Dreams

DREAMS

Christopher Nyerges

[Nyerges is an educator, and author of such books as “Til Death Do Us Part?”, “Urban Survival Guide,” and more. Information at www.SchoolofSelf-Reliance.com]

Can our dreams be interpreted in a meaningful way?  Do our dreams have special meaning, or are they all just a blending of the subconscious thoughts that run through our minds while we sleep?

I’ve paid special attention to my dreams for a long time, and studied several books that purport to explain the meanings of those symbols and actions.  I even took a class in symbolism to assist in discovering the language of dreams. I’ve concluded that the dreamer is the best interpreter, because only the dreamer has the knowledge of the details and specificity that no one else can know. 
One of the dream books that I read years ago was disappointing because it gave the impression that all one had to do was define each symbol, as if the symbol or object always means the same thing for everyone.   But that’s just not so.  I was talking with a friend about dreams, and she mentioned that a snake  in one of her dreams was a very positive symbol.  Yet, I have had dreams where the snake was very negative and frightful.  We discussed the context of each dream, and it became clear that symbols will mean different things for each dreamer.

Still, it’s good to understand basic symbolism and how symbols can be interpreted.  The symbol must be “translated” by the dreamer depending on the context of the dream. A snake, for example, is regarded quite differently in different cultures and so a snake cannot have one single static meaning.  The meaning is within the mind of the dreamer, which is why the dreamer is the best hope for a good dream interpretation. 

Nothing is simple in a dream.  It is as if you are watching a movie, and some parts are highly significant while others are just dressing.   Plus, another factor is that the dream could be about the day before, or it might clarify something in your past.  It might be about your future. The dream might be answering some deeply personal query, and the dream might even be for someone else entirely.  I have dreams on numerous occasions that were clearly warnings or messages for someone else.  I would dutifully call that person when I awoke to give them the unusual news.

The best way to learn about your dreams is to begin recording details of your significant dreams. Do this as soon as awakening as possible.  If you wait too long, you’ll forget details or the details will start to get murky.  At least knowing the basic meaning of various symbols can help your interpretation of the details you write.  It takes a bit of concerted effort to do this in a way that yields results, so if you’re going to approach this, don’t do it casually.

One category of dreams are those that follow your deep personal inquiry as to whether or not you should take some particular action in your life. You’re not likely to get a simple “yes” or “no” from your dream.  In all probability, your dream will seem non-sensical.  It will be for you to interpret, based on the context of your life. 

Some obvious things to look for:  What was I doing in the dream?  Why was I doing that?  What might that action symbolize?  Where was I?  Were the surroundings familiar, or completely unknown?  Who was there with me?  Were these people that I know, or do not know?  What specific involvement did I have with these people?

Did the dream seem to be giving me some sort of message?  If so, what is that message, and how might it apply to my day to day decisions? Did I see any unique objects in the dream? Were certain colors very noticeable?

Only you can answer these questions since you are the one who dreamed the dream and saw the pictures.  When you take the time to look into these secret sleep-time messages, you may find that you may gain deep insight into what is happening in your waking life. 

I have kept records of significant dreams for over 30 years.  Not always, but sometimes they are prophetic, showing me symbolically what might happen to me, to friends, or to the world at large.