The science of dreaming has always interested me. However, it is the psychology of dream interpretation that fascinates me.
Sigmund Freud's "The Interpretation of Dreams"marked him as one of the earliest psychologists to study the meaning behind dreams and the unconscious mind. Sigmund Freud theorized that dreams were a form of wish fulfillment.
According to "The Girls' Guide to Dreams" by Kristi Collier-Thompson, there are several common dreams that have deep psychological meaning.
1. Taking a test
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Who knew school could haunt us in our sleeping hours as well as our waking ones? Unsurprisingly, dreams about taking tests or exams are common among students.
The outcome of the exam determines the meaning of the dream. See a giant red 'F'? Dreaming about failing points to unpreparedness for an upcoming test. Got an 'A+'? You're a confident test-taker!
If the grade is not revealed to you or you wake up before you finish the exam, the dream could merely reflect your anxiety and insecurity about test-taking. Working on your control can mean the difference between a high grade or a low one.
2. Invisibility
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Invisibility is one of the coolest superpowers, but experiencing invisibility in a dream is not always an amazing experience.
Dreams in which you are invisible can mean that you feel rejected, ignored, or neglected by others. These feelings from your life manifest themselves as a physical "invisibility" in your dreams.
This type of dream could also signal that you are ignoring an emotion or problem, in the hopes that it will disappear. You need to recognize and acknowledge this emotion or issue, because chances are, it will not simply fade away.
3. Chasing (or being chased)
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Everyone knows that "chasing" something means working hard to obtain something you want in life. The dreamscape is no different; if you dream that you are chasing after something, you are trying desperately to achieve some kind of goal.
The flip side of this kind of dream is when something else is chasing you. Quite basically, this dream is a manifestation of your fear.
The pursuer can be interpreted in a myriad of ways: a problem you do not want to face, a person who is troubling you, or even a part of yourself you refuse to acknowledge. What are you running from?
4. Driving a car
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If you dream that you are driving a car, pay attention to the kind of car and the quality. Your driving symbolizes the way you approach problems and attempt to reach your goals.
Depending on the condition and style of the car (i.e. rundown vs. brand new) and your style of driving (reckless vs. attentive), you may be engaging in risky problem-solving behavior, or you may be great at approaching difficult situations.
If the car won't start, this means that you may have trouble moving forward in your aspirations.
Interestingly, if you are the passenger, pay attention to who the driver is. The person driving the car can be interpreted as someone who has control over your life and limits your everyday freedom.
5. Falling
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The classic falling dream is one of the most ubiquitous dream themes. You nearly hit the ground when suddenly you jolt awake, safe in bed.
Falling dreams represent anxiety, especially the feeling that your life is out of control. You may feel overwhelmed by the stressors in your life, or your inability to perform.
Try to let some of these stressors go. If you believe that you will fail, you cannot hope to succeed.
6. Palace or mansion
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A luxurious mansion appearing in your dream symbolizes comfort, security, and, of course, wealth.
If you are treated like royalty in your dream, this directly corresponds to the way you think you should be treated in real life. You desire recognition and appreciation.
If your palace looks straight out of a fairy tale, either you've been watching too many Disney Princess movies, or you have fallen into a form of escapism. You may wish that you could escape into your own imagination, and a pre-determined "happy ending", instead of facing reality.
7. Phone call
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If a phone rings in your dream, or you dream about the sound of your alarm, you dream is alerting you to wake up! This can be interpreted both literally and metaphorically.
Literally, a phone ringing or an alarm sounding in your dream could be the sounds of the waking world around filtering into your sleeping state. Your dream is telling you that sleep time is over, and you need to wake up.
Metaphorically, the dream could also be insisting that you should pay attention to your unconscious thoughts. Listen carefully to what your unconscious mind is trying to get through to you.
8. Flying
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If you dream about flying, enjoy it while you can! I personally find flying dreams to be fun and free.
Truly, flying dreams allow the dreamer to experience freedom, joy, and other purely positive emotions. If you dream about flying, it may be a way for your unconscious mind to revel in a recent achievement, or successfulness.
Flying dreams show that you are able to perform well, and are headed upwards in life!
9. Death
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Many people have experienced dying in their dreams. It can be a scary and shocking experience, although a dream about death is not a death omen. If you die in a dream, that is not a signal that something bad will befall you.
Actually, a dream about your own death could point to self-destructive behaviors. One example of a self-destructive behavior could be an unhealthy friendship.
Your dream is essentially alerting you that part of your life is causing you harm, and you should make a major change.
Alternatively, if you dream about the death of someone else who is still alive, this may indicate that you are neglecting them, mistreating them, or taking them for granted. The death dream tries to show you the consequences of treating this person poorly.
Sigmund Freud believed that feelings of guilt often surfaced in or drove dreams, and this theory is evident in this type of common dream.
10. A wall
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A wall appearing in a dream symbolizes an obstacle. The wall could be impassable, signifying that you cannot overcome the obstacles in your life. However, if you can climb over the wall, you are currently overcoming your obstacles.
Another interpretation is based on the common phrase "putting up walls". Your dream could be urging you to put down your walls, open up, let others in, and be honest about your feelings.
On the contrary, a wall could mean that you should set more limits in your life, and protect yourself and your privacy. Setting clear boundaries is important for your own safety and happiness.
Whether you are building walls or knocking them down, keep in mind that though walls provide defense and protection, they also can confine you and isolate you.
