Some people would surely jump at any conclusion upon waking up with the ideas formed through what they have dreamed of. However, there are some dream symbols that seem to be irrational or incomplete due to the possibility of these being forgotten when one has already awakened. To avoid these concerns, people should be able to follow some very easy techniques in order to analyze their dreams even as beginners in the field of dream psychology. In the studies of Freud and Jung, the dream meanings have been found to come from the unconscious mind telling the person of certain warnings and fulfillment of goals. These can be done through these simple steps upon waking up, either in the morning or in the middle of the night.

1. Before going to sleep, keep a notepad and pen ready at the bedside. This will keep the person ready to write down thoughts as soon as possible at any time. It would also be helpful to put a date on top of the sheet to ensure that all details are available, in case there is a chronological or repetitive dream.

2. Upon awaking, recall or replay the events in the dream. Jot down the dream symbols and events that hold most of one’s interest or those that created emotions. Determining these feelings may also be relayed by matching the emotion with the event or dream symbol.

3. During a quiet time, it would be good to go through the notes that were made on the dream notebook to recall the events and feelings. Add some thoughts and additional information that might have been forgotten.

4. Clear the mind of any concerns and worries by doing some stretching, relaxation, and breathing exercises.

5. With this collection, the person can now try to relate these thoughts to the events encountered in reality. Most of these would surely relate to daily responsibilities such as family concerns, work, or school. There are also instances when the strongest feelings and concerns that a person experiences, especially those that are repressed or kept in much secrecy, arises in relation to the dream.

6. If there is a feeling of uncertainty, it would be best to revisit the dream collection later on after a few days. The time for this will allow a person to reflect more on the experience and clarify one’s mind.

In having an understanding of one’s dream, a person is able to have a clear picture of how the mind works. It is also a way that the mind and body relay the information and its beliefs to the person which is through dream symbols. There is no harm in finding out about one’s dreams because it is usually something that would aid the decision making responsibilities of a person like that of what Jungian dream psychology has been explaining for several years now.

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The unconscious mind contains the two distinctions, namely the personal and collective. The personal distinction holds the individual experiences of a person, while the collective distinction grasps the dream symbols that appear, having the same sequences in all human beings.

Dream symbols appear in similar formats based on the theories of Carl Jung.

• The Persona signifies the images and dream symbols that is directly associated with the real world. These are mostly disguised and have dream meanings that pertain to one’s social status and distinction. The Persona is also labeled as the mask used by a person to present one’s self to the others. In dream interpretations, the Persona shows the relationship that a person would want the world to accept and a character that could protect one from rejection.

• The Shadow is the underdeveloped part of the human psyche, containing characteristics of a person that evolves based on the life experiences one encounters. This presents the unconscious dream meanings that imply a person’s instincts and weaknesses. In Jungian dream psychology, the Shadow contains the unconscious desires and experiences that the mind keeps which is basically rooted in childhood. The irrational instincts involve a projection of one’s flaws to the incapacities of others, forming an illusion with reality and symbolisms encountered in dream interpretations.

• The Animus or Anima is the idealistic image of man or a woman. Carl Jung’s dream psychology notes the Animus or Anima as the unconscious expression of one’s inner feminine or masculine personality. In dream symbols, it may present itself in a form of an existing human person as the ideal man or woman that a person idolizes. Because society has established gender roles, these distinct images are repressed and manifested as it is hidden in dream meanings.

Carl Jung’s dream psychology proposes that dream symbols cultivate creativity. He believed that all dreams come in a sequence to help a person develop and evolve as one delves into the dream interpretations presented by the psyche. The acceptance what dream meanings imply would help people in accepting and realizing the Self and the characteristics that a person possesses.

The theories of the studies of Carl Jung in dream psychology concentrates on the negative aspects of a person’s characteristics as it is masked and kept in dream symbols to avoid reality. As dream meanings are discovered, translated, and accepted people are able to transform and apply these negative characteristics to more positive means.

Jung suggests that individuals have the responsibility for their lives, regardless of the most painful and difficult circumstances. Responsibility in one’s actions and decisions should be achieved and avoid projecting one’s weaknesses to that of others. The patterns of dream symbols encountered by a person coordinate with one’s life experiences.

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Interpreters see dreams of being cold as the subconscious’ signal that one is too isolated from everybody else.  It is a signal that contact is needed from the constant isolation.  It can also mean that you are isolating yourself too much from your peers.

Dream interpreters will usually caution the dreamer to stay away from the cold object during the dream.  They see this object as omens to the person and bad luck will befall the dreamer if the object is not avoided.

To dream of the world as a cold place means that the dreamer is becoming more detached during his decision making.  Generally speaking cold dreams mean that there is some sort of break-away at some area in the dreamer’s life.

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The Babylonians had a simple take on dreams.  When dreams were good, they were from the gods.  However when one had nightmares or bad dreams then these were generally interpreted as demonic.

The Romans however, took dreams a little more seriously than the Babylonians.  Dreams were subject to debate in the senate and were regarded as messages from the gods.  The dreams were then interpreted and these were used as “guides” as to how the state proceeds with certain laws, actions and even war.

The Greeks were even more meticulous than their Roman counterparts.  The Greeks would purify themselves for two days before sleeping in temples in order to receive messages from the gods.  They would fast, abstain from sex and eat no meat or fowl.  The potential dreamer would then sleep in the temple of the god which he wished to invoke.  They believed that Hypnos would then send his son Morpheus in order to warn or give prophecies to those who slept at his temples.

The Hebrews like most other cultures believed that dreams were messages from the gods.  However, the Hebrews were monotheistic and believed in only one god.  So when they dreamed, they believed that it was God who spoke to them.

Lots of the Bible characters that we know used dreams to guide them and rally the Hebrews.  Jacob for example dreamed of a very tall ladder which reached the heavens where God stood at the very top.  He was promised by God that Israel would forever belong to the Jewish people.  It is these types of dreams and prophecy that had a great impact on the Hebrew religion and culture.

The Assyrians saw dreams as omens.  In fact one of the earliest recorded dreams was written in a clay tablet that was found in Nineveh and dated back to the time of King Ashurbanipal.  It stated that when one keeps on dreaming about flying, then all he owns will be lost.   The Assyrians believed that bad dreams are a sign that something is wrong, and that whatever it is should be corrected.  They also believed that one should always follow the advice in their dreams.

Dream interpretation during ancient times was centered on the gods and omens.  This is because man even during his infancy, sought to better himself and sought guidance from higher powers.  The same is still true in our modern world.  Dreams are thought of by some people as signs, communications from our subconscious mind or even our “inner selves” seeking attention.  Man’s fascinations with dreams are still on going even with the varied explanations and studies as to why we dream in the first place.

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Like most other animals in dreams, how an animal is thought of is generally a representation of the people that are in our lives. For example, do you have a friend who acts like a rat?  Are they persistent, annoying and destructives like the rats in the real world?  Then this may be our subconscious telling us to be wary of this friend.

Some dream interpreters also see rats as a sign of poverty, strife, danger and illness.  Dreaming about rats may be an omen that these hardships may be forthcoming in your life.  Rats are also lab animals which are used for testing so dream interpreters will usually ask if the dreamer feels as though he is under a microscope.  These animals are repulsed so maybe the dreamer is also experiencing people who shun him away or maybe even he himself is repulsed by something he did

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Flying over a landscape or above something means that you have overcome some sort of trial and are now enjoying the feeling of flying free.  Most interpreters see flying dreams as conquering dreams or gaining new perspectives.   Generally flying dreams mean you are on top of everything.

However, flying while being impeded by power lines and other object means that you are having a hard time staying aloft.  The same is true for flying dreams wherein the dreamer has little or no control over where he is flying to.  These barriers represent obstacles that you must go through in order to achieve your goals.

In reality, man cannot fly, so flying dreams are representations of man’s imagination soaring into the heavens, or the desire to be more than what we can be.  Undoubtedly, most flying dreams give the dreamer a sense of happiness and freedom.

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Dream interpretation has been an important factor in getting to know ourselves better. In psychology, patients who seek help are encouraged to slip in a sleep-like state to bring out what the subconscious mind holds. Dreams, as well as the subconscious mind, have always been the “keepers” of one’s uninhibited desires and emotions that are best kept hidden.

Archetypes are formed by our own, individual subconscious mind therefore it’s only normal to have hundreds, if not thousands, of archetypes known in the history of dream psychology. In truth, only our minds know how and when these archetypes will be used and how they can affect our daily living. They are what our subconscious mind perceives however, there also lies the dangers of having too many archetypes influencing your personality as they are bound to contradict each other and eventually cause stress to the person.

Although there are many different archetypes representing characters or personalities there are only five main archetypes according to Carl Jung:

The shadow, the anima, the animus, the self and lastly, the persona.

·    The Shadow. The shadow archetype is always a negative one, representing the things that we would rather not show. This is one’s darker side, hidden to everybody else. We may or may not acknowledge it but we know deep within that it exists. Those who prefer to deny them are almost always haunted by the shadow in their dreams and fighting them is a futile battle as they always win—at least in your dreams.
·    The Anima/Animus. These archetypes are associated with sexuality—or rather, contrasexuality. While a man and a woman both have their own set of rules to live by, it was said that deep within them, there exists a balancing nature in which both genders act as one. The Anima or Animus archetypes control that part.
·    The Self. Self is considered as God or the spirit within us that connects us to the Universal spirit. It unifies your conscious and unconscious life. The self archetype is our core being.
·    The Persona. Contrary to the Self archetype, this type of archetype is how we would like the world to see us. This is our self-imagery, an image we want to emulate. It can also be considered as your mask to protect your true being.

The way your subconscious mind forms archetypes is based on your experiences, people you have met, things you associate, and just about anything which concerns you. They may be hereditary—or even by instinct, deeply embedded within us since birth. Culture and tradition also play a very important role in forming archetypes. Taking note of these things will help you identify your own archetypes when they manifest in your dreams. Keeping a dream journal will help you recognize your archetypes and the role they are playing within your subconscious.

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Huge fireworks displays can also mean that a momentous change is about to happen.  Other interpreters feel that a person who dreams about fireworks or firecrackers is a happy and enthusiastic person.  However, be wary of firecrackers hitting you or being thrown at you, this can denote backstabbing friends who are going to hurt you in a bad way.

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The process of assigning meanings to dreams has been around even during Ancient times.  During the Greek and Roman civilizations, dreams of the senators were often discussed during sessions as these could have meanings and consequences on society.   The Egyptians on the other hand believed that dreams are ways of communication between the gods and men.  In modern times, dreams are usually the subject of dram analysis and various schools of psychology are studying the underlying meaning behind dreams.

Freud claims that dreams are forms of wish fulfillment.  Adults tend to have more complicated dreams than children because of external factors which vary greatly between the age group.  Adult dreams are more complicated to decipher but he proposes that the dreamer himself can know or knows subconsciously his wishes and wants.   Because of this complication, dreams of adults tend to be hidden and are often distorted with the dreamer’s hidden wishes concealed.

Dream manifestation and interpretation are some of the most popular topics in Psychology.  Professionals in the field believe that dreams are in fact subconscious reactions of our minds to our everyday life and situation.  Individuals searching the mysteries of the subconscious continues to grow as people who undergo dream analysis, psychoanalysis for interpretation and help as well as those who consult dream dictionaries for meanings and dream interpretations search their dreams for their hidden meanings.

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Your dreams are reflections of your inner being. Through dreams, we are brought back to our primal selves where fears are real and desires are possible. Most of the time, dreams are not controllable, they just manifest the way your mind directs them to be. This is because your subconscious mind is in charge now while your conscious mind takes its much needed rest.

There are many ways to interpret your dreams, from one belief to another. Some see dreams as warnings of illnesses and bad luck while others search for symbols to foresee their future. While this may hold true for some, most of us ordinary beings use dreams as outlet of our suppressed reality.

When we are in our waking state, the subconscious mind picks up everything that your conscious mind will not. You see, your conscious mind uses eyes to see things and these eyes are trained to see them as your society would, making them impaired and unfair. In order to fit in, some human emotions are best ignored but your subconscious mind holds on to it for longer periods of time hence they come out while sleeping.

In order to find meaning within your dreams, it is best to identify the dream with yourself first. Your current emotional state greatly affects your dream since it occupies your mind as of the moment. Your dream also acknowledges your weaknesses and vulnerability. By accepting your shortcomings, you are better equipped to face your fears.

Nightmares, on the other hand, are the things you refuse to accept. These are situations which demand our attention but we choose to ignore. Nightmares haunt you down until you decide to do something about it.

Health-wise, dreams are very helpful as well. Based on ancient belief, dreams are given by gods to relate future conditions and illnesses. Of course there is no medical basis for this claim although it is not entirely impossible.

Basically, dreams are interpreted based on how you see them. They can be symbolic or real, again depending on how you welcome them. No doubt about it, dreams are helpful for your mind to grow outside the confines of reality. Use your dream as a tool for personal growth and acceptance; after all, your dreams are still you, no matter what.

Janice Hunter Creative Director for 11 Lions Media Group is raising awareness and spreading knowledge through creative content projects throughout the web. Learn more about dream interpretation and dream psychology visit 11Lions.com to reach higher levels of consciousness.

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