UNIVERSAL AND INDIVIDUAL DREAM SYMBOLS
"Is it not known to all people, that the dream is the most common way in which God reveals himself to mankind?"
...........................................................................Tertullian 160? - 230
What is it about a dream that has us feeling it not related to our day-to-day life? Research shows many students reported the 'strangeness' of the dreams they had, and the remarkable 'difference from reality', which lead them to believe dreams are far from the life we live when awake. The study found the various symbols, and abstract pictures one has in dreams, as the main reasons which contributed to a dream being thought of as 'strange'.
The communications we receive from our sub-conscious are, of course, not the same as our mind. It is this difference that creates much of the strangeness many have in dreams, and through this difference we can learn about the other side of ourselves. Throughout the ages, the human mind has learned to communicate in a multitude of languages, as well as technically in many different ways. However, the sub-conscious expression has remained pretty much the same - for ALL cultures - past and present.
The simplicity of the 'dream language' can be found the ancient Chinese expression, "one picture is worth a thousand words". A dream symbol is a 'word picture', or 'thought form', which is showing you a situation, or emotion, that might take hundred of thousands of words to fully describe. A lot of the confusion in dreams sequences comes from the interaction between personal, and universal symbols in the dream.
Symbols
Everyday, one can see hundreds of different symbols in their everyday life, besides those used in advertising. Symbols are important, for they contain many ideas in one single, simple package. Through the ages, concepts such as courage (represented by a lion), or knowledge (represented by light) have become part of our symbolic language, despite one's culture. We use symbols to represent everything from religion, such as the cross with Christianity, to national identities, such as the Eiffel Tower symbolizing Paris, or the Statue of Liberty for America.
Besides making us think, these images also help us remember - for example, a picturesque symbol can remain in our minds for years, while a long winded lecture with words is forgotten in minutes. Many of the great teachers, such as Confucius, Jesus, and Buddha, had many teachings given in parables, which were full of symbolic forms, so that people from all walks of life, educated or not, could think out the meanings for themselves.When we dream, there are two sets of symbols, or two languages, occurring at the same time. In order for dreams to make sense, it is important to understand each set, both in content and appearance. The background is usually accompanied by UNIVERSAL symbols, the basic language for all humans. Here we see elements such as water, which represent a life force - or clouds, representing a lack of clarity, which seem to have common meanings for all people, no matter their nationality, or background. These symbols represent our attachment (or lack of) to the rest of the human race - and our relationship to all of earth's life as a whole.
PERSONAL symbols are those which have a specific meaning for you, yet quite a different one for someone else. An airplane in one dream may represent travel, freedom, a vacation, or happiness. To a commercial airline pilot, this symbol in a dream might represent routine, work, or even boredom. To some, it could represent dread, because of a fear of flying - and still to others, the very same airplane could represent excitement, if they are involved in skydiving, or daredevil flying.
A part of you...
Personal symbols may, at first, be difficult to recognize, but with some practice you may be surprise how closely related the symbols are to your personality. Personal symbols may be full of your colorful 'word' expressions, puns, clichés, and favorite phrases, such as "...he drives me up a wall". We often use such phrases without thinking, yet if we had a dream of us driving up a wall in an automobile, we probably would think THAT was a pretty strange dream.
Within personal dreams, a common feature to bring out something of importance is the 'enlarged symbol'. Anything enlarged is usually being accented or exaggerated in order to make a point. For example, a huge coffee cup may be suggesting you are drinking too much coffee, or even that you soon will be needing to make a lot - if your ESP sees a lot of unexpected guests stopping over. Actually, any item disproportionate in size, or shape, would be to draw your attention to the fact it is out of balance, and needs correction, or adjustment.
Every personal symbol in your dream, whether another person, object, or situation, represents a part of you, understood or not. Unless programmed for an answer, or if receiving an ESP dream, your dreams usually makes a statement about you, your attitudes, habits, and relationships. You rarely dream of things you have mastered, but rather, will go to areas of your life which are in the greatest need of correction, or awareness. Most dreams are trying to tell you other perspectives concerning problems, or describe emotions which you are suppressing.
Special tricks in interpretation
Occasionally, a symbol will seem very odd, or next to impossible to obtain a meaning. If this comes in the form of a word or phrase, try to substitute different words which mean the same thing. For example, a 'bottom step' can also be the first step, a last step, a beginning step, a step up, or a step in the right direction. Remember, words are not the 'native' language of your subconscious - plus, there are many puns, and odd expressions, which your subconscious accepts as being true.
If it is a visual symbol that is very difficult to obtain a meaning, close your eyes, and picture the elusive object as it was in the dream. Turn it around, and look at it from all sides, even if not fully seen in the dream. If it is an object, use your imagination to pick it up, even open it, and look inside. You may even find that your conscious imagination will create some picture which will somehow give you a clue, or even a meaning. Also, such interaction is excellent 'practice', in having your conscious and subconscious work together in developing communication.
If after some time, the above method produces no results, try the 'feeling' approach. Since many aspects of personal elements in dreams represent yourself, a successful way to find a meaning it to 'become' the item in question. Clear all your thoughts, and other aspects of the dream, and imagine yourself as the object. If, for example, the object was an automobile, ask yourself, "How do I feel as an automobile?" - Beautiful? Admired? Or Unappreciated, and worn - out?
After each question, relax. Allow your subconscious to speak with your mind. Let thoughts and ideas flow freely, and see what you think, or feel, after a few moments. There will be times when nothing seems to fit, which in this case simply set aside the part you don't understand. Then, continue to ponder its meaning off and on during the day (when you have time). Often, when you least expect it, the answer will suddenly come out of nowhere! If it is indeed a matter over 'feelings', then the answer will be easy, for it will be the one that, quite simply, 'feels' like it is the right answer.
Thoughts are living things
Your thoughts, conscious, or subconscious, are more important than you may have been taught to believe. The thoughts you create in your mind actually are an electronic form which can be seen clairvoyantly, if not sensed by others with strong intuition. Besides working with your subconscious thought-forms, remember your everyday thoughts are powerful as well. Every business, building, and city started with a thought, or someone's vision. From that point, all it took was the physical work to build the ideal into reality....
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