Online dictionary of dreams

A dictionary of dreams can help you explain your dreams. Though if you really want to know what you dreams mean, you should use the system that I describe on another page.

All dream images are listed alfabeticaly below.


A

accidents:
Dreams about accidents often warn us for something which we do in daily life. For instance if we dream that we are driving through a busy town at sixty miles an hour and almost collide. This indicates that the dreamer runs great risks indeed.
Does the wheel of the vehicle break down? Then you may wonder if there is a situation in daily life which you can't control any more either.

animals:
These often show our instincts, our urges. Mostly agression and fear.
Animals with sharp teeth (sharks, tigers, crocodiles etc.) especilally imply aggression. Our own aggression or that of others.
Is somebody attacked in the dream? Remember, you yourself have created the wild animal in order to chase that particular person.


B

bicycle:
A vehicle that
isn't self-propelling. It requires some effort on the part of the cyclist to move ahead. This may indicate that one must (or can) reach a certain destination in life by oneself.

bird:
Symbol of new ideas and of the soul.

bridge:
Is the bridge
strong or rickety? Perhaps certain daytime difficulties will have to be bridged. On the other side may be a new beginning.

C

car:
It is important to know whether the dreamer himself drives the car or somebody else is behind the wheel. This can refer to a daytime situation. Are there perhaps moments
when you let yourself be 'steered' by others than by yourself?

Also see under 'accidents'.

cellar:
This is a symbol of the unconscious. All information which we have collected is stored here. Surprising things may be discovered in one's own dream-cellar.

chasm\ravine:
These prevent us from reaching a certain point (the opposite side). They often symbolize daytime difficulties. It is positive if a chasm can be bridged. It is also possible to go down into the ravine in order to get to the bottom of things.

chicken:
Symbol of stupid (mindless) cackling. But in a positive sense an animal from which life develops.

circle:
A circle is a common symbol of unity. It often indicates the union of conscious and unconscious aspects.

clothes:
Show something about your personality. What kind of clothes are they? If you wear peculiar or ill-fitting clothes, this usually means that you do not feel at ease in a particular situation (in which the dream takes place). The same is true for dreams in which one is naked in public. On the other hand, well-fitting clothes, which also become you, generally show that you feel good. Especially if it is a style which you have chosen yourself and hasn't been forced upon you by others.

cook\baker:
These people see to it that food becomes digestible. This dream-food usually refers to 'mental food' (or knowledge). Obviously it is important to know what the dishes consist of. Do you only eat desserts or tastier foot? 'You are what you eat' is often aptly expressed in dreams.

cow:
A symbol of new life and a nourishing and caring elements.


D

death\buriel:
In dreams these usually mean 'change'. In other words: the old (a rigid idea, a long
drawn-out conflict etc.) must be buried to make way for the new. So it also expresses 'rebirth'.

What or whom is buried or dies? What are this person's or things qualities? If in reality a beloved person has recently died, and one dreams about this, it obviously doesn't have a symbolic but an emotional meaning. Finally, a dream about death can mean that we have had a painful experience. 'To die a thousand deaths' means that we feel badly hurt, that we suffer intensely. Sometimes a dream can also show this.

diamond:
Extremely positive. Diamonds are very valuable, and so are they in dreams. This gem
symbolizes great inner value.

doctor:
This is our spiritual doctor. Sometimes he warns us, when we are mentally unbalanced.
In such cases he often explains in a symbolic way what is wrong us...and how
we can 'recover'.

door:
A door (entrance to something) can be open or closed. Sometimes the dreamer has to search for a key in order to open the door. Here your own associations are certainly of importance.

dove:
Well-known symbol of peace and love.

drowning:
Dreams about
drowning, floods, tidal waves and similar things often mean that we have the feeling that we are 'drowning' in certain problems; we are being 'flooded'.

E

eggs:
Ancient symbol of burgeoning life. Also a sign of rebirth. Very positive.

examination-dreams:
These occur in a great variety of shapes. For instance, the dreamer can be back at school, where he has to sit for an examination. An examination he hasn't prepared for. Perhaps the questions are in Chinese or totally unfamiliar. Whatever the case, the dreamer doesn't succeed in passing the examination or test.

Such dreams show us that we (unconsciously) imagine being inadequately prepared for a certain situation.

F

falling:
In a dream this often indicates feelings of insecurity (for instance within a relationship or financial matters); one loses one's foothold. It can also express loss.

fire:
A many-sided symbol. In a positive sense fire provides (mental) warmth and light to
illuminate the path of life. In a negative sense fire can be all-consuming. But in the latter case fire is often constructive as well, if only the old and tarnished is destroyed (as symbols of for instance rigid ideas or pain).In that case fire is a symbol of purification. The old is destroyed to make way for the new. In addition to this, fire is a symbol of (passionate) love and also of anger.

flowers:
As a rule you can say that flowers are a good sign (especially if they are blooming).

forest:
Ancient symbols of the unconscious. A good guide can show you surprising parts of yourself.

fruit:
There is a well-known saying: 'to reap the fruits of (something)'. With which results of things happening or undertaken in the past are you right now confronted? Is the fruit sweet or bitter? Ripe or unripe? All these variations refer to everyday events. Often it is also a symbol of mental fertility and love.

G

garden:
A garden full of flowers is a positive symbol. In the same way in which flowers, plants and trees come up, grow and develop, new values can flourish within ourselves.
Positive changes can take place.

gold:
In many cases gold symbolizes growing awareness of new knowledge. To the dreamer this may be as valuable as plain gold.

H

horse: See under 'animals'.

house:
To dream of building a house often means that you will make some wise changes in your
life. What kind of house is it? An elegant or old and dilapidated house? This tells something about the life you are leading. Houses often symbolize the dreamer himself or his life.

I

insects:
If insects, and spiders as well, occur in large numbers this should be seen as a serious warning.

ice:
This often refers to our own feelings and\or thoughts, which can be as cold and rigid as ice. The water (energy of life) doesn't flow, is frozen. One should try to thaw the ice.

J

jam:
To dream of eating jam is very positive. It denotes pleasant surprises and discoveries.

jumping:
If you dream of jumping over an object it usually means that an obstacle in real life can be overcome. Examining the object symbolizes that you should do the same
thing with actual problems.

K

king:
The king is a father figure. But he can also symbolize that you are struggling with your own ambition. Is he a kind ruler or a dictator? Usually this tells something
about yourself.

kitchen:
The kitchen is the place where uneatable food (like grain) becomes eatable. It is a place of progress and creativity. Therefore cooking food in the kitchen is a good
sigh when you are dreaming.

L

landscape:
Does it have a symbolic value, or does it remind you of a particular place or period in your life?

light: Symbolizes growing awareness.

M

man:
Every man also has female hormones, and every woman has male hormones. So every person has something of the other gender (if only physically). According to C.G. Jung a man in a woman's dream would show the male in her. This goes for strangers in particular. Such a dream-man can show certain qualities which are perhaps insufficiently developed or unknown.

monkey: See under'animals'.

mountain:
That which takes place on a mountain is practically always of great importance. It is a place where one becomes 'conscious'.

music:
Indicates matters which are related to the emotions.

N

newspaper:
A newspaper is a symbol of new insight. To print a newspaper yourself often symbolizes the start of a new period in your life.

night: A symbol of the unconscious.

O

old man/woman:
If it concerns an unfamiliar person this is a very special symbol. Jung calls them
'archetypes'. They usually symbolize 'wisdom' and the more developed part of our mind. What such figures tell is very valuable.

P

pursuit:
Dreams of pursuit occur quite regularly. In such cases people often flee and wake up
in fear. However, that which pursues you is also part of yourself. Anger, jealousy, fear and even love can assume the appearance of something threatening. So it is much better to face the menace. In this way you can also get to know this aspect (that which it symbolizes).

R

river:
Symbolizes life.The river makes the land fertile. So it is also a sign of fertility.

road:
With this one's own path of life is meant. What is happening on your road? Obstacles, such as walls, can be symbols of difficulties to which we should give thought before we run into them.
Dreams in which you are lost often mean that you feel abandoned and lonely (during a particular period). They also express insecurity about your path of life.

rose: The flower of love. Also symbol of mental development and balance.

ruins: Symbol of the old, of all that belongs to the past.

S

shoes:
The quality of the shoes is of importance. If we are going for a long walk on fashionable dancing-shoes, we are on the wrong track. Wearing the wrong shoes often means that our progress along the path of life is laborious or bad, because we are
ill-prepared.

sun:
Symbolizes insight. It is usually a very good sign if the sun is shining in your dreams.

T

treasure:
Discovering
a hidden treasure is one of the most positive things you can dream. The Senoi often encouraged their children to have such dreams.

tree:
A green or flowering tree is a positive symbol. It promises life and vitality. Is it a fruit-tree? In this case the ripe fruit can perhaps be picked. Again: think about certain daytime situations.

Also see under: 'fruit'.

U

umbrella:
To dream of carring an umbrella often warns you for trouble and annoyances. Broken
umbrellas symbolize that you are not prepared for problems. A new umbrella however shows that you are able to cope with whatever turns up.

V

violin:
When you see or hear a violin in your dreams this often symbolizes harmony and stability in your life.

volcano:
When you see a volcano in your dreams, this often symbolizes violent feelings and thoughts. Feelings and thoughts usually of your own, but these can also be of someone
else. The rest of the dream is very important if you want to know the meaning of this symbol.

W

water/sea:
A symbol of the unconscious. All life started here, and therefore it is an old symbol of fertility, life and renewal. Everything which emerges from water has a
special value. But we shouldn't drown in the water of the unconscious. We should get to know its forces drop by drop.

woman:
In a man's dream a woman often shows his own female part (also see under 'man'). All those(sometimes unconscious) aspects of a man, which are a part of his personality,
such as his feelings.

Dream-women can also show what the dreamer thinks about women. What is their behaviour in the dream? Docile, authoritarian, motherly etc.

wounded/wound:
If we get hurt in a dream, this usually indicates that we feel 'mentally wounded' (by
one thing or another). Dreams in which we die can sometimes have this meaning as well.

Also see under 'death\burial'.

Y

yacht:
Being on a yacht in your dreams often symbolizes that you should take it easy for a while. Though it is not always a positive symbol. Is the yacht or ship seaworthy?
If not this could be a serious warning. The rest of the dream can give you some ideas to what this is referring.

Z

zebra:
A zebra is an animal that often symbolizes the unity of two contrasts, like all black and white animals.