Dreamcatcher - Native Indians use it to catch dreams.

The messages contained in dreams are typically conveyed as symbols, which represent an idea, concept or emotion that is difficult to put into words. The presence of symbols is one reason why dreams appear to be so mysterious and even nonsensical to the waking mind, but once we begin to unlock this symbolic language, we find that dreams are often profoundly meaningful, engaging our feelings in a way matched in waking life only by arts such as poetry, painting and music.

Dreams spring from the unconscious, and use symbols - a primal part of the language of the unconscious that preceded the development of speech. As explained later in this book, many of the symbols used by dreams are personal to the dreamer, having been built up through experience. Others, however, appear to be more universal, arising from shared levels of the unconscious mind. Such universal symbols are often linked to animals or natural forces - for example, birds in many cultures represent freedom, fire represents destruction and purification, while water stands for life itself.

By working with dreams, we come into contact with this symbolic language, which shows us a way to delve deeper and deeper into the unconscious, enabling us to embark on a thrilling voyage of self-discovery. We could be given any message on the way, and its special meaning will depend on our particular personal agenda, fears and other inner concerns.

Many of the messages we receive in dreams are connected with the hopes, concerns and anxieties of everyday life. Research has shown that women's dreams tend to focus on domestic events, while men's dreams are more often set outside home. Many dreams, however, arise from deeper levels of the mind. Before attempting the methods of interpretation explained later in this book, ask yourself what message each remembered dream might be attempting to convey. For example, you may have had dreams of meeting a stranger, entering a store, or chopping down a tree. What could such dreams be trying to say?

In a broad sense, dreams often relate to what might be, rather than what actually is. A dream could thus suggest that you might wish to enlarge your horizons, or to explore new avenues and opportunities. Sometimes dreams seem to warn us of dangers, or to caution us to think more carefully about a particular course of action. The one clear message is that dreams are far too important to be ignored.


1.The Secret World of your Dreams by Julia& Parker

"It is difficult to say what is impossible, for the dream of yesterday is the hope of today and the reality of tomorrow."
Robert H. Goddard

 

Symbolism of the Objects in Dreams

Dream

Introduction
Different Types of Dreams
Freud's Approach to Dreams
Jung's Approach to Dreams
Symbolisms of the Objects appeared in Dreams
Lucid Dreaming
Common Dreams and their Interpretions
Common Questions

Sleep

Health

Interactive Corner

Teaching Resources

© 2000 ThinkQuest Team C005545