Baby
Many people from time to time will have babies or small children
in their dreams. If these newborns are strangers to you, you can
assume that they represent you. You are the baby and the dream is
telling you something about your development in a particular area
of your life. At times of great change and renewal, a baby may
appear in a dream and represent your potential and a new
beginning. Some of the meaning of the dream may be obtained by
considering what the baby looked like and was doing. Generally,
babies represent innocence and are symbols of the purest form of
a human whose possibilities are endless. However, if the babies
appearance is odd, and if your interactions with it are bizarre
or unusual, you need to consider your own well-being
(psychologically) and think about what personal experiences and
psychological hang-ups have prevented you from growing.
Bake
When we bake, we transform matter. We take raw materials and make
them into something nutritious and pleasing. Dreaming about
baking is a positive dream image. It suggests that you are
feeling optimistic and productive.
Bald
Some believe that dreaming about baldness is a warning about poor
health. However, baldness symbolizes a lack of something, just
like those who are bald lack hair. Hair represents feelings of
personal power and beauty. Consider if such issues are currently
relevant in your life.
Bananas
Freud suggested that all such objects have phallic implications.
However, all types of food bring up issues of nourishment. In the
world of classic or superstition-based dream interpretations,
eating bananas suggests a period of hard work but little reward.
Spoiled fruit usually suggests “spoiled” situations or
friendships.
Bar/Pub
When I was in college, I read in a theology book that a monk on a
mountain top and a man with his bottle of wine are really trying
to get to the same place. That “place” translates to
peace and a genuine feeling of being connected to the rest of the
universe. Dreaming about being in bars and drinking may symbolize
a need that you have for some type of a meaningful
transformation. On the other hand, this dream may be a form of
wish fulfillment, and you are escaping into a pleasurable
environment where daily cares and concerns are meaningless. If
you rarely allow yourself to relax and socialize, this dream may
be compensatory in nature.
Basement
The house generally represents your psychological and emotional
self. Each part of the house may deal with a different part of
you. The basement is built first. It is often below ground (or at
least some parts of it), and is essentially the foundation of the
house. Dreaming about a basement and understanding the dream, may
provide you with valuable information which may lead to greater
self-awareness. A recurring dream about basements (i.e. being in
a basement, cleaning a basement, furnishing a basement, etc.)
should not be ignored. These dreams may be symbolic of your
unconscious, instincts and intuition, and degree of awareness of
a current situation or a problem. The look of the basement may
provide you with clues about your current feelings and state of
contentment. If the basement is a mess, and you see great
disorder and clutter, it suggests that you may be experiencing
confusion and that it is a very good time to “sort”
things out emotionally and psychologically. At times, the
activities which are going on in the basement of your dream may
be based on past experiences or childhood memories. As with all
dreams, their main purpose seems to be to bring the dreamer to
higher consciousness so that he may deal with his current issues
more effectively, rather than to dwell on the past.
See also: House.
Bat
Most bats are nocturnal predators and just thinking about these
mysterious creatures gives most people an uneasy feeling (unless
you are a bat lover, which is rare). Bats may be considered
mysterious and unpredictable. When you are interpreting this
dream, look carefully at the details and your emotional reactions
to the events in the dream. This dream may be related to discrete
or covert behaviors. Your unconscious mind may be relating
feelings to you in regard to behaviors which you or someone else
prefers to keep a secret.
Bath
Taking a bath in a dream may represent your need to undergo some
form of cleansing. If you are currently changing things in your
daily life, or if you have freed yourself from bothersome
emotions, this dream may be an affirmation of that. Taking a bath
represents a cleansing of the outer self, the washing away of
those things that are difficult or disturbing and relaxing for a
while. The deeper meaning may be that the bath represents the
letting go of old and useless ideas, opinions or prejudices.
Often this dream is a call to relax, to free your mind of daily
troubles, and to put your problems away for a while. See
also: Water
Bathroom
Judging by all of the e-mail that I receive, dreaming about
bathrooms seems to be common. They are most valuable in our daily
life. In our dreams bathrooms may be equally valuable symbols.
They suggest that there is a need for emotional and psychological
cleansing. You may need to get rid of emotional and psychological
baggage. It is difficult to be carefree and happy when old issues
keep “bringing you down.” The bathroom is a good dream
symbol. Consider all of the details in your dream. Make an effort
to cleanse mind and spirit by putting useless thoughts and
feeling behind you! See also: House
Beard
Beards are usually associated with masculinity, wisdom, strength;
and the men who have them typically command respect. Moses,
Jesus, Charles Darwin and Abraham Lincoln all had beards. Old
dream interpretation books say that dreaming of bearded men is a
good omen, and good luck will follow. On the other hand, dreaming
about woman with beards is said to be bad luck. It’s no wonder, a
woman who is strong, wise and commands respect is a very
threatening creature (to some). If you are a woman dreaming that
you have a beard, you may be dealing with your own issues of
power. You may be using more masculine energy than you would like
to or that is necessary. See also: Hair
Bears
A bear in a dream is a very rich and complicated dream symbol. In
order to understand it, objective association need to be made.
Bears are solitary animals and the females are solitary mothers.
They hibernate in a cave and they are generally not predatory
animals. A bear is only aggressive when provoked, and as such
times he is dangerous and deadly. Bears in dreams may represent a
period of introspection and depression. However, this may be a
part of a healing cycle, where the dreamer has retreated into
himself in order to regenerate and in order to create something
new and valuable in his life. Bears are highly regarded symbols
in a variety of cultures and traditions, including the Native
American tradition. Carl Jung said that all wild animals
represent latent affects (feelings and emotions). The
interpretation of the bear in a dream may be influenced by your
perception of it and by the events in the dream. The bear may
represent qualities in your character or specific aspects of your
personality. Bears are usually associated with danger and
aggression, but this is a very narrow view of this powerful dream
symbol.
Beaver
Beavers are very busy animals. They gnaw all day and build their
homes. They are generally not considered to be friendly animals.
All of their hard work is focused on isolating and protecting
themselves. When dreaming about these animals, consider those
characteristics and try to see how they are relevant to you or
someone in your life. Is there isolation and “blocking”
up of feelings and self-expression going on around you? Or is
something “gnawing” at you that you can no longer
ignore? If you can answer these questions, you will have a better
understanding of your dream.
Bed
This is one of the most valued pieces of furniture. It’s where we
sleep, rest, restore our minds and bodies and engage in sexual
pleasure. The bed is symbolic of all of these things. The bed
could also symbolize the bridge between the conscious and the
unconscious (i.e.our daily lives and the great unknown, our
spirit and our psychological undercurrent). The quality and the
cleanliness of the bed in our dreams, may say something about the
way we feel about ourselves and our relationships. In reality we
“make our own bed,” so the dream may reflect that bed
and remind us that we have to either change it or lie in it. If
there were things hiding under the bed in your dream, it may
symbolize secrets that you or others are keeping.
Bees
Consider the details of this dream, as well as your emotional
reactions in it, as bees can have a variety of different
connotations. The positive symbolism is that of a person that is
hard-working, has good organization skills, and is cooperative
and creative. The negative symbolism could be that of a follower,
a busybody and of someone that “stings.” If you are
working on a project in which many people need to work together
to accomplish a goal, this may be a topic for some of your
dreams.
Bicycle
All vehicles symbolize our passage through the journey of life.
Since the bicycle is usually acquired earlier in life than a car,
it could be pointing out some of your adolescent tendencies. If
you are a teenager, then it may be a routine way of getting
around. Riding a bicycle in your dream may symbolize a need for
balance and hard work in order for you to succeed in a current
endeavor. Some think that the bicycle could also represent your
need for some type of assistance. Consider all of the details in
your dream, including whether you are traveling up or down the
road. See also: Car, Road, Journey
Birds
Carl Jung said that birds represent thoughts while birds in
flight symbolize moving and changing thoughts. Birds are
generally associated with freedom and abandon. In old dream
interpretation books, birds are considered lucky omens (except
for blackbirds, which are generally negative). Doves and eagles
are generally spiritual symbols. Your dream depends on its
details, but if the birds in your dream were flying free, it may
be symbolic of spiritual, psychological, or physical freedom.
Birth
Women who are pregnant and men who are going to be fathers
commonly have dreams about giving birth. It is not an omen of
anything to come, but simply the mind trying to cope with a
significant anxiety-provoking event. If you or your mate are not
pregnant, this dream could symbolize new beginnings (i.e. giving
birth to new ideas, new ways of living, or a new stage in life).
Superstition-based dream interpretations say that giving birth in
a dream is a sign of good luck, while multiple births are omens
of forthcoming material wealth.
Blindness
Those that are literally blind cannot see the world around them.
They can only perceive images with their mind’s eye. When the
dream is about being blind, the message is of a psychological and
spiritual nature. Blindness in a dream suggests that the dreamer
may be unwilling to see some aspect of his life. There may be a
blind spot in the mind, heart and/or soul. The dreamer is
threatened by the unconscious material being processed by the
dream, and he cannot bring it to his conscious attention. The
good news is that dreams are cyclical in nature. A message that
cannot get through at the current time will repeat itself at a
future date. The very central point of dreams is to make us aware
of all aspects of ourselves and our lives. Enlightenment and
integration of unconscious and conscious components take time and
desire. What you cannot see in a dream currently will become
visible when you are more able to effectively cope with the
message. This definition also applies to darkness
and sleep as dream
symbols.
Blood
It is the life-giving, vital part of our physiology and it may
symbolize our strengths and weaknesses and our physical and
mental health. If you are currently experiencing a very difficult
time in your life, you may have dreams with bloody and
frightening images. Don’t worry, you may be venting your fears!
Some believe that when you see blood in your dream, the
distressing situation in your life which is at the root of the
dream has come to an end, and the worst is over. Consider the
details and the relationships between of all the symbols in your
dream before making an interpretation.
Boat
As mentioned in all relevant dream symbols, bodies of water
represent your unconscious, your emotions and your accumulated
soul experiences. Depending on the content of the dream, several
different interpretations could be made. The boat in your dream
could represent you and the manner you navigate through your
emotions. It could symbolize the voyage of your life, an
adventure and exploration of your unconscious, or a connection to
the people in your dream by pointing out something that all of
you have in common (“in the same boat”). When
interpreting this dream, consider the kind of voyage and the type
of boat. Superstition-based dream interpretation books say that
if the voyage is calm, you should go forward with your plans.
However, if it is a very stormy voyage, get ready for an
emotional upset (or challenge).
“…But O the ship, the immortal ship! O ship aboard the
ship! Ship of the body, ship of the soul, voyaging, voyaging,
voyaging. ” — Walt Whitman
Body
Dreaming about your body generally suggests that you are dreaming
about your personal identity. Who we are is wrapped around what
we look like. Our self-esteem and self-worth are too frequently
dependent on our physical appearance. This dream may be pointing
out some of the difficulties or pleasures in daily life that are
the result of self-identity and based on attachment to our
physical bodies. The body in general is the symbol of self, and
the details in the dream will lead you to further interpretation.
Additionally, if you are dreaming of a specific body region, or
part, consider your health status.
Books
In our daily life, books are a source of information and a place
to gain knowledge. They can be inspirational, and their messages
are sometimes so strong that they change our lives. The books in
our dreams can represent our memories, learned understanding,
ideas, or viewpoints. They can alert us to the fact that we have
something new to learn and that we should spend time on mastering
new tasks. Pay attention to what kind of book you are seeing in
your dream and its purpose in the larger context of the dream.
Also, note reading any passages or specific messages from the
book. At times the book may be pointing to new themes or purposes
in your life. Pay attention! The unconscious mind is constantly
making attempts to communicate with the conscious in such ways
that the dreamer will recognize it without panic or denial.
Superstition-based dream interpretations say that if you are
dreaming of books, you can be assured of slow but steady progress
in your life. See also: School, Library
Box
A box is believed to be a feminine symbol that represents the
unconscious, the mysterious and the maternal. The famous
Pandora’s Box held all the forces of good and evil in it. Pandora
opened the box and unleashed its wrath into the world. She was
able to close the box and in it hope. Thus, it is said that hope
remains. (Pandora’s Box was not really a box at all, but a jar!)
The interpretation of the box in your dream depends on the
details of the dream and on the content of the box. Just remember
that the box is symbolic of mystery, secrecy and of something
precious. The box in your dream might represent potential that
needs to be realized and that will slowly come to your conscious
awareness. Dreaming of a box suggests that risk taking may be
necessary and that you may discover power and wealth that
currently may be in the unconscious.
Bread
As a food, bread is a fundamental part of most diets. In poverty
bread is the filler, and in jail the prisoner receives bread and
water to keep from starvation. In Christianity, Christ is the
“bread of life,” and in popular jargon bread is used to
refer to money. Crossculturaly in both physical and metaphysical
references, bread is the basic sustenance of life. As a dream
symbol it is rich in both meaning and message. The bread in your
dreams could represent those positive and wonderful things that
you have learned in your life’s journey. It could be symbolic of
“good” and most basic things in your life which will
yield positive benefits in the future. The bread in your dream
could be spiritually symbolic; it could represent a profound
communion or connection with others and with God. Consider the
details of your dream before interpreting, but know that bread
has positive universal symbolism and that this dream should bring
with it a level of positive feelings and peace.
Breasts / Breast
Feeding
Dreaming about breasts can have obvious sexual meaning. However,
consider all of the details in your dream in order to obtain the
most appropriate meaning. Breasts also represent tenderness,
love, and other matters of the heart. Breastfeeding is symbolic
of giving or receiving, nurturing, and sustenance. It represents
motherly love as well as physical and emotional support and well
being. Old dream interpretation books say that breastfeeding is a
symbol of great things to come following an extended period of
hard work.
Bridge
There are many meanings that you could give to this symbol. The
details in the dream are just as important as the bridge itself.
The first consideration should be given to how much you travel.
The bridge can be interpreted literally if it is a part of your
daily commute. On a more theoretical level, bridges can symbolize
transitions (e.g. transition from one stage to another, from one
level of consciousness to another). Since most bridges are over
water (i.e. emotions, unconscious), this dream could also be
symbolic of your rising above your emotional difficulties or
unconscious drives.
Brown
Brown is not the most cheerful color in the spectrum. It is a
very serious color which is associated with the earth, dirt, or
soil. Autumn is generally brown and it represents a season of
dormancy and conservatism. The brown in your dream may be
symbolic of physical reality and earthiness. It may represent
things in their “barest” form, and its interpretation
may encourage you to add some light and depth into your daily
life. See also: Colors
Bull
Depending on the details of the dream, this dream symbol could
have several different meanings. The bull in your dream could
represent powerful sexual energy, stubbornness, strength, and, at
times, clumsiness. It could also symbolize optimism about the
future and an ability to focus on a specific goal. Bulls can
represent tenacity and a very strong will. Finally, since the
bull is associated with the color red, some believe that it
symbolizes the first chakra, which is the energy center located
at the base of the spine that represents this material world.
Burial
Dreaming about funerals or burying a dead person does not
necessarily symbolize physical death for you or anyone else. It
could instead symbolize an ending of a different kind. You may be
burying relationships, conditions or even emotions that you no
longer need and which are no longer conducive to your personal
growth. On the other hand, this dream may symbolize the burying
of sensitivities and emotions that are too difficult to cope
with. It may reflect a numbness or a feeling which is the
opposite of vivacity, such as depression and emptiness. Either
way, burying a living person suggests some emotional turmoil.
Please consider all of the details in this dream to find the
appropriate message. Old dream interpretation books say that
dreaming about burials is a dream of the
contrary. Instead of sadness the dreamer
will experience happiness and go to celebrations, such as
weddings. See also: Coffin, Death
Bus
In order to interpret the dream with a bus ride in it, the
dreamer should make associations in regard to buses. The dream
has very specific meaning depending on the individual’s
experiences on school buses, public transportation vehicles,
special family trips, etc. At times the content of the dream may
be more important than the actual setting. If the setting is
secondary, then examine the other details of the dream more
closely. However, if the bus and/or the bus ride was a focal
point of the dream consider the value that it holds for you. Does
this dream say something about your ability to “fit in”
and join a group effort, project, or trip? Do you function well
in group settings? Are you a leader or a follower in such
situations, and what is your comfort level? This dream could also
reflect a part of your life (or the journey of your life) which
involved many other people who seemed to be on a same path. It
could be your family, friends, schoolmates or co-workers. See
also: Car
Butterfly
Some say that the butterfly represents the spirit or the essence
of the individual: the soul. Butterflies are generally symbols of
transformation because they go through a metamorphosis. They are
beautiful, evasive, and, at times, inspiring. Your unconscious
mind may be pointing out the most positive part of yourself or
another.
Buttons
Most often the button in your dream is a button on a piece of
clothing, rather than a button that you push. Button or buttons
on clothing represent something from your physical, or outer,
self . Note if you were buttoning or unbuttoning, and, from
there, attempt to obtain meaning. Unbuttoning generally
represents an opening up of your emotions or ideas. You may be
leaving yourself open to new possibilities as you are letting go
of old thoughts and ways of doing things. Alternatively and on a
positive side, buttoning up may reflect a need to conserve and to
pull inward, to “button” your lip or to restrain
yourself in some way. The more negative interpretation of
buttoning up may be that you are currently feeling bound,
restricted, or lacking some type of freedom.