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Dreams can feel stunningly real, leave us shaken, and surprise us with their surreal storylines.
Photographed by Théo de Gueltzl,Vogue, August 2021
But do they actually mean anything?
Hebelievedour dreams are actually the disguised representations of our unconscious desires, thoughts, wishes, and motivations.
It’s a theory is still very much alive today.
Nowadays, it’s common to interpret dreams to get to better understand our overall well-being.
What these dreams mean is personal and can vary; it all depends on the dreamer.
Consider this your crash course in basic dream analysisor, a handy little dream dictionary, just for you.
Read on for 14 of the most common types of dreams and what they could mean for you.
Gailing says its important to look at the details of your dream to help flesh out the overall meaning.
Its always important to take the dream into context of what is happening in a persons waking life.
However if the dream turns into you falling as you fly, it could also mean you feel ungrounded.
Gailing says that there are three main dream interpretations for this.
Gailing says that it could represent worrying about a lost opportunity or stress around your relationship with time.
It could also show that youre overwhelmed by being overcommitted with responsibilities.
Just remember, its important to ground yourself rather than lash out over this particular dream.
So why is your unconscious mind doing you dirty in your dreams?
[Youre] face to face with something that haunts or scares you, she says.
She adds that certain animals and what those animals are doing represent different types of fears.
For example, a rat could reflect that youre hiding or shunning something.
Were you thrilled, horrified, or puzzled that your ex starred in your dream?
Also, whats your relationship with your ex?
Do you never want to see them again [or] do you pine for them?
Do you regret orfeel shame that you broke up?
The context is super important here in understanding what the dream is revealing, says Gailing.
What do you want to do about [the dream]?
I think processing those feelings is really important with our relationships.
In other words, this is a great way to further develop this skill.
Gallagher agrees and says to have fun with it.
It doesnt have to be that serious or deep, she says.
I think [it] could be something thats kind of neat and fun.
[It could] sometimes make us feel connected to a greater sense of our consciousness.
This is something she encourages others to do as well.
It was such a beautiful experience to have this kind of dream with my sister in it.
It might prove to be a meaningful moment of reflection and insight.
I think that can be a beautiful thing.
Dreams of Fires
Dreaming about fires has a wide range of meanings.
On the flipside, it could mean some sort of purification and clearing away of the old.
Basically whatever in your waking life that you feel like youre drowning in, she says.
[They] shine a light on what it is you are fearful of, says Gailing.
They give us the opportunity to process unprocessed feelings.
For the most part, you dont have to be too concerned with having a nightmare.
Its a clinical symptom, she explains.
It might just prove to be emotionally helpful, as well.
What is the most common dream?
Gailing says that she hasnt come across a singular dream that most people experience.
What does a recurring dream mean?
Its pretty common to have a recurring dream, says Gailing.
The most important thing to do is to pay attention to it.
Why do people dream?
The million dollar question that no one has a straightforward answer to.
Many cultures also believe that our dreams are ways our spirits and ancestors communicate with us.
At least for now.
