12 Common Dreams And Symbols And What They Mean

the mystery behind dreams)

Humankind has been wondering about the mystery behind dreams since the beginning of time. Even to this day, why we dream is still one of the behavioral sciences’ greatest unanswered questions. The content and purpose of dreams are not fully understood and have been a topic of scientific speculation. Though there is no concrete evidence to prove the symbolism of the different objects, people, places, and situations that you see in our dreams, here are some possible connections they could have to your real life.

1. Water

symbol of your emotions

In a dream, water is a symbol of your emotions or your unconscious mind. You can tell the state of your mind by the quality of the water: clear, cloudy, calm, turbulent etc. It provides insight into how well you are managing your emotions.

2. People

different aspects of the self

The people you see in your dreams are a reflection of the different aspects of the self. Specific people relate to existing relationships or interpersonal issues you need to work on. Dreaming of a lover, in particular, is usually symbolic of an aspect of yourself, from which you feel detached.

3. Falling

your life is out of control)

There are different types of falling and not all are negative. Some dreamers find themselves falling slowly which indicates serenity and the act of letting go. Falling uncontrollably from a great height indicates that something in your life is out of control.

4. Being Chased

your life needs to change)

Being chased is one dream that most people have had. This could be because of the anxiety you feel in the dream that makes you remember it. In most cases, the reason for such a dream is not the fear of being chased but running away from something in your life. This dream may be telling you that something in your life needs to change.

5. Paralysis

an indication of a lack of control

Though most people do not know this, your body is actually encountering a form of paralysis during dreaming. This prevents it from physically performing the actions occurring in their dreams. Such dreams represent the overlap between the REM (Rapid Eye Movement) stage and waking stage of sleep. It could also be an indication of a lack of control in real life.

6. House

representation of your mind)

The house that you see in your dreams is a representation of your mind. Different levels or rooms may relate to different aspects of your life and different degrees of consciousness. The basement often represents what has been neglected; the bedrooms relate to intimate thoughts that are closest to you.

7. Vehicles

getting to your destination

Dreams sometimes have vehicles like a car, airplane, train or ship. The reflect what direction we feel our life is taking, and how much control we think we have over the path ahead of us. Vehicles can give you the power to make a transition and foresee yourself getting to your destination.

8. Food

(directly related to our intellect

While foodies like to say they even dream about food, in reality, food symbolizes energy, knowledge or nourishment and is directly related to our intellect, emotions, and spirituality. It could also be possible that you’re hungry for something like information or knowledge.

9. Death

dramatic change happening

In the world, death should not be taken literally. Though perceived as negative, it’s often more directly related to dramatic change happening in your life. The end of something and the beginning of a new phase.

10. Flying

reflection of how much control)

How you fly in a dream is a reflection of how much control you feel you have in your life, and whether you are confident about achieving our goals. Flying high will give you an ecstatic feeling while skimming low to the ground or being caught in obstacles like power lines can be quite frustrating.

11. Nudity

(insight into the emotion)

Nudity in a dream is often the result of emotional or psychological exposure or vulnerability. The body part that’s exposed can give more insight into the emotion that your dreams are helping you to understand.

12. Sex

outlet for sexual expression

If you’re dreaming about sex, many times is just because you’re not having enough and your dreams become an outlet for sexual expression. However, sex can also symbolize intimate connections with one’s self and others.