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H A R P E R E S S E N T I A L S
What is the language of . . .

DREAMS?
Since time immemorial, the human race has regarded dreams as mysterious, significant, and powerful. They link the aware mind, seeming to speak directly to it from our unconscious, reflecting our joys, anxieties, and hopes. Many people believe that the dream worldthrough an understanding of its special languagecan help us enrich our waking lives and lead to greater self-knowledge. Dream interpretation has been practiced throughout all time by all civilizations. People have claimed that dreams are of the utmost importance, and they have tried to understand or analyze them in the light of their own beliefs and customs.

What are your dreams telling you?

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Other HarperEssentials FIRST AID STRESS SURVIVAL GUIDE WINE GUIDE

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H A R P E R E S S E N T I A L S

Understanding Dreams
The Diagram Group

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Contents
Introduction 1. Dream Lore 2. The Unconscious Mind 3. T ypes of Dreams 4. Lucid Dreams 5. Sweet Dreams 6. Symbolism 7. Dream Diary Glossary Index Other HarperEssentials Copyright About the Publisher 1 3 16 39 54 60 65 249 256 261

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Introduction

hroughout history and across many different cultures, dreams and dreaming have had much importance attached to them. The Ancient Greeks and the Japanese, for example, believed dreams to be full of portents and warnings about the future. More recently in the West, Sigmund Freud and others have sought to use the interpretation of dreams as a means of unlocking the mysteries of the subconscious. Understanding Dreams describes these beliefs and various methods of dream interpretation. It also reveals how the subconscious alerts the waking mind (through dreams) to hidden conicts, to the ways problems can be solved, and to the creative talents within us all. Dream interpretation depends on understanding the symbolic language of dreams. A comprehensive, alphabetically arranged list of symbolsthe usual and the raregives every dreamer the key to such an understanding. These symbols, together with a knowledge of the dreamers situation and memo-

I NT R O D U CT I O N

ries, will help to make dream interpretation easier and more revealing. The valuable insights that are offered here ensure that Understanding Dreams will be indispensable to the dedicated interpreter of dreams.

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Dream Lore

ince time immemorial, the human race has regarded dreams as mysterious, signicant and powerful. They link the aware mind, seeming to speak directly to it from our unconscious, reecting our joys, anxieties and hopes. Many people believe that the dream worldthrough an understanding of its special languagecan help us enrich our waking lives and lead to greater self-knowledge. Dream interpretation has been practiced throughout time by all civilizations. People have claimed that dreams are of the utmost importance, and they have tried to understand or analyze them in the light of their own beliefs and customs. This chapter describes some of the ways in which dreams have been interpreted in several ancient and modern cultures.

BELIEFS IN ANCIENT CULTURES The Babylonians

In Mesopotamia, the Babylonians divided ordinary dreams into good ones sent by the gods, and

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bad ones sent by demons. Their goddess of dreams, Mamu, was served by priests who tried to prevent bad dreams from coming true.

The Assyrians
Later, their conquerors, the Assyrians, believed in dreams as omens. One dream, written on a clay tablet found at Nineveh and dating from the reign of King Ashurbanipal (669626 BC), for example, states that if a man ies repeatedly in his dreams, all that he owns will be lost. They also thought that bad dreams demanded action and that if the demon could be exorcised, or the dreamer understood advice given in a dream, the problem would go away.
DEPICTING DREAMS

This ancient cylinder seal depicts the Babylonian-Assyrian hero Gilgamesh, whose exploits are described in an epic poem, composed 4000 years ago, and containing the earliest known account of a series of dreams.

Beliefs in Ancient Cultures

The Egyptians
The ancient Egyptians believed that the gods showed themselves in dreams. They also practiced dream interpretation. But they thought dreams were based on real things that could not be seen or heard when the conscious mind was in control. As far back as 2000 BC, the Egyptians wrote down their dreams on papyrus. A collection of records in the British Museum, written around 1350 BC, distinguishes between good and bad dreams and also includes incantations for warding off the effects of unpleasant or threatening dreams.
EGYPTIAN DREAM INTERPRETATIONS

Among the worlds oldest written records of dreams and their meanings is an Egyptian papyrus dating from around 1250 BC. In it, some 200 dreams are described and interpreted by the priests of Horus, the Egyptian god of light.

Types of dreams. The records list three main types of dreams: those in which the gods would demand some pious act, those that contained warnings (perhaps about illness) or revelations, and those that came about through ritual. Incubating dreams. Like other Near Eastern people, the Egyptians believed that dreams could serve as oracles, bringing messages from the gods.

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The best way to get the desired answer, especially in sickness, was to induce or incubate dreams. (Incubate comes from the Latin incubare, meaning to lie down upon.) To incubate dreams, Egyptians would travel to a sanctuary or shrine, such as the famous temple at Memphis. There, they slept overnight on a special dream bed in the hope of receiving divine advice, comfort or healing from their dreams. Sick travelers even took potions or fasted to induce dreams.

The Greeks
The distinction between good and bad dreams passed on to the Greeks, as did the idea of incubating dreams. Votive inscriptions, testifying that help had been given in improving health, for example, can still be found at the Shrine of Apollo at Delphi and at the Temple of Epidaurus, which was dedicated to the cult of Aesculapius, a revered healer. (In the Sacred Orations of about AD 150, the writer Aristides claims that in dreams he was given several strange orders, such as to go barefoot in winter, to use emetics and even to sacrice one of his ngers.) Pre-sleep rituals. Before incubation, the Greeks would carry out specic rituals by which they puried and dedicated themselves. For two days before entering the shrine, they had to abstain from sex, avoid eating meat, sh or fowl and drink only water. They also had to make a sacricial offering of animals to the god whom they wished to invoke through a dream. Some subjects were taken to a statue of the god so they could be imbued with feel-

Beliefs in Ancient Cultures

ings of awe before sleep. The subject then lay down to sleep on the skin of a sacriced animal, sometimes beside the statue of the deity. Healing dreams. During the night, it is thought that priests returned to the bedside of a sick dreamer, dressed as gods, to give the patient medical treatment. In the morning, the priest interpreted the subjects dreams and told him how to care for his health.
INTERPRETING DREAMS IN ANCIENT GREECE

At the Greek sacred site of Delphi, a temple to the god Apollo housed the oracle, a priestess who, in a trance, uttered sounds that were interpreted as answers from Apollo to the questions of worshippers.

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Dream couriers. According to Greek legend, the god Hypnos brought sleep to mortals by touching them with his magic wand or by fanning them with his wings.
GUARDIANS OF DREAMS AND DEATH

Ancient Greeks believed that sleep was governed by Hypnos, the god of sleep, who was the brother of Thanatos, god of death, and the father of Morpheus, god of dreams. Hypnos brings sleep with the touch of his wand or the beat of his wings.

Hypnoss son and the god of dreams, Morpheus aided by the messenger Hermesthen sent his dreams to the sleepers below. (Morpheus derives from the Greek morphe, meaning shape, because

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the god supposedly gave form to the insubstantial phantasms that are dreams.) He also sent warnings and prophecies to those who slept at shrines and temples. Dream people. The early Greeks thought that the people who inhabited their dreams lived near the Underworld. Homer, author of The Iliad and The Odyssey, said that these phantoms entered the dream world by two gates: those entering true dreams (ones that come to pass) enter by the Gate of Horn, and those entering false dreams (which delude) come through the Gate of Ivory. This explanation played on two puns: the Greek for horn is keras, and the verb karanoo means to accomplish; ivory in Greek is elephas, and the word elephairo means to cheat with empty hopes. Prophetic dreams. Aristotle, the ancient Greek thinker, had a rather different approach to dreams, however. He thought premonitory dreams of sickness, for instance, could be caused by the dreamers unconscious recognition of the symptoms. He also thought the dreamer might act unconsciously to bring about the dreamed event.

The Romans
They believed strongly that it was necessary to find out the wishes of the gods. The Emperor Augustus, indeed, ruled that anyone who had a dream about the state must proclaim it in the marketplace. Dream interpretation. In the second century A.D., Artemidorus wrote down all he knew of dream interpretation from the records of the Greeks, Assyr-

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ians and Egyptians in a book called Oneirocritica (meaning Interpreter of Dreams), which was used as a source by authors right up to the 18th century.

The Hebrews
Godly dreams. Dreams were part of the religious culture of the ancient Hebrews. Being monotheistic, however, they believed that dreams were the voice of one god alone. For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. In a dream, in a vision of the night when deep sleep falleth upon men slumbering upon their bed, then He openeth their ears and sealeth in their instructions (Job 33:1416). The Hebrews also distinguished between good dreams and bad ones, brought by evil spirits. Incubating dreams. Nevertheless, they, too, incubated dreams in order to receive divine revelation. The Hebrew prophet Samuelwho rallied the Israelites after their defeat by the Philistinesused to lay down and sleep in the temple at Shiloh before the Ark and receive the word of the Lord. King Solomon (c. 970930 BC) too followed custom by going to a high place to offer a sacrice to God. There the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee. Prophetic dreams. In one of the most famous of biblical dreamsthat of Jacobs Ladderthe Hebrew patriarch dreamed of a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. At the top of the ladder stood God, who made a historic promise to Jacob that the land of Israel would belong forever to the Jewish people.

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Another biblical dream needed an interpreter. When the Egyptian pharaoh dreamed of seven fat and seven lean kine (cows), he called for all the magicians of Egypt, but they were unable to guess its meaning. He then sent for Joseph, known for his interpreting skills, whose answer was that seven years of plenty would be followed by seven years of famine. It was Joseph too who read into his own dream of sheaves bowing down to him his future as a great manhe probably recognized his own abilities and ambition.

FORECASTING FUTURE EVENTS

In the biblical Book of Genesis, the pharaohs dream of the seven fat and seven lean cows foretold the future destiny of Egypt. The dream was commonly depicted in the Middle Ages; this version is from a 13th-century Book of Psalms.

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READING DREAMS IN ANCIENT CULTURES

P OT TREE

Egyptian Filling a pot was a bad omen, denoting pain. Beer poured from a pot augured a robbery. Assyrian The gift of an empty pot augured poverty, while a full goblet denoted children and fame. Greek Wine poured from pots indicated serenity. Drinking a cup dry was lucky. Hebrew Cooking pots denoted peace and domestic calm.

Sitting in a tree was a sign that troubles could be overcome.

Cutting down date palm trees denoted a solution to the dreamers problems.

Trees for making ships were an unlucky sign, except for carpenters and seamen. Palm trees were a sign that the dreamer would incur punishment for past sins.

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SNAKE

BIRD

Snakes were a good omen, indicating that the dreamer would soon settle some dispute.

Catching birds augured the loss of something precious.

Seizing a snake was a sign that the dreamer would receive protection from angels.

Meeting a bird signied the return of lost property.

Snakes were ill omens, harbingers of illness and enemies. A powerful snake made things worse. Snakes promised a secure livelihood; a snake bite meant a doubled income.

Different birds symbolized kinds of people: eagles were rulers; wild pigeons were immoral women. Birds were good omens, except owls, which brought bad luck.

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BELIEFS IN NON-WESTERN CULTURES The Hindus

Prophetic dreams. Interpreting dreams was valued in ancient India. The Artharva-Veda, dating from c. 1000 BC, includes dream interpretation as well as reference to premonitory dreams. It observes that the time when a prophetic dream occurs may indicate when the event will take place. If a dream occurs near dawn, the event will happen sooner than one foretold in an early night dream.
DREAM OF THE BIRTH OF THE BUDDHA

This relief from the 2nd century BC illustrates the legend that the Buddha appeared before birth in a dream to his mother in the form of an elephant.

The Japanese
Shrines for incubating dreams also existed (and still do) in the Far East. Japanese emperors, search-

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ing for solutions to political problems, incubated their dreams at a Shinto temple at Usa on the southern island of Kyushu. The emperors palace also contained a dream-hall, with an incubation bed made of polished stone.

The Muslims
In Mohammeds sacred book, a distinction is made between true dreams, coming from God, and false ones. Certain rituals are advised to create good dreams and defend against the effects of bad ones. Later, Muslim dream interpretation became associated with astrology.

The Australian Aborigines

Some of the most elaborate beliefs relating to dreams are held by the Aborigines. The heart of their mythology about the Creation centers on Dreamtime, an ancient time when spirits sleeping underground arose and wandered across the earth singing the names of everything they passed, shaping the landscape, making humans and teaching them the art of survival, before subsiding once more into sleep.

The North American Indians

Many Indian tribes believe that dreams reveal the hidden wishes of the soul. It would be the most vivid dreamer who would be chosen as medicine man. The Iroquois would try to make the desires come true by acting them out. The Huron believed that the soul may be satisfied by expressing its desire in a dream.

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The Unconscious Mind

idden beneath the conscious mind of every person lies the unconscious. It is an area of the human psyche that has a profound effect on dreamsand, it is believed, on all human thought and action. In modern times, it has only been through psychoanalysis and the study of dreams that the role of the unconscious has begun to be recognized. An alternative method of investigating dreams is through seeking a physiological reason for the need to dream.
CONSCIOUSNESS AND UNCONSCIOUSNESS
No one knows precisely what consciousness is or which part of the brain it is located in. Many theories have been formulated over hundreds of years. Modern thinking suggests that it resides in a group of cells in the brainstem, which connects the spinal cord with the brain. This group of cells has been compared to the power supply to a computer: without it the equipment is useless. Consciousness is not a simple state, but has many

The Anatomy of Consciousness layers. Even when wide awake, we are not equally aware of everything around us or of our own actions. An experienced driver, for example, need not concentrate in order to change gear. Similarly, unconsciousness does not imply complete inactivity. During sleep our brains are very active. Material from the unconscious can surface in sleep in the form of dreams and in waking life as sudden inspirations or accidental slips of the tongue.

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THE ANATOMY OF CONSCIOUSNESS The Sources of Dreams

Medieval investigations into human anatomy led to enquiries about where consciousness resides and which part of the brain produces dreams. The French philosopher Ren Descartes proposed that the body is little more than a machine and that conTHE SOURCES OF SLEEP AND DREAMS

This diagram originates from the 16th century and shows contemporary ideas about which parts of the brain cause sleep and dreaming.

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sciousness (the soul) dwells in the pineal gland. Although eventually proved wrong, his theory spurred much important research.

What is sleep?
Sleep is an active process in which the body repairs itself, and the brain processes the days events and helps sort them. Every night, we experience four or five sleep cycles, which are made up of various stages or kinds of sleep. Each has its own unique characteristics, and is designed to maintain health and prepare us for a new day.
THE SEAT OF DREAMS
1 2 3

Early this century neurologists believed that dreams originate in the cerebrum (1). Later this view was revised; dreams were then thought to reside in the limbic system (2). Today scientists believe that the reticular formation (3), a group of cells in the brainstem, is where dreams originate.

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LEVELS OF CONSCIOUSNESS

Excited

Relaxed 2

Drowsy 3 Asleep 4 Deep sleep 5 Coma

The size of the pupils is an indication of different levels of consciousness. (1) shows the pupil in normal consciousness. In (2) there is some dilation, indicating mild anesthesia. The remainder (3-5) show deepening anesthesia. Electroencephalographs are used to record electrical activity in the brain and to produce tracings of this activity, as shown above.

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SLEEP AND CONSCIOUSNESS How much sleep?

The amount of sleep needed to maintain health varies from individual to individual. Some newborn babies spend 80% of their time asleep; others are awake for much longer. On average it is about half and half. By the age of three to ve months, babies need less sleep, and the requirement continues to decrease throughout life. Someone needing eight hours in middle age is likely to need only seven when they reach old age. At the same time, the amount of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, during which dreaming occurs, also decreases. In infants REM sleep makes up more than half of all sleep although evidence suggests that infants do not necessarily dream during REM sleep. In an adult, REM sleep makes up only around one-third of all sleep. The lowest proportion of REM to non-REM sleep is among 1418 year-olds.

Duration of sleep
The duration of sleep also changes as people grow older. Newborn infants alternate hour-long periods of sleep and wakefulness. At one year old, sleeping times become fewer and longer. Instead of a 60-minute cycle, the pattern is of 90 minutes of sleep followed by 90 minutes of wakefulness. Gradually the waking periods in this 90-minute cycle are replaced with light sleep, so that the child sleeps throughout the night and has fewer daytime naps. By the age of 10, most people need between nine and 12 hours sleep per night. The average for most adults is between seven and eight and a half hours.

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DURATION OF SLEEP

6 pm Newborn

12 am

6 am

12 pm

1 year

4 years

10 years

Adult

Old age

The duration and frequency of sleep periods are shown in the shaded areas above for various ages.

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Some adults need as little as six hours, while others require as much as nine. In general, a pattern of decreasing sleep needs continues until old age when a more interrupted, infant-like pattern may re-emerge.

The need for sleep

The average person in the course of a lifetime will spend around 20 years asleep and experience at least 300,000 dreams. Sleeping and dreaming are active functions of the nervous system. Yet scientists are still uncertain about just why we need to sleep at all. Theories have ranged from the pressure of blood on the brain to the need of brain cells to restore themselves.

Lack of sleep
People die more quickly from lack of sleep than they do from lack of food. A person kept awake for long periods becomes increasingly disoriented, starts hallucinating and after about 10 days of total sleep deprivation usually dies. Many people, however, have survived years with little sleep. It has been demonstrated that both dreaming sleep and non-dreaming sleep are necessary to maintain health and vitality. Experimental subjects who were woken repeatedly at the onset of REM sleep rapidly deteriorated and showed signs of becoming ill.

Physiological changes
It is not known what triggers off sleep. Different theories suggest that it is prompted by less oxygen reaching the brain; a reduction in the number of

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impulses reaching the conscious centers; a chemical process in the brain, probably involving serotonin, a sleep-related hormone that affects the part of the brain responsible for consciousness; or the repeated promptings of a conditioned response. During the rst two to three hours of sleep, the electrical waves given off by the brain are at their largest and slowest. Sleepers woken up during this stage of sleep report that they can recall what they were thinking in their sleep, although these memories are often fragmented and confused.

SLEEP PATTERNS AND DREAMS

In 1953, sleep researchers at the Department of Physiology at the University of Chicago made two historic discoveries. One showed the cyclical sleep pattern in which the sleeper passes through several stages of sleepfrom light to deep, and back again, several times. Every person has a natural rhythm of sleeping and waking based on an individual daily, or circadian, rhythm throughout 24 hours. Biological variationsin body temperature, heart rate and blood pressurealso affect the body. The sleeper is still aware of aspects of the surroundings, however, such as noises and changes in temperature, and some parts of the brain and body are less affected than others. In the early stages of sleep, known as the hypnogogic state, the conscious mind slips in and out of sleep. Often, at this time, the sleeper jerks awake on seeming to have suddenly fallen. This is a common illusion, and has nothing to do with dreaming.

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Stages of sleep
Sleep involves four distinct stages that combine to form the sleep cycle. During the rst stage the individual relaxes and drifts between sleeping and waking. In the second stage the person can be woken by even slight disturbances. The eyes roll from side to side. During stage three the body is greatly relaxed and only a loud disturbance could wake the person up. These three stages together take about 20 minutes. In stage four the bodys tissues are repaired with the aid of growth hormone. After stage four the cycle goes into reverse but instead of waking up after stage one the person enters REM sleep (see below) and begins to dream. The cycle from stage one to four and back takes between 90 and 100 minutes. In the course of a nights sleep this cycle repeats itself between four and ve times.

REMrapid eye movements

The Chicago researchers also noticed that periods of light sleep were accompanied by rapid eye movements, or REMs, behind closed lids. Electrodes placed around the eyes detected electrical activity when the eyes moved. By waking sleepers exhibiting REM, it was found that most dreams took place during this state. Other research has shown that during REM sleep, the major muscles of the body are effectively paralyzed. This prevents the body from moving while dreaming. This is probably a natural mechanism to prevent the body injuring itself by making sudden, violent or uncontrolled movements while dreaming.

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SLEEP LABORATORIES

4
Brain waves can be recorded through electrodes placed on the head, the waves are registered as tracings by an electroencephalograph (EEG) machine. Four types of brain wave are shown here. 1) Delta, associated with sleep and infancy. 2) Theta, associated with mental illness. 3) Alpha, common when the mind is at rest. 4) Beta, found in adults and associated with perception and movement.

Laboratory dreaming
In sleep laboratories, volunteers are woken in the middle of their dream states in order to describe the dreams they have just been experiencing. REM and non-REM sleep. About 90 minutes into sleep, the first period of REM sleep occurs.

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Dream periods normally last 5 or 10 minutes (the old myth that dreams are over in a ash is not correct). If sleeping periods are reduced over a period the sleeper will adjust, first by increasing the amount of deep sleep and reducing the amount of REM sleep. Later the body returns to normal periods of both types of sleep. If REM sleep is cut short, for example, by excessive amounts of alcohol or other drugs, the body compensates by increasing the ratio of REM sleep to deep sleep. If a sleeper is deliberately denied REM sleep, he or she will attempt continually to increase the amount of time in REM sleep. The sleep cycles of a baby last about 60 minutes, and of an adult 90 minutes. Those of the elderly return to the same kind of pattern as the infants. Physiological activity during REMs. Changes occur in levels of hormones and chemicals, and the body displays irregular pulse and breathing rates. Men have erections throughout the REM stage, suggesting there may be a link between sexuality and dreams. Quality of dreaming. Not all dreaming takes place during REM sleep. About half the volunteers woken during non-REM sleep report having dreams, but these are usually quite different from REM dreams. Where REM dreams are full of action and very vivid, most non-REM dreams seem to be shorter, less dramatic, more blurred and shadowy, but often more convincing. More and longer dreams occur towards the normal end of sleep.

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DREAMING POSITIONS

Laboratory cameras record the various postures adopted during an ordinary nights sleep.

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WHEN WE DREAM
Here are shown the stages of sleep during which most dreams occur.

Hours

Alert

REM 1 2 2 2 3

REM 1

3 3 3

4 4

Sleep Patterns and Dreams The average duration of sleep is shown in hours, from left to right. The stages of sleep are numbered vertically, from 1 to 4.

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REM 1

REM 1

REM

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REALITY DISTORTION IN DREAMS

The world of our dreams is not bound by the rules governing the physical world. Things that are impossible in everyday life occur in dreams and do not strike the dreamer as odd in any way. Normal sense impressions can be distorted and juxtaposed in startling ways. Time. In dreams, time is of no account. Events separated by decades can be brought together into the same moment, gures from history may mingle with members of ones family, or the dreamer may be transported into a future or past time. Space. As with time, so with spacethe dream world is uid, and obeys no laws except its own. Known places, such as the office or home, can appear in far away locations, or be distorted. Your home might, for instance, acquire extra rooms, or be much larger or smaller than in real life. Puns. A woman dreaming about being a bride might be dressed in a superb white dress with a train. The sudden appearance of an electric train in the aisle of the church would seem to be very confusing, yet the link is there. Another example could be to change an isle (island) into the aisle of a church. The dream would be using two meanings of train and isle/aisle. Some of these puns can be private within the family, perhaps based upon familiar family names or words. Emotion. Very many dreams are accompanied by strong feelings. They are dramatic and the events and emotions tend to be exaggerated. In some strange way they appear to lack any sense of right or wrong. Some of the horric scenes experienced

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in dreams seem not to be judged in the same way as if they took place in reality. Content. Familiar scenes, objects and people are often the symbols through which the unconscious communicates with the waking mind. When dreams seem to replay the past, the events or perhaps the mood are never exactly the same as in the original happening.
IMAGE DISTORTION

Dreams are not constrained by the bounds of the physical world. A teapot, for example, can become a scorpion by metamorphosis.

THE PSYCHE AND DREAMS

We need to dream and we all dream, but we dont all remember our dreamsno one knows why we

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forget them so easily. Throughout the ages, the questions of why we need to dream at all, and what dreams signify, have raised endless debate. A neurophysiological explanationwhich suggests that sensory signals to the brain during REM sleep trick the sleeper into believing he or she is having real experiencesdoes not tell us why dreams happen. Nor does it explain why dreams are so creative and richly narrative. It has been suggested, however, that dreams are somehow connected with learning and remembering and with the integration of new experiences into the memory bank. This explains why so many dreams relate to recent events and preoccupations. They may also stand in for experiences and allow us to learn from events without having to live through them.

Psychological theories about dreams

Sigmund Freud (18561939). Although the idea of the unconscious has been known in Europe since the late 18th centurymainly through the writings of German philosophersit was the Viennese psychiatrist Freud who rst developed a theory about the role of the unconscious in the life of the individual. According to Freud, the dream works on two levels. A straightforward level shows surface or manifest events as remembered. In the hidden or latent level, objects and actions in the dream symbolize sexual and aggressive feelings and ideas, an individuals wishes that are normally repressed. Dreams protect the sleeper from the disturbing

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effects of a direct realization of these wishes. The ego is driven by reality, and morality is developed in the superego to suppress the id, the childish part of the self that seeks pleasure. The dream taps into this desire for wish-fulllment when the controlling ego is relaxed during sleep. As Freud wrote: All dreams are in a sense dreams of convenience: they help to prolong sleep instead of waking up. Dreams are the guardians of sleep and not its disturbers. Alfred Adler (18701937). Another Austrian, and originally a disciple of Freud, Adler urged that the desire for power (he called it individual psychology) is what drives each person. Children start with a feeling of inferiority. Adults attempt to move towards goals of success and superiority, and dreams reect these ambitions. C.G. Jung (18751961). Carl Jung agreed with Freud that a dreams content uses symbolic language, but he also believed it expresses so-called collective (or archetypal) racial unconscious memories and instincts shared by all peoples, regardless of culture. These are basic ideas that are themselves symbols. They include the hero, the monster, the mother, the mandala (representing the dreamers search for completeness and self-unity), the sacrice and the mask. In one reference, Jung wrote: It is true that there are dreams which embody suppressed wishes and fears, but what is there which the dream cannot on occasion embody? Dreams may give expression to ineluctable [inescapable] truths, to philosophical pronouncements, illusions, wild fantasies, . . . antic-

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ipations, irrational experiences, even telepathic visions, and heaven knows what besides. They also indicate the way towards self-actualization. Jungian therapy deals extensively with dreams and fantasies. Fritz Perls (18931970). The dream theory of another influential psychologist is equally fascinating. Perls, the founder of Gestalt therapy (a method of bringing alienated parts of the personality into harmony with each other), believed that the characters and objects in our dreams are projections of ourselvesparts of our personality that we do not accept or acknowledgeand of our views of others. Since we are the creators of our dreams, everything in them must be aspects of our inner selves, personal creations rather than a universal symbolic language.
PSYCHOLOGICAL THEORIES ABOUT DREAMS

Freud believed that dreams use symbols that do not disturbthey allow unconscious feeling to surface in disguise. Adler believed dreams reect the individuals will for power. Jung believed that dreams come from the personal and also the collective unconscious. Perls believed that everything in our dreams is a projection of ourselves.

DREAM TOPICS
Dreams are very individual, yet they contain every conceivable thing. They rarely deal with sig-

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nicant national or international events or other happenings outside the immediate concerns of the dreamer. And they often seem to contain trivial objects and experiences. Among the most usual themes are: journeys, houses, water, nudity, falling, losing, nding, ying, chases, loose teeth, snakes, royalty and death. Dreams of misfortune are also universal, as are dreams of sex and aggression, of food and eating, of family and friends (present or past) and of animals.

Out-of-this-world sources
If, as some people believe, we have lived previous lives, this might explain some of the more obscure elements in our dreams. Or perhaps we dream other peoples dreams for them. This might account for some nightmares that are especially difcult to interpret. It has been suggested the presence of other alien features in dreams may be the result of forces outside our time and our planet.

Universal, timeless nature of dreams

Work done by the American experimental dream researcher Calvin Hall in the 1950s and 1960s has shown that the same themes tend to occur in some peoples dreams throughout their lives, despite outward changes in fortune. Dreams thus appear to have a timeless quality.

Aggression
Hall also found that dreams of aggression are common to a number of diverse cultures, including the Zulus of southeast Africa, northern Europeans,

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and Australian Aborigines. According to Hall, 50% of dreams contain at least one act of aggression, ranging from conciously unexpressed feelings of hostility and threats to ghts and murder.

Childrens dreams
Hall found that the dreams of children contain twice as much aggression as those of adults. Children also frequently dream of being attacked or chased by animals, wild or domesticated. These include dogs, cats, alligators, gorillas, snakes and spiders. Perhaps in dreams, animals dramatize a childs own wishes and fears.

Nightmares
Research has shown that terrifying dreams tend to occur in the second half of the night, during REM sleep. They strike sleepers at any age, from two years old onwards, and seem to trouble women more than men. Probably they represent a problem that is not being confronted in the sleepers waking life. According to psychiatrist Ernest Hartmann of Boston, those who suffer from nightmares tend to be open personalitiesnot only open to other people, but to their own wishes and fears. They have, he says, thin boundaries in which their normal, hostile impulses are able to bypass psychological defenses and invade their dreams.

Sexual dreams
These often express suppressed sexuality in an explicit way. During wet dreams, often experi-

Dream Topics

37

Books and pamphlets offering interpretations of dreams were popular in the 18th and 19th centuries. However, the interpretations they offered usually dated back to Artemidorus some 800 years ago. This example dates from the late 19th century.

enced by adolescent males, there is involuntary emission of semen. Incubus and succubus. An incubus is a male demon who comes to sleeping women and attempts to have sexual intercourse with them. The female equivalent is a succubus. These demons were used to account for the fact that people had improper

38

THE UNCONSCIOUS MIND

dreams of which they might feel ashamed. In the 19th century, representations of this type of dream were circulated widely by pornographers hoping to take advantage of the prevailing attitude of sexual repression and prudishness.
COMMON DREAMS

Dreams contain universal themes, from falling to animals. Aggression is common to all cultures and among children. Some people experience the same dream themes repeatedly throughout their lives. Nightmares may symbolize unresolved problems. Sexual dreams are often explicit.

A Head

39

T ypes of Dreams

he subjects, themes, events and objects that appear in dreams, as well as the timing and connections, are infinitely varied and frequently strange. It is accepted that dreams often serve a variety of purposes in our lives. They can alert us to problems and even sometimes provide solutions. They release inner tensions, give glimpses into the future and inspire the artist. They range from residual dreams relating to daily events, healing and safety-valve dreams to repetitive, creative and clairvoyant dreams. Some dreams can combine several types. Each one is unique, but they sometimes share certain underlying features.

SAFETY-VALVE DREAMS Freuds theory

The Austrian founder of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud, whose book The Interpretation of Dreams (1900) probed deep into the mysterious cosmos of dreams, believed that dreams can reect psychological conict. These are known as safety-valve

40

TYPES OF DREAMS

DREAM TYPES
Safety-valve These express deep inner conicts that are repressed at conscious level. Clairvoyant These warn the dreamer, or reveal anxiety concerning future events, health, or other dangers. Creative Subjects and themes encountered in dreams can be applied to the development of artistic activity. Problem-solving Solutions to problems and obstacles in daily life are often revealed in dreams. Repetitive and sequential Recurring dreams or repetition of themes within dreams can act as a reminder of circumstances that the dreamer has repressed in waking life. Factual Dreams that focus on events and circumstances from the dreamers daily life can be inuenced by sounds and other disturbances. Compensatory These offer satisfactions not available to the dreamer in real life. A shy individual, for example, may dream of great social success. Physiological Dreams may be inuenced by physical discomfort or need, or sexual stirrings.

Safety-Valve Dreams

41

dreams. They are a means of wish-fulllment, and they express desires (often in a heavily disguised manner) that we are unwilling to admit freely in waking life. These dreams are usually brief and are the most difcult to recognize, since we prefer not to admit hidden distress to our conscious minds.

A SAFETY-VALVE DREAM
A patient dreamed that she was strangling a little white dog. The patient had told her analyst that she enjoyed cooking and often had to wring the necks of pigeons or chickens. She also remarked that this was the manner in which she had strangled the little dog in her dream.

THE DREAM ANALYZED

Ferenczi asked if she had a grudge against anyone in particular. She said she disliked her sister-in-law, whom she believed was trying to come between my husband and myself, like a tame dove. Then she remembered a recent argument with her sister-in-law in which she had told her: Get out, I dont want a dog that bites in my house! The womans real desire to strangle her sister-inlawobviously impossible for her to do in her waking lifewas accomplished harmlessly in this safety-valve dream through the use of a stand-in, the dog, according to Freudian interpretation.

42

TYPES OF DREAMS

Freud believed that unconsciously all dreams are sexual or aggressive, even if not appparently so. He listed objects that symbolize sex: All elongated objects, such as sticks, tree trunks and umbrellas, may stand for the male organ, as well as long sharp weapons, such as knives, daggers and pikes. . . . Rooms in dreams are usually women. The phenomenon of dreams as safety-valves is illustrated in the example given below by one of Freuds most brilliant pupils, Sandor Ferenczi. Freuds concept of dreams as a safety-valve for repressed wishes is not universally accepted. Indeed, a few critics do not nd any evidence that sexual and aggressive drives find release in dreams or that every dream has its source in wish-fulllment.
SAFETY-VALVE DREAMS

according to Freud, allow us to behave in a way not acceptable in waking life symbolize wish-fulllment and urgent desires may help to resolve deep, inner conict may be hard to interpret because they are presented in symbols (see chapter 6)

CLAIRVOYANT DREAMS
When we dream of events or situations in the future, very often of a worrying nature, they can be ascribed to ESP, or paranormal abilities. But they could perhaps be caused by unconscious absorption of clues and repressed anxieties. Clairvoyant dreams are of two kinds: warning dreams and anxiety dreams.

Clairvoyant Dreams

43

CLAIRVOYANT DREAMS

show knowledge the dreamer could not have acquired through normal means may reect deep fears could be the result of clues picked up during waking seem to suggest knowledge of the future frequently foretell disaster

Warning dreams
One type of prophetic, or precognitive, dream seems to act as a look into the future and, often, a warning of danger. Only sometimes is the dreamer included in the events. Foretelling his own death, Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States, was a spectator in a dream he had about the death of the president a few days before his assassination in 1865. But dreams of death do not always mean actual, physical death. They can mean the end of one cycle of life and the beginning of another or that the dreamers feelings about someone have diedor that their warm feelings about the dreamer have changed.

Anxiety dreams
The mind unconsciously absorbs information that can be released in dreams. Their interpretation seems to indicate some kind of prior knowledge. In his Book of Dreams and Ghosts (1897) Andrew Lang describes the case of an attorney who went out at night to mail some letters. Later, despite searching anxiously, he was unable to nd a check

44

TYPES OF DREAMS

he had received that day. He dreamed he saw the check curled around a railing near his front door. When he awoke he found the check exactly where his dream had located it. Most probably he had subconsciously noted its fall when he went out to the mailbox. A somber mood and the frightening content of some dreams can indicate health problemsperhaps the body is trying to provoke some action for treatment. One woman, for instance, dreamed that she saw the roof of her house pierced by the branches of a tree torn loose in a hurricane: the next day she suffered a stroke. In the famous dream of Calpurnia, wife of the Roman emperor Julius Caesar, she dreamed that her husband was killed in the Senate. He ignored her warning and was stabbed to death the next day. A remarkable example concerns a Norwegian fisherman named Johnson, who, just two days before the Titanic sank in November 1907, dreamed that a voice told him a great liner called the Titanic would sink after colliding with an iceberg. Johnson awoke in a sweat, then fell asleep again and returned to his dream, in which he became uneasy and felt icy waves crashing around his body.
AN ANXIETY DREAM
A woman who had recently felt a lump in her breast dreamed that her husband told her that everything would be all right. In her dream, she then suddenly found herself at the seashore alone, as it got dark. The shore was empty, except for some barges.

Creative Dreams

45

THE DREAM ANALYZED

Analysis showed she had little respect for her husbands opinion. The barges reminded her of Egyptian death barges she had seen in a museum. The whole scene was deeply gloomy and the atmosphere of death was very strong. The lump in her breast was cancerous, and it was too late to stop it spreading.

CREATIVE DREAMS
Artists, writers, musicians, scientists and inventors have acknowledged dreams as a source of original ideas and inspiration. Remembered glimpses of a dream, its fantasy, exaggeration, drama and emotion, have released in them a ood of creative energy.

Music from dreams

The 18th-century Italian composer Giuseppe Tartini called one of his pieces The Devils Sonata because he was able to complete it only after remembering just one trill from a dreamin which the devil had played the violin for him.

Poetry from dreams

The poem Kubla Khan was conceived by the l8th-century English poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge while in an opium-induced sleep. On waking, he immediately started writing, but was called away from his desk for an hour. When he returned, all that remained of his vision was a tantalizing fragment and a dim recollection of the whole poem, . . . all the rest had passed away like the images on the surface of a stream.

46

TYPES OF DREAMS

Dreams as inspiration
Charles Dickens (18121870) derived the inspiration for many of his characters, as well as some of his famously intricate plots, from dream material. The Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson also had a singularly creative dream: he dreamed that his ctional character, Hyde, changed personality by taking a special powder, and it was this dreamscene that formed the basis for Stevensons great novel The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1886).

Paintings from dreams

In dreams, artists have overcome blocks or problems in their work. It was in a dream that the French artist Paul Gauguin (18481903) saw the vision that became his recumbent Tahitian girl in The Spirit Watches (1899). More deliberately, the Surrealists, as proclaimed in their manifesto (1924), aimed to reconcile the contradiction which has hitherto existed between dream and reality in their work. In particular, Salvador Dalis strange mix of ingredients captures in paint some of the fantasy of the dream world.
CREATIVE DREAMS

have inspired poetry, stories, music, painting and inventions are often produced by a mind relaxed after working can be stimulated deliberately in lucid dreaming

Problem-Solving Dreams

47

PROBLEM-SOLVING DREAMS
Dreams are often thought to contain the answers to problems faced in our waking lives. Many people deliberately leave decision-making to the next morning, after theyve had a chance to dream it over. Some scientists and mathematicians have used dreams to help solve problems. Thomas Edison (18481931), took catnaps while working and was convinced some of his best inventions came to him while dozing. The celebrated 19th-century German chemist Friedrich August Kekule von Stradovitz, for instance, dozing in front of the re, dreamed of a snake-like arrangement of atoms. It was chasing and eating its own tail, and forming a closed chain. Kekules dream led him to discover that the atoms of the benzene molecule are arranged in a circle, and not in a straight line, as had been thought.
H C H-C H-C C H C-H C-H

PROBLEM-SOLVING DREAMS

can offer solutions to seemingly insoluble puzzles may provide guidance in decision-making

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TYPES OF DREAMS

REPETITIVE AND SEQUENTIAL DREAMS

Although no two dreams are identical, some, recurring over months or even years, repeat the same content or important elements. The theme may be anxiety, ight from persecutors or it may involve a task that can never be properly nished; if accurately interpreted, the recurring dream may reveal the dreamers nature. The type of dream is an attempt to recognize hidden problems, and it may hint at a solution.

A REPETITIVE DREAM
A man repeatedly dreamed that the elevators in the 15story office building where he worked were out of order, so that he had to walk down 14 ights of steep, open stairs. Terried of falling, he would cling to the rails and somehow never reached the bottom, always waking in a sweat beforehand.

THE DREAM ANALYZED

Analysis revealed, eventually, a deeply rooted fear that he was not performing successfully at work and would never achieve promotion.

SEQUENTIAL DREAMS
In the rst dream the dreamer saw a man go into a dark, depressing valley, with threatening clouds. In the second dream, he was in an army mess. He wanted a table by himself, but this was refused. In the third dream he fought with and knocked out a friend, whom he thinks is arrogant.

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THE DREAMS ANALYZED

Analysis showed that the rst dream indicated that the dreamer suffered from depression. The second dream indicated the source of the depression: he is selsh, self-willed, anti-social, and unpopular. In the third dream, the friend represents himself. In knocking him out, the dreamer is trying to get rid of his own arrogance and thereby improve his situation.

Often the setting harks back to a frightening incident in childhood. A child criticized by a parent may later dream of being on trial. Rigid toilet training is said by psychoanalysts sometimes to lead to dreams of being unable to complete a particular task. Many people, even in later life, often dream of being back at school. Fear of authority may be the reason, but equally so may be a desire for the happy comradeship of those years.

Underlying causes
In many repetitive dreams, however, the original cause has not been properly dealt with but has been grafted onto another problem. Nerys Dee, in The Dreamers Workbook, tells of a woman who dreamed again and again that she was in a lions den and was about to be attacked by one of the animals. This repetitive dream shows that the dreamer has reached an impasse and cannot nd a way out of a problem.

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TYPES OF DREAMS

REPETITIVE AND SEQUENTIAL DREAMS

may occur on one night, over several nights, or over years if frightening, may be due to anxieties from childhood

FACTUAL DREAMS
As well as being symbolic, dreams can also be factual and logical. These dreams are usually about everyday objects and characters known to the dreamer. Fairly easy to understand, they deal with daily, often trivial experiences. One dream, recounted in Nerys Dees The Dreamers Workbook, was set in a department store. The dreamer stole a lipstick from the cosmetic counter and put it into a large handbag. But before she walked out, a store detective came up and arrested her. After waking, she remembered painfully something that had happened the previous year. This dream was clearly acting as a warning against any further shoplifting by reactivating the bad feelings brought about by the dreamers public arrest. Vigilant dreams are factual dreams that incorporate elements of the surroundings of the sleeper into the dream: a dripping tap, passing trafc, a ticking clock. Dreams can also serve as reminders of things we need to do. Usually simple and practical, these dreams are often quite explicit, rather than symbolic, and serve to jog the memory.

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FACTUAL DREAMS

may be the means by which we absorb daily happenings can nish off the days affairs may help us to resolve past difcult experiences sometimes include environmental noise do not usually have much symbolic signicance

EXAMPLES OF FACTUAL DREAMS

In one factual dream, a young man saw himself in his blue car, driving along a highway. When he turned off onto a side road, he encountered a sudden, sharp bend and applied his brakes. These failed to work and the car hit a wall. For the dreamer, this was a factual warning dream, provoking him into taking appropriate action, i.e., checking his brakes. In Dream Power, psychologist Ann Faraday relates how she dreamed that the door to the garden was open and banging in the wind. When she awoke, she actually heard banging, though when she went downstairs to check the door, she found it was securely xed open. She believed that her mind had created the noise of the swinging door in order to wake her up and get her to check that the door had been properly locked.

COMPENSATORY DREAMS
The great Swiss psychoanalyst Carl Jung believed that dreams had a compensating function providing a psychic balance for the personality. A timid man, unable to make advances to women,

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TYPES OF DREAMS

may, for example, dream of having a harem. And kind individuals may dream of perpetrating great violence. One type of compensatory dream, called a contrary dream, are temporary and give balance to a personality overwhelmed by, say, sadness, happiness or excitement. For example, during a period of grief dreams may be almost comic. At a time of personal triumph, dreams of uncontrollable grief may occur.
A COMPENSATORY DREAM
Jung once described a compensatory dream he himself had, at the time when he was a devoted disciple of Freud. Jung dreamed of Freud as a pevish ofcial of the Imperial Austrian monarchy, as a defunct and still walking ghost of a customs inspector.

THE DREAM ANALYZED

Jung interpreted his dream as compensation foror an antidote tohis high admiration for Freud, knowing that he should be more critical and cautious of his mentors views.

COMPENSATORY DREAMS

often have content that is surprising to the dreamer may show the dreamer in a new and strange light help to counterbalance failings and needs can be a temporary reaction to extreme moods

Physiological Dreams

53

PHYSIOLOGICAL DREAMS
The momentary or even longer-term needs and the condition of the sleeping body may slip into dreaming, as in sexual dreams and dreams of feeling cold or thirsty. In one example, a man dreamed that he was being strangled, and awoke to nd he had somehow wound the bedclothes around his neck. Women can become aware in their dreams of being pregnant very early on.
PHYSIOLOGICAL DREAMS

are directly related to the physical needs of the body may wake up the dreamer

A physical sensation, such as falling out of bed, can be incorporated into a dream.

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D R E A M LO R E

Lucid Dreams

ne of the strangestand for many the most exhilaratingtype of dream is the lucid dream. In it, the dreamer becomes fully conscious, while asleep, that he or she is dreaming. No accurate figures exist for the number of people who dream lucidly. It is generally believed that lucid dreaming is rare, but with perseverance it is a skill that can be learned. First-time lucid dreamers often note a pleasurable heightening of the senses, especially vision, and a greater awareness of detail and surroundings; they also note that the mind shows the same consciousness as when awake. When they have learned to control events, they can indulge in wish-fulllment and problem-solving and can learn to cope with anxieties. The sense of satisfaction and achievement remains long after they have woken up.

WHEN LUCID DREAMS OCCUR

Lucid dreams are said to be most frequent in the early morning. People suddenly realize they are

When Lucid Dreams Occur

55

dreaming because of some bizarre occurrence or striking inconsistency in the dream.

Incubating lucid dreams

People can prompt lucid dreaming in themselves. In order to dream lucidly about a particular topic or theme, you have to prepare yourself mentally by learning and practicing dream incubation. This takes time and perseverance. The aim is to take your consciousness with you into the dreamor, at least, to trigger the conscious mind while asleep.
THE PATH TO LUCID DREAMING
1. Create a comfortable sleeping environment. 2. Have pencil and paper ready to record your dream. 3. Decide the theme or subject of your dream. 4. Think about the theme carefully during the day. 5. Describe briey, such as I need to come to terms with my nightmare, I want to go to Paris, I need to decide on . . ., I must discuss my nances with an expert, or I want to y. 6. If you have a problem to solve, write down the facts. 7. Prepare your body for sleep (see pp. 6163). 8. Read through your notes. 9. Go to bed immediately and think about the theme. 10. Do not think about anything else.

Make sure that you are able to remember and write up your nightly dreams. (See also chapter 5, Sweet Dreams.) But dont try to control all your dreams. Give yourself plenty of time for free dreaming, allowing your unconscious to prompt in its own way your rational mind. And it is important

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LU C I D D R E A M S

to try to bring up to your consciousness any inner conicts that are expressed in your dreams. Only if you are prepared to deal with these, will you avoid putting extra stress on yourself.

TYPES OF LUCID DREAMS Experimentation dreams

A Dutch physician, Frederick van Eeden, vividly described the particular avor of one lucid dream in which he dreamed that he stood by a window at a table on which were breakable objects. He knew he was dreaming and decided to try some experiments. He tried to break a glass with a stone, then with his st, while realizing how dangerous this would be in waking life. The glass remained whole. Later in the dream he looked at it again and it was broken almost as if this dream world were a clever fake with just a few small failures. He threw the broken glass out of the window, and it was snatched up by two dogs quite naturally, as if in a comedy. He then sipped some claret from another glass and, although he was dreaming, he noted clearly that it had the taste of wine.

Strange and common place dreams

One woman dreamed her sister was showing her a vase when it fell and smashed into pieces. But almost immediately the vase became whole again. The dreamer realized something was not right, and knew she must be dreaming. Similarly a man dreamed he was out walking his Jack Russell terrier in his neighborhood. As they passed a familiar cafe, the dog startled the man by demanding an

Uses of Lucid Dreams

57

omelette and fries, so making him realize he was dreaming.

USES OF LUCID DREAMS Control of images

The ability to direct your lucid dreaming means that you can command the characters, change the scenery or restructure the plot. You can also choose the subject. It is claimed that through dream direction, and after practice, dreamers can learn to satisfy their unconscious desiressome may date back to childhoodand banish terrors. They can solve problems, travel to exotic places, take part in historical events, meet a hero, or improve their health.

Learning through lucid dreams

Used properly, lucid dreams can reveal inner anxieties and help the emotional balance of the dreamer. Perhaps they can even tap the resources of the unconscious mind, to increase creativity.
LUCID DREAMS

mean the dreamer is aware, because of some strange event, that he or she is dreaming can be directed come with learning enable wish-fulllment, problem-solving and coping with fears

However, the greatest benet from lucid dreams may come from the dreamer being able to take control of his or her reactions to dream situations, usually frightening events. For example, by literally

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LU C I D D R E A M S

looking threatening gures in the eye, the dreamer may be able to deprive them of their ability to terrify.

LUCID NIGHTMARES
Some people become fully lucid in nightmares. This may allow them to work through the experience, but it takes courage. Even though the most terrifying of creatures in a dream are mere phantoms, escape seems the only option. But running away does not resolve the conict that produced the horrors.

Making peace with fear

It is not always possible, however, to make frightening dream images disappear. Hostile gures in our dreams represent sides of our psyche we want to deny. We might therefore harm ourselves by trying to annihilate them. Better to try to integrate them by making peace with them.
LUCID NIGHTMARES

may be horric, but confronting them may resolve the problem can be benecial if peace is made within the dream

OUT-OF-BODY EXPERIENCES
Similar to lucid dreams are out-of-body experiences (OBEs). About 10% of the population report having had an out-of-body experience. OBEs usually last only moments, during which consciousness seems to leave the body and the physical self can be seen from outside. Most commonly OBEs occur

Out of Body Experiences

59

during sleep, unconsciousness or while under anesthesia. One kind of OBE is the near-death experience (NDE), which some patients have during surgery or serious illness. Patients believe they have left the body and entered a more serene state but are then called back to their body because it is not yet time to die. Some people enter the OBE state at will, either by means of meditation or with the aid of otation tanks.

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D R E A M LO R E

Sweet Dreams

n order to dream well, the body and mind need to be properly relaxed. Here we suggest things you should and should not do to encourage a good nights sleep and creative dreaming.

HOW MANY HOURS OF SLEEP ARE NEEDED?

You should work out yourself how long you need to sleep each night and, depending when you have to wake up, at what time it is best to go to bed. The amount of sleep people need varies hugely65% of adults need between 6.5 and 8.5 hours per night. Some can do with 5 hours, but a small minority needs as much as 10 hours each night. It is best to be in bed about half an hour before you actually need to go to sleep.

EFFECTS OF FOOD AND DRUGS Food

What you eat, and when, often affect your pattern of sleeping and dreaming. Nightmares are sometimes blamed on heavy, late-night meals. If

Effects of Food and Drugs

61

your digestion is troubled while you sleep, your dreams will probably reect this problem, giving you strange and alarming visions. Before you go to bed, avoid foods that cause flatulence, such as beans, raw vegetables and peanuts, and other highfat foods, like pastries or potato chips. If you must eat later than two hours before you go to bed, make it something lightlike fruit and a warm, milky drink. Try to eat your main evening meal earlier, so that by the time you go to bed, the digestive process will be well under way.

Drugs
Research has shown that drinks with a high caffeine content (especially coffee but also tea) denitely prolong the time it takes to fall asleep. Some diet pills also contain stimulants, and certain medical drugs, such as tranquilizers, can affect your quality of sleep. Sleeping tablets should not be taken if you want to dream; the sleep they offer tends to be blank and dreamless. Alcohol should also be avoided late at night (and in any great quantity over a long period of time), as well as cigarettes. They suppress both the REM (dreaming) stage sleep and deep sleep, and speed up the uctuations between them. Then, when alcohol wears off, the REM stage intrudes on other stages of your sleep, depriving the body of deep rest.

SETTING THE ENVIRONMENT

Since light is the natural cue for waking, some people can sleep only in total darkness. The bedroom should be well aired and neither too hot nor too cold.

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SWEET DREAMS

Noise
Background noises can be seriously disturbing for sleepers, or those trying to get to sleep. Ear plugs of the wax or sponge varietiescan mufe sounds and at least give some psychological comfort. Or you could try masking the noise with the constant sound of a fan or air conditioner. Some find a recording of surf or a waterfall helpful.

Comfort in bed
Do not forget the condition of the bed. It is crucial that your body should get the best possible support as you sleep. Ideally, your spine should maintain the same contours as when you are standing uprightwith chin, stomach and pelvis tucked in. The mattress should be rm, but not rock hard. Some believe that the position of the bed also has an effect on sleep. Charles Dickens aligned his bed along the north-south axis so that he could benet from the ow of magnetic currents.

Reducing tension
Before going to bed, you might nd it helpful to lessen tension knots with a few exercises, such as stretching your muscles. Take a warm bath, listen to some quiet music or watch a relaxing television show. (Do not watch the TV news programs, with their diet of disasters and sensationalism.)

Reading in bed
To relax and fall asleep quickly, try not to think about the issues of the day. Instead, perhaps read a novel or other book, one that is guaranteed to calm

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63

the mind. Some people fall asleep after reading a single pageperhaps the greatest benet a boring book can bring!

Courting sleep
Finally, once you are in bed, if you cannot sleep, there are a number of other strategies you could try to help you drift off to slumberland. Count backwards from 1000, try to remember a poem you learned at school, or list all the boys and girls names you can think of in alphabetical order. Or, and this is hard, try to empty your mind completely of all thought. A physical exercise might also help. For example, tense the muscles of your toes, hold for several seconds and then relax. Then tense and relax your feet and lower legs, moving gradually up your body to your head. Now work downwards, back to your toes.

INSOMNIA
If you have trouble getting off to sleep, try not to go to bed too early. Experiment with ways to relax perhaps you could do more exercise during the day. Some people need a long time to fall asleep at night, wake up very early or suffer from insomnia because they have rested during the day.

Remedies
The answer is not to take a catnap in the afternoon. Sleeping during the day can seriously interfere with your sleeping pattern. Generally, it is unwise to make a habit of daytime sleeping. If you are an insomniac, it is better to take a few 10-minute

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SWEET DREAMS

breaks for relaxation exercises or meditation during the day.

TO SLEEP WELL AND DREAM CREATIVELY

work out how much sleep you need and stick to it be careful of what you eat and drink late in the day avoid caffeine, nicotine, alcohol and pills before bed ensure your room is dark, quiet, warm but not stuffy check that your bed is as comfortable as it can be exercise lightly to relieve tension and have a bath choose a relaxing book to end the day

TO HELP INSOMNIA
Avoid catnapping during the day, try to do more exercise or practice meditation

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Symbolism

ost of our dreams have a very important symbolic content, for dreams are the way the subconscious speaks to us. It sometimes does so in terms of puns or plays on words. For example, to dream of a mirror may refer to a feeling that things are reversed or not quite right in your life, a fear that you are not presenting your true self to the world, or a realization that at long last you need to face up to things. Likewise, a dream of a game of chess may symbolize a battle or struggle, a desire for intellectual stimulation, or even a suppressed desire for a mate. This chapter is devoted to the language of dreams and the interpretations of dream activities. Consult it whenever you are intrigued by the subject matter of a dream. Remember, however, that dreams are by their nature unique and individual, so that any guide to interpretation can never be definitive. Rather, use it to help you consider more deeply the likely signicance of certain dream elements so that you may draw your own conclusions and thereby gain greater understanding of yourself.

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SYMBOLISM

Classication of content
Meanings have been classied throughout with the aid of symbols, so that you can see at a glance whether a category of dream holds good, bad or mixed news. = good = longing or desire = warning = bad

Abandonment
Being abandonedif by a friend or relative, there will be illness around you. Abandoning bad elementsyou will gain nancially. Abandoning close familya sign of trouble, unless dreamed by a young person about to leave home, when it presages forthcoming independence. Witness to an abandonmentyou will soon receive some important news.

Abattoir/slaughterhouse
This is likely to be a warning of some impending disaster. See also Butcher

Abduction
Abducting someonepower is what you desire. Being abductedyou are fearful of conict at the present time. You probably fear leaving the

AbandonmentAbuse

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family circle, or that you will one day be left alone and have to be entirely self-sufcient. This sort of dream has also been known to occur to a newly engaged woman who has just been introduced to her in-laws and who feels they are somehow trying to inuence her. See also Bandits, Rape

Abnormality
To see objects with strange elements means a good outcome to a worrying situation.

Abortion
Dreamed by a manthe chances are that the dreamer feels guilty about some aspect of life, not necessarily connected with fatherhood. Dreamed by a womana form of warning dream, reects anxiety about an activity that you are about to embark upon. See also Baby

Abroad
You desire to escape your present environment. This may also be predictive of making new friends and changing ones lifestyle. See also Travel

Abuse
Abused by someone elseyou will have an illness. Abusing someone elseyou can probably expect some nancial improvement.

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SYMBOLISM

Abyss
Falling into an abyssa sign of fear of disappointment in life, or that you will fail to face up to a series of problems. Peering into an abyssa sign that you will be able to cope with any burdens that arise. See also Cliff, Falling

Accelerator
Pressing car acceleratorby continuing your efforts you will reach your goal. Being unable to deceleratea warning to stop bad behavior.

Accent
Speaking with a foreign accentindicative of forthcoming travel. Hearing someone else speaking with an accentyou will soon make an important new acquaintance who will play a major role in your life. See also Language, Travel

Accident
At searelates to fears about a possible breakup of a long-standing relationship. Car crashtake special care when driving or even as a pedestrian for the next few days, in case the dream is predictive. In the homereects an anxiety about relationships within the family circle. Plane crashbusiness worries and nancial concerns are indicated. See also Falling

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Accordion
Playing oneindicates a happy and lasting love affair will come your way, though you may experience some sadness in achieving it. Hearing oneindicates that some sadness will enter your life.

Accounts
Argument with your accountant or the tax inspectora self-generated warning to remain in the black and not spend beyond your means. Balancing the bookspredictive of a windfall. See also Money

Accusation
Accused by someone elseyou probably have a guilty secret. Accusing someone elseyou may very soon have to face up to having been taken for a ride by someone unscrupulous. See also Judge

Ace
Of heartsdenotes success in love. Of diamondsmeans nancial good fortune. Of spadespredicts work unrewarded. Of clubsyou may soon suffer disgrace.

Ache
Headacheyou should not tell anyone of your work plans. In the abdomenyou will enjoy good health.

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In the arms or legsyou can expect to be content with life.

Acid
Drinking acidindicates great anxiety concerning your debts. Seeing acidsyou may discover someone scheming against you.

Acorns
Seeing acorns on the groundyou will enjoy good fortune. Picking acorns uppresages a successful outcome to your labors. Picking unripe acorns from a treewarns against too much haste in carrying out your plans.

Acrobatics
Watching an acrobata sign that you are feeling inadequate in daily life. Performing acrobatics yourselfa sign that you will be able to overcome current problems and escape potential danger.

Actor/actress
Poor performanceyou lack the condence to face up to some imminent event. Starring rolepredictive of forthcoming success at work. See also Applause, Theater

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Adam and Eve

Meeting the rst man and womandesire

for universal harmony and peace. Self as Adam or Eveundue concern about an intimate relationship.

Admiration
Being admired by othersindicates selfcondence but may be warning you of forthcoming illness. Admiring othersyou are heading towards prosperity.

Adoption
Adopting a childyou not only long to take on the parental role but need to nd an outlet for all that love and affection you have been storing up. Adopted as a childcould be a sign of instability within the family circle and a desire to nd relations with whom you might be more compatible. See also Child/children, Family, Parents

Adultery
Committed by selfsimple wish-fulllment, or you are harboring guilty feelings. A woman dreaming that she is someones mistress may be suffering anxiety about her nancial security. Committed by spousereects a constant nagging concern over possible indelity. Resisteda sign that you will overcome current difculties in life by sheer resolve. See also Divorce, Indelity, Marriage

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SYMBOLISM

Advancement
Straightforwardly, a sign of improved circumstances.

Adventure
Enjoyable experienceyou can look forward to forthcoming good news. Terrifying experienceyou fear breaking free from a restrictive set routine.

Afiction
Strangely, to dream of physical afiction generally means good health.

Aggression
A womans dream of an aggressive man reects fear of a sexual assault. Aggressive female in man or womans dreamrepresents fear of the mother gure. A mans dream of an aggressive man indicates fear of being beaten in the promotion stakes at work, or even of losing ones job. See also Fight, Quarrel, Rape

Airplane See Accident, Flying, Journeys, Travel Alcohol

Drink in moderationa sign of future success and happiness. Drinking to excessfear of being discovered for what one really is. It can also be a warning from the subconscious about the dangers of excess in other areas of life. See also Drink, Drunkenness, Wine

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Aliens
Extraterrestrials in dreams point to anxiety over personal safetyeither physically or nancially. See also Rocket

Alley
With a dead-endyou are concerned about what seems to be some inescapable situation. With a way-outyou are aware deep down that, with considerable effort, a current problem could soon be put behind you. See also Road

Altar See Church, Sacrice Altitude

If you look down from a great height, this means you may be about to make a great mistake.

Ambulance
Seeing an ambulanceyou may be feeling anxious about behaving indiscreetly. Being carried in oneexpresses a fear that you will experience an emergency. Someone else carried in onean expression of hostility and perhaps wish-fulllment.

Ambush
Being ambushed yourselfwarns against difculties at work or at home. Staging an ambushyou may be pleasantly

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surprised by the outcome of some impending event.

Amethyst
Seeing an amethystexpresses contentment with life. Losing an amethystindicates a worry about losing a friend through illness or a quarrel.

Ammunition
Dreams about ammunition point to successfully completed work. Depleted or lost ammunitionyou may feel you are involved in pointless struggles, or a quarrel may be brewing with your partner.

Amputation
Losing a limbdifculties lie ahead. Anothers amputationyou are probably feeling guilty about not devoting enough time, patience or nancial resources to someone else. See also Doctor, Hospital, Surgeon

Amusement park
Enjoying the ridesa sign of forthcoming good fortune. Frightening experienceit could be that you are suspicious of the underlying motives of others and fear that you will nally lose out. See also Circus, Fairground, Falling, Merry-go-round

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Ancestors
This dream is often a plea for help.

See also Family, Grandparents

Anchor
A sign that some current relationship requires a rather rmer basis. See also Boat, Ship, Shipwreck

Angels
Predictively, this is a sign of forthcoming peace and prosperity. But, sometimes, such a dream is indicative of concern over judgment for ones conduct on earth. See also Death, God, Heaven

Anima/animus See Glossary on page 256 Animals

Antelopesif you see antelopes you may anticipate nancial gain; if you shoot one, you are fearing persecution. Apesyou are worried that others are taking advantage of your good nature. Baby animalsnewborn creatures in dreams point to a desire to procreate. Catsconsider your attitude to cats in everyday life and you should nd a clue to their symbolism in your particular dream, since they may either represent cunning or pure contentment. Seeing a kitten means the dreamers affections are being played with. Playing with a kitten means you will suffer many small irritations.

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Cowssuch a dream either is symbolic of a desire to raise a family or could reect a fear of being seen as stupid. Dogsthe rst thing you must do is decide whether the dog represents yourself or someone else. Then examine its behavior in the dream. Are you perhaps seeking a friend? Have you been as loyal as you could have been of late? Dreaming of being bitten by a lap dog may reveal a hidden concern about trouble with a jealous partner or spouse, or anxiety about a subordinate at work scheming against you. GnuYour subconscious is trying to tell you to get out of doors more and get some novelty into your life. Horsesif you dream of being taken for a ride, that may be precisely how you feel deepdown. On the other hand, a dream of horses can signify guilt over riding over others. Riding a horse can also represent the sexual act in a dream. Dreaming of a horses mane, regardless of its color, is an omen of unexpected irritation. Lions and other wild animalsgenerally signify fear of ones own emotions. Snakesreect sexual fears but also indicative of anxiety over deviousness or some malign force. See also Birds, Insects, Zoo

Anniversary
All anniversaries, birthdays, weddings, etc. mean happy family meetings.

Antelopes See Animals

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Antiques See Furniture Ants See Insects Anxiety

May relate to present worries. It might be about differences between the way the dreamer would like to live and how he or she actually lives.

Apparitions See Ghosts Apes See Animals Applause

This is a sign that you seek recognition for efforts previously unrewarded. Alternatively, you may inwardly fear that while others offer praise, deep down they are envious of you. See also Actor/Actress, Theater

Appointments
Missing an appointmentyou may be worried about missing an opportunity, or feel concerned that you are failing in some duty.

Argument
A quarrel can be a sign that a relationship is getting stale and needs some other element to it. If you lose your temperyou may make decisions too quickly. If you dont lose your temperluck will come your way.

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Army
You have many difculties to overcome in order to achieve your ultimate ambitions. See also Fight, Soldiers

Arrival See Journeys Arrow

Shooting an arrow at someone depending on its contextmay express a wish to have a sexual relation with someone or a wish to kill or injure them. Missing a targetyou are experiencing difculties in your efforts to communicate with someone. Being struck by an arrowwarns you against situations in which you may be disgraced.

Artist
Watching an artist at workyou are aware, even if unconsciously, that you are wasting a good deal of time right now, rather than taking practical steps to resolve a situation. Self as an artistyou yearn for public recognition and an opportunity to demonstrate creative prowess. See also Painting

Ashes
You may be afraid of death, or perhaps you dont admit that basically you feel insignicant.

Assault See Aggression, Attack, Fight

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Asthma See Illness Astrologer

You are probably seeking an excuse for making dramatic changes in your life.

Astronomer See Scientist Asylum

This dream is a pointer to deep concerns regarding personal well-being and safety. See also Hospital

Attack
Being attackedyou probably feel very vulnerable on an emotional level. Attacking someonea sign of deep resentment or that there is some action you would like to take in waking life but which you fear because the result is uncertain. See also Abduction, Aggression, Fight, Rape

Audience See Actor/Actress, Applause, Theater Avalanche

A warning of some terrifying experience to comeone, however, that you will survive and from which you will almost certainly benet. See also Accident

Award
You are probably going through a lucky

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SYMBOLISM

patch right now or secretly hanker after greater recognition for efforts at work. See also Applause, Prize, Royalty

Baby
Crying babiesusually signicant of poor health. Pretty, smiling babydenotes feelings of security and happiness. Bathing a baby and letting it disappear down the drainpoints to fears of not living up to what is expected of one. Ugly babyyou fear someone elses motives. See also Abortion, Child/children, Family

Baby animals See Animals Bachelor

Happy bachelorif a man dreams of being a happy-go-lucky bachelor when, in waking life, he is married, the probability is that he hankers after his former single existence. Elderly bacheloryou fear loss of your spouse and of being left alone. See also Marriage

Baker/baking
Such dreams are generally indicative of forthcoming success and a rise in salary or status.

Baldness
Dreamed by a manpoints to fear of loss of nancial security.

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Dreamed by a womana sure sign that she is concerned about her health and also loss of sex appeal. See also Barber, Hair

Ball games See Games Balloon

Playing with a balloonsince the shape of

balloons is reminiscent of breasts, this dream may indicate a wish for a sexual encounter; it may also recall happy childhood experiences. In ightreects a desire to rise above lifes problems and escape to some fantasy world. Descendinga prophecy of some form of setback to your plans. See also Flying

Bandits
The dreamer is attackedyou fear, unconsciously, that you are being taken advantage of in everyday life. The dreamer as the banditthis is a reection of deep-rooted guilt over some former action. See also Abduction, Burglary, Crime, Robbery

Bank
You are probably fearful of some forthcoming confrontationwhether at home or in a work situation. But if the bank manager is unexpectedly amiable, more than likely you are aware that you are worrying over nothing. See also Bankruptcy, Money, Robbery

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Bankruptcy
This is a sure sign of incipient depression and despair, even if in waking life there may be no pressing nancial problems. Quite possibly, you know deep down that you have not taken heed of lessons offered by past experiences.

Banquet
This could well reect an inner awareness that you are over-concerned with trivialities and have neglected more basic and important factors. See also Eating, Food, Party

Barber
You fear loss of stamina or are anxious about some future operation or medical treatment. See also Baldness, Hair

Barefoot See Feet Bargain

You will succeed at a project. If a woman sees a bargain sale, the outlook is good.

Bath
Taking a bathyou may be harboring some real or imagined guilt you wish to be rid of. Someone else bathingindicates a feeling that someone has wronged you.

Battle
Taking part in a confrontation between two armies in a dream may reect some battle in which

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you are engaged in waking life, whether at home, at work or socially. It may also be a warning that you should be prepared for some threatening event. See also Aggression, Army, Fight, Soldiers, War

Beach
Lying on some sun-drenched beach probably a wish-fulllment dream. Working on a beachyou fear ruin while others around you bask in nancial success. See also Sand, Sea, Sun

Beating
Being beatenprobably means family quarrels. Beating a childa warning against taking advantage of someone, especially a young person.

Beauty
A beautiful womanpredicts happiness and success in business; if dreamed by a man it may be simple wish-fulllment. A beautiful childpredicts a happy love life.

Bed See Furniture Beggar

If you help, this is a lucky sign. If you refuse help, you are in trouble. See also Pauper, Poverty

Beheading
Being beheadedyou may be worried about

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spending too much time on your career while ignoring personal relationships.

Bells
You are probably fearful that they toll for you. Alternatively, it may be an attempt by your subconscious to remind you of something important, or a sign that you are looking forward to some form of family celebration.

Bereavement
This is likely to be an indication that you feel that those around you are not as affectionate as they might be. You may also fear loneliness. See also Death, Funeral

Bicycle See Journeys Birds

Caged birdsindicate a fear of being conned within a relationship. Cockerelghting cockerels are often a reection of family disagreements. Dovethis worldwide symbol of peace and spiritual satisfaction indicates a striving for precisely these ideals. Eaglea soaring eagle often reects a concern with matters spiritual. It may also, however, point to a fear that someone ruthless is exploiting you. Flocks of birdsbirds in ight signify a desire to escape some present situation and also to an intense idealism.

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85

encountered in a dream. A black hen, however, is predictive of bad news. Ostrichmay be a sign that you feel restricted or perhaps that you have been burying your head in the sand. Owlthis bird may well represent the need for the advice of someone older or wiser than yourself. Alternatively, it is sometimes seen as a symbol of death. Peacockrepresents a desire for more color and amboyance in ones life. Storkyou may be expressing a desire for parenthood. Swanthis elegant bird is associated with beauty and fertility, for both of which the dreamer may be hankering. See also Cage, Nests

Birth
Dreamed by a womanif there is no sign of pregnancy in waking life, almost certainly this is either a form of wish-fulllment or an expression of deep-set fear, following an affair. Interpretation must depend on your feelings within the dream. Dreamed by a manan indication that you are currently facing what seems to be an impossible task but are determined to overcome it. See also Baby, Child/children

Birthday
Considered a sign that good luck will be

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forthcoming. It may also reect a desire for greater attention. See also Party

Blackboard
Written on in white chalkpredicts that bad news is on its way to you.

Blame
Being blamedyou will have luck at work. Blaming someone elseyou will be discontented. Seeing someone being blamedwatch out for hypocrisy in your circle.

Blood
Seeing blood in your dream (either your own or someone elses) it is likely that you fear loss of strength and possibly hostility on the part of a colleague. See also Amputation, Doctor, Hospital, Operation, Surgeon

Boasting
Boasting in dreams may express regret for some impulsive action, or warn against using unfair means against competitors.

Boat See Anchor, Journeys, Sea, Ship, Yacht Bomb

Clearly symbolic of fear of something currently threatening your otherwise peaceful existence. See also War

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Bones See Skeleton/skull Book

If you study, this means happiness and riches. Children and books mean good behavior in young people. See also Illiteracy, Library, Reading

Bookcase See Furniture Boomerang

Refusing to come backsymbolic of a need for change. Coming backgenerally taken as a sign of satisfaction with life.

Borrowing
Borrowing from a frienda sign that you are concerned about nances. Lending to a friendit is likely you are used to playing the role of provider and possibly resent being relied upon for this. See also Bank, Money

Bouquet See Flowers Boy

This can be either the dreamer when young, if dreamed by a man, or a symbol of the dreamers potential, if dreamed by a man or woman.

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Bravery
A sign you will have the chance to show bravery, if you have been courageous in a dream.

Bread See Baker/baking Bride

Self as the brideprobably how you would like to see yourself in the future. Someone else as a bridea sign of fear of the loss of a friend or sister as a result of her marriage. See also Marriage, Wedding

Bridegroom
Dreamed by a manyou are usually anxious about the prospect of marriage and losing your freedom. See also Marriage, Wedding

Bridge
Crossing a bridgeindicates that a transition in your life is under way or that you want or fear one. A broken or rickety bridgea warning of disappointments to come.

Bronze
Bronze statuea sign that you will marry the partner of your choice.

Brother See Family, Siblings

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Bucket
Filling a bucketa sexual dream; it may express longing or an anxiety to do with sex. Stumbling over a bucketan omen of an impending death. See also Crime, Robbery

Bugs See Insects Burglary

A reection of fear of either the loss of something you value greatly or of an invasion of privacy. See also Crime, Robbery

Buried alive
You are making a bad mistake. If you manage to escape, your subconscious blames you for doing something morally wrong. See also Death, Funeral

Burns
A sign of approval from friends (burned hands) or that you will succeed in something (feet).

Bus
Driving a busyou may be heading towards your goal or away from something. Being a passenger in a busexpresses a worry that someone else is controlling your life. Missing a busyou may be fearful of missing out on something you want. Being on a stationary busindicates you feel trapped in a situation with which you are unhappy.

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SYMBOLISM

Butcher
Someone else as a butcherindicates a fear that someone is out to destroy your happiness for personal benet. Being a butcher yourselfyou may be revealing extremely aggressive and hostile feelings.

Butteries See Insects Cage

You are unable to rid yourself of inhibitions and you feel restricted by the connes of family life. Freeing a bird from a cagetraditionally, a symbol of lost virginity. See also Birds, Zoo

Caged birds See Birds Candles

Lityou are unconsciously seeking comfort and spiritual warmth. Unlityou fear rejection. A candle burning to nothingmay express fears of death or longing for release; for men, it reects worry about waning sexual powers.

Cannibals
Being eatensymbolic of the evil motives that you suspect are harbored by others. Dreamer as the cannibalyou have a longheld resentment that has not yet found an outlet.

Car See Accident, Journeys

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Cart
Riding in a cartmisfortune will come your way. Driving a cartyou will achieve success in business matters. Lovers together in a cartindicates delity and a happy partnership.

Castles
Living in a castleyou feel safe from enemies and rivals. Seeing a castleyou may be longing for greater security or wishing to escape from something in your life.

Castration
Dreamed by a manthis is no doubt a reection of deepest fears of loss of status and manhood. Dreamed by a womanyou almost certainly harbor resentment concerning male behavior towards you. See also Eunuch, Impotence

Cats See Animals Catastrophe

Participant or witnessindicates that there will be a radical change in your situation. Uninjured and helpingthe change will improve your condition. Injured and unable to helpa warning about taking chances. See also Accident

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Cave
This is thought to represent the unconscious

mind. Enter it and you may well encounter memories of times long past. Being in a cavemay reect your desire for a sexual relationship or for a return to the safety and warmth of the womb.

Celebration
A good omen for the future, especially for those anxious about what is to happen, unless the event is unhappy.

Cell
Being locked in a cellyou feel restricted in your waking life. For children this dream may express a wish for their parents to exercise greater authority. See also Prison

Cemetery
You are expressing a concern for deceased relations and friends, a fear of death itself, or a yearning for days long gone. See also Death, Funeral

Chains
Being in chainsyou may feel that a heavy burden has been imposed on you. Chaining anotherexpresses a desire to control and possess someone who would not otherwise stay.

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Chairs See Furniture Chandelier

A shining chandelierpresages success in business and private affairs. A falling chandelierreects your anxiety about a foolish action, or is a warning to exercise caution and judgment. Hanging from a chandelieryou are worried about putting something important to you at risk.

Chariots
Driving a chariotreects some exciting and hazardous event in your life and may contain a warning against recklessness.

Chase
The dreamer who is being chased (by an

animal or someone else)you are symbolically trying to escape from some unpleasant situation or unfortunate aspect of your own behavior which it is difcult to face. The dreamer chasing someone else expresses your aggressive impulses towards someone. See also Escape, Fear, Fugitive, Running

Cherubs
Indicate your positive feelings about children, or possibly an anxiety about the lost innocence of your own childhood. See also Angels

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Child/children
Self as a childyou still, deep down, feel yourself to be immature. Having fun with children, or a single childyou are expressing an unconscious wish to have a family-oriented life. See also Adoption, Baby, Birth, Family, Parents

Chilli Con Carne See Food Chimney

Dreamed by a manyou possibly fear impotence, even if subconsciously. Dreamed by a womanan expression of feelings about your partners sexual prowess.

Choking
The dreamer chokingsymbolic of a situation that is causing you tremendous worry. It may also sometimes be an expression of actual physical symptoms. Choking someone elsesignals an unconscious desire to inict harm on another.

Christ See Jesus Christmas

A prophetic dream of good times ahead.

Church
Exterioraugurs well for the future. Interiora sign of concern over religious beliefs and ideals, and a seeking after inner peace.

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Circle
The meaning of the circle is unity and wholeness, order and perfection. Should the circle be in any way incomplete or damaged, something is wrong. Circular motionprobably reects a feeling that you are frustrated and going round in circles. Mandalarepresents the circle, with its unity and completeness. As a dream symbol, it may relate to the self and the dreamers attitude to himor herself.

Circus
Watching a big top actexpect some surprises in the course of the next few days. The dreamer as a clownyou fear making a fool of yourself over a current relationship or situation.

Cleaning
You should consider the possibility that you feel guilty. See also Dirtiness

Clergy
Yourself as a member of the clergyyou

may want to become a better person or earn the respect and esteem of others. Someone else as a member of the clergy perhaps you wish for an authority gure in your life or long for someone to aid and guide you. Visiting the clergyyou are in need of guidance and emotional support.

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Cliff
See yourself at the top of a cliff, looking down, and you undoubtedly fear some current situation. See also Abyss, Falling

Climbing
Indicates strong ambition in work, sex, socially or in ideals. If progress is difcultand you slip backthe goal is too ambitious for you.

Clock
Tickingindicates a fear that time is short or even running out. Winding up a clockyou are anxious to make the most of every moment. See also Time

Clothes
Buying new clothesyou would probably like to change your image. Taking off your clothesyou either fear revealing some aspect of your personality or would like to shed a whole range of inhibitions. See also Nudity

Clouds
Stormy cloudssignify deep depression on the part of the dreamer. Fluffy white cloudsindicate inner contentment.

Clown See Circus

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Cockerel See Birds Cofn

Dreamer nds self in a cofnyou probably fear there is no way of escape from some situation, or realize deep down that you are at the end of a particular phase in your life. Someone else in a cofnsignies guilt over some aspect of a relationship. See also Buried alive, Cemetery, Funeral

Cold
If the landscape is cold or icy, this indicates cold feelings towards others. If you are cold, it may mean you are frightened.

Collecting
Collecting thingsstamps, coins, old objects may mean a meeting with a celebrity.

Colors
Sometimes certain colors seem to predominate in our dreams and may in themselves be highly signicant. Blacka predominantly black dream usually points to depression or general sadness. Bluefrequently signies hopes for the future. Brownsymbolic of a sense of duty, and indicates a concern over what is right in a particular situation. Greenmay signify jealousy or perhaps a concern with health and the environment.

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Redmay indicate anger, sexuality or a warning. Whitesymbolic of purity, usually pointing to a seeking after truth. Yellowa pale shade mostly means wellbeing; darker tones may reect a feeling of cowardice or treachery.

Comet
Frequently indicates problems in life.

Computers
You are probably concerned with the logical working out of some complicated emotional problem.

Conict
Become involved in any way in a conict in a dream and it means there are problems and issues you are trying to hide. It is better to face them, overcome them or make peace than to continue the ght. The dream may show the solution.

Confusion
Attempts to remove muddleindicate that you will have an ordered and organized life. Continuing muddlemay stand for inner confusion.

Congress/legislature
Dreams of serving in Congress or a legislature are an omen of greater responsibilities that will arise in some other area of life.

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Contentment
May show that you are too little concerned about the troubles of others.

Cooking
A contented home life is forecast. Or the dreamer may be transforming some inner conict into something he or she can recognize and deal with. See also Food, Kitchen

Corpse See Death, Funeral, Morgue Corridor

It is likely you are trying to escape from some restrictive situation in life. See also Alley, Road

Cosmetics
For a womana thoroughly positive dream, expressing contentment with your femininity. For a manmay express a yearning to change or to get in closer touch with your feminine characteristics.

Counting
The act of counting is usually associated in waking life with money, so the dream could refer to the nancial situation. Alternatively, the dreamer could be counting failures or blessings.

Cows See Animals

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Crash
Any kindmay mean some kind of achievement. See also Accident

Crawling
If you crawl in a dream, you would probably like to return to childhood. If you make someone else crawl, you may want to humiliate them.

Crescent
Representative of the femininethe emotional, irrational and mysterious. Perhaps this side of the dreamer has been ignored.

Crime
The dreamer committing crimeAny crime indicates strong emotion. To kill means hate and to steal means desire. The dream may be expressing disapproval of inner impulses or warning you against some planned misdemeanor. Someone else committing crimemay reect your distrust of someone, or the feeling that some wrong has been done to you. See also Burglary, Murder, Robbery

Cross/crucixion
You are seeking comfort during a tricky period in your life. See also Jesus

Crossroads
Being at a crossroadsa clear indication that

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you have a decision to make, even if in waking life you wish to avoid it.

Crowds
At home in a crowdyou will settle a longstanding difference. Trying to escape from a crowdyou are anxious to rid yourself of some restrictive relationship.

Crown See Royalty Cucumber See Food Curtains

Closedthere is something preventing you from seeing the light and forging ahead. Openyou would like to make major changes to your lifestyle.

Cut
A slash with any implement may mean the loss of a friend or of money. See also Knife

Daddy Longlegs See Insects Daffodil See Flowers Dagger

This could be a sign that, in waking life, you feel tremendous anger towards someone. Alternatively, you may suspect that someone is about to

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deceive you by taking advantage of your better nature. See also Aggression, Battle, Fight

Dam
Building a damthe dreamer longs for greater control over his or her life. A dam breakingexpresses fear that things are going out of control.

Dancing
Indicates joy, youth and victory, although there may be sexual associations, too.

Danger
Being in a dangerous situationmay indicate that you should pay careful attention to nances and business matters.

Darkroom
Developing photographs in a darkroom you will solve a mystery that has bothered you for a long time.

Daybreak
Predicts that you will nd a way out of your difculties and enjoy better times ahead.

Deafness
Unable to hearfrequently a reection of frustrated ambitions, or an unwillingness to face up to circumstances as they are.

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Meeting with a deaf-mutesymbolizes a

genuine desire to do more to help the less fortunate. It may also be a sign that no one seems to be taking much notice of your needs right now.

Death
Finding yourself deadfrequently an indication that you would like to leave behind all the worlds worries. Someone elses departingyou probably greatly fear life without that person. Someone who is deadyou will shortly hear some surprising news. Death of a parentmay express subconscious rivalry between a son and his father or a daughter and her mother, and act as a safety-valve for angry feelings. See also Bereavement, Funeral, Heaven, Medium, Morgue

Debt
Running up debtsyou no doubt, deep down, fear loss of some kind, not necessarily nancial. Repaying debtsa sign of forthcoming good fortune. See also Borrowing, Money

Decay
If decayof buildings, food, etc.is overpowering, this is a bad sign in all kinds of ways. Really facing up to difculties and trying to solve them will help.

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Deformity
Meeting someone with a deformityit may be that subconsciously you realize you should be more appreciative of your blessings in life than you are. Having a deformityyou are harboring a guilty secret. Deluge See Flood

Dentist
Having teeth pulled by a dentistthis may be expressing a hidden fear of death. Visiting a dentistyou are struggling to come to terms with some unpleasant but necessary event or responsibility.

Depth
Any dream of depthwater, a cave, undergroundmay mean that inner troubles are being suppressed.

Descending
This means weakness. If the slope leads underground or to a cave, there may be inner problems to acknowledge and deal with.

Desert
Lost in a desertyou feel in waking life that you lack a sense of direction. Coming across a lush oasispredictive of wonderful news and a positive outcome to some difcult situation.

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Desk See Furniture Despair

If the dream is full of despair, this may be a sign of improved fortunes.

Detective
You are seeking a solution to some problem that has long been bothering you. Alternatively, you may be looking for greater recognition generally. See also Police

Devil
You are almost certainly feeling guilty, possibly about something quite minor that nevertheless still bothers you subconsciously. The devil may also represent a threat to your health.

Diamonds
Owning diamondspredictive of coming into good fortune. Losing diamondsyou are probably anxious about the stability of a relationship.

Dieting
A dream of going on a diet may not, in fact, have anything to do with reducing weight. Rather, it could be a sign that you will have to retrench due to nancial problems. See also Obesity, Weight

Dirtiness
It could be that your subconscious is warning

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you about imminent ill-health. Alternatively, it may be that you are over-concerned about the face that you present to the world. See also Dust, Earth, Feces, Washing

Disappearance
Of a personpredicts losses and even disaster, or suggests that your conscious mind does not completely understand something important. Of an objectyou may be confused by problems, but should be able to cope with them. See also Invisibility

Discipline
The gure of authority who disciplines you in a dream undoubtedly represents your superego or the voice of conscience expressing its concern about past behavior. See also School, Teacher

Discovery
Being discovered and having some amazing talent recognized is an excellent example of a wishfulllment dream.

Disease See Illness Disguise

Likely to be a sign that you are trying to hide something or that you fear that someone is plotting against you in some way. See also Impersonation

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Dismissal
Such dreams are increasingly common in times of economic recession and when jobs are hard to come by. They may, however, also reect a fear of rejection by a loved one.

Disobedience
A sign that you subconsciously resent certain restrictions in your life.

Distortion
Dream scenes that somehow seem distorted perhaps faces are overlarge or buildings remarkably smallusually represent an element of conict that has arisen in waking life and has been bothering you over a long period.

Diving
Could mean that you have been forgiven for some mistake, or it could indicate a desire to get to the bottom of a problem. This is most relevant if you are a non-swimmer and clearly indicates fear at having to face up to some desperate situation and anxiety about the outcome. See also Drowning, Falling, Swimming

Divorce
If you are happily married but nd yourself suddenly dreaming of going through the trauma of a divorce, the chances are that your subconscious is trying to remind you of how fortunate you are. Such a dream could, however, also represent the

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break-up of some other form of relationshipa business partnership, for instance. See also Adultery, Indelity, Marriage

Doctor
You should be taking greater care of your health or are feeling rather neglected in waking life. See also Accident, Hospital, Illness

Dogs See Animals Doll

Usually indicative of a desire to retreat to infancy, when one was coddled and worries were minimal. Such dreams may also point to a desire to have children of ones own. See also Child/children, Puppet, Toys

Door
Shutyou feel isolated in some way. Opentake advantage of opportunities presenting themselves.

Dove See Birds Dragon

Meeting a dragonindicates forthcoming success and great personal power. The dragon attacksyou are about to encounter a situation that will become overwhelming, for a re-breathing dragon represents a feared gure of authority.

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Dreaming
To dream of having a dream is said to be a sign that you may have to be content with life as it is at present and put aside all ambitions and aspirations for a while.

Drink
Fizzysparkling drinks frequently signify a forthcoming celebration and exciting times ahead. Hotif a drink scalds you in your dream, you are possibly fearful of the action that might be taken by someone towards you. Milkythis sort of drink often pinpoints a desire for renewed comfort from the mother-gure. Warma soothing warm drink sometimes signies a yearning for sexual fulllment. Watercool, refreshing water could well be a sign that you are currently seeking spiritual awakening. Elegant drinking vesselgreat wealth in the ofng. See also Alcohol, Drunkenness, Thirst, Wine

Driving
Whatever vehicle is being driven, the dream probably signies a desire to control events, either through greater power for the dreamer or a wish to exert more control over others.

Drowning
The dreamer drownsfrequently a sign that life is proving problematic, even overwhelming. Consider, too, whether there could be any connec-

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tion with sinking under pressing nancial burdens. The dreamer rescues someone from drowningyou probably feel rather put upon of late. See also Diving, Falling, Swimming

Drugs
Dealing in drugsconsider carefully the motives of those with whom you socialize. Taking drugsthis is probably a sign of a desire for escape from a humdrum existence. HeroinIf you nd yourself taking heroin or some other drug in a dream when, in waking life, you have never come into contact with such substances, you are probably feeling guilty about some aspect of recent behavior. Opiumdreaming of taking opium does not indicate a wish to use drugs, but may arise out of boredom in your waking life, or express an unconscious urge to nd peace during an excessively hectic period.

Drums
Success is in the ofng. Alternatively, it could be a sign that you feel in need of greater recognition. See also Music

Drunkenness
Dream of others being drunk while you remain sober, and you probably feel from past experience that no one can be trusted but yourself, and fear being let down badly again. See also Alcohol, Wine

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Dungeon
Reects the desire to escape from a prevailing situation in waking life. See also Cell, Prison

Dust
On the furnitureindicates a concern about cleanliness and appearances. Clouds of dustbeing surrounded by dust might mean you should anticipate minor irritations later on.

Dwarf
Meeting dwarvesyou are about to have some particularly enlightening experience. Dreamer as a dwarfa warning that you should not put too much trust in others. See also Deformity, Distortion

Eagle See Birds Ear/earrings

Your subconscious could be warning you to pay heed to a rumor you have heard. The ear is also representative of birth at times, in which case it may indicate a desire to reproduce. Dream of earrings and you should perhaps be more wary of initial impressions and take your time in getting to know someone properly. See also Deafness, Faces, Jewelry

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Earth
Your subconscious is probably warning you to make careful provision for the future. See also Earthquake, Funeral, Garden, Grave

Earthquake
There could be a number of difculties to overcome, or even a complete change of circumstances, for the better eventually. See also Volcano

Eating
The act of eating symbolizes love, strength and life. It is also a symbol of comfort. Eating aloneindicates feelings of loneliness and sadness. Eating with othersdenotes improved fortunes and personal gain. Sharing a meal with someonedenotes a wish for a close relationship with that person. If sharing a meal with a member of the opposite sex, this indicates a desire for sexual intimacy. See also Banquet, Food, Restaurant

Echo
Likely to be a sign that you lack condence in some area of life, or that you are currently in a rut and could do with a change of routine or environment.

Eclipse
You could well be fearful that something will occur to end a current relationship. Alternatively,

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the eclipse might symbolize feelings of being rejected and being placed very much in the dark. See also Moon, Sun

Eggs See Food Election

You are possibly anxious about your popularity at work or on a social front and feel that you are constantly being assessed or judged.

Electricity
Denotes good news from abroad.

Elevator
May represent a message that your unconscious is trying to bring up into your waking mind. Riding up and down in an elevator frequently indicates a secret dissatisfaction with ones sex life, which you may feel has become mechanical and dull. Getting stuck in an elevatorsignies worries about death.

Elopement
You would dearly like to change your current circumstances or some unpleasant situation.

Embarrassment
If you are embarrassed in a dream, you should be rm and not let others make you do something against your will.

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Embers
You may be harboring fears of your own or someone elses death, or you may be wishing to end a business or personal relationship. Rescuing something from the embers may denote a wish to help a friend in time of trouble. Sitting with others around embers expresses pleasure at the company of your family or friends. See also Ashes, Fire, Fireplace

Embrace
To embrace someone yourselfindicates feelings of warmth and love for that person, but may contain a warning about the need for discretion to avoid public criticism. To see others embracemay be warning you that criticism is coming your way, especially if you have recently received praise.

Embroidery
Seeing a woman embroidera predictive dream with the promise of innocent fun and some romantic adventures. Embroidering something yourselfmay express doubts you have about your own conduct or that of someone near you.

Emerald
Seeing someone else with an emeraldfor women, this denotes a wish to receive that persons love; for a man, it expresses a desire for money.

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Giving an emeraldsignies the wish to give someone love or wealth. Wearing an emeraldaugurs a happy future lled with love and prosperity.

Emptiness
Opening an empty containerfrustration. Dont undertake anything new, or it might fail. Finding an empty roomyou may be fearful of loneliness or craving solitude. Holding an empty glassexpresses an anxiety about whether your life is as fullled as you would wish it to be.

Enema
You are anxious to rid yourself of pent-up emotions. It may also be an omen of an unexpected drain on your nancial resources. See also Feces

Enemy
You fear a friend has turned against you for some reason. Alternatively, an enemy may sometimes symbolize a part of yourself that you nd it difcult to face up to. See also Battle, Fight, War

Engagement
This could be pure wish-fulllment. It may also be a warning from your subconscious that you should put some other matter entirely onto a rmer footing. See also Marriage, Ring, Wedding

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Engine
You will probably accomplish much. Repairing an engineexpresses the feeling that something is amiss and needs sorting out. Watching someone else repair an engineyou may feel you would like help in dealing with some problem.

Epitaph
Your subconscious could be telling you that you have perhaps not been as fair to others as you might have been. See also Death, Funeral

Escalator
Going up an escalatorlikely to be an omen of success. Going down an escalatoryou fear failure or loss of some kind because you have taken a major risk. See also Elevator, Stairs

Escape
To escape from a dangersignies that you want to make a change in your life, or denotes a rapid recovery from illness. Seeing someone else escapenancial matters should improve before long. Something escaping the dreamerperhaps something important has been forgotten or misunderstood. See also Chase, Fugitive, Running

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Eunuch
You feel very much in the hands of others during waking life and unable to do anything at all about the situation. See also Castration, Impotence

Examination
You feel under great pressure, with tremendous demands constantly being made of you at work, for it is not only students who experience such dreams. See also School

Exchange
The dreamer is about to experience a change in situation.

Execution
Your own executionyou may be suffering depression or, as a compensation dream, you may have received a considerable reward for your efforts. See also Death, Hanging

Exhaustion
You are probably in need of a rest. Perhaps you should look after your health and regain your energy. See also Fugitive, Illness

Exhibition See Museum

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Exhibitionism
An indication that you would dearly like to

throw caution to the wind. See also Nudity

Exile
You are sent into exileyou feel dissatisfaction with your life and may be considering foreign travel. Another in exilea warning that quarrels may be on the way.

Expedition
This is an omen of a long, severe struggle ahead, but one that may eventually bring reward. See also Travel

Explosion See Bomb, Earthquake, Volcano Eyes

The eye is a very potent dream symbol, representing many different facets of life, according to how it appears. Beautiful eyesgenerally taken to be a sign of contentment or an omen of peace. Closed eyesyou may be failing to face up to the truth if your eyes will not open in a dream; whereas if you encounter closed eyes, it is probably an indication that you have suffered or fear rejection in waking life. Crossed eyesbe wary of someone you have recently met, the subconscious warns.

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Disembodied eyesgenerally represent some threatening situation. Injury to eyesyou fear some major event that will upset general routine to a marked degree. Squintyou are unsure of someones reliability. Staring eyesyou feel under duress in a work situation. Winking eyesconvey a message from your subconscious that you need not be taking life so seriously, and even perhaps that you might enjoy a mild irtation. See also Faces

Eyeglasses
If you normally do not use them, your subconscious could be warning you to examine your future prospects more carefully than you have up to now. Alternatively, it could mean a happy family and that you are coping well with obligations.

Faces
Consider carefully the type you saw in your dream. The following list provides a basic guide to their symbolism. Comicany form of cartoon face in a dream is generally regarded as a snub against society at large, whether conscious or unconscious. Featurelessthe chances are that is precisely how you feel deep down: unappreciated and unnoticed. Grotesquelooming, ugly faces are most often a reection of inner fears, quarrels or misfortunes.

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Smilingthere is a likelihood of nancial gain. Alternatively, it may be a sign that you are striving for popularity among colleagues or friends. See also Ears, Eyes, Forehead, Mouth, Nose

Factory
Dreaming of a factory may signify a wish to manufacture a new life for yourself. Working in a factoryaugurs a busy and rewarding future.

Failure
May indicate that you should ask yourself if your aims can really be achieved. Or it could mean that if you approached your aims differently you could be successful.

Fairground
You have probably been nding life rather restricting of late and would dearly love to let loose and have some fun. See also Amusement park, Merry-go-round

Fakes
Your subconscious is warning you against taking a gamble either in the love stakes or in business. See also Crime, Fraud

Falling
Generally reects fear of failure at work or some other inadequacy. In other contexts, it may mean that the dreamer is yielding to some romantic or sexual temptation and may be falling in love.

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Hurtthere could be difculties in store. Uninjuredany upsets that do occur will be minor and just temporary. See also Abyss, Accident, Cliff, Stairs

Fame
You are anxious about ever achieving a longheld ambition that has not yet come to fruition. You are no doubt also seeking recognition for past efforts that you feel have been overlooked. See also Actor/actress, Applause, Film star

Family
Happy family occasionbodes well for the future. Family argumentsoften gross exaggerations of differences of opinion that may exist either in the family circle or at work. See also Adoption, Father, Incest, Mother, Mother-in-law, Parents, Siblings

Farewell
The chances are that you feel deep down that a relationship you value is about to come to an end, or that a move to another house is in the ofng.

Farm/farmer
Prosperous farman omen of nancial gain and good health. Poor farmprospects are not so bright. See also Animals, Earth

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Fashion show
Presence at a showthe odds are that you feel inadequate as far as appearance is concerned. Taking part in a showyour subconscious is telling you that overconcern with looks is frequently an unattractive quality.

Father
Dreams of your father can reect your feelings towards him. Alternatively, you may be dreaming of an archetype that symbolizes authority and power, so that what happened in the dream refers to your attitude towards society as a whole rather than towards a parent. See also Family, Incest, Parents

Fatigue
Your subconscious is warning you of the need to take things rather more easily. Possibly, too, you are being advised not to take things too much to heart, and not to get upset by the foibles of others. See also Exhaustion, Illness

Fear
The overall emotion in a nightmare is fear. This acts as a warning to the conscious mind to investigate any hidden desires that may be making the dreamer feel guilty, or as a sign that the unconcious is trying to bring something to the surface. Other elements in the dream will provide clues to what the trouble is. See also Nightmares

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Feast See Banquet Feather

Some of your problems will become lighter in due course.

Feces
Encountering fecesan omen of wealth. Incontinenceyou fear loss of self-control generally. See also Enema

Feet
Consider rst whether you have been having any problems with your feet lately. If not, then your dream could symbolize a desire to nd your feet and make more progress on the work front. Feet that itchindicates a desire to travel. Cold feetan omen of unrequited love. Bare feetsignify delight in a new relationship, or that you seek a more down-to-earth existence, with less emphasis on the material things of life. See also Footprints, Nudity, Shoes

Fences
May indicate either that the dreamer is feeling enclosed, or that more privacy is desired, or they may represent self-control (too much, or lack of).

Fever
You are either deeply concerned about some

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worrying matter, or possibly overexcited about the prospect of a forthcoming event. See also Illness

Fields
A symbol of peace and of green pastures, therefore of spiritual ease and grace. If the elds are brown, or left untended, the omens are less good. See also Meadows

Fight
To be involved in a ght probably signies either moral or mental confusion. The circumstances of the dreamer will give clues. See also Aggression, Army, Battle, War

Filing
You are anxious about some form of disorder in your life. Alternatively, it could be a sign that you should compartmentalize your life more and not mix business with pleasure to such a degree.

Film star
Dreamer as a lm staryou undoubtedly desire greater attention. Meeting a lm staryou would like to be accepted into a different social circle. See also Actor/actress, Audience, Fame, Stage

Fingers
Pointing ngersyou have a guilty conscience about something.

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Polished nailssometimes an omen of scandal. Stroking or being strokedindicates a desire for a romantic or sexual entanglement. See also Hands, Manicure, Ring

Fiord
Dreams of narrow, mountainous bays and inlets are omens of peaceful, happy times at home.

Fire
House on reyou have feelings of intense anger towards someone. Seated by a reaugurs well for a current relationship or family life. Yourself on redenotes that you are in the throes of an uncontrollable passion about which you may be anxious. See also Embers, Fireplace, Fire engine

Fire engine
An omen of successful escape from some difcult situation, but not necessarily anything lifethreatening. See also Embers, Fire

Fireplace
Elegant replacea desire to move up the social scale. Cozy heartha sign that great value is placed by the dreamer on family life. See also Embers, Fire

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First aid See Accident, Death, Hospital, Nurse Fish/shing

To dream of sh may refer to the contents of the unconscious, or to cold feelings or impotence. Acquiring a new shing rodfor a man to dream this denotes anxiety about his sexual powers; for a woman it could point to a wish for a new partner. Catching shyou may feel a need to come to terms with some matter buried in the unconscious.

Fit
Seeing another have a tdenotes that family difculties are leaving you at a loss to know what to do. An animal having a tsignies feelings of frustration and anger at work.

Flag
Flying banneryou are likely to achieve success. Alternatively, if you are a rather reserved individual, your subconscious may be encouraging you to be a little more outgoing. At half-mastambitions are unlikely to be realized.

Flames See Fire Fleece

Wearing something lined with eecea period of trial and hardship is looming.

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Fleet See Ship Flint

Striking a intyou are probably in love and hoping for an early marriage.

Flirting
By a female dreameryou are probably behaving in a way that is completely contrary to your usual conduct during waking lifeand one that you greatly resent in others. By a male dreameryour subconscious is allowing you to practice the art of irting for benet in waking life.

Floating
With the currenta sign of future prosperity. Against the currentyour subconscious is expressing the view that you are too easily inuenced. See also Drowning, Sea

Flocks of birds See Birds Flogging

Seeing someone oggedan omen that you will succeed in revenging yourself on someone who has wronged you; it may warn against unconsidered actions.

Flood
Victim of a oodyou feel anxious about someone or a situation overwhelming you.

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Escape from a oodyour subconscious is telling you that you will both solve current problems and benet from the experience. See also Drowning, Floating

Flowers
Following Jungs theory about universal archetypes, certain types of ower may be representative of particular ideals. Articial owersa sign that you mistrust some of your colleagues. Daffodilaugurs a time of hope, especially if you are experiencing troubles. LilacIf you dream of lilac bushes or owers it is an omen that illness will come to you or a friend, and that you are harboring thoughts of death. Lilyconcern about the afterlife. Lotusa desire for greater self-knowledge. Nasturtiumsseeing nasturtiums shows a wish for new and interesting friends; eating nasturtiums, you may well soon decide to embark on an adventure. Spring owersoptimism about the future. Take careful note, therefore, about the sort of owers you dream about, as well as whether they are in bud, full bloom, or past their prime. See also Garden

Flying
This is perhaps the most common of all dream topics. Such fantasies are said sometimes to have sexual signicance, but this is not always the case.

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Indeed, such dreams frequently signify a desire to have new experiences and a willingness to view the world from a different standpoint. See also Airplane

Fog
It is likely that you fear the possibility of something, or someone, standing in your way. Alternatively, your subconscious could be reminding you to look particularly carefully at the ner points in a contract, since you could lose out if their meaning is not clear to you.

Foliage
Green, fresh leavesdenotes a happy romantic attachment and the prospect of marriage. Brown, dead foliageyou may be suffering disappointment in love or expressing the feeling that some aspect of your life is no longer satisfactory. See also Garden

Food
Dreams about food are generally highly symbolic and relate to ones emotional life. Try to remember the sort of foods you were eating in your dreamsome, such as asparagus or oysters, have clear sexual signicance. Asking yourself, too, whether they tasted sweet or bitter may provide further clues to a full and accurate interpretation of the dream. Chilli con carnepresages great upset in your intimate relationships. Cucumbers (large)for a man this may

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reect fears about sexual inadequacy; for a woman it could express a wish for the power and strength associated with masculinity. Eggs, buyingsymbolizes a desire quite literally to conceive or to nd creative inspiration. Eggs, breakingmay signify a need to get through to the truth about something. Eggs, rottengenerally an omen of ill fortune. Jelly, eatingmay express an unconscious wish for pleasant interruptions to a dull routine. Jelly, makingyou may be wishing for pleasurable reunions with old friends. Lettucedreams in which lettuce appears have a sexual connotation. If a woman gives a man a lettuce, she may be expressing her desire for intimacy. A man taking a lettuce from a woman indicates his yearning to conquer her. Meatbuying or eating meat is an omen that good fortune is in the ofng. Frequently it also refers to the sensual side of life, or the sins of the esh, and may contain a warning about immoral behavior. Meringue, eatingyou may harbor secret doubts about a colleague or friend, but they are lightweight and insubstantial. Molasseseating molasses is an omen that you will be rebuked for making unwise statements. Be on guard in company, especially at work. Mufns, bakingyou may be yearning for offspring: a bun in the oven. Mufns, eatingindicates that you are enjoying good times with your family.

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spreading mustard is a sign of an unconscious wish to damage or destroy something or someone. Muttonsymbolizes cosy domestic bliss. Olives, eatinga good omen portending to an unusual romantic episode. Olives, pressing for oilindicates that you are working hard for success in business or for love. Onionsif you dream of many onions, this indicates that you will be successful but you will have to cope with envy and jealousy. Orangesinterpretation depends on the actions in the dream, but oranges usually relate to feelings of sex and love. A tidy box of oranges signies a well-ordered progress towards success. On the other hand, if in the dream you eat an orange, minor problems will slow down your progress. Parsley, eatinga portent of enjoyable social gatherings. Parsley, pickingyou probably feel that the time has come to treat yourself to some small extravagance. See also Banquet, Menu

Football See Games Footprints

Your subconscious is considering whether or not it would be a wise move for you, literally, to follow in someone elses footsteps by entering a similar career or leading a similar sort of lifestyle. See also Feet

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Forehead
A wrinkled foreheadan omen of carefree, unworried times to come. Soothing someones foreheadreects feelings of security and contentment with your partner.

Forest
Hiding in a forestsuggests a guilty secret. Plant and animal lifea surprising event is imminent. Lost in a forestsymbolic of failure to nd a satisfactory path in life. See also Foliage, Jungle, Tree

Forgery
An omen of money that will suddenly come to you from a surprising source, rather than an indication that there is a criminal side to your nature. See also Crime, Fakes, Fraud, Lies

Fortications
Mean that you are successfully putting up defenses against an enemy of some sort.

Fortune-telling
You are probably fairly anxious about having to make a major decision in life. Your subconscious may also be recommending that you seek the advice of those you know you can trust, rather than a fortune-teller as such. See also Astrologer, Palm-reading

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Foundry
If you dream of working in a foundry your subconscious may be suggesting that hard work and some suffering will prove constructive in the long run.

Fountain
Working fountainusually symbolizes happiness and freshness. Broken fountainoften refers to disease, old age and death.

Fragrance
Any fragrant odor in your dreams denotes future promise and happiness. Muskan omen of love and adventure. See also Odors

Fraud
Dreamer committing fraudperhaps you should regard this as a warning about some of your actions and where they could lead. You are probably feeling guilty about something. Someone else committing fraudprobably the dreamer is too trusting. See also Crime, Fakes

Freedom
If the content of your dream is accompanied by a feeling of freedom you may be compensating for feeling trapped in your waking life. Alternatively, it may be an expression of satisfaction that everything is going well.

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Freelance
The dreamer freelancingone of the worst omens, signifying that a life of unremitting and unrewarding labor will be yours. Someone else freelancingyou are expressing deep unconscious hostility towards that person.

Friends
Indicates that you will enjoy a busy social life during the coming months. Often, too, it has been found that dreams of friends now living at a distance are followed by a communication from them in waking life.

Frost
Frostbiteyou feel that others have been rather cold towards you lately. Frost on the groundcould be an omen of a fresh start in some area of life.

Fruit
Ripe fruitprobably indicates that your work is developing well or that your health could improve. It could also refer to sexuality. Unripe fruitmight mean poor health. See also Food

Fugitive
Yourself as a fugitiveexpresses an unconscious desire to escape from conicts at home, and perhaps your feelings of guilt about running away from problems.

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Helping a fugitiveyou may be harboring feelings of disapproval about the conduct of a friend to whom you are under some obligation. See also Chase, Escape, Running

Funeral
Your subconscious is urging you to say goodbye to some aspect of life that you regret, rather than telling you about some imminent death. See also Death, Epitaph, Grave

Fungus
A tree covered in fungusyour subconscious may be alerting you to some problem with your teeth.

Funnel
Dreams of pouring liquid from one container to another using a funnel have strong sexual connotations. You may be expressing your desire for an intimate relationship.

Furnace
Stoking a furnacean omen of passion entering your life or a warning of the need for industry to get you through difculties. An unlit furnacemay express your sadness at not nding a suitable partner. See also Embers, Fire

Furniture
Antiquesoften point to a desire to climb the social ladder.

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Bedsignies a desire for greater emotional comfort. Dream of going to bed alone and the chances are you are over-tired or fear sexual rejection. Bookcaseyou are probably seeking spiritual guidance. Buying furnitureyou can be hopeful of a change in circumstances. Chairs, comfortableyou will receive an unexpected windfall. Chairs, harddifculties ahead will nally be overcome. Desk, clearing outyou will shortly encounter new and interesting situations or make new friends. Desk, working atpredicts that family troubles are coming your way. Ebony furnituredream of ebony furniture and you may well be heading for serious family quarrels and disruptions. Setteeyour subconscious is likely to be encouraging you to pace yourself and make better use of free time for leisure pursuits. Shabby furnitureyou are probably feeling rather embarrassed about some other aspect of life entirely. Tableyou no doubt seek a relationship with rmer foundations.

Furs
You can hope for luxury and ease, or perhaps you are already very comfortable materially.

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Fury
Being in a furyyour subconscious may be alerting you to some injustice in your life. Alternatively, the dream may be compensatory and indicate that your waking life is very pleasing to you. Someone furious with youyou may feel you deserve punishment for some action. See also Argument, Rage

Fuse
If a fuse blows in your dream, this could be a symbolic play on wordsindeed, you probably fear blowing your top and releasing pent-up anger, yet would dearly like to do so.

Gallows See Hanging Gambling

Losingyour subconscious is warning you against taking unnecessary risks. Winningthis is not a sign that you should put money on a horse; rather, it is likely to signify a satisfactory outcome to some situation that has been bothering you. Watching others gamblethis denotes a wish to play safe and perhaps expresses envy of those with the means or courage to take greater risks than you. See also Jackpot, Lottery, Luck, Money

Games
Ball gamesmay refer to sex. If a team is playing, this is how the dreamer sees lifeas a

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game. If he or she is playing as an individual competitor, the dreamer is feeling resentful about having to cope alone, instead of enjoying the support of others. Card gamesperhaps there is inner conict about success. Dreamer wont join inhe or she is avoiding the game of life.

Gangs
Being a gang-memberyou may be

expressing an unconscious wish for the approval and acceptance of others, or feeling that responsibilities are more than you can cope with by yourself. Encountering a gangaugurs a period of unrest and difculty.

Garden
Beautiful gardenan omen of tremendous happiness and abounding love. May also express nostalgia for lost innocence or youth. Wild gardenthere may be difculties ahead but these will readily be overcome if you attend to them promptly. See also Flowers, Foliage

Ghosts
You are concerned about the effect that some action of yours has had upon someone elses happiness.

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Giant
You tend to not value yourself as you should and lack self-esteem. See also Growing, Ogre

Gift
Receiving a presenta warning from the subconscious against strangers bearing gifts, or a prediction of good luck. Giving a presentpromises a happy outcome to present difculties.

Girl
For a woman to dream of herself as a girl may denote a longing for the past or express feelings of inferiority.

Glasses See Eyeglasses Glassware

Breaking a glassan unconscious signal that a sharp domestic dispute is in the making. Putting glass into a windowan omen of future contentment and security.

Glider
Flying in a gliderexpresses positive feelings of condence and trust in your own ability to cope with life and rise to the occasion. See also Flying, Journeys

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Gloom
A gloomy scene in a dream means the likelihood of a headache.

Gloves
Putting on glovesif dreamed by a man, this has clear sexual signicance. Buying glovesindicates the desire not to show your hand and to keep something secret. Losing glovesa fear of being discovered for what one really is. See also Hands

Glue
May indicate a wish to bind someone or something to you, or may mask your wish to be free. Spilled gluelikely to have a sexual connotation; you may suspect a partner of indelity.

Glutton
Being a gluttonmay augur that your success will not bring you friends. It may also mean that you feel your life is not nourishing you in the way you need. See also Eating, Food

Gnu See Animals God

If you encounter God in a dream, it is likely that you have recently come to terms with your mortality. For some dreamers, however, God is clearly a

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symbol for some gure of authority, such as an employer or teacher. Worshipping Godan unconscious message that you must get back on the straight and narrow. Help from Godyour subconscious is reassuring you that things will work out in the end. See also Church, Heaven, Jesus

Gold
This may not in fact symbolize a concern with the materialistic things in life, but some valued, more abstract commodity, such as knowledge, beauty or compassion. Losing goldan expression of anxiety or unhappiness over a lost opportunity. See also Money

Golf See Games Gossiping

Others gossiping about youreects a concern that you feel overlooked in waking life. The dreamer gossipingyou are concerned about some aspect of your personality make-up that you would like to change. See also Jealousy

Gourd
A dream about this breast-shaped vegetable may indicate the desire for love and sex, or, if the gourd is old and shriveled, could reect a womans anxiety about fading beauty.

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Grandparents
If you nd yourself dreaming of grandparents who are no longer alive, it is likely to be a sign that you are anxious as to what their opinion would have been about a particular matter or aspect of your life. See also Ancestors, Family

Grass
Green and healthya very good sign indeed for all areas of your life. Withered and brownwatch out for problems and illness.

Grave
Digging ones own gravea particularly nasty dream, signifying overwhelming current difculties. Digging someone elses graveyou probably greatly regret some past action towards that person. See also Cemetery, Death

Grease
Grease-stained clothesdenotes anxiety at some foolish blunder. Greasing machineryyou may be worried that life and love are not running smoothly and that some action is needed to improve things.

Grief
A health warning, perhaps for the digestion; you should take some action.

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Grindstone
Turning a grindstonemay express a warning that you should work harder, or resentment at how hard you have to work. It could also portend that you will suffer reverses but will triumph by persevering.

Growing
Your subconscious is telling you that you are in fact capable of far more than you have achieved in life to date. See also Giant

Guard
If you dream of seeing a guard protecting something valuable, you may be worried about losing something close to you or feel that you are being kept away from what you desire.

Guest
Being a hostimplies achievement. Being a guestprobably means you will go traveling.

Guns
A warning that you should try to be more open in expressing your emotions. Such dreams may also denote anguish concerning brutal or violent sexual behavior. See also Weapons

Gypsies
Such dreams are generally symbolic of a desire

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for far greater freedom than a current lifestyle permits.

Hair
Long and owingsignies a desire for greater freedom. Having a haircutyou feel that you are being restrained in some way. Combing the hairdenotes nding solutions to knotty problems. If you comb the hair of a member of the opposite sex, you will solve love troubles. See also Baldness, Barber, Razor/shaving

Hall
Signies a period of anxiety if the hall is long and empty.

Halo
You are probably going through a period of feeling inadequate. Alternatively, you may be seeking spiritual guidance.

Halter
Putting a halter on a horseindicates a feeling that you want to bring things under your control, or that you resent being under someone elses. In a punning sense, such dream may be warning you of the need to stop or halt some activity or person.

Hamlet
A dream of a hamlet (small village) is an omen

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that you will meet with frustration. To dream of Shakespeares character may indicate anger with a member of your family, especially a conict with your mother.

Handbag
Looking in a handbagindicates a wish to penetrate into mysteries. Losing a handbagan unconscious anxiety or desire concerning lost virginity.

Hands
Clenched stsrepresent repressed anger. Extended handsymbolizes a need for friendship. Strokingindicates sexual feelings. See also Fingers, Gloves

Handyman
Employing a handymanportends trouble with a landlord. If a woman dreams this, it may contain a hidden desire for an intimate relationship.

Hanging
Dreamer as the executioneryour subconscious is warning you about falling into the trap of being overcritical of others, lest you be judged for this yourself. Dreamer is hungrepressed guilt is probably coming to the fore. See also Death, Execution

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Hangover
Your subconscious is warning you against the dangers of excess in many areas of life, not merely overindulgence in drink. See also Alcohol, Drunkenness

Happiness
If the mood of your dream is contentment, it may be a warning that you should look after your health. Children playing happily means good fortune. If you are experiencing grief or trouble, the dream may be a compensation.

Harbor
An omen of future nancial security. Entering a harbordenotes success after possible difculties along the way. For men, may have sexual overtones. Leaving a harborexpresses the desire to break away from the routine and embark on adventures. See Boat, Yacht

Harem
Female dreamer as part of a haremreects lack of individuality or mistrust of someone with whom she is having a relationship. Male dreamer as part of a haremthe dream is unlikely to have sexual signicance. Rather, the dreamer may be concerned about having to cope with too many things at once during the working day or be overwhelmed by family commitments. Male dreamer owning a haremmay be a

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simple fantasy or portend complications in work and private life. See also Adultery, Indelity

Harvest
Good harvestgenerally a symbol of forthcoming prosperity. Poor harvestan omen of the need to cut back on expenses. Gathering a harvestfor the childless, may express a wish to raise a family. See also Farm/Farmer

Hat
Likely to represent power or authority. In analysing the dream, take into consideration, therefore, whether the hat was worn by or belonged to yourself or someone else.

Havoc
If you dream of havoc being caused by anythingstorms, war, burglaryit may be a warning from your subconscious not to become obsessive about tidiness.

Hawaiian
In native costumemay denote a wish for exotic adventures or a message from your subconscious that you need a good vacation. Dressed as Europeansthere are boring times ahead.

Head See Faces

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Hearse See Funeral Heat

Comfortable heatindicates the passions and maybe their passing with age. Too much heatperhaps you should cool your passions, which may be destructive.

Heaven
Means either that you aspire to reach the heights of ambition, that you probably aim for contentment and peace or, more prosaically, that you have realistic expectations of a better job. See also Angels, Death, God

Height See Altitude, Falling Hemorrhage See Blood Hen See Birds Hermaphrodite
Usually has no sexual connotation at all. Far more likely, the dreamer is concerned about which way to go, having been presented with two distinct options.

Hermit
Almost certainly a sign that you would like to have substantially more time to yourself.

Hero/heroine
Consider the possibility that you are seeking greater recognition in your eld of work.

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Heroin See Drugs Hiccup

Your subconscious may be using a play on words, warning you that you could well experience a delay or hiccup in your plans.

Hiding
The dreamer hidesyou would like to get out of the hustle and bustle of waking life. An object is hiddenyou are concerned that someone is trying to take over your life.

Hill
This is a common setting for a dream and the signicance may be in the actions of the dreamer. Something or someone on top of a hill expresses the dreamers fear or realization that the object or person is beyond reach. Rolling down a hillanxieties about failing powers or a decline in health. See also Climbing, Descending

Hitchhiking
Your subconscious is warning you not to place too much reliance on others and to be more selfsufcient.

Hitting
If hitting is involved in a dream, feelings of hostility, aggression and perhaps a fear of violence are being expressed.

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Hitting anotherexpresses your rage and destructive impulses. Being hitmay reect an unconscious wish for punishment, or fear of the person hitting you. See also Aggression, Attack

Hockey See Games Hole

Means the womb, or the vagina, and can therefore refer to being born. Alternatively, being inside a hole might indicate being in a mess. Hole in clothingportends an improvement in your nances.

Holiday/vacation
Your subconscious could be pointing out to you the benets of having a break from routine.

Home
The interpretation of a dream in which the dreamers home appears depends almost entirely on his or her situation and feelings about everything that means home.

Homesickness
Probably you will hear from an old and good friend.

Homosexuality
If such a dream comes as something of a surprise to you, it may in fact relate not to such a

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relationship but to the discovery of some other unexpected facet of your personality.

Honey
An omen of recovery from illness or sweet experiences. See also Insects

Honeymoon
Such a dream is most likely to symbolize the cementing of a relationship, whether personal or business. See also Bride, Bridegroom, Marriage, Wedding

Horizon
In the distancemeans success. Near at handyou will have to cope with events that may mean problems for some time to come.

Horror
The other elements in the dream must be considered carefully. However, the future may not be all that bad.

Horses See Animals, Riding Horseradish

A dream of horseradish denotes good fortune and the companionship of intellectually stimulating company. Eating horseradishmay express fears that others are laughing at your expense.

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Hospital
Your subconscious is warning you to relax and take things more easily. See also Doctor, Illness, Nurse, Operation, Surgeon

Hostility
Towards youyou are probably regretting some action. Towards others by youyou may be in a compromising situation. See also Aggression

Hotel
Registeringmay mean greater responsibilities at work are causing you concern. Living thereyour life may become easier and more secure nancially. Owning ityou will most likely earn a fortune.

House
No dooryou feel you cannot escape a current situation. In poor repairthe dreamer feels emotionally bereft. Childhood homerelates to happy memories. See also Family

Howling
To dream that you or someone else is howling with pain or grief may indicate some serious emotional or physical upset in your life. As a com-

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pensation, it might indicate precisely the opposite.

Humidity
Being overcome by humidityexpresses a fear of being overwhelmed, either by circumstances, an enemy, or by passion.

Hunchback
It has been said that the dreamer who sees a hunchback will be nancially fortunate.

Hunger
You are hungrymay mean that life will improve. Alternatively, you might not be happy at home. You help someone who is hungryyou will receive some nancial benet. See also Poverty

Hunting
Joining a huntyou are preoccupied with achieving some goal you have set yourself. Being huntedthere is doubtless some worrying secret to be guarded. Hunting for an objectthe meaning of such a dream depends largely on what is being hunted. If it is a key, the meaning may be sexual, or denote a problem for which you are seeking a solution. See also Searching

Hurricane
Approach of a hurricanea clear dream of anxiety at some impending event.

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Being caught up in a hurricanemay express fear or exhilaration at some thrilling or passionate experience.

Hypnosis
You would like to relinquish the role of decision-maker for a while, and hand over such responsibility to someone else.

Hysteria
A woman having hystericsdenotes family problems and business reversals. Mass hysteriaa dream of mob hysteria may reect your anxieties concerning a national emergency or disaster.

Ice
Dreams of ice may denote worries about death or sexual frigidity. Sitting on iceparadoxically, this portends a life of comfort. Slipping on iceyou may be yearning for warmth and comfort, possibly a foreign vacation. See also Cold

Iceberg
You may be feeling blocked by obstacles at every turn in waking life. Alternatively, you may fear frigidity or feel that others are reacting particularly coldly towards you right now. See also Cold, Ice

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Ice cream
You are feeling particularly contented with life. As a predictive dream, it often indicates a forthcoming windfall. See also Food

Idiot
You are almost certainly either lacking condence in some everyday situation or in need of letting go and freeing inhibitions. See also Asylum

Idleness
Idling while others worka warning dream, alerting you to dangers at work; you may be called to account for something you have left undone.

Illegitimacy
If you dream of suddenly discovering you were illegitimate, yet in reality you were not, this is a sign either of fear of losing your parents or of dissatisfaction with family life as it is. See also Family

Illiteracy
Dreamer cannot read or writeusually signies extreme anxiety over expressing true, inner feelings. Realizing someone else is illiteratean indication that you may have been treating someone unfairly. See also Reading

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Illness
Dreamer falls illyou would do well to consult a doctor. This is because the subconscious sometimes gives us a warning that something is awry before we are even aware of any symptoms. Also, watch out for arguments with those closest to you. Someone else falls illyou should examine your attitude towards him or her, or possibly consider a fear of losing that individuals support.

Imagination
If you meet someone with great imagination (such as a writer or artist), you will probably benet nancially from an inspiration of your own.

Immorality
A warning that perhaps you should not judge the actions of others before you ensure that your own lifestyle is blameless.

Impersonation
Dreamer impersonates someonesignies a desire to escape from some present situation. Someone impersonates dreameryou lack a strong sense of personal identity and feel that individuality is being suppressed. See also Disguise

Impotence
In a mans dreamthe subconscious is expressing not some actual incapacity but deep concern about some other area of life, perhaps your career.

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desire to take a more dominant role generally in a relationship. See also Castration, Eunuch, Sexuality

Impurity
To discover impurities in your food, drink and suchlike is a portent of future happiness with a partner.

Incest
This could be a sign that you are bothered about a completely different aspect of family interactionin other words, the dream may have no roots in sex at all. If, however, the dream keeps recurring and worries you, you may wish to consult a mental health professional. See also Family, Sexuality

Incubator
You are probably concerned about the fragility of some current situation, particularly as far as nances are concerned. See also Baby, Birth

Independence
Should you demonstrate independence in your dream, you may be in danger of being too sure of your own abilities.

Indifference
Towards othersit would be a good idea to ask yourself if you do show indifference to people

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and if this is what you want. You may end up with few friends. Towards the dreamerperhaps you should make yourself more friendly and concerned in general, or towards one person in particular.

Inferior person
If you dream of someone who is inferior in any way, consider if this person symbolizes the Shadow, the inadequate side of your character.

Indelity
It may be that anyone who dreams of being unfaithful should ask searching questions about the present relationship. See also Adultery

Inheritance
Substantial legacygenerally taken to be a sign of good times ahead. Meager legacyan indication that you feel rejected. See also Money, Will

Injury See Accident, Hospital Inquiry

An inquiry you cant answeryour subconscious is alerting you to the possibility that you may lose a friend.

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Insects
Antsdepending on your waking attitude towards ants, indicate a period of intense activity and hard work, anxiety about efciency at work, or a warning that petty irritations may overwhelm you. Bees, swarmingthe chances are that you will succeed at work as part of a team. Bees, stingingbe wary of the motives of others. Bugsyou will have to cope with something disgusting, and worse if the house is overrun with them. If you deal with them the outcome will be happier. Butteriessymbolic of the spirit or psyche, a buttery in a dream either represents the soul of someone once dear to you or a part of your being desirous of escape from worldly worries for a few hours. Crane ies (daddy-longlegs)someone else being afraid of one is an omen that something amusing or pleasant will happen to you. Being frightened of one yourself, unless you suffer from a phobia of them, is a reassurance that something you dread is less fearful than you imagine. Fliesif you dream of irritating ies, you are probably experiencing the interference of others, much to your annoyance, in waking life. Gnatsmay indicate that an illness of the nervous system is developing. Moths, killinga dream which portends success in overcoming enemies. Moths in your clothesexpresses sadness at the destruction of something dear to you.

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Spidersoften symbols of cunning individuals who may be laying traps for youin their webs. The web itself, meanwhile, is frequently representative of the complexities of life.

Insults
Received by dreameryou are likely to be harboring guilt. Given out by dreamerprobably a sign of deep anger towards someone that has never been outwardly expressed.

Intercourse
Dreamer makes lovelikely to be pure wishfulllment. Witnessing others making loveyou may well be holding back some emotional problem that needs resolution. See also Impotence, Love, Sexuality

Intestines
If you dream of your own intestines, your subconscious may be drawing attention to something wrong. If there is pain in the dream, you may be wise to seek medical advice.

Invalid
Dreamer as invalidmeans unpleasant circumstances. Others as invalidscould be a sign that unpleasant people are interfering with your activities. See also Illness

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Invisibility
The chances are that this is very much how you feel in everyday lifeoverlooked and undervalued.

Invitation
Dreamer receives invitationa form of wish-fulllment, indicating that you would like to extend your social circle. Dreamer sends out invitationcould be an underlying plea for help. See also Letter

Ironing
What you are doing in your dream probably reects that you would dearly love to smooth over current difculties in everyday life.

Island
Islands can mean isolation, loneliness, escape, paradise, a rm place to be in a sea of problems, or all of these.

Itching
You may soon be irritated by minor problems.

Jackpot
Your subconscious is trying to nd a way out of current nancial difculties for you. See also Gambling, Lottery, Money

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Jack-knife
Dreamer has a jack-knifemay denote anxieties about being considered two-faced by friends or acquaintances. Someone else has a jack-knifeyou may want to ask yourself if you really trust that person.

Jail
Dreamer in jailyou are feeling conned in some way, or you want to conne some of your feelings. Alternatively, it can mean a belief that you should be punished, or fear that you will be punished for some bad action. If children dream they are in jail, this may mean they want their parents to exert more discipline. Dreamer as jailermeans the dreamer wants to restrict others or be the boss. See also Cell, Prison

Jaws
You fear having your needs and ambitions swallowed up in favor of those of others.

Jealousy
Dreamer encounters jealous individual your subconscious may well be warning you about forthcoming problems on the relationship front or perhaps at work. Dreamer is jealousreects a general feeling of inadequacy in waking life. See also Colors

Jelly See Food

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Jerusalem
You are hankering after spiritual guidance,

symbolically seeking to resolve a controversy in your life, or perhaps simply expressing a desire to visit a place that has always been a source of fascination to you.

Jesus
Encounter with Christyou are almost certainly seeking religious commitment. Crucixionyou are experiencing undue guilt. See also God

Jewelry
Since jewelry represents value, jewels appearing in a dream can mean love to a woman and wealth to a man. They also stand for integrity, an individuals sense of oneself, and sexuality. The interpretation depends on the concerns of the dreamer. Jewels turning out to be glassprobably means the shattering of an ideal. See also Ear/Earrings, Necklaces, Ring

Joke
Dreamer as victim of jokea sign that you fear being taken advantage of. Dreamer plays practical jokepredictive of a successful outcome for some business venture. Dreamer tells a jokeexamine its content carefully. Some aspect of its subject matter is probably bothering you right now and you may well wish you could simply laugh off the situation. See also Clown

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Journeys
The path of life, with its obstacles and joys. Accident avoideda skillfully controlled escape stands for sufcient control over the emotions. Airplanea rapid progress towards aims. Arrivalindicates achievement or good health, or in old age can represent death. Bicycleusually refers to adolescence. Can also be interpreted sexually or as a sign that you are having to make great personal endeavors to succeed. Riding a bicycle downhill is a warning dream alerting you to potential dangers ahead. Boatsin dreams these stand for the boundless possibilities of travel by water. If you are rowing hard, the likelihood is that you are resentful of having to put so much effort into life. If you are in a boat out at sea, you feel that you have lost direction in life. Busthe journey of life here refers to short periods. Caroften a symbol of sexuality. Speeding can represent sexual misconduct; being unable to stop can indicate fear of taking risks, lest there is no turning back. Faults in the steering or breaks might mean a lack of control or discipline. Driving usually indicates desire; being driven can indicate dependence on someone else. Driving without a license means you have some guilty secret or a fear of authority. Overtaking implies taking masterful control of events. Crashesarguments are on the way. Future hindrancesperhaps blocks to ambi-

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tion should be recognized, especially if they are of the dreamers own making. Missing a vehicledreams in which an airplane, bus or train are missed usually indicate physical tiredness, lack of energy, a failure to understand or order life efciently or missed opportunities. Motorcyclea male sex symbol. Riding a motorbike means a successful and happy sexual relationship. Crashing a motorbike may indicate a subconscious desire to terminate a relationship or to express fears about it ending. Past obstaclesrelated to difculties, past and present. Roadssignify an individuals own path of life, with all the hazards and disappointments illustrated relatively obviously in the dreamers journey. Trainmay give clues about the energy of the dreamer, his or her drive and sexuality. Trying to get off a train often means a desire to slow down or avoid reaching journeys end. In a mans dream, a train has sexual signicance, particularly if entry into a tunnel is involved. In a womans dream, a train means she would like to take on a more dominant role. Turning a cornerfundamental changes may be taking place. Walkingdeliberate walking in a dream signies a desire to proceed towards all ambitions slowly and under ones own steam. See also Accident, Travel

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Judge
You are feeling guilty about some misdemeanor, however minor. You may be feeling guilty quite unnecessarily, but your subconscious insists that you play fair. See also Accusation, Jury

Juggler
Reects a need to examine your nances rather carefully. It may also indicate that you have been doing rather too much of late.

Jumping
You are probably very successful, unless you fail, in which case things can be very disagreeable. See also Leaping

Jungle
Impenetrable vegetationyou are anxious about what the future holds for you. Explorationyour subconscious yearns for a change of waking environment. See also Foliage, Forest, Tree

Junk
If your dream contains a pile of rubbish, you may nd it difcult to make a decision in the near future.

Jury
Dreamer as part of juryyou are questioning, subconsciously, your very role in life. Dreamer on trial before juryyou are prob-

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ably concerned about the reaction of family and friends to some course of action you have taken. See also Accusation, Judge

Karate
The chances are that you feel you need to defend yourself against some sort of opposition, either within the family circle or perhaps at work. See also Aggression, Fight, Kicking

Kettle
If you dream of a kettle on the boil, that may be precisely how you feel inside: almost ready to explode and all steamed up with anger for some reason. A broken kettlemay well signify that you see great obstacles in your path and will need to struggle to achieve your goal.

Key
A key in a dream can mean many things. For example, the dreamer is looking for a solution, wants help in overcoming a problem of inferiority, is searching for a key to remove an obstacle, wants to be accepted sexually or wishes to hide from intrusion. See also Lock

Kicking
The dreamer is kickedyou are having to face up to serious opposition in waking life. The dreamer kicks outyou feel like getting your own revenge on someone. See also Aggression, Fight, Karate

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Kidnap See Abduction Killing See Murder Kindergarten

It is likely that you feel that those around you in waking life have been acting rather childishly of late. See also Child/children, School

King See Royalty Kiss

Dreamer kissingyou are expressing feelings that you hesitate to show when awake. Kissing between couples and of children happiness and success will be yours. Kissing your partnera sign of harmonious love. Insincere kissinga sign of illness or disgrace. Strangers kissingcould mean conquest. Your partner kissing anotheryou may be harboring unconscious fears about indelity, or a secret wish to separate.

Kitchen
Lavish preparationsyou can probably expect some good news soon. Alternatively, it may be a sign that you are anxious to impress in waking life for some reason. Dilapidated surroundingsmay be a reection of the state of your emotions. See also Baker/baking, Banquet, Cooking, Food

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Kite
An omen that you will achieve your lifes ambition before too long or manage to break free from some restricting situation. See also Flying

Kitten See Animals Kneeling

Kneeling in inappropriate placesa dream of kneeling in say, the supermarket, parking lot or some other unsuitable location may well point to an unconscious wish to atone for some real or imagined wrong.

Knife
Sharp knifesignies the prospect of vengeance, family squabbles or even a deathwish. Cutting selfa warning that actions you have taken lately will prove to your detriment. See also Accident, Blood, Cut, Murder, Suicide, Weapons

Knight
You probably seek someone to protect you and look after your needs.

Knitting
A symbol of domestic happiness and the blessings of children. Dropping stitchesrepresents loss of money. Tangled woolinvolvement in family problems lies ahead.

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Knocking
By the dreameryou may have to ask for advice. Heard by the dreameryou will probably receive some serious news. Repeated knockingmay express a feeling of frustration that you are being ignored. Could have a factual basis in noisy surroundings.

Knots
Dreamer tying knotsshows an independent and rm nature. To see knotsthe dreamer is likely to be a worrier. To try to undo knotsif the dreamer fails, this indicates anxiety about lack of self-control.

Ku Klux Klan
Self as membermay be a warning not to involve yourself in plotting or devious undertakings. Another as memberyou may wish to look closely at someone your subconscious portrays in this way.

Labor See Birth Laboratory

Perhaps you want to expand your scientic interests. Alternatively, you may be anxious to test somebody, or worried because you feel you are being tested. Experimenting in a laboratoryyou may be

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feeling unhappy with your present life and wanting to experiment with new ideas or people. Looking at a laboratorymay express hidden envy of those whose affairs are in order, or a desire to emulate them. See also Scientist

Labyrinth
Find yourself lost in a maze and you are likely to nd it difcult to untangle a complex problem, possibly one of your own making. Should there be wild beasts to add further dangers, you are probably suffering from obstacles put up by those who wish you ill.

Lace
Dreamed of by a woman, indicates a wish to be prized for her femininity. A man dreaming of a woman in lace may need to recognize his sexual feelings for the person concerned.

Ladder
Climbing a ladderreects your aspirations for promotion at work and a wish to reach the top. Descending a ladderperhaps you are aiming too high. A disappointment may be in store for you. Falling from a ladderyou lack selfcondence. Entering a house by means of a laddera portent of an unwelcome message. See also Falling

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Ladle
Serving food with a ladlemay express hidden resentment at having to look after others, particularly uninvited guests.

Lady
Meeting a woman with the title Lady may be a disapproving judgment on her by your subconscious.

Lagoon
The still, mysterious waters of a lagoon are a powerful symbol of female sexuality, especially if the dreamer is male. Drowning in a lagoonexpresses serious sexual anxieties. See also Lake, Water

Lake
Calm watersaugurs well for your love life. Stormy watergenerally an unfavorable omen. Monster in the watersyour subconscious is warning you about possible competition in the emotional stakes. See also Lagoon, River, Water

Lameness
Almost certainly you fear that some obstacle will hinder you from succeeding. Your subconscious could also be trying to tell you that often it is possible to make major achievements in spite of difculties standing in the way. See also Amputation, Deformity

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Lamp See Light Lamppost

A broken lamppostindicates a disagreement with a neighbor.

Lance
If a man uses a lance on a woman, the dream is clearly sexual and may indicate his wish for intimacy. Having a boil lanceda warning from the subconscious that an uncomfortable situation or relationship can be solved only at great cost to yourself.

Landing
Whether in a ship or an airplane, dreaming of landing indicates the desire to achieve your goal safely, or satisfaction at having done so. See also Journeys

Lane See Alley Language

Should you nd yourself confronted by people talking in a foreign tongueone you do not speak in waking lifethis is almost certainly a sign that you would like to broaden your horizons. See also Accent

Lantern
Dreaming of lanterns may reect a wish to nd out the truth about something, or for enlightenment.

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Signaling trains with a lanternan omen of trouble to come. See also Light

Lapdog See Animals Lapis lazuli

Dreams about this beautiful blue gemstone augur happiness and a contented married life.

Lard
Cooking with larddreams in which you cook with lard indicate an unconscious worry about the reliability of a colleague or friendyou may secretly feel they are greasy or slippery customers.

Lasso
An omen of wealth that will be coming to you.

Lateness
Arrive late for an appointment in your dream and your subconscious is warning you against making plans without careful forethought.

Lathe
Turning wood on a latheoften reects concern over a plan or project; you may be looking forward to its success or worried that it might fail.

Lattice
Opening a lattice windowif the scene is pleasant and beautiful, it expresses your condence

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about your life at present; if the scene is ugly or frightening, it indicates your anxiety. Climbing through a lattice windowa sign of your eagerness to embrace the future, or possibly your dread at the inevitable. See also Window

Laughter
Unwelcome laughteryou no doubt are rather worried about the fact that a proposition you have made, perhaps at work, will not be given the attention you feel it deserves. Welcome laughterreects a desire on your part for greater popularity among colleagues. See also Clown, Joke

Launch
The launching of boats or ships denotes a yearning for a new departure, and frequently presages exciting adventures.

Laundry
You are concerned that some guilty secret will leak out. See also Washing

Laurel
Wearing laurel yourselfthe association of laurel with victory means that this dream is pointing to a wish to succeed or a desire to have your achievements noticed and celebrated. Another wearing laurelyou may be feeling that a friend or rival is coming out on top.

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Laurel seen on a bushyou will meet success in an important undertaking.

Lava See Volcano Law See Judge, Jury Laxative

You are worried subconsciously about your performance in some particular area of life. See also Enema, Feces

Laziness
If, as a rule, you are extremely active and diligent, your subconscious could well be warning you that the time has come to take things a little more easily.

Lead
Carrying a load of leadindicates feelings of being put upon, and is an omen of troubles ahead.

Leak
If you see a leak, you are probably grieving over a loss. A leak in your shoesa warning to look after your health. Leaking faucetyou may be regretting having spoken out of turn or spreading a rumor.

Leaping
Leaping over an obstacleif your leap is successful you are likely to succeed in your aims; if

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unsuccessful, you may need to work harder to reach your goal. See also Jumping

Learning See School Leper

A portent of struggles that lie ahead. Dreams in which a person you know becomes a leper express your anger or ill will towards that person. See also Deformity, Illness, Lameness

Letter
Dreamer writes a letterindicates a desire to communicate more successfully. Dreamer receives a letteryou will gain nancially. Reading someone elses letteran omen of nancial loss. See also Invitation

Lettuce See Food

Library
Your subconscious is trying to come to terms with some new idea or piece of knowledge. It is also sometimes a fortunate omen, indicating some forthcoming fascinating discovery. See also Book, Illiteracy, Reading

Lice
Being infested with licefor a woman to dream of getting infested with lice expresses her

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unconscious horror at the thought of pregnancy and having unwanted children. Killing liceindicates a wish to rid oneself of undesirable and troublesome difculties.

Lies
The dreamer hearing lieswould seem to indicate something bad, yet it usually augurs well for the future, particularly in matters concerning money. The dreamer telling liesif, in waking life, you are truthful, expect some event that will change your outlook on life completely. Alternatively, it may be that you have recently acted in some way that is quite out of character, and your subconscious has chosen to point this out to you in a poignantly symbolic way.

Lifeboat
Lifeboat going to the rescueexpresses your feeling that you need rescuing from some situations, or perhaps that you wish to rescue someone else. Lifeboat overturninga sign of serious trouble ahead from an unexpected source.

Light
A fortunate omen, signifying the resolution of some difculty. Light coming from a particular place your unconscious is trying to direct your waking mind towards what lies in that direction. Dim and insufcient lighta message that

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you are not aware enough of something, or have not understood something properly. Blinding lightyou may be paying too much attention to your conscious mind and are missing out on the wisdom of your intuitive side. See also Lighthouse, Lightning, Rainbow, Sun

Lighthouse
Freudians believe such a dream has a strong sexual signicance. It also sometimes signies that the dreamer is seeking escape from some stormy relationship.

Lightning
Flashes of lightninga sign that you will shortly nd out the truth concerning something that has long been bothering you. Lightning rodyour unconscious is offering you a warning about dangers from an unforeseen source, yet is also assuring you of your ability to cope. Struck by lightningyou will soon come up with some wonderful invention or idea. If you are transformed by the lightning, this indicates a change being wrought by sudden knowledge, such as a religious conversion or realization concerning a partner.

Lilac See Flowers Linen

Table linenyou wish to improve your social standing.

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Bed linenreects your yearning for love,

and is a good omen in terms of romance. Clean linena sign that you have, or would like to have, a clear conscience.

Lining up
The chances are that life has been very routine of late and so far you have failed to achieve a goal you have set. See also Shopping

Lions See Animals Lips

Attractive lipshappy circumstances. Unattractive lipsbeware of troubles. See also Faces, Kiss, Lipstick

Lipstick
Putting on lipstickthis has fairly strong sexual overtones; you may be longing for sexual intimacy or fearing it, depending on how you feel in the dream. See also Lips

Litter
A sign that your emotional life is in something of a mess right now.

Lock
Unlocking a doorsexual connotations, if dreamed by a woman. Someone picking a lockindicative of a

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feeling that someone has been meddling in your affairs, much to your annoyance. Locking someone in a roomexpresses your jealousy and desire to keep that person all to yourself. Locking yourself upyou are afraid of being harmed by letting others get close to you. See also Door, Key

Locomotive
Because it is a symbol of power, to dream of a locomotive usually means the dreamer fears being not powerful enough and wants to be stronger. See also Journeys

Logs
Sawing logsportends home comforts and domestic satisfaction. Sitting on a logreects your satisfaction with the small things in life.

Lollipops
Because of their strong association with the pleasures of childhood, dreaming of lollipops indicates nostalgia for the past and perhaps a need for comfort and consolation.

Loneliness
You probably have very little time for yourself and yearn for greater privacy.

Loom
Weaving cloth on a loomyou may be

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longing for greater order in your life, or happy with the pattern of events.

Loss
To lose something or getting lostsignies mental distraction or lack of concentration. Loss of reputationillness may overtake you. Finding the lost object or the waythe difcult period is now over.

Lottery
The chances are that you are in nancial difculties and that this is pure wish-fulllment. See also Gambling, Jackpot, Luck, Money

Loudspeaker
A blaring loudspeakerreects your frustration at having your feelings or ideas drowned out by others. Turning down a loudspeakera sign that you are prepared to assert yourself.

Love
A dream of true love and companionship between a man and a woman, not necessarily featuring the dreamer, but possibly complete strangers, is generally an example of wish-fulllment. See also Intercourse, Kiss, Marriage, Wedding

Luck
Having good luckyour unconscious may be warning you not to take things for granted and to keep striving towards your goal.

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Having bad luckyou may be feeling mistreated by or envying someone who has been more fortunate. Frequently, dreams of ill luck portend a change for the better.

Luggage
Dragging heavy baggagesymbolizes the problems we all have, however petty, that sometimes drag us down. Losing luggagean omen that the effect of this burden, whatever it is, will soon lighten. See also Journeys, Travel

Lunch See Restaurant Lust

Be very careful of your behavior if you dream of giving way to lust.

Luxury
If you dream of luxurious living, this is a warning that you should keep on working hard.

Lyre
Playing a lyrepresages romantic love (someone to make beautiful music with). A tuneless or broken lyredenotes dissatisfaction with your working or domestic arrangements. See also Music

Machinery
Very often this is a symbol for the body and especially the brain.

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Taking machinery apartddling with machines may represent an attempt to correct a fault in the inner workings of the mind. Well-oiled machineryyou may be wishing for your life to run smoothly, or pleased that it is. Rusting machinerymay be a warning to look after your health. See also Engine

Magic
Watching a conjuroryour subconscious is warning you against being taken in by a condence trickster. Dreamer as the magicianan omen of some wonderful event that will shortly occur.

Maid
Employing a maidyou are in need of someone to rely on right now. Alternatively, you may be yearning for someone to take your guilty burden off your shoulders. Employed as a maidan expression of your eagerness to help others and a warning to take care lest others use you in some way.

Mail See Invitation, Letter Mandala See Circle Manicure

Your subconscious is warning you to take greater care of yourself. See also Fingers, Hands

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Manna
A dream of manna from heaventhis reconstruction of the biblical experience of the Israelites in the desert is an omen of a nancial windfall.

Mansion
Living in a mansionportends a happy domestic life or may be simple wish-fulllment.

Map
A confusing charta sign that, in waking life, too, you lack a sense of direction. Following a mapyou are likely to embark upon new and successful plans shortly. See also Navigating, Travel

Marathon
Running a marathonfor non-athletes this denotes frustration at being asked for too much at work and a warning to take things easier. Winning a marathonyou have probably come through a difcult period in your life.

Market
An omen of prosperity if the foodstuffs on display are ripe and tempting; if they are wilting and unattractive, the omen is bad. Alternatively, your subconscious may be reminding you that you have to make a series of choices. See also Shopping

Marriage
If, in waking life, you are single, this could be

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pure wish-fulllment. It may also represent that, as far as work is concerned, you are in need of a partner. See also Adultery, Bride, Bridegroom, Divorce, Wedding

Marsh
Walking through a marshdenotes that a period of ill health or other misfortune may be on the horizon for you.

Mask
In dreams, masks usually stand for your persona or facade, the face you present to the world. Attending a masqueradeand you could well nd yourself embarking on a romantic adventure. Mask worn by someone elseyou fear that a certain individuals motives are not genuine. Dreamer wears a maskyou have something to hide, either by way of an emotion or some past misdemeanor. If you cant take the mask off, you are being warned that your persona is taking over your real self. See also Disguise, Faces, Impersonation

Massage
You crave more physical contact. It may also be that your subconscious is reminding you to look after your health more carefully.

Match
Striking a matchmay denote the begin-

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ning of a special relationship, or be an expression of yearning for a partner.

Mathematics
Insoluble problemif you dream that you are unable to solve a problem in math, the chances are that your plans cannot be brought to fruition.

Mattress
Lying comfortably on a mattressa warning not to get too comfortable in some situation; doing so might lead you into trouble. Uncomfortable mattressdenotes marital problems.

Maze See Labyrinth Meadows

Rich meadows full of owers presage years of plenty, but contain a warning to lay up provisions for less prosperous times. See also Fields

Meal See Eating Meat See Butcher, Food Medicine

A sign that you will encounter some difculty that you will, however, readily overcome. See also Doctor, Hospital, Illness, Nurse

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Medium
If you attend a seance in your dream, in which

a medium gets in touch with someone dear to you who is deceased, this most likely simply reects the degree to which you miss the individual concerned and a fervent desire to be reunited. See also Ancestor, Death

Melody
Hearing a melody in your dream is generally a good omen, indicating that you will meet people. If the melody is familiar, you may meet with old friends.

Mending
Mending clothesyou may be expressing resentment at something in your life which you feel is worn out. Alternatively, it may express your desire to hang on to something cherished. Mending fencesyour subconscious is pointing to the need to bring a quarrel to an end.

Menu
An omen of a whole new series of opportunities that will present themselves to you. Try to remember whether the prices were within your range. This could be an omen of whether or not you nally opt to make a change in your lifestyle. See also Banquet, Food, Restaurant

Mercy
A dream of showing mercy to someone presages a life of harmony at home. Being shown

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mercy may be a subconscious admission that you have done something wrong, and a longing for forgiveness.

Meringue See Food Mermaid

In a mans dreamshe symbolizes his ideal woman or a particular individual he would like to get to know but whom he feels will reject him. In a womans dreamshe represents a rival of some kind, most probably for a loved ones affections. See also Sea

Merry-go-round
Often a sign that in waking life, too, you feel you are going round in circles rather than making any denite progress. Riding a fairground horse also sometimes has strong sexual signicance. See also Amusement park, Fairground, Riding

Microscope
Your subconscious is reminding you to consider the options that are before you particularly carefully. You may also feel that there are invisible barriers blocking your progress, and that you need to overcome them. See also Laboratory, Scientist

Milk
Milk can represent semen. If a man pours milk on a woman, this symbolizes the desire for sexual

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union. But dreams of milk may also be nostalgic yearning for the simplicity of the infants life at its mothers breast. See also Drink

Mill/miller
An augur of wealth and happiness. If the dream is an unhappy one, it may be that in waking life you are feeling ground down. Being a millerdenotes dissatisfaction with your own efciency. Someone else as a millermay indicate your critical feelings about a colleague or friend who is not hard working, or your admiration for one who is.

Millionaire
An omen of forthcoming good fortune, whether or not in your dream all this wealth seems to buy happiness. See also Money

Minaret
To dream of a minaret is an omen of travel to foreign countries and adventures in exotic places.

Mine
Working in a minean omen that you will gain wealth through your own labors. Exploding minesa warning from your subconscious to be on guard in situations that could blow up in your face.

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Minstrels
Medieval minstrelspresage interesting developments in your love life. See also Melody, Music

Mirage
Watching something apparently real fade away as you approach is a sign that you have taken on a hopeless task. The promises of a loved one or friend will probably turn out to be false.

Mire
Being stuck in the mireeither on horseback, in a car, or on footpoints strongly to dissatisfaction with your life. You feel bogged down.

Mirror
A mirror usually refers to vanity and selshness, but it can also mean a mask or the face with which the person greets the world. To break a mirrora warning of bad luck. See also Faces

Miscarriage
If you are pregnant and dream of a miscarriage, this is not an omen as such. You are just a little nervous about the prospect of birth and motherhood as a whole. If you are not pregnant, however, your subconscious could be warning you to take care over health problems. Alternatively, it may be a sign that

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you are worried about the possibility of a miscarriage of justice. See also Baby, Birth

Miser
Being a miserportends that you will not nd wealth, owing to selshness. A friend as a miserwhether you realize it or not, you harbor unattering thoughts about that persons character.

Missionary
Being a missionaryyou are hoping, deep down, that you may have a chance to reorganize your life and lead an existence that is less materialistic. Meeting missionariesyour subconscious is warning you against being too easily inuenced. See also God, Jesus

Mistress See Adultery Molasses See Food Monastery/convent

Man enters a monastery/woman enters a con-

ventyou are simply anxious to have more time to yourself. Woman enters a monasteryyou are likely to be anxious to free yourself of certain inhibitions. Man enters a conventyou would like to have more women friends who do not make sexual demands.

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Money
A symbol of value and those things that are valuable, such as power, strength and sex. Dreams can be about lacking or losing money (for example, relationships, youth, abilities, business, etc.) or being condent about having money. Stealing moneythe dreamer is trying to weaken someone. Money being deniedlove being withheld. Cheap goodspoor behavior. See also Accounts, Bank, Borrowing, Millionaire

Monster
Being pursuedbad fortune is ahead. Killing a monstera successful outcome to problems.

Moon/moonlight
You are likely to crave some element of romance in your life. For a woman, a dream of the moon may also act as a reminder that her menstrual period is due. The moon growing fulla dream reecting on or wishing for a womans pregnancy. Traveling to the moona dream of longing, either for great adventure or for something unattainable. See also Eclipse

Moonstone
Dreaming of these cloudy gemstones indicates some confusion or mystery in your life which, while puzzling, is not painful.

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Mop
Using a mopa sign from your unconscious that you regret something said or done. An old, dirty mopa warning not to believe or circulate rumors and gossip. See also Cleaning, Dirtiness, Washing

Morgue
Yourself as a body in a morguean indication that you are dreading some unpleasant task or event. Finding a body in a morguea warning to guard your health very carefully, especially if the person is known to you. See also Death

Morning sickness
For a woman to dream of this symptom of pregnancy may express her yearning for a baby. If she is pregnant, it may simply be a physiological dream.

Mortar
Mixing mortara portent that all is not well at home or among your friends, and of your desire for people to stick together.

Mortgage
Taking out a mortgageyou may simply be keen to settle down. Alternatively, your subconscious could be warning you to make provision for the future. Foreclosureusually reects a genuine, waking concern. See also House, Money

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Moss
Lush green mossa happy domestic life and children. Brown dry mossfears of barrenness and loneliness.

Moth See Insect Mother

If your mother gures in your dream, she may in fact be symbolic of some other aspect of your life: a need for comfort or love, perhaps. Take careful note of the dream sequence and your attitude towards your mother in the dream. If your mother is actually deceased, your dream of her may represent a death wish on your partthat you will meet again before too long. See also Family, Incest, Parents

Mother-in-law
Such a dream is frequently a reection of a desire to out authority. See also Family

Motorcycle See Journeys Mountains

The summit of a mountaina sign of ability, achievement, experience. Difculty in reaching the topdont waste your time on over-ambitious projects.

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Falling down a mountaindecline, perhaps in old age, is on the way. See also Climbing

Mourning
An omen of improved fortunes after a time of unhappiness. See also Bereavement, Death

Mouth
Your subconscious is trying to warn you of the merits of discretion. If teeth are visible, you may be subjected to unjust rumors by those you thought friends. See also Faces, Kiss, Lips, Teeth

Mufns See Baker/baking, Food Murder

Committing a murderyou are no doubt feeling intense anger, either against a particular individual or the world at large. Dreamer as the victimreects a sense of being victimized in waking life, whether in a work or social context. See also Crime, Death

Museum
Boring exhibitsa sign of dissatisfaction with life. Interesting exhibitsa portent of a highly rewarding period ahead.

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Music
Beautiful soundsan omen of future happiness. Discordant soundsprospects are not so bright. See also Orchestra

Musk See Fragrance Mustard See Food Mutiny

Taking part in a mutinysignies repressed anger and the desire to escape some oppressive circumstance or person. People mutinying against youa fearful dream expressing anxiety about losing your place, perhaps at work or in the family. It may contain a warning to re-evaluate things and change your ways.

Mutton See Food Mystery

A dream of a mystery story generally shows you are seeking after the true meaning of life and an understanding of the origins of the universe. See also Detective

Nagging
Being naggedyou may have left things undone and feel that you deserve nagging. Doing the naggingmay express anxiety that people dont like you.

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Nails
If you hammer in nails in your dream, it means you will work hard and honorably. Alternatively, you could be expressing a desire to be violent. Problems hammering in a nailin a man, reects buried anxieties about sexual potency. In a woman, may mean she has a secret abhorrence of sex.

Nakedness See Nudity Name

Changing your nameyou would like to change a major aspect of your lifestyle. Forgetting your nameyou would like to eradicate some past action completely. See also Signature

Napkins
Wiping mouth or hands with a napkin you feel condent that you have completed some task satisfactorily. Folded napkinsyou may be hoping for friendship from an admired colleague or acquaintance.

Napoleon
The great French emperor is likely to symbolize the dreamers father or some other authority gure or hero. You may be feeling in need of guidance or fatherly advice.

Napping See Sleep/sleeping

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Nasturtiums See Flowers Navigating

Navigating through hazardsexpresses your determination to win despite the difculties life puts in your way. See also Map

Neighbors
If, in waking life, you have little contact with

them, it could be that they symbolize, in your dream, a desire to understand your own psychological make-up better, or simply that you would like to get to know them better.

Necklaces
A woman receiving oneportends that she will have a happy marriage. Losing oneyou may feel fearful of losing your loved one prematurely. See also Jewelry

Nests
Birds making nestsa fairly clear message about wanting marriage and family. Destroying nestsa dream showing aggression and the desire to break out of family ties. Eggs in a nestcoming into money. Broken eggs in a nestpoints to problems in the family.

News/newspapers
Good newsfavorable times are due.

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Bad newsyou will be distressed. NewspapersYou are probably hoping for novelty and surprise to enter your life.

Night
It is possible that a dream set at night could refer to the dreamers desire to ignore or hide problems. But a more straightforward interpretation could be that night is a background for many events that take place in dreams.

Nightmare
This is an expression of very strong feelings of conict. Often a guilty secret is involvedperhaps of a sexual natureone that is not recognized. It is a warning to admit the existence of the conict.

Nose
Blocked-upyour subconscious is warning you to clear up matters that have been hanging over you for some time. Broken nosean omen of family problems. Long nosegenerally has sexual connotations. See also Faces

Nosedive
Going into a nosedive while ying an airplane is an omen of a wild romantic and sexual adventure, probably one with a disastrous outcome. Alternatively, it may express your fears that life is going out of control.

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Nudity
Dreams of revealing all contain a message from the subconscious that you should try being more open about matters that have been bothering you. The dream may also reect a rebellious streak in you, one which refuses to play the roles others cast you in, and contain a warning about where such an attitude may lead. Naturally there is also a sexual component to dreams of nudity. Being nude in an inappropriate setting for instance, on a bus or at work, expresses fears that people can see through you and will reject you if you do not keep up the facade you put on.

Numbers
In dreams if numbers are signicant, they may relate to things or people other than the ones that appear in the dream and make interpretation difcult. More straightforwardly, they could be a reference to some business worry. Some numbers are important to certain people, and this may be reected in a dream. Even numbers are associated with the feminine, odd with the male or the peculiar. Onestands for masculinity and probably sex, for isolation, unity or the sense that the dreamer is number one. Twomeans the two sides or two halves of anything, a pair. Threesignies father, mother and child. Three and four togethermay mean that one of the four functions of the mindintellect opposed by emotion, and sensation opposed by intuitionis neglected.

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Fourunity and order, since the four functions are together and the being is whole. Fivealways an important number, ve refers to the ve appendages of the body, also the ngers of the hands, and therefore indicates the life force. Sixmay mean sex. Seventraditionally this is a sacred number in Christianity and Judaism. Nineperhaps relates to pregnancy and achievement. Tenvery often refers to the masculine and the feminine and therefore to marriage. Twelvebecause twelve is used in the clock and the calendar, it may represent time.

Nurse
Such a dream usually reects a need for greater attention and assistance with some pressing problems. See also Accident, Hospital, Illness

Nuts
If nuts gure in your dream, the omens are usually excellent. However, nuts also mean male sexuality, and the dream may be a warning about problems in a relationship. Cracking nutsyou will nd a way out of a difcult problem.

Nymph
Scantily clad nympha wish-fulllment dream.

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Oar
Propelling a boat with oarsyou may feel that you are carrying a burden others should be sharing. Oar breakingyou may get into trouble soon, but it is within your powers to extricate yourself.

Obesity
To dream of being overweight probably means that you should watch your dietyou may be too thin rather than too fat. See also Weight

Objects
Many objects in dreams are thrown up by the unconscious to symbolize states of inner feeling. For this reason many objects seem to have a near universal meaning. Interpretation depends on choosing the most likely explanation. Long or pointed objectsmost frequently refer to the phallus, for example, a lighthouse, pen, hose or syringe. Round or hollow objectsrepresentative of the female or feminine, especially if associated with womens traditional occupations, such as cooking.

Obligations
Yourself under an obligationyou may be troubled by some responsibility. If you meet the responsibility in the dream it expresses condence that your troubles will be short-lived. Someone obliged to youyou may be

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resenting favors done for others but never reciprocated.

Obstacles
Objects seen in the dream as obstacles usually denote either difculty, a sense of guilt or something else holding back the dreamer from realizing an ambition. It may be that the obstacle has deliberately been put in the way by the dreamer so that some problem need not be faced.

Ocean See Sea, Water Odors

Pleasant scentsan omen of good fortune. Foul aromadoes not augur favorably. See also Fragrance

Ogre
There is clearly some situation in your life that is proving overwhelming, even terrifying. See also Giant

Oil
Can mean slyness, wealth, sex. Oiling machinerydenotes a wish to introduce harmony among family and friends who may have fallen out.

Oil paintings See Painting Old man or woman

For elderly people to gure in a dream prob-

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ably foretells burdens and cares, unless they are calm and wise. However, to dream of being an old maid is a sign that you will marry a ery black-eyed musician!

Olives See Food Onions See Food Opals

The blue-green gemstones presage prosperity and popularity when they appear in your dreams. Losing opalsyou should be cautious in throwing your happiness away.

Opera See Music, Singing, Stage, Theater Operation

You would like to rid yourself of an unsatisfactory relationship or other disappointing aspect of your life. See also Amputation, Doctor, Hospital, Nurse, Surgeon

Opium See Drugs Opposites

Dreams often illustrate some idea, conict, wish or emotion, which is translated into a symbol, by its opposite, for example dark/light, hot/cold, sweet/sour. The interpreter will have to work hard to understand what the unconscious is really

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saying. But these opposites usually refer to basic attitudes, feelings and characteristics.

Oracle
If you consult an oracle in your dreams, you may nd that the opposite of his or her predictions actually occurs. Such dreams may also reect a hidden need for guidance and advice.

Oranges See Food Orchestra

Conductingyou would like to be in a position of power. Unable to follow the scoresymbolizes a failure to cope with some other area of life entirely. Jazz orchestrapresages carefree times in good company. See also Music

Organ music
Thunderous organ musicdenotes some religious feeling of guilt. Electric organyou may suspect the player of being not quite genuine. See also Music

Orgy
Your subconscious is trying to encourage you to take a more relaxed approach to a sexual relationship.

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Orphan
Your subconscious is warning you that you lack a sense of purpose in life. See also Death, Parents

Ostrich See Birds Oven

The symbol for the womb. Therefore it

could mean a wish for a child, or the fear of having a child. A straightforward explanation is that it stands for housekeeping, eating and cooking. See also Baker/baking, Cooking, Kitchen

Owl See Birds Packing

If you are packing up or packing away, it may be that you are trying to get too many, or too few, activities into your day. See also Luggage

Paddlewheel
If you dream that you are on a boat with a paddlewheel, it is an omen that you will travel, though the dream contains a warning to guard against recklessness on your voyage. See also Journeys, Ship

Padlock
Unable to open a padlocka dream presaging frustration and discontent.

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Opening a padlockbeware prying into the business of others. See also Key, Lock

Pages
Turning pages in books or magazines may point to an unconscious desire to improve your knowledge of things. Predictively, the message is of future prosperity. See also Book, Reading

Pagoda
If a pagoda appears in your dream, it indicates a wish to expand your horizons, perhaps by taking up a new interest.

Pain
Your subconscious is warning you about taking particular care of your physical and emotional health. See also Accident, Doctor, Drugs, Hospital, Illness

Painting
House paintingperhaps you have something to hide, or maybe your health requires care. If someone else is painting the house, you may be harboring a suspicion about that persons sincerity. Oil paintingsAs symbols of wealth and prestige, oil paintings in dreams are a wish for material success and the recognition of ones achievements. Picture paintingmay symbolize the desire to be more creative.

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Palace
Usually means success. See also Castles, Royalty

Palm-reading
Having your palm reada sign that you are feeling worried about the future and are seeking reassurance and clues as to how things will unfold. Reading anothers palmmay be an expression of concern for their future well-being, or you may feel that you know something concerning their future that they dont. See also Fortune-telling

Pan
Greek god of elds. To dream of Pan, the goatfooted deity is an omen of good humor helping to overcome adversity.

Panic
A dream, in which panic is the key emotion, is a sign that you should beware of losing your temper in the near future.

Pantry
If you dream of a pantry stocked with good food, it portends future happiness and security, although it may also be your subconscious compensating for present hardships. Empty pantrymay reect on your present circumstances, or be a warning of future difculties and loneliness.

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Paradise
This is an entirely happy omen for your future and friendships.

Paralysis
Dreams of paralysis refer to your state of mind rather than a physical condition. See also Accident, Illness

Parcel
Delivered to dreamersignies good things to come. Carrying a parcelthe dreamer will have to do something unpleasant.

Parchment
Dreams featuring an old parchment document carry a message from your subconscious to reexamine some aspect of your past.

Parents
A dream of both your parents usually symbolizes something else completely, rather than reecting your relationship with them. Indeed, they generally represent the male and female sides of the personality. See also Adoption, Family, Father, Mother

Paris
Visiting Parismay be inspired by memories of an actual visit to the city, or express a yearning for something exotic and romantic to happen.

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Park
To dream of a park means either that you

want to be more relaxed or that you are happy to have the time to enjoy more leisure.

Parsley See Food Party

Giving a partyan indication that your popularity has been waning of late. Going to a partyan omen of busy times ahead.

Passport
If you dream that your passport has expired, this is a message from your subconscious that it is your image that needs updating. See also Travel

Patent
Patent leather shoesif your shiny black shoes are pinching your feet, it is a warning to avoid situations a spouse might not understand. Taking out a patentdreaming of taking out a patent on an invention expresses anxiety about others stealing credit due to you.

Path
Narrow and rougha difcult time ahead. Trying to nd the pathyou may not be able to achieve what you want. Green and pleasantyou have freedom of activity.

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Patio
If your house has a patio, this points to a

wish for more quiet times in the garden. If you do not own one, it indicates social ambition and dissatisfaction with your present standing.

Pauper
Becoming a paupercontains a warning to curb your selsh inclination before you lose friends. See also Beggar, Poverty

Paw
In dreams, a dog or other pet giving you its paw presages new friendships from unlikely places. A woman who dreams of paws may be suffering the unwelcome attentions of a man, who wishes to paw her. See also Animals

Pawnbroker
A sign that you will succeed in rising above current problems. See also Gold, Money

Peacock See Birds Pearl

In dreams pearls often symbolize the whole person, or a rounded life. Losing a pearl would therefore represent a serious upset or loss, while

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nding one would presage a new sense of peace and harmony. See also Jewelry

Pension
Your subconscious is warning you to make careful provision for the future. See also Retirement

Perfume See Fragrance, Odors Phantoms See Ghosts Piano

Playing wellaugurs well for the future. Playing out of tuneyou are anxious that your skills are not really adequate for a new appointment you are about to take up. See also Music

Poison
Sometimes a warning from the subconscious of incipient poor health. See also Illness

Poker See Gambling Police

Not necessarily a sign of guilt but of a desire for greater security. See also Crime

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SYMBOLISM

Portrait
Your subconscious is pointing out that you need to take more care over your appearance.

Poverty
If desperatea very unlucky omen. Help given to the poorcalls will be made on your generosity. See also Beggar, Pauper

Prayer
Analysis of a dream involving prayer must inevitably take into account what the dreamer was asking for. However, such a dream probably indicates that, at present, something the dreamer has been striving for seems beyond his or her reach. See also Church, God, Jesus

Priest See Clergy Prince/princess See Royalty Prison

You may well have a guilty secret, but it is equally possible that your dream is symbolizing a feeling of isolation that you have in waking life. See also Cell, Jail, Quarantine

Prize
You will most likely nd recognition at work.

Proposal
If a woman receives a proposal in her

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dream, this could well be an example of wishfulllment. However, the proposal could also symbolize the prospect of a job offer. See also Engagement, Marriage, Wedding

Prostitute
In a mans dreamsometimes not entirely what it seems, for his subconscious could in fact be warning him against some sort of deal that he has been offered on a plate but that could have serious consequences. In a womans dreamshe would like to be more sexually adventurous in waking life.

Pulling
This signies attraction. Consider if perhaps it may be towards the wrong people or things.

Punishment
The conscience is trying to punish some wrong-doing.

Puppet
This is precisely how you feel in waking life manipulated and completely under someone elses control. See also Doll, Ventriloquist

Purse
A symbol of loss of femininity, and the approach of menopause. See also Money

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SYMBOLISM

Pushing
Perhaps you feel someone, or an event, is making you do something you dont want to do.

Puzzle
Trying to solve a puzzle in a dream is an omen that complications will arise but that, with attention, they will soon be solved.

Pygmy See Dwarf Pyramid

You are anxious about the possibility of a love triangle.

Quarantine
You are feeling isolated in waking life, too, for some reason, though not necessarily through your own doing. See also Illness, Prison

Quarrel See Argument Queen See Royalty Quicksand

You are anxious about being drawn into something that you would rather steer clear of. See also Accident, Falling

Rabbi See Clergy

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Race
To dream of a race means that you have a rival. If you win while gambling at a race, the omens are good. See also Running

Radio
You are currently anxious about a lack of communication between yourself and a loved one or colleague. See also Television

Rage
Your subconscious is warning you about the dangers of losing self-control. See also Aggression, Argument

Rain
You will soon have more energy for all your activities.

Rainbow
You should regard this as a very optimistic sign for the future, just as it was when it appeared in the biblical account of the Great Flood.

Ranch See Farm, Farmer Rape

In a womans dreamshe fears being taken advantage of, not only sexually but in some other area of life.

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SYMBOLISM

In a mans dreamhe has perhaps been repressing certain violent aspects of his character and may need to seek professional guidance.

Razor/shaving
In a mans dreamshaving is often a sign that he has been failing to assert himself of late. Cutting selfindicative of nancial problems ahead. In a womans dreamshe is anxious about being belittled and not valued at all. See also Barber, Blood, Hair

Reading
Try to recall as carefully as you can what you were reading in your dream and, if it was a book, its title and subject matter. These details should help to provide valuable clues as to the meaning of your dream. See also Book, Illiteracy, Letter, Library

Reception See Party Redundancy See Dismissal Refugees

You have been thinking about freeing yourself from an entanglement or bad relationship in waking life, as well as possibly changing your job. See also Exile

Religion See Church, Clergy, God, Jesus

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Rescue
You would like to change certain aspects of your emotional life.

Resolutions
Your subconscious is advising you that it would indeed be wise to make certain changes.

Restaurant
Your subconscious is telling you that you have been rather hard on yourself recently. Having lunch in a restaurantaugurs ill for your progress at work, but it may just be a physiological dream arising out of hunger pangs. See also Food, Menu

Retirement
You may have to work harder. See also Pension

Revenge
Dreamer takes revengethis may indicate that you should try to be kinder. Revenge taken on dreamerbeware of some of the people around you.

Revolution
Perhaps you should think of change. See also War

Reward See Prize

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SYMBOLISM

Riddle
May indicate an old relationship that needs some new life if it is to go on for a long time. Otherwise it might mean general confusion.

Riding
Jumping fencesyour subconscious is reminding you about certain obstacles you are up against in waking life. Gallopingfrequently of sexual signicance. See also Animals, Merry-go-round

Ring
Symbolic of a desire to form some lasting attachment. It could well be a romantic liaison but there is a possibility, too, that such a dream may actually relate to some sort of contract or business agreement. See also Jewelry

Riot
A dream of rioting is always disturbing and foretells a likely disaster.

Rival See Jealousy, Race River

Murky watersomeone is having an undesirable inuence over your emotions. Clear watergood fortune lies ahead. See also Flood, Sea, Water

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Road
Straight roadan omen of success. Winding roadlifes complexities are proving too much right now. See also Alley, Journeys

Robbery
Your subconscious is probably warning you against taking notice of others who may well be interfering in your private affairs. See also Burglary, Crime, Money

Rocket
Most frequently relates to unfullled sexual desires.

Rocks
These are obstacles to be surmounted in your life.

Room
A room in general stands for feminine qualities and home. See also Door

Roots
Basic, life-giving and entangling qualities are involved in your situation. These qualities should give you clues about the interpretation.

Rope
Dreamer is tied uprepresents how you feel

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SYMBOLISM

in waking life: restricted and unable to act freely for whatever reason. Dreamer ties someone upyou are fearful of losing the affections of a loved one. See also Abduction

Royalty
KingIf you dream of an embarrassing meeting with a monarch, your subconscious is warning you against ideas above your station. If you dream of being a king, you have an unconscious wish for greater authority and respect; you believe you are worth more than others seem to believe. Someone else as king may represent your father or some other powerful gure from childhood; you may wish for help and guidance from that person. Princeyou seek conrmation of your sex appeal. Princessyou feel guilty deep down about having been too demanding of others. Queenif you dream of the Queen coming to tea, you are among very many thousands who regularly experience this dream theme and for whom it is likely to be a sign that they feel overlooked and would appreciate more attention.

Rudeness
Dreamer is rudeyou should watch out that you may have to answer to someone in authority over you. Others are rude to dreamermay be a warning about bad temper.

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Ruins
These mean broken contracts, appointments, engagements. Ancient ruins signify travel.

Running
Away from somethingyou would like to escape from some unpleasant or threatening situation. Towards somethingreects certain burning ambitions yet to be achieved. See also Escape, Exhaustion, Fugitive, Race

Sacrice
Offering a sacricea sign that you need to assuage some element of guilt. Dreamer as a sacricial offeringyou feel resentful against others who seem to have been taking advantage of you. See also God

Safe
Dreamed by a manhe fears that a guilty secret may eventually be discovered. Dreamed by a womanshe is harboring fears about her sexuality and may even be anxious about the fact that she has still to lose her virginity. See also Gold, Money

Saint
Meeting a saintconsider carefully the possible signicance of his or her patronage. Martyrdomsymbolic of your own life being somewhat under pressure.

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SYMBOLISM

Salary
Lower pay than usualyou have probably been overspending. Higher pay than usualyou have not been as straightforward as you might have been recently. Salary increasean omen of some sort of surprise, but one not necessarily connected with your job. See also Money

Salt
Salt in a dream usually means difculties and discord. However, it can signify the essential soul of the dreamer.

Sand
This can mean time, and how much you feel you have left to do all that you want. Alternatively, to dream of sand could straightforwardly mean that you would like a vacation. See also Beach, Sea

Satan See Devil Savage

There may be some wilder aspect to your personality that has been struggling hard to get out but that you have been keeping under control. See also Cannibals

Scaffold See Hanging

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Scales
If you dream of something being weighed, this symbolizes the fact that you are, in waking life, trying to weigh up the pros and cons of some decision you have to make. Alternatively, the dream could represent justice that you are seeking. See also Judge, Jury

Scandal
The chances are that your conscience has been bothering you.

School
Sometimes even those in middle age dream of attending school as an adult and, while dreaming, are aware that they are far too old to be there. It is frequently a sign of lack of condence and a fear of not being entirely knowledgeable about ones work. See also Kindergarten

Scientist
Your subconscious may be trying to encourage you to investigate new possibilities as far as work, lifestyle or even vacations are concerned. It may also be a sign that you should try to think through a current problem rather more logically than you have been, putting problems to the side for the moment. Dreamer as astronomeryou are feeling very much on the outside of things and in need of someone who can share your life and endeavors. See also Laboratory, Microscope

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SYMBOLISM

Scissors
You either fear castration or feel rather cut off from the rest of society.

Scolding
Being scoldedyou are probably in danger of being too sure of yourself. Scoldingyou would like to feel superior.

Scratch
Dreamer scratching othersbeware of being bad tempered. Dreamer being scratcheda warning that someone is planning you harm.

Screaming
Most usually a clear sign of a cry for help. Remember, too, that even if someone else is screaming in your dream, this someone else could be representing a particular aspect of your personality.

Sea
If the sea is empty, take warning that you may be for a time lacking in relationships. If you dream of the seaside, you may feel you are missing out on pleasure. See also Anchor, Ship, Water

Seance See Medium Searching

The dreamer is looking for some fulllment, although he or she may know what it is and be

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unwilling to admit it because of the consequences. Perhaps the search is for identity. See also Hunting

Seasons
Springthe happiness of childhood. Summerthe spirit of youth. Autumnmaturity and wisdom. Winterold age and degeneration.

Secret
If you hear a secret in a dream, this means someone you have trusted will let you down.

Senses
These are equated with the four elements of the mind. Sight means the intellect; hearing, its opposite, the emotions. Smell indicates intuition; taste/touch, its opposite, sensation.

Servant See Maid Sewing

Harmony and peace will reign at home.

Sexuality
There are a great many dream symbols that are believed to relate to sexuality: everything from horse-riding to snakes and ying. Sex changemay have a different interpretation altogether: a desire to switch ones job, for instance. See also Eunuch, Impotence, Intercourse

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SYMBOLISM

Shadows
You will need to consider whether this signies that you are being outshone by someone else. It may also represent some tragic event that has darkened your world for the present.

Shame
To suffer shameful feelings in a dream may mean you are doubtful about your ability to cope with more responsibility.

Shaving See Razor/shaving Ship

Calm voyagerepresents forging ahead with ones plans. Stormy voyagean omen of emotional upset. See also Journeys, Sea, Yacht

Shoes
In general, dreams about shoes either reect that one is having trouble with ones feet or a fervent desire for greater freedom. See also Barefoot, Feet

Shooting See Weapons Shopping

A sign that you will have to reach a major decision in life quite soon. See also Clothes, Market

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Siblings
Dream about an argument with a brother or sister and you are probably feeling somewhat emotionally insecure. See also Family, Incest

Signature
Often signies a searching for ones true identity. It is, incidentally, a fairly common dream among newly married women who are getting used to a new surname. See also Forgery, Name

Silk
Fabrics made of silk denote high ambition that is satised. Old silk indicates a pride in ancestors.

Silver
Dreaming of silver may mean you are too dependent on money at the expense of contentment with more basic things. This may bring anxiety.

Singing
In order to interpret this dream, you will need to recall the title of the song you were singing or listening to. Singing out of tunean omen of troublesome times ahead. See also Music

Sister See Family, Siblings

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SYMBOLISM

Skeleton/skull
Your subconscious is trying to remind you that you need to know someone a little better before you make a judgment about him or her because appearances can be deceptive. Such a dream may also reect a fear of death.

Sky
Signies the heavens, boundless space and perhaps avoidance of problems. Or it may relate to creativity that needs to be encouraged.

Sleep/sleeping
The dream may have an obvious meaning, such as that you need more sleep, or it may indicate that some part of the emotions is dead/asleep. Nappingdreams of taking naps during the day signify feelings of ease and plenty, and are an omen of nancial security.

Smoke
A signal from your subconscious that plans you have been making could be fraught with danger. See also Fire

Smoking
Dream of smoking where it is prohibited and this could well be a sign that you would dearly like to break with convention, even at the risk of the world branding you an eccentric.

Smuggling
There is likely to be some guilty secret that

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you share and that you fear the other party might accidentally reveal. See also Crime

Snakes See Animals Snow

The emotions are cold, either those of the dreamer or of someone else. Clean snowsignies innocence. Dirty snowimplies guilt. See also Ice

Soldiers
May refer to self-control or to discipline from outside, or perhaps a desire for a heroic life. See also Army

Spade
There is hard work to be done.

Speech
There is something you feel very strongly about but are far too reserved to discuss openly in waking life.

Sports See Games Stage

You will need to consider the part you were playing if you dream of appearing on stage, in order to understand the underlying signicance of this symbolism.

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SYMBOLISM

Forgotten linesalmost certainly suggests a lack of condence in waking life. See also Actor/actress, Applause, Fame, Theater

Stain See Dirtiness Stairs

Climbing stairssignies the achievement of ambition. Falling downstairsyou have doubts about former aspirations. See also Escalator, Falling

Stars
A sign that you are striving to achieve some important personal goal. See also Scientist, Sky

Starvation
Dreams of food relate to the emotions. Thus, a dream of starvation is indicative of emotional deprivation and a feeling that you are destined to cope alone. See also Food

Stealing
Dreamer stealsit will be necessary to look at the motives of some of your actions. Dreamer accused of stealingbeware the misunderstanding of friends. See also Burglary, Crime, Robbery

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Stilts
You have been feeling somewhat insignicant of late and are making a plea to the world to take more notice of you.

Stock exchange
Making a prot on sharesan omen of happiness. Making a loss on sharesyou are fearful that a once meaningful relationship is close to its end. See also Gambling, Money

Stone
Indicates concern about a lack of feeling if people or live animals are turned to stone.

Stork See Birds Storm

You can expect a stormy scene or argument with a loved one. See also Lightning

Stranger
A male stranger who gures in a big way in a dream indicates the hidden part of the personality.

Strike
Dream of going on strike, and the chances are that either you would like to draw some aspect of your life to a conclusion or that you bear an unspoken grudge.

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SYMBOLISM

Subway
Your subconscious is advising you, by using a symbolic direct route, to get straight to the point in negotiations you are conducting.

Success
Probably an attempt to compensate for a sense of failure.

Suicide
Far from being an omen of your own impending death, such a dream is a sign that you should change direction in life. See also Death

Sun
Sunbathingusually an omen of fulllment and happiness. Getting sunburnedbe wary of anyone who is excessively charming on a rst meeting. See also Eclipse

Surgeon
You may have the feeling that someone is interfering with your life. See also Hospital, Operation

Swan See Birds Swimming

Winning a raceyou will soon achieve remarkable success.

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Out of your depththis is almost certainly how you feel in waking life at work or within a current relationship. See also Drowning, Water

Table See Furniture Taxes

You feel a debt towards someone for the help that has been given to you. See also Money

Teacher
Dreamer as teacherhe or she is willing to help others learn. Alternatively, it could mean a desire to have more authority or a fear of using such authority. Others as teachersthey could be able to help the dreamer, or the dreamer might be afraid of being judged for some action or of being regarded as inferior. See also School

Tears
If you dream of being in tears, it is likely that some small disaster will occur. If others cry, your unhappiness may affect other people.

Teasing
May be a reaction to unsatisfactory relationships. But it might also mean you are a cheerful and popular person.

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SYMBOLISM

Teeth
It is exceedingly common to dream of losing a tooth, or even of all ones teeth falling out. Such a dream may well occur simply because you grind or gnash your teeth in your sleep. But the dream may also be a reminder from your subconscious that it is time to make an appointment with the dentist. It can also be an omen of nancial problems.

Telephone
Sometimes a sign that someone is anxious to contact you but is hesitating to do so in case you would not welcome communication. Alternatively, your subconscious may be reminding you to contact someone else.

Television
Your subconscious is advising you not to be too much of a spectator in life but to be more participatory, living it to the full. See also Radio

Temper See Argument, Rage Terror See Fear Theater

You would dearly like to be the center of attention for once. See also Actor/actress, Applause, Stage

Thirst
If you are thirsty in your dream, this may actu-

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ally be the case in waking life. However, your subconscious may be resorting to use of a pun, thereby showing that you are thirsting after something or someone. See also Alcohol, Drink

Throne See Royalty Thunder See Storm Tide

Incoming tidemay mean you will soon be better off. Outgoing tideyou will have something more to worry about. See also Beach, Sea

Tie
In a womans dreamif she buys a man a tie,

she is symbolically entering into a physical relationship with him. In a mans dreamif he has problems in xing his tie, this relates to fears of impotence.

Time
A daya symbol for a life

The morningmeans youth. The afternoonsignies maturity. The eveningthe close of life. See also Clock

Tower
If you dream of a tower in the distance, you may be wasting your time in a relationship.

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SYMBOLISM

Toys
Buying toysyour subconscious is warning you against frivolity. Playing with toysyou would like more free time for relaxation. See also Child/children, Doll

Trafc jam
You feel that you have reached an impasse in waking life, and are failing to make progress. See also Journeys

Train See Journeys Tramp

You would dearly like to shed the chains of convention and responsibility and, as it were, be your own person for a change.

Transformation
If something is changed into another thing, the two are connected and may be opposites in the dreamer, two sides to his or her nature. Dreamer becoming a beastshows an awareness that some of the dreamers behavior is unacceptable. The beautiful becoming uglystands for the conict between desire and inhibition.

Travel
You may be searching for new elds and excitements. Take note of the surroundings: they

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will give you a more precise clue about your feelings. See also Accent, Journeys

Treasure
An omen that you will nally succeed after sustained effort. See also Gold, Money, Prize

Tree
There is frequently a spiritual signicance, indicating a desire for knowledge and a seeking after truth. Cutting down r treesyou may be harboring fears of impending disaster. Walking through r treessignies good fortune and happiness. See also Foliage, Forest, Fungus, Jungle

Triangle
This is a good omen and may refer to the Christian Trinity, the three aspects of the individualbeing, consciousness and loveor the spiritual side of the dreamer. See also Pyramid

Trumpet
Those who dream of blowing a trumpet will be surprised by some unexpected success. See also Music

Tunnel See Journeys, Subway

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SYMBOLISM

Twins/triplets
Having a multiple birthmay have nothing to do with pregnancy as such, but relate instead to two (or more) distinct parts of your personality that are in conict. Colleague or friend as your twinan indication that you have discovered an entirely surprising side to that persons nature. See also Baby, Birth, Child/children, Siblings

Ugliness
A depressing outcome of a relationship.

Ukulele
Hearing or seeing this instrument being played in a dream may be drawing your attention to something in the past, when life seemed simpler and more enjoyable. Playing a ukulelea dream of escape into an easier life. See also Music

Umbrella
Your subconscious is telling you to take certain steps to ensure you are safe not only from the elements as such but from condence tricksters or thieves.

Undressing
A sign that you fear someone will discover something about you that you would rather remained a secret. See also Nudity

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Uniform
You would like to be accepted as part of a

group, whereas you feel very much an outsider on the whole.

University
Your subconscious is reminding you that your rewards will come eventually through sustained effort. See also Examination, School

Upholstery
Luxurious upholsterydenotes your satisfaction with your domestic arrangements. Worn-out upholsterymay be an early sign that things at home need to change. See also Furniture

Urn
Funeral urnthe portent is of travel to unknown places. If the urn contains the ashes of someone known to you, you may be regretting a failed friendship or estrangement.

Vampire
An unpleasant symbol which probably relates to your negative and destructive side.

Vegetables
May refer to a feeling that your life is dull. According to an old dream guide, Withered or decayed vegetables bring unmitigated woe and sadness. See also Food

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SYMBOLISM

Veil
There is something you want to hide.

Ventriloquist
This is again very much how you feel in waking life: like an automaton and in need of a change of routine. It may also be a warning dream, indicating that you should be more careful about what you say and to whom. See also Puppet

Vertigo
A sign that you inwardly fear that lifes everyday problems could well end up in a turmoil. See also Falling

Victim
Dreamer as victimyou probably feel that you are misunderstood and have enemies. Others as victimsyou may feel you are undeservedly successful.

Vine/vineyard
An omen for good fortune.

Violence See Aggression, Fight, Murder, Rape, War Violin

Serenadeusually indicates a desire for romance in ones life. Playing untunefullyan inner fear that you will never achieve your ambitions. See also Music, Orchestra

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Virgin Mary
Usually a sign of forthcoming happiness. At times, too, she is the archetypal dream symbol of motherhood.

Volcano
If an eruption is taking place, the dream is a warning that there is serious inner turmoil which needs to be examined. Lava pouring over a landscape is a warning that illness may be impending.

Vomiting
You wish to rid yourself of certain unpleasant factors in your life. See also Illness

Voting See Election Voyage See Journeys, Sea, Ship, Travel Walking See Journeys Walls
Jumping over a wallyou should be able to overcome present difculties through sheer effort. Falling from a wallprospects are not so bright.

War
A sign of friction within the family or, perhaps, on the work front. See also Aggression, Army, Battle, Fight, Soldiers

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SYMBOLISM

Warts
On your handsyou are likely to come into money. On othersa sign that you suspect hostility.

Washing
The person who is washing is probably feeling or should be feeling guilty.

Water
It is very common to dream of water. The amount of water and the mood and circumstances of the dreamer are important in interpretation. It can mean vigor, birth, death or cleansing (or the absence or fear of these). See also Flood, Lagoon, Lake, Ocean, River, Sea

Wealth
Accumulation of moneysymbolic of the desire for increased knowledge and wisdom. The wealth of othersan indication that you have reliable friends. See also Bank, Gold, Millionaire, Money

Weapons
In all dreams about weapons there is a strong element of aggression and maybe even a deathwish. The mood of the dream is important. However, the aggression may be accompanied by bravery. See also Aggression, Guns, Knife

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Wedding
Dreamed by a womangenerally a wish-

fulllment dream. Dreamed by a mana deep need to resolve two opposing ideas that are bothering you. See also Bride, Bridegroom, Marriage

Weight
You are concerned by overwhelming troubles right now, or even, quite simply, worried about a few extra pounds you have put on. Traditionally, however, many religions put forward the idea that the soul is weighed after death or judgment. Your dream may therefore represent some concern about past behavior. See also Obesity

Wheel
May refer to the wheel of fortune. See also Paddlewheel

Whirlpool
You feel anxious about being drawn into things against your better judgment, or are utterly confused about a present state of affairs.

Whirlwind
You are anxious about the prospect of sudden change in your lifestyle.

Will
Making a willa sign that your subconscious is concerned that your affairs are not in order, or

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SYMBOLISM

anxiety over how those close to you will cope after your death. The reading of a willyou seek greater recognition on the part of family and friends. See also Inheritance

Wind
Light windsthe lifeforce or transformation. Strong windsan unsettling situation and perhaps anger. See also Storm

Window
Closed windowif you could not open it, you fear deep down that you are failing to communicate successfully with others. Open windowyou are seeking a new way of life. Idealized landscape beyondsignies a yearning for greater satisfaction generally. Face at the windowyou fear criticism for some past action.

Wine
Drunk in friendly circumstancesthe omens are happy. Combined with drunkennessthere may be a problem with alcohol. See also Alcohol, Drunkenness

Witch/wizard
Dreamer as the witchyou are expressing repressed anger at someone.

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Encounter with a witchyou fear that someone is plotting against you. On a broomsticksometimes taken to have sexual signicance.

Words
Threatsthe dreamers conscience is disturbed. Bad languagesome inner problem needs looking at. Faint wordsperhaps the dreamer has not understood or does not want to understand something. See also Accusation, Argument, Language, Speech

Wounds
The dreamer fears mutilation, scarring, castration, loss of virginity, impotence. Generally, it is a cry for help.

Wreck See Accident, Crash, Journeys Writing

Taking pen to paperyou seek an outlet for creativity in waking life. Analysing someone elses handwriting you fear that persons motives. Take particular note of the content of the writing in your dream. See also Illiteracy, Letter, Words

Wrong
To be in the wrong place or at the wrong time means the dreamer has a sense of wrongdoing.

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SYMBOLISM

X rays
You are fearful of revealing your true, inner feelings to a loved one. Such a dream may also be a pointer to deep concerns about your own or someone elses physical health. See also Doctor, Hospital, Illness

Yacht
In choppy seasthere could be stormy times ahead. In calm seasyou are likely to come into money before too long. Alone on a simple craftyou are in need of a break from the pressures of daily life. See also Sea, Ship

Zipper
If the zip is stuck, this is very much how you feel in waking life: in a rut and anxious for some element of change. Alternatively, your subconscious may be speaking in puns: perhaps it is saying that you really need more zip or excitement in your life.

Zoo
Contented caged animalsyour subconscious is expressing its wish for a contented family life. Frustrated caged animalsyou would dearly like to escape from some restrictive situation either at home or at work. See also Animals, Cage

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Dream Diary

eing able to commit your dreams to memory is a rare talent, since they fade as quickly as the morning frost. You may be able to recount the dream to a friend quite soon after wakingand, perhaps, even during the daybut you are bound to forget it eventually. So resolve to keep a dream diary.

A TOOL FOR UNDERSTANDING

Since dreams are messages from the unconscious mind, they shed light on the deepest of secrets. We can only piece together some meaning from them if we can recall them vividly enough, or see a pattern emerging from their occurrence.

HOW TO KEEP THE DIARY

Keeping a dream diary helps you to understand yourself more fully, and as you become more practiced, it will also become a pleasure. At rst, what you remember may be rather sketchy. But as you

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study your notes, many more details will probably come to mind. You could keep a note-pad by the bedside, writing up each dream in a rough form immediately when you wake. Then, later, you can transfer the information to an ofcial dream diary, using your rough notes as a memory aid.

Precise information
In order for your diary to serve as a practical record, you will need to write down as much about the dream as possible in order to study it later from different angles. 1. You should put in the day you had the dream, the date, the time and, if recording several dreams, the order in which the dreams occurred. 2. Describe the mood or atmosphere. These give a strong clue to the meaning of the dream, and may linger for hours, days or even weeks, even though the images fade fast. 3. Put in as much detail on the content as possible. 4. Under a category called Additional notes, list some of the important events that have happened within the past day or so, and any that you look forward to. This might help shed light on the formation of your dreams, which inevitably incorporate elements of daytime experiences, and of the people you meet.

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USING THE DIARY FOR SELF-EXAMINATION

Soon after you start to record your dreams, you should try to understand the way in which your mind produces symbols (see also chapter 6). Many symbols are produced by associationthe creation of images that are connected in the dreamers mind with the idea or emotion that is the real subject of the dream. Some symbols are common to most peoplefor example, water is widely associated with emotions and re with power.

Personal symbols
Personal associations in everyday life often occur symbolically in dreams. For example, what do you associate with your car or other pieces of personal property? If you associate your car with sex, then whenever a car appears in a dream, it symbolizes sex. However, if your car represents a safe refuge, then it will have that meaning in your dreams.

Aid to self-knowledge
When you look over the diary after a month, say, you could discover some signicant patterns in the subject matter of your dreams. This permanent record may gain you an insight into your deepest desires and fears. You may nd, for instance, that a certain repetitive dream always occurs on a Sunday night or early Monday morning, revealing your innermost feelings about the prospect of your working week.

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DREAM DIARY

A DREAM DIARY

is used to record dreams before they fade should be done in rough notes upon waking will bring greater self-insight means recording events and mood should include recent past and future happenings might allow recognition of patterns and repeats

SAMPLE DREAM DIARIES

The examples that follow show how all the important factors can be tabulated.

Sample Dream Diaries

253

Day of week Wednesday Date March 5, 2003 T ime Woke at 4:30 AM Content Leave clients office. Cannot remember where I parked car. Seem to search for hours. Then find it, but I should not be driving as have not passed test and have no license. Drive home, terrified that police may stop me. Mood Great anxiety Colors Red car Additional Notes Overwhelming feeling of guilt, even though have never knowingly broken the law in everyday life. Six week before, failed exams.

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DREAM DIARY

Day of week Friday Date March 7, 2003 T ime Woke at 7 AM Content Wander into a department store and up escalator. Stand at the scarf counter and speak to sales assistant. She is very attractive, but when she leans over to tie scarf around my neck, she turns into window dummy. Mood Disappointment/gloom Colors Dull, bright green scarf Additional Notes Everyone in the store was walking as if underwater. Had recently met young woman whom I was thinking of asking out.

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255

Day of week Sunday/Monday Date March 10, 2003 T ime Woke at 3:15 AM Content Dreamed I was in office staring out at magnificent rainbow. Expecting someone to come in and question me about certain files. Accountant walks past, and out of window. Said he had to check how much money in the bucket at end of rainbow. Mood Mixed-joy and concern. Colors Brilliant Additional Notes A sense of wonder at the beauty of the world. But underlying worry about my part in it. Have job interview in a weeks time.

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D R E A M LO R E

Glossary

anima/animus A gure of the opposite sex to that of the dreamer who contains some of the dreamers characteristics. These terms are also used to convey the feminine (emotional, instinctive) qualities within the man or the masculine (intellectual, reective) qualities within the woman. archetypes According to Jung, who coined the word, these are universal symbols important in the formation of dreams. The horse, for example, represents the animal side of a personand, therefore, the unconscious mind, which cannot be tamed. Other archetypal symbols include the mother, representing, for instance, nature, the womb, instinctive life; the shadow, or the unrecognized side of the person; the mandala, or magic circle, which represents the self and its striving for wholeness; and the creation of the world, a myth told in similar ways by many different cultures. astral projection In esoteric lore, the astral body is an exact counterpart to the physical body, in

Glossary

257

which it is encased. Projection occurs when the astral body breaks free just before death or during certain dreams. See also out-of-body experience. ego (from Latin and Greek words for I or self) According to Freud, this is the conscious self that uses logic and judgment in dealing with the world, and is guided by what he termed the reality principle. The ego is supposed to keep the id under control. See also id, superego. electroencephalogram or EEG The graphic record of brainwaves. It is traced by an electroencephalograph, which translates electrical energy from the brain into visual patterns. hypnogogic state The moments between waking and sleepingwhen the mind begins to lose touch with daily reality. During this period, the mind sometimes conjures eeting, hallucinatory images. The same term is now also applied to the state between sleeping and waking. id (Latin for it) In Freudian theory, this is the primitive, instinctual and childish part of the personality that obeys the pleasure principle. See also ego, superego. incubation Inducing dreams, both in ancient and modern times. The Egyptians and Greeks used to sleep overnight in a special sanctuary, hoping to incubate dreams that would contain divine answers to their problems, often about health. lucid dream The dreamer is suddenly aware that he or she is dreaming, alerted because of something strangely inconsistent. Lucid dreams are memorably vivid. They can be induced and controlled.

258

G LO S SA RY

near-death experience (NDE) The mind or soul leaves the body and goes to a more peaceful and joyful level of existence, before rejoining the body. Near-death experiences occur during illness. See also out-of-body experience. noradrenaline One of two arousal hormones released by the adrenal glandsthe other is adrenaline. Both trigger body changes in response to strong emotions, such as fear, anger and sexual aggression. During sleep, less noradrenaline is produced. This may be partly why people in REM sleep are especially difcult to wake. See also serotonin. oracle In classical antiquity, a place where deities were consulted via priests, and the response given at such a place. Also refers to a person whose words were regarded as wise and authoritative. Petitioners often brought dreams for interpretation, though the answers were sometimes obscure and even misleading. out-of-body experience (OBE) A sense that an individual is separated from his or her physical body, and can view it from above. Some people claim they can generate OBEs at will. Sometimes also used for false awakening, an illusion of having woken when still asleep and dreaming. paradoxical sleep Another term for REM sleep the stage of the sleep cycle associated with dreaming in which the rapid eye movements of the sleeper indicate sleep, not wakefulness. See also REM sleep. precognition The ability to perceive future events through the use of extrasensory perception. In

Glossary

259

dreams, it frequently concerns disasters or accidents, perhaps reecting the dreamers unconscious anxiety. REM sleep The stage of light sleep especially associated with vivid dreams, recurring about every 90 minutes in the sleep cycle. Its features include rapid movement of the pupils, quick and shallow breathing and paralysis of the large body muscles (though ngers and toes may twitch). serial dreams Continuation of a theme or story through several succeeding dreams. Some individuals are able to dream, wake up, go back to sleep and continue with the same dream. serotonin A hormone that helps to transmit nerve impulses in the brain. One of its functions may be to regulate the work of organs during light sleep. See also noradrenaline. shadow One of Jungs archetypes and a gure of the same sex as the dreamer. Usually it represents the ignored part of the personality because the dreamer does not like what he or she stands for. subconscious The part of the mind considered not fully conscious, but still able to inuence action. See also unconscious. superego That part of the human psyche concerned with morality, so called by Freud because it is above, or superior to, the ego. Freud regarded this as the third part of the personality. See also ego, id. symbol In the dream worldand in daily life these are objects that are representative of something else and have a special meaning. In

260

G LO S SA RY

interpreting dreams, it is important to analyse their symbolic content, since the unconscious usually speaks to us through symbols. unconscious That part of the mind, according to Freud, that contains all the memories of childhood including the instincts and emotions forgotten by the conscious mind. Jung, however, thought there were two parts to the unconscious: the personal unconscious (half-remembered thoughts or ideas that constitute a complex), and the collective unconscious, containing racial memoriesshared myths and storieswith which each of us is supposedly born. See also subconscious.

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261

Index
A Aborigines, Australian, 15, 36 Adler, Alfred, 33, 34 Aesculapius, 6 Aggression in dreams, 3536 Alcohol, 61 American Indians, North, 15 Anima/animus, 256 Anxiety dreams, 4345 Apollo, 6, 7 Archetypes, 256 Aristides, 6 Aristotle, 9 Artemidorus, 9, 37 Artharva-Veda, 14 Assyrians, 4, 1213 Astral projection, 25657 Augustus, 9 B Babylonians, 34 Book of Dreams and Ghosts, 43 Buddha, 14 C Caesar, Julius, 44 Caffeine, 61 Calpurnia, 44 Chicago, University of, 23 Childrens dreams, 36 Clairvoyant dreams, 40, 4245 Coffee, 61 Coleridge, Samuel Taylor, 45 Comfort in bed, effects of, 62 Common dreams, 38 Compensatory dreams, 40, 5152 Consciousness anatomy of, 1718 levels of, 19 and sleep, 2023

262

INDEX Ego, 257 Egyptians, ancient, 56, 11, 1213 Electroencephalogram (EEG), 257 Electroencephalograph (EEG machine), 19, 25, 257 Epidaurus, 6 F Factual dreams, 40, 5051 Faraday, Ann, 51 Ferenczi, Sandor, 41, 42 Food, effects of, 6061 Freud, Sigmund, 3233, 34, 3941, 42, 52 G Gaugin, Paul, 46 Genesis, Book of, 11 Gilgamesh, 4 Greeks, ancient, 69, 1213 H Hall, Calvin, 3536 Hartmann, Ernest, 36 Hebrews, 1013 Hermes, 8 Hindus, 14 Homer, 9 Huron, 15 Hypnogogic state, 257 Hypnos, 8 I Id, 257

Consciousness (contd) and unconsciousness, 1617 Creative dreams, 40, 4546 D Dal, Salvador, 46 Dee, Nerys, 49, 50 Delphi, 6, 7 Descartes, Ren, 1718 Diary of dreams, 24955 Dickens, Charles, 46 Distortion of reality in dreams, 3031 Dream demons, 3738 Dream Power, 51 Dreamers Workbook, The, 49, 50 Dreams, types of, 3953 anxiety, 4345 clairvoyant, 40, 4245 compensatory, 40, 5152 creative, 40, 4546 factual, 40, 5051 lucid, 5459, 257 physiological, 40, 5253 problem-solving, 40, 4748 repetitive, 40, 4850 safety-valve, 3942 sequential, 40, 4850 Dreamtime, 15 Drugs, effects of, 61 E Edison, Thomas, 47 EEG, 257

Index Image distortion, 31 Incubation, 257 Incubus, 3738 Insomnia, 6364 Inspiration from dreams, 4546 Interpretation of Dreams, The, 39 Iroquois, 15 J Jacobs Ladder, 10 Japanese, 1415 Jekyll and Hyde, 46 Joseph, 11 Jung, Carl, 3334, 5152 K Kekule, Friedrich August, 47 Kubla Khan, 45 L Lang, Andrew, 43 Lincoln, Abraham, 43 Lore of dreams, 315 Lucid dreams, 5459, 257 Lucid nightmares, 58 M Mamu, 4 Memphis, temple at, 6 Mind, unconscious, 1638 Mohammed, 15 Morpheus, 89 Music from dreams, 45 Muslims, 15 N Near-death experience (NDE), 59, 258 Nightmares, 36, 6061 lucid, 58 Noise, effects of, 62 Noradrenaline, 258 O OBEs see Out-of-body experiences Oneirocritica, 10 Oracle, 258 Out-of-body experiences (OBEs), 5859, 258

263

P Paradoxical sleep, 258 Perls, Fritz, 34 Pharaoh, 11 Physiological dreams, 40, 5253 Poetry from dreams, 45 Posture during dreaming, 27 Precognition, 25859 Problem-solving dreams, 40, 4748 Psalms, Book of, 11 Psyche and dreams, 3234 Puns, 30 R Rapid Eye Movement (REM) see REM sleep Reading in bed, 6263

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INDEX Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, The, 46 Subconscious, 259 Succubus, 3738 Superego, 259 Surrealists, 46 Sweet dreams, 6064 Symbol, denition of in dreams, 25960 Symbolism of dreams, 65248 T Tartini, Giuseppe, 45 Tea, 61 Tension, reducing, 62 Thanatos, 8 Topics in dreams, 3438 U Unconscious mind, 1638, 260 Usa, temple at, 15 V van Eeden, Frederick, 56 von Stradovitz, Friedrich August Kekule, 47 W Warning dreams, 43 Z Zulus, 35

Reality distortion in dreams, 3031 REM sleep, 20, 24, 2526, 2829, 259 Repetitive dreams, 40, 4850 Romans, 910 S Sacred Orations, 6 Safety-valve dreams, 3942 Samuel (prophet), 10 Seat of dreams, 18 Sequential dreams, 40, 4850 Serial dreams, 259 Serotonin, 259 Sexual dreams, 3638 Shadow (Jungian), 259 Sleep amount required, 20, 60 duration of, 2022 explanation of, 18 lack of, 22 the need for, 22 physiological changes during, 2223 sleep laboratories, 25-27 sleep patterns and dreams, 2327 stages of, 24 stages when we dream, 2829 Solomon, King, 10 Stevenson, Robert Louis, 46

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