Symbolism is the practice or art of using an object or a word to represent ideas or qualities. Just as a painter or author who wants to portray a certain mood or expression, they often use symbolism to allude to as opposed to just blatantly saying it.
Similarly depicted in our dreams the unconscious paints us an enigmatic picture, usually metaphorically riddled, filled with abstract symbols and themes in the most bizarre manner.
The unconscious uses a long forgotten, hidden language intended for the dreamer to extract the message or meaning metaphorically. Dream Symbols Dictionary uses an expression mirrors the parables used in the Bible, like a Zen paradox, or even the universal mythological stories. So you might want to know why these lessons are coded in this manner?
Perhaps Jesus has the best analogy. Jesus explained, “Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand“. By engaging with our unconscious every night we open up a closed door leading down a path that animates your inner world, you head towards the light of wholeness, balance and inner knowledge – a path that leads to enlightenment.
Dream Symbols Dictionary
Arch
The arch is known to be a symbol of transitions and rebirths in life; once you go through the old part dies (rebirth) only for the new to flourish. Usually connected with holy places to represent the bridge to heaven, sanctuary and private place.
Chakras
Chakras translates to “wheel” or “disc” in Sanskrit, and you can imagine them like wheels of free-flowing positive energy. If one of these seven centers become blocked it causes psychological issues and emotional distress in your life. In our dreams the chakras cleverly manifest in various forms of animals, reptiles, earth elements and enigmatic symbols that point to the blocked area.
Circle
The shape of the circle can be considered one of the most profound universal symbols representing wholeness, transformation and rebirth. In dreams the circle appears as rings, snakes coiled, balls, earth and anything round – a dream symbol that leads the dreamer towards completion.
Crescent Moon
The crescent moon connects towards the feminine energy or creative power that unconsciously pulls one towards her love. The crescent moon can be both warning or waxing will tells you if this is either ending or a new starting phase.
Cross
The cross is known to be a powerful symbol that means the connection between heaven and earth, a meeting point of death and rebirth and new spiritual awareness – crosses can be seen in both visions and dreams as the old dies only to be reborn.
Earth
The earth connects you to the divine feminine, a powerful energy that grounds, awakens and protects the person. On the flip side, the Great Mother can use her powers against when you dismiss or not run in accordance this unconscious feminine energy. The earth symbolizes transformation, wholeness and completion due to its circular shape.
Geometry
Geometrical patterns morph onto random images such as flowers, insects, numbers, rings, staircases, or stars. Within the dream a story will unfold around that particular images in hopes you understand its spiritual significance. Geometric shapes in our dreams are profound symbols that bring us one step closer in being one with the universe.
Kundalini
The kundalini is the primal force of awakening that often remains dormant, though once activated this powerful causes us to transform on the mental, emotional, and spiritual state. She emerges in your dreams in different forms in hopes you pay her attention. The award becomes your own inner transformation.
Lotus Flower
The lotus flower is highly regarded in Eastern teachings as a symbol of enlightenment and purity. It even traces back to ancient Egypt relating to light and inner transformation. A symbol that appears in our dreams to show new growth and higher consciousness.
Octagon
Many religious architectural connections when we recognize many sacred places of worship (churches, temples, mosques) were designed with octagonal structures supporting a dome on top. In Feng Shui (Bon Buddhism), the octagon becoems a symbol of protection that wards off negative spiritual vibrations. In dreams the octagon often manifests as a diamond; a powerful symbol of that connects us with the higher source.
Ouroboros
A powerful yet enigmatic symbol that contains many different spiritual meanings interwoven into it. It’s circular shape represents the true Nature of the Universe, eternal life, the Self and a unification of all things.
Phoenix
The feminine energy of the phoenix only emerges once in someone’s lives to represent a conscious shift, rebirth and spiritual transformation. She like to visit us in our dreams to tell us when and were this shift will take place. A powerful symbol that has been used in both folklore and mythology dating back to antiquity.
Pinecone
Seen throughout the hieroglyphs in ancient Egypt or linked to the popes staff entwined with two snakes and a pinecone, a symbol that represents activation of higher consciousness.
Rainbows
Rainbows are very powerful symbols that emerge relating to luck, higher self, Gods connection to the earthly realm. The true symbol that connect humans with the higher realms, the unconscious with the consciousness and yin and yang. Rainbows encourage you to continue on the path and you will be protected until you find the gold.
Snake
Snakes are not always know to be deceitful symbols in our dream, but rather leads the dreamer towards higher consciousness and enlightenment.
Spiral
Spiral in dreams may morph into whirlpools in water, tornado, pinecones, screws, shells, snail, flowers; a feminine symbol which links to the generative force of the universe- an image that unconscious directs the dreamer towards the soul.
Stars
There was a reason why the ancient Egyptians understood the stars as being connected with the Gods. In today’s time we have lost the true meaning behind what the star means when it has always been there to guide us during times of darkness. Stars are known to connect us to the divine, protection, light and darkness, luck and guidance during difficult times.
Tattoo
Tattoo may be skin deep, but their significance sometimes goes deeper. What we may put on our body contains more unconscious elements of self expression that is wanting to be integrated in the outside world.
Tree
The tree is an ancient symbol of life as the roots firmly grounded in the soil and the branches reach for the heavens. Dating as far back as ancient Egypt the pine tree can be directly linked to the pineal gland or higher consciousness.
Triangle
The triangle connection with the human consciousness connects to the cycles of growth that leads to a higher state of awareness. On a spiritual level the triangle guides the person towards inner completion or a connection with an omnipresent force.
Two Headed Snake
Due to the fact the snake sheds its skin and emerges anew it is thought to reflect inner transformation and growth.
Wheel
The wheel embodies characteristics of the iconic image of the CIRCLE along with it’s continuous movements guides us towards reaching higher states of consciousness or enlightenment. One of the most ancient symbols found in Buddhism (Eightfold Path) and Hinduism; a practice towards achieving completion or Nirvana.
Yin & Yang
The yin and yang ascribes to the universe being governed by a cosmic duality or interconnected forces that can be observed in nature. Two halves that together signify wholeness; yin comprising of the feminine principle, whereas the yang contains masculine; together, they represent inner completion, balance and harmony.
Dream Symbols & Meanings
Dream symbols book may morph into people, places, or objects that appear in your dreams from your unconsciousness. You can consider the unconscious mind similar to how a computer stores everything all of your past, present and what is to come in the future.
According to Carl Jung he says we also have a collective unconsciousness refers to structures of the unconscious mind which are shared among beings of the same species. Jung believed before we go to sleep we can speak to the one million year old man that is inside us to provide us answers in our dreams.
Buzzards were eating my farm eggs.
A dream last night feathers were growing in my yard like plants.
i had a dream… there was a tornado so my mum and i ran and i dropped my best teddy. so i when to pick it up and the tornado was so close. so i opened my hand to that the teddy and my mum pulled me and told me to leave it. what dose that suggest.
I had a dream at about 11:50pm that I was driving in traffic stoped at a red light and I heard honking, when I tried to accelerate the car would not move.
I had a dream that there was an owl that was hurt in the water and there was other animals trying to get at it while it was hurt. There was a bear in the water and I was yelling at it so it would go away. I went to throw a rock the beer and instead of it going behind it to distract it and hit the bear. The bear then started swimming towards me. Babes was next to me and she was making herself swim faster by holding on to my shoulder but hat was putting me behind as… Read more »
Today I had a dream with someone from my past that had a very significant role in my life. In the dream he told me you gotta stop the clock. I said what are you thinking? He said twenty. I woke up it was 5:44 a.m. this man was my court judge for many years. What does it mean?
I am not sure but it seems to be a symbolic message from your unconsciousness. By stopping the clock you are stopping time or running out of time with something. Maybe it want you to slow down. I am not sure you would be the best person to decode it.
I dreamed I found out my no longer deceased father had a h
Downs syndrome e younger sister, very pretty,. When I asked who was paying g for her care all this time, my no longer deceased mother said her long deceased uncle was. Help what does this mean
Can you explain to me what you mean by no longer deceased father?
not dead in my dream, but actually dead dad 15 years, mom 35 years
The dream doesn’t seem to be a “contact” dream but something related to your relationship with your father that remains unconscious to you.
I am thinking that if he has down syndrome (metaphor: something extra inside psyche) it shows there might be an imbalance within you based off of your relationship with your father – this needs to be cared for by you in order to heal.
Hi I have a question in my nightmares everynight i have sleep paralysis and i die just different ways i also see snakes and runes and i can sense what these people have felt they are all people who have passed on im not sure what this means and i also see crows and a cresent moon. I can feel everything that happens to me in my dreams do you know what is happening?
Hi, I had a dream at about 5:45 am (Nigerian time) that I and all the children( polygamous family)of my dad(late) were all matching together holding soap in our hands lifted up and praying ( I can’t understand the words of the prayers). We approach a place where the grass on the ground were green then facing up towards a sun ( like a fade circle) in the middle of the circle was a cross and the shape of a moon keeps spinning round the cross In the circle. Later it turn into a white smoke like Snow from the… Read more »
Very symbolic dream. It seems to connected both the masculine and feminine unconscious energies within you, with the circle it wants completion. Snow is a negative symbol of long durations or stuck states of mind. This might need to be warmed up from within. Anytime we enter the woods or forest in our dreams we are actually entering the unknown or unconscious part of ourselves. So if they are drunk it reinforces this mental state that is stopping you from being awakened.
So last night’s dream may be a clue. I was at someone’s house. The room they had me staying in was a mess. So I cleaned it. Then after a few days I saw video cameras all around and got embaressed cause I was changing in that room. Then I felt angry. The thing about my stay is I couldn’t go outside or outside the room for any reason
Whos house was it? Cleaning a house connects with mental clutter and being in the changing room tells you about your identity.
My dream was that I received a message ( unknown source), to pick up my father. He was no longer dead. I picked him up and he appeared a bit weak with dark brown skin in areas like around his eyes and elbows. He obviously had just returned from being dead. My (living) grandmother was with him. She had long black hair, wore a beautiful silky white dress with red gloves that went to her elbows. I was walking holding my fathers arm and asking him all sorts of questions about how it felt to die. It was a sunny… Read more »
Interesting. The fact you picked him up you might have found some aspect that was once unconscious within you. Also his condition tells you about how this aspect was partially neglected that you have now understood or will nourish in the future. So in a way he metaphorically had a rebirth within you. Its a really nice dream that is telling you that some part of him is now being balanced within you.
I had a dream.. I saw a white swan and a black swan chasing and fighting each other. I was running towards them, but I thought it was normal for them to fight then on the other side of that field, I saw my two brothers fighting each other.
I am thinking the black and white swan could imply two opposing forces that are battling with each other. Now it could be your brothers or something that is related to “the other side”. Because the swans dwell on top of the water it bridges you with your emotions, or topically seeing something. Now below the water remains the unconscious part of your emotional state that seems to be related to your brothers or unconscious emotional aspects of two opposing forces in your life. See yin and yang dreams.
I had two recurring dreams of coming into a room with my deceased father. I turned on a light switch and he comes barreling out of another room and began berating me. I got so heated that my fists were clenched. What does this mean?
Houses in dreams often connect the person to the psyche/mind or inner architecture. By turning on a light switch seems almost metaphorically by making you aware of something. Question. What was your relationship like with your father? Could this be a repressed memory, unconscous emotion (anger), being defensive pertaining to your father?
My dad that past away a few years a ago was driving me to the mall. I enter the mall and walked up some stairs, meeting an employee and then walking around a crowd of people when I stopped to drinking water from a coin slot.
What does this mean?
The mall might tell you about something you are in search for. If he was driving you it would contain many different interpretations. Because of the coin slot and the water it seems like this message will emotionally nourish you. Going up the stairs tells you about advancement. It’s not unusual for the dead to emerge in our dreams so I am not sure if he was trying to guide you (being driven) or knows something that will help you.
I AM SITTING IN A BIG TRUCK ALONG WITH MY MOTOTBIKE AND I SAW LEAPORD PLAYING WITH DEER. I CAME HOME AND I FORGOT TO UNLOAD MY MOTOBIKE . THEN I TALK WITH MY DECEASED FATHER ABOUT POLICE COMPLAINT AND NEXT DAY TRUCK OWNER GIVEN BACK MY MOTOBIKE.
Very symbolic. You have two animals that come from the wild or unconscous part of you. One has complete dominance over the dear but it is playing with it. Both can be considered feminine images (see leopard in the search bar) as the motor bike might connect to your masculine drive. What did you talk to you dad about?
I had a dream where I was on an island where the weather was similar to the pacific northwest. The sky was patchy and sunny with dark clouds and it was raining very lightly. I was walking down a muddy path or trail with a steep drop to my right and pine trees growing up the slope. The edge of the trail was rocky and there was a little stream running down the left of the path making a little river. The most prominent element in the dream were the snakes. There were red, black, and yellow striped snakes hanging… Read more »
I had a strange dream today, and its troubling me, I dreamt I had gone back to my high school, I never really liked this school I was there for just a year, but I keep dreaming about it over the years and every time I dream of it, I struggle to leave I struggle to find my way out. Then I managed to find my little brother who brought me home but at home we were not supposed t b there, we had to leave, he was able to only leave in the form of time travel, yes I… Read more »
Your dreams seem to related to religious ideas.
I’m a girl and i had a dream last night that a girl i know, i’ve talked to her only a few times, but she kissed me on the cheek and she said don’t tell anybody and winked. And then later in the dream she was talking to her friends and glanced behind her and saw me, then when she went to go sit down she waved and smilied at me, i waved and smiled back? What does this mean?
Well, I’m a little confused about my dream tonight.. I’m not sure where it was, but probably in a wide open space with no people passing by. I’m a girl and were with my best guy friend (although we started our relationship dating. Over a year ago). We were sitting and relaxing until our eyes met. We started to gaze at each other and getting closer until he kissed me really gently. We got a little embarassed and got up, however when we looked at each other again, I threw myself at him and kissed him. We hugged tightly. The… Read more »
I had a dream recently about michael jackson, and it was odd.
Ok so it starts with me and one of my close friends going to LA on a field trip, and were in this cafe, and then mj walks in, and its weird cos nobody notices him, and he comes and sits at our table, and we talk about the stuff that happened to him, and then this guy comes in, and mj tells us he has to leave, and we never see him again.
What does this dream mean?