallel: Venus Tarot parallel: The Lovers
[7]Feelings of love in a dream represent connection, integration, understanding, healing and forgiveness.
If you are dreaming of falling in love, feeling a familial bond or simply having fond feelings for someone, you are recognizing an aspect of yourself in the mirror of another person’s soul that you appreciate and value in yourself. Experiencing the sensation of love in a dream is always auspicious and a forecast of wonderful things to come, and that your heart is opening.
[8]This is a dream which foretells happiness in nearly every case, It is especially fortuitous when you dream of being loved by others, and the only time when it is not a good sign is when your love for someone else is not reciprocated.
The love of husband and wife, of parents and children, and of sweethearts is a dream which foretells good fortune, happiness, and wealth.
The love of animals Is an indication that you will adjust yourself easily to conditions as they are.
[9]If you dream you see a couple in love and expressing it to each other, this denotes that your present undertaking will meet with success.
If you are expressing a true and tender love for another then it shows that you will find happiness and contentment in your life.
To see someone expressing a low type of love, lust, then will you meet with failure and discontent.
[10]Like most emotions, love in a dream is usually a direct expression of that feeling, or a compensation for not receiving it. So one question to ask is whether we are trying to compensate for a lack in our life. Apart from that it may be helpful to see in what way the love is being expressed in the dream.
The following stages of love may help in defining this.
[11]Dreams of sincere love are a forecast of happiness and contentment through a healthy and intelligent adjustment to the conditions of life; but a dream of illicit love or sheer lust has a portent of disappointment or failure due to your own greed.
To dream of observing the lovemaking of others predicts success in your current undertakings.
[12]This is a dream of contrary as far as sweethearts are concerned.
To dream that you do not succeed in Love is a sign that you will marry and have a happy life. But to dream that your friends are fond of you is a very fortunate omen and indicates prosperity.
To dream that you are in the company of your Lover is also fort unate.
[13](Beloved; Enamored, Honey, Hostage, Lover, Platonic love) Love in a dream means trials and temptations.
If one does something he loves in a dream, it means that he will engage in an act that has no limitations.
If a man says to
[14]To dream of unsuccessful love is a dream of contrary, you will marry and be happy; to dream that friends love you foretells prosperity in all things; to dream of being with your lover foretells a speedy marriage (Raphael).
[15]You are longing for love.
A desire to be able to love as well as to be loved. Pay special attention to the quality, emotions, and circumstances in the dream.
[16]Dreams that express various emotions and cycles of love usually mean that the dreamer is repressed or denied such love during waking hours.
[17]1. Happiness, affection, admiration and care.
2. A measure of abundance and prosperity.
3. Feelings of acceptance and approval.
[18]God is love.
It is the greatest power in the Universe.
The more you love the more depths you open within yourself.
[19]Symbolic of God’s character and the fruit of the Spirit, Gal. 5:22
[20]Literal, though there are many types
[21]See Also: emotion
[22]To dream of being in love, denotes that you are not susceptible. If vou dream of another loving you, you will pass through life alone and unsought.
[23]lucky numbers: 12-14-17-32-33-37
advancing in a, affair: act on your third rational sober thought.
adversity in: be on guard for spiteful gossip bringing conflict into your relationship.
being in: friends are jealous of your concentration on your new love.
yourself, with: vanity, faith and confidence wil be abused.
company of a lover, the: freedom from anxious cares.
being loved: satisfaction with your contentment in present home life.
children, by: quarrels over which child is loved most.
lover, accepted, being: affairs do not prosper because you scorn them.
afflicted, being: if you can’t help publicly, leave to make room for someone who can.
angry with: the nagging question is where this wil lead; if nowhere, give it up.
arrival of a: a special gift to your inner self is of little value when vengeance is paid.
back door, letting go out the: seek an idealized, unrealistic love.
bath for a, preparing a: wil have a life of luxury.
beating his mistress: this affair in its secrecy al ows no rational advice from an outsider.
giving a promise to a: suitable time to pursue courtship of everything surrounding you.
lover’s quarrel, a: harmony in the relationship must go through discordant tones.
loving your children: it is impossible for them to do anything to sever that bond.
partner: wil succeed in present project through true grit.
not: disappointing search for contentment lacking at home.
others: wil live happily together al your life.
relatives: a secret love wil be revealed.
work: prosperity is ahead if you trust in your fortune.
not succeeding in: be happy with what you possess; not dissatisfied with what you don’t.
trying to make, to someone: partner wil succumb to romantic interlude with another.
unwanted, being: heart trouble wil be shortly resolved.
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