How to Interpret Your How to Interpret Your DreamsDreams

Painting an Accurate Picture Painting an Accurate Picture of Your Dreamsof Your Dreams

Recognizing Images and Events

Interpreting Abstract Dreams

Honing Your Interpretation Abilities

Learn how to remember your dreams

Don't create a plot where there isn't one

Avoid using dream interpretation aids

Look for the obvious

Decide whether the dream reflects a real life situation

Decide what the dream means to you

Analyze the emotions you felt in the dream

Look for key images that stand out in your dream

Be honest with yourself.

Practice interpreting your dreams often

Recognize patterns

Know when your dream interpretation is correct

Learn how to remember your dreams

Remembering your dreams Remembering your dreams clearly is much easier when clearly is much easier when you get a good night's sleepyou get a good night's sleep

Keep a dream journal next to Keep a dream journal next to your bed and write down your bed and write down everything you remember of everything you remember of your dreams on waking. your dreams on waking.

Write down everything, even if Write down everything, even if it doesn't make sense. The it doesn't make sense. The things that don't make sense things that don't make sense or seem out of place may end or seem out of place may end up being the most valuable up being the most valuable insights.insights.

Don't create a plot where there isn't one

It might be tempting to connect It might be tempting to connect separate symbols in your dreams separate symbols in your dreams by overlaying them with a plot of by overlaying them with a plot of sorts, in order to make more sorts, in order to make more sense of it all.sense of it all.

Avoid using dream interpretation aids

Your dreams are reflections of Your dreams are reflections of yourself and belong to you.yourself and belong to you.

Dream dictionaries and dream Dream dictionaries and dream interpretation aids can be of interpretation aids can be of some assistance in a very some assistance in a very general way.general way.

Look for the obvious

What do you recognize from What do you recognize from waking life?waking life?

Do you see things in your Do you see things in your dream you've already dream you've already experienced?experienced?

Decide whether the dream reflects a real life situation

Are there particular events Are there particular events going on in your daily life that going on in your daily life that have elements of concern, or have elements of concern, or that lack resolution for you?that lack resolution for you?

You may be having a dream that You may be having a dream that addresses these events in a addresses these events in a straightforward way. If so, your straightforward way. If so, your interpretation job is simple. interpretation job is simple.

Decide what the dream means to you

Dreams that are Dreams that are straightforward with straightforward with recognizable objects and recognizable objects and events are very useful. events are very useful.

They are a means by which They are a means by which you can solve problems that you can solve problems that have been dogging you have been dogging you throughout the day, week, or throughout the day, week, or month, even where your month, even where your worries are not conscious.worries are not conscious.

Dreams help you to learn as Dreams help you to learn as you process the day's you process the day's experiences.experiences.

You ought to be a little You ought to be a little cleverer at whatever it was cleverer at whatever it was you learned the day before.you learned the day before.

Analyze the emotions you felt in the dream

Dreams often come to us by Dreams often come to us by way of metaphor, like a puzzle way of metaphor, like a puzzle awaiting us to piece it awaiting us to piece it together. together.

All your dreams, abstract or All your dreams, abstract or not, are coming from you, and not, are coming from you, and they all have some kind of they all have some kind of truth and meaning. truth and meaning.

Pay close attention to the Pay close attention to the emotions the dream elicits - emotions the dream elicits - that's the key to figuring out that's the key to figuring out what it means.what it means.

How did this dream leave me How did this dream leave me feeling? feeling?

What are the principal What are the principal emotions arising out this emotions arising out this dream?dream?

When have you recently felt When have you recently felt that emotion in waking life? that emotion in waking life?

• Look for key images that stand out in your dream

Figure out what makes the Figure out what makes the most sense in terms of your most sense in terms of your current emotional state. current emotional state.

Be honest with yourself.

Your dreams will hardly ever Your dreams will hardly ever tell you something that you tell you something that you don't already know on some don't already know on some level – it's just more likely that level – it's just more likely that you have been repressing or you have been repressing or pushing something aside. pushing something aside.

Practice interpreting your dreams often

Dream interpretation Dream interpretation definitely gets better with definitely gets better with practice, since with each practice, since with each interpretation you gain a interpretation you gain a better understanding of your better understanding of your own subconscious. own subconscious.

While dream interpretation is While dream interpretation is fairly intuitive and self-fairly intuitive and self-directed in nature, it can be directed in nature, it can be helpful to have some helpful to have some generalized examples to guide generalized examples to guide you in ways that people you in ways that people choose to interpret their choose to interpret their dreams. dreams.

• Recognize patterns

Over time, you'll start seeing Over time, you'll start seeing the same things pop up in the same things pop up in your dreams. Take note of your dreams. Take note of them in your dream journal, them in your dream journal, and pay attention to what and pay attention to what emotions surround them.emotions surround them.

• Know when your dream interpretation is correct

The key thing to remember is The key thing to remember is that there are no rules to that there are no rules to dream interpretation and so dream interpretation and so there are no rights or wrongs there are no rights or wrongs to the interpretation process.to the interpretation process.

It's all down to your self-honesty, It's all down to your self-honesty, self-knowledge and willingness to self-knowledge and willingness to apply your dream knowledge to apply your dream knowledge to your waking life situations.your waking life situations.

A successful dream A successful dream interpretation really comes interpretation really comes down to the following down to the following elements: elements:

Your interpretation resonates with you and Your interpretation resonates with you and the path you're following in life.the path you're following in life.

Interpreting your dreams adds something Interpreting your dreams adds something positive to your personal growth and positive to your personal growth and emotional or spiritual fulfillment.emotional or spiritual fulfillment.

Acting upon your dreams is not only becoming Acting upon your dreams is not only becoming second nature, but is giving you good, second nature, but is giving you good, positive results.positive results.

If it's not working for you, are you If it's not working for you, are you allowing yourself to get over the allowing yourself to get over the initial hurdles of confusion or initial hurdles of confusion or skepticism before finally tossing in skepticism before finally tossing in the towel on using dream the towel on using dream interpretation as a means of self interpretation as a means of self awareness?awareness?

Keep in mind, dreams are a Keep in mind, dreams are a subjective thing; murky at best, subjective thing; murky at best, but always entertaining.but always entertaining.

Dream dictionaries and dream Dream dictionaries and dream interpretation aids can be of interpretation aids can be of some assistance in a very some assistance in a very general way.general way.

Sweet Dreams!Sweet Dreams!