A journey into the unconscious may be symbolized by an underwater dream. The underwater descent is a journey of discovery into your unknown parts and is a sign that you are ready to explore your own intuitive and instinctive aspects. The symbolism may also be a representation of the womb, the underwater scene symbolizing regression and the hope of rebirth. Perhaps you are feeling helpless, unable to care for yourself and long to return to a stage where you are dependent and free of responsibilities. To dream that you are underwater may also indicate that you are feeling overcome with emotions and are in need of greater control in your life, or that you may be in over your head regarding some situation.
How the water behaves in your dream is also significant. Rising water indicates rising emotions. Turbulent, choppy waters symbolize being overwhelmed emotionally. Being caught in a swift moving current suggests being ’swept up’ in one’s emotions. Cloudy water suggests lack of emotional clarity or a fear of emotional contamination. Swimming or bathing peacefully in water symbolizes a comfortable immersion in your emotions. The ability to breathe underwater and interact with creatures of the sea indicates that you have access to your unconscious feelings and awareness. Seeing a diver or becoming a diver suggests that you are delving into your unconscious, or trying to ’get to the bottom’ of a current situation or problem. Not surprisingly, Freudians believe that underwater diving may have sexual connotations and represents intercourse.
In addition to fish and sea creatures, what you observe in your underwater dream may be significant.
If you see a sea chest, this indicates what you carry with you on your spiritual quest, or in everyday terms, your spiritual baggage. The sea floor refers to your spiritual foundations. Is it ablaze with color and life, or barely inhabited? Sea foam stands for spiritual confusion or a stirring of your beliefs, seafood for spiritual knowledge and nourishment. Recall the condition and type of food. Sea level pertains to spiritual truths, whilst sea legs suggest spiritual comfort or feeling at home with your spirituality. Sea monsters suggest spiritual danger and an earthquake at sea warns that your beliefs might be shaken. Sea salt stands for strong spiritual beliefs, seashells for spiritual gifts and talents. Recall the quality and quantity of the shells. Sea slugs warn of spiritual laziness or entrapment, sea snails denote a slow and steady progress with your spiritual development, sea sponges stand for spiritual over absorption and sea spray represents spiritual gifts or insights. Finally, coral symbolizes your spiritual attributes, coral fish stand for spiritual protectiveness and guarding your beliefs from outside influences and a coral reef represents the difficulties of maintaining a spiritual balance in the physical world.
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