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
A profound symbol known in ancient Egypt as the “Breath of life” becomes a symbol of protection, hidden knowledge and wisdom. Often obtaining this ancient knowledge though the Third Eye the Ankh emerges in our dreams to spiritually protect us along on life’s journey or higher consciousness.
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 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.
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: In depth analysis
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.
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.
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.
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.
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: In depth analysis
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.
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 (snake eating it’s own tail): In depth analysis
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.
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.
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 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.
Snakes are not always know to be deceitful symbols in our dream, but rather leads the dreamer towards higher consciousness and enlightenment.
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.
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 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.
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.
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: In depth analysis
Due to the fact the snake sheds its skin and emerges anew it is thought to reflect inner transformation and growth.
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.
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.
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?
I had a dream that my dad was in the car sleeping and for some reason my brother was injured so my mom and him were in his room. My sis and i were in my parents room i had a feeling someone was following us. There was a knock on the door i looked outside and (this coming up i dont understand. What could it meamean) jigsaw(from saw) was at the door. I grabbed a 12 gauge and my mom went downstairs. She was killed i put the 12 gauge to his head and i woke up. Oh amand… Read more »
I dreamed that I was getting the clothes out of the dryer and it was full of my black shoes. The ones that were higher heeled were messed up, but the flats and sandles were all okay. Then I looked again and my kids (8 and 10 years) were playing inside the dryer and our family dog was in there playing with them. I got the shoes out, left them to their playing, then went upstairs (where I have been sleeping) and my husband had changed the sheets my sheets to some ungodly horrible stuff. Then I just started crying… Read more »
my mom had a dream as number of dead bodies taking from mortury and keeping them aside.what does it means?
i saw there is a unknown person in my dream and i love him buh he is non-muslim and i came to know about that and i shouted at him and left him he gave me 1 letter i threw it and i was going and my frien shouted that stop sono i want to tell you something that he turned in muslim because he love you i was so happy i went to him and i kissed him…i’m soo confuse about that i know it’s stupid but can you help mee plzz…i can feel that kissing feeling till now…plzz… Read more »
hi,I just dreamt a woman who was supposed to be in the future,does that has any meaning?
thanks!
im a girl, and just recently i had a dream that i was kissing one of my friends. At first it was a shy kiss eventually turning into a passionate kiss very sexual on a bed. It was a very strange feeling when i woke up, and im confused as to what it means
It’s perfectly normal to have a dream of that nature. Your dream means that you have a closer connection with your friend.
Hii , I had 2 dreams one after another of snakes 1st dream I saw a big viper snake which threatens me , me my brother and friends killed it nd displayed. 2nd dream was one small golden snake is following me , actually gliding through air towards me. It hit me nd entered into my skin. I caught it nd thrown it away many times, but it is coming back into my skin. After a lot of tries I managed to throw it nd escaped behind a Glass shield. but it’s trying to reach me. Pls explain the meaning… Read more »
Hey Manu,
Its possible that you are the snake! Are you fighting something internally?
I also had a dream that i was in the livingroom, i had this dream four years ago almost, but i remember it clearly, i was sitting in my livingroom, with my cousin, it was after i was told my dad died, i was sitting with my cousin on the couch, my mom and brother were in my moms room wartching tv, i remember that, and i don’t remember any sounds, my dad kept popping up, like by the front door, next to the couch, thats what i remember, and then i woke up, the dream scared me, and i… Read more »
can u plz tell me why i dream about having a girl kissing me?
I need more detail about your intresting dream. All dreams are different to each person and looking up a “kiss” in a dream dictionary will not really help you. You have to tell me the mood of your dream. Has it happened more than once? Give me as much detail as you can remember!