What do you think about dreams?

I used to think dreams were just craziness and that nothing useful could come out of them.  I was surprised when I went to graduate school and learned that dreams really do have significance.

Dreams are telling us what’s important, but typically we dream about things we are trying to repress — or avoid thinking about — while we are awake.

That’s why I think it is important to figure out what our dreams mean, and to find the common themes.

Most of the time when you dream about someone else, it’s really an aspect of yourself.  So let’s say you have a dream about an old woman rocking a baby.  Both of those are likely aspects of you.

Dreams about houses convey your life.  The colors and textures of rooms are especially significant.  Are they rich in color? Are the walls covered in velvet.  Or is the house falling down in shambles?

I meet people all the time who say they don’t dream.  That’s not true – everyone has about 5 – 7 dreams per night.  People who say they don’t dream, just don’t remember their dreams.

You can teach yourself how to remember your dreams:  Set a notepad beside your bed and just before falling asleep, tell yourself you’re going to remember and wake up.  Chances are you will.  If you have to reach over for your pad and write your down your dream in the dark, do it, because it usually slips away within seconds.  Sometimes it helps if you try to remember your dream in reverse; from end to beginning.

Dream books and web sites can be helpful for helping you decipher your dreams, but only you can know for sure what your dreams mean.  So for instance, a snake doesn’t mean the same to everyone.  You have to figure out what it means to you:  Is the snake scary? Sexual? Slippery? Sneaky?

Now, let’s say you dream about a forest.  Ask yourself, what is it about a forest? Forests are dark, dense, and it’s easy to lose your way.  If you’re struggling to determine your mission in life, it’s easy to see that the forest dreams are connected to the idea of finding your way in life.

Pay extra attention to words in dreams. Play around with them. For instance, one time I had a dream about an old west town and one of the buildings was called “The Karen.”  I realized later it symbolized a place of great healing and my mind was trying to convey, “The Care Inn.”

For a week, I challenge you to keep a journal of your dreams.  Notice themes and recurring ideas.  I guarantee you will have some new insights about your life!

For another interesting article about dreams, click here.

I recently received this question from an anonymous person:

“Does it mean something if you have a dream about the devil? I had really scary dreams the past two nights and in them the devil was trying to make me a disciple.”

Here is how I answered:

“As a counselor, I love “dream work,” and do believe dreams are significant.  The important thing to remember is that symbols do not mean the same thing to everyone.  You have to ask, “What does this symbol mean to me?”

There are (dream symbol) Internet sites online that let you gain insight into your dream.  However, just because a balloon means something to one person, doesn’t mean it symbolizes the same thing for you.

As a Christian, I am open to the possibility that Satan could work through dreams…

But, for the most part, I believe your dreams have more to do with what is going on in your psyche. What fears and tensions are you feeling in real life?

I think dreams are a sneaky way of telling us what’s bothersome.  When our sub-conscience lets down during sleep, the worries are free to roam.  In the daytime we may not even be aware of a certain worry, and even if we are aware, we can push it away.

It may be that you aren’t sure of your salvation and are worried about that.  I would start there.  Try to figure out if something like this has been bothering you lately.