Common Dream Symbols

TEETH : My most popular requests for dream interpretation are by far, dreams about teeth falling out. Apparently this is quite disturbing to people who have this dream...they simply MUST know what it means! In my experience, a dream about one's teeth falling out usually symbolizes that the dreamer is having a challenge getting their voice heard, or feelings acknowledged. This may be referring to their conversations with a particular person such as their significant other, boss, or friend; or can be generalized for people who are shy, to include almost everyone they come in contact with. The dreamer needs to brush up on conversational skills, believe in the value of their own opinion, learn how to be less intimidated by aggressive people, and become more assertive and make their voice heard. Once they do that, this dream (which is a common recurring dream) should evolve & show improvement...or disappear altogether.

Although most people I hear from seem to find the above interpretation of the teeth theme fits their situation, there have been a few who think it's not quite right for them. I received the following email from a savvy visitor who eloquently shared with me what she believes the symbol means for her, and I think it's so good that I want to share it with all of you. Dream symbols must be personalized for each individual person, so general interpretations don't always fit the bill, like I've said repeatedly throughout this site. Please remember this, and remember to interpret your entire dream's context and not just an isolated symbol.

Here is Katie's account of her experience, in her own words :

Your site is great. I noted with interest your interpretation on teeth falling out, which is the same interpretation that many others use as well (needing to be heard etc etc.) I myself had this dream repeatedly and, as you noted, was dying to know what it meant as it was always disturbing. I was always unsatisfied with the "needing to be heard" thing.

You might note that many people who have this dream are feeling worried, dismayed or horrifed as their teeth are falling out painlessly, sometimes even attempting to keep the teeth from falling out.

Finally I came across a different interpretation, which fitted much better, for me, in fact, the dreams lessened. so I thought you might be interested. For me, the dream means I am talking TOO MUCH. It means indiscretion, telling secrets, gossiping unwisely. and its my subconscious warning me. Now, if I have this dream, I know I have been unwise with my big mouth! Trying to cram the teeth back in, or stop them falling out, or trying to find a dentist, is literally trying to stop the words/gossip from coming out, and the feelings of dismay are mirroring the regret of being too revealing - usually to an enemy. I am much more aware of this now (and not such a big mouth!) Maybe you could add this to your interpretations.
- K

Terrific dreamwork, Katie! Thanks for emailing me with this great info. I'm sure you'll help many grateful people deal with their similar frustrating recurring dream theme.

PEOPLE : Every person that appears in a dream is supposed to represent an aspect of one's Self, and not actually be about that other person at all; rather, it is a quality or characteristic about that person that your dream is focusing on, and how it applies to YOU. Try to think about what aspect(s) this could be. It can be something you admire and wish to emulate and incorporate into your own personality, or it could be a more negative characteristic that you may dislike intensely in your waking life, but which is telling you something about yourself and your beliefs, judgements, & attitude. It could be a call to alter your thinking in some manner, in order to be more open-minded and accepting of this aspect in their and your own personality, because it is hampering your spiritual growth & making life harder for yourself. The other person in your dream is always mirroring something back to you about YOURSELF. Try to discover what that something is, and go from there. Once you get it through your head that the other person's appearance in your dream is NOT about them, but really about YOU, then you will get much more successful interpreting your own dreams. This takes constant reinforcing--I still find myself wanting to think it's about that other person instead of me. The only exception I know of is if the dream is precognitive.

FLYING : usually represents freedom from the physical body, as we experience in sleep & while dreaming where we don't use our physical bodies but instead use our mental & spiritual bodies to experience our dreams. It's one of the first things people attempt to do when they gain control of their dreams and start lucid dreaming. Everybody seems to have a natural inclination to want to fly, unless that is changed by a fear of flying due to a frightening incident in their waking lives. Flying = freedom; either a desire for freedom, an "escape" from restraints in your physical life (like a mini-vacation for the mind) or any number of possiblities. Tie it in with the context of your dream...what were you doing in your dream besides flying? How did it make you feel? etc. Also, the type of flying I'm referring to, here, is the person flying on their own without an airplane or any aircraft at all. That would be a different symbol dealing with spiritual awareness, among other things.

SCHOOL : This type of dream relates to your current "lesson in life," and if you learn how to interpret it, you'll find out how you are progressing...yes, folks, you're still taking tests and getting graded! Our "true selves" are our souls, and not our physical bodies. You are a spirit/soul having a physical dream, not the other way around. Ever feel like your life is like a play, and you are acting out some role that you don't even understand, even suprising yourself with your actions sometimes? Bingo! When we sleep, that proverbial "Veil of Forgetfulness" that prevents us from "cheating on the test" is lifted, and we are shown what type of progress we are making (or, *GULP*, not making) and given guidance on what to do next. We always have free will in our waking physical lives, though, and if we stubbornly refuse to finish our tests, then we have that right--but we are doomed to repeat it until we pass it; and each time we turn away from it, the next time it will be more unpleasant until finally we are forced to acknowledge it's importance for our growth. The things we consider vitally important in our waking physical lives are not nearly as important as the TRUE reason we are here, which is to overcome our shortcomings so that we may get closer to our Source/God/Higher Power. To avoid learning the lesson is like forcing your soul to a fate similar to the mythical greek god named Sisyphus (thanks, Leah!) who was doomed to keep rolling a boulder uphill for eternity, only to watch it roll back down & have to repeat the same tedious hard labor again & again. That sounds like school to me! So pay heed to the messages in dreams about schools, and you may advance faster. Do you *really* want to repeat kindergarten AGAIN?

CAR or VEHICLE : This is supposed to symbolize you in your waking life, in your physical body. Your physical body is used by the soul pretty much like we use a car...it's driven for awhile and we give it gas/nourishment & repairs as needed until it stops running, and then we go back home. Pay attention to your car, which symbolizes your VESSEL/physical body. Are you behind the wheel, or is someone else in control? You want to be in charge of your life, naturally. What is the color & condition of this vehicle? Do you seem to be driving it the right way, on a safe road in good condition, or is the road rocky, winding, or suddenly ends at a cliff? That would signal you need redirection. The bigger the vehicle, the more energy you may be successfully using for your daily lessons, depending on the context of your dream. Note all clues as to how you are faring, and make adjustments accordingly.

HOUSE : You drive a car, but typically you LIVE in a house/apartment. Dreams about a HOUSE symbolize a larger aspect of your Self, and the aspects of Self which make the whole. Each room is said to symbolize a different aspect of your Self; for example:

AN ATTIC symbolizes your Higher Self, and your spiritual development & progress. Look at other symbols in the attic of your dream, and try to evaluate what they mean. Also pay attention to the feeling you experience in your dream...is it pensive, enlightening or what, exactly? All these things are clues for you.

A BATHROOM would symbolize the need for cleansing/purging/elimination of something in your life that isn't quite working, or that has served it's purpose and now it's time to move on.

A KITCHEN would symbolize the need or act of supplying nourishment or food for the body/mind/soul...whatever is currently "cooking" or developing in your life. If the food is plentiful, you have what you need. If the cupboard is bare, time to go shopping for new nourishment, and you need to figure out what is needed for that "shopping list."

A DINING ROOM is similar to the kitchen, but has more to do with immediate needs for supplying & utilizing nourishment, and less with the preparation or taking stock of those needs.

THE MAIN ROOM or LIVING ROOM symbolizes your daily interactions with others, and often you will have other people appearing in your dreams in this room. Remember, they represent aspects of YOUR Self, and not themselves. (See PEOPLE, above)

BEDROOMS symbolize the unconscious mind aspect of your Self, rest, dreams, sometimes sexuality issues in your life.

THE UPSTAIRS symbolizes your spiritual awareness aspect of Self, or the Higher Self that holds all the keys or knowledge to this life's role you are acting out, and always has your higher good looked after, no matter how it might seem otherwise.

THE DOWNSTAIRS/BASEMENT symbolizes your subconscious mind aspect of Self, which deals with habits, old coping skills, automation, ego. That's usually the part of our Selves that makes us feel "torn" between knowing we should do one thing, but inexplicably ending up doing the opposite. (Don't you HATE that??) Old belief patterns & fears have to be corrected, if that is the case. Tackle & overcome it, and you will feel much more peaceful about your life.

THE GROUND FLOOR of a house represents your daily agenda; what's currently going on in your life.

REVISITING OLD HOUSES FROM CHILDHOOD OR EARLIER TIMES: This points to issues that probably are resurfacing in your current life, and need to be looked at, analyzed, and healed so you can move forward and not look back. If you find yourself repeating the same old tired mistakes, or dealing with the same old tired fears, chances are you will have this dream.

A HALLWAY symbolizes that you have reached an area that is necessary to journey through in order to get to the other side, and it may be a narrow path that has to be traversed with care and awareness. If you have that "closed in, claustrophobic feeling" then you need to expand your awareness/open your mind to more possiblities for completing this phase of your journey.

A  PORCH symbolizes perhaps a metaphor of being undecided, such as the saying, "I'm still on the porch on that decision."  It could be symbolic of being contemplative, or uncommitted or withdrawn.  It could be something entirely different such as being on the threshold of a new sense or an extension of Self.  It depends on the entire context of the dream.  Back or Front Porch? Screened-in or open?  Messy or neat?  Sparse or furnished?  All these details add to the overall symbolism.

                                           
TORNADO : this symbol points to emotional turmoil, as in a "whirlwind of emotions"; and/or rapid or sudden changes in your life. It is a sign to "get a grip" on what is possibly spinning out of control & deal more effectively with your emotions. Meditation and finding some private "think time" for yourself would be a good idea.
 
 

COLORS :

PINK : the color of love in all it's forms. Often used to show healing through love.

RED : passion, anger.

BLACK : the unconscious mind; void; death of the old.

GREY : fear, confusion.

WHITE : truth, "coming clean", purity; can also be symbolic of death & new beginnings.

GREEN : healing, growth, newness.

BLUE : spirituality; could be a metaphor for "being blue" (look at context of dream).

YELLOW : peacefulness, hope (as in "sunny disposition"); could be a cowardice metaphor.
 
 
 

NUMBERS : I am not a numerologist, and you would likely do better to contact one via a search engine. I will put a few basic numbers here.

ONE : unity, completeness.

TWO : balance of yin-yang principles, or male/female energies-either it's needed or it's achieved.

THREE : (common dream symbol) the trinity of the Father, Son & Holy Spirit; the 3 principles uniting in harmony, as in body-mind-spirit harmony. This dream has an important spiritual message for you--pay attention!

FIVE : changes!

What, you want more?  Ok, basic numerology involves adding double digits together oftentimes, but there are exceptions--here is a link I recommend that can be of great help, and you can get a free reading that's pretty amazing.  Here is the link:            NUMBERQUEST @
http://www.numberquest.com/numerology/report/index.html
 
 

TELEPHONE :  This is considered a "message" symbol and you are to pay close attention to it.  Are you the one doing the calling, or being called?  Are you having difficulty with the phone in some way, or is someone annoying or threatening as they talk; can you not hear anyone on the line...what is said and who says it?  All this needs to be factored in together within the full context of the dream.   Do look at this symbol closely.  Consider it your subconscious saying, "HELLOOOOO!?!"

BABY & or PREGNANCY : newness or creation in your life; a new aspect of self is being formed and coming into being!  Or you may just be worried to death about that unprotected sex you had a few weeks ago and will be dreaming next about contracting AIDS, Gonorrhea, Syphilis, Chlamydia and numerous other STD's so your subconscious is hammering at you for being stupid.  Hopefully it's the first symbol.  Did you know that 63% of these infections occur in persons under age 25?  But, I digress.
 

Various Bird Symbology :

White Dove : well known symbol of peace; a symbol of the Holy Spirit descending on Christ, as depicted in many artistic works.  A pair of white doves is a common symbol of love and devotion.

Mourning Dove :  commonly thought of as a potential symbol of upcoming death to someone you know, but only if it is seen in unusual circumstances and not just eating at the bird feeder or sitting on a telephone line.

Eagle : Among the 7 mortal sins, depicts pride; among the 4 cardinal virtues, justice.  Symbol of John the Evangelist, depicting spiritual cognition, faith, healing and ascension.  Similar powerful symbol of the Great Spirit to the American Indians, who use it's feathers in many ceremonial dress & implements.

Goose : symbol of fidelity and loyalty.  Could also be a metaphor for
"being goosed" or "acting like a goose."

Ostrich :  closing eyes to unpleasant facts.  Just mentioning "Y2K" will make many ostriches out of you! <smile>  Also a symbol of meditation, since the Ostrich parent does not sit and hatch it's eggs, but lets the sun do it's work while it guards them vigilantly.

Owl : wisdom, as portrayed in so many children's stories and cartoons.

Peacock :  pride, vanity and showing off due to the male's proud strut; but the male does this as part of his mating ritual to get the attention of the female, so I would apply this as such.  It is used to symbolize the American CBS network, and a metaphor could be "showing your true colors."  The peacock also symbolizes joy in the afterlife.  True story:  my mother & I visited my grandmother's grave one afternoon to find a living, breathing peacock standing there staring at us.  When I found out that it symbolized "joy in the afterlife," you can imagine how special that was.   How often does one find a peacock standing on a grave?  Coincidence, my foot!

Nightingale :  symbolizes yearning and pain; in Christianity it
symbolizes the longing for heaven.

Raven : intelligence; oftentimes depicting things we really prefer not to hear.

Stork :  instantly recognizable in our culture as a symbol that a baby has been delivered or is due, possibly due to the young stork's habit of gratefully feeding it's parents when it becomes a fledgling; or due to the stork's return after winter migration, when nature begins anew.

Swan : transformation, as in from "ugly duckling" into a beautiful swan.  Also symbolizes loyalty and fidelity.

Turkey :  Is any American unfamiliar with the symbology of "Turkey Day?"  Also referred to as a metaphor often used to describe something as being silly, or an embarrassing failure or dud.

Vulture : impending death, or a metaphor for waiting to take advantage of someone in dire trouble, as in "the vultures are circling."

Egg : symbolizes primal beginnings from which all life springs forth;
also in Christianity this is a symbol of resurrection (ever wonder where the thought of Easter Eggs came from?), as in Christ breaking out of his tomb similar to a chick breaking free from it's egg.  Could also have metaphorical influence, such as the age-old question, "Which came first--the chicken or the egg?"  In this manner it could be saying, "Some questions can never be answered by mere humans, so quit agonizing over a problem without solutions and deal with what-is, as it is."

Other types of symbology involving birds :  metaphors such as
"bird-brain", "You eat like a bird", "birds of a feather flock
together," "that's for the birds", "A bird in the hand is worth 2 in the
bush", "feathered friends", etc.  Just apply the metaphor to the context of your dream to get the gist of what the symbology entails.  Also helpful is relating bird dream symbols to song lyrics.  Think of how many different songs mention birds in one way or another.
 

* * Please note: I get a ton of emails from people, asking me to tell them what symbols mean that are already answered on this site. I can't answer all those emails over & over again, so please look here first, or use the Google Search engine (on my home page entrance). Thanks!

More Dream Symbols!

* Read through each dream interpretation symbol below to see if there are any that you are looking for, then click on that link to go there:

THE SHOELESS WONDER:

Dream Symbols: no shoes, airport, plane, panic.

"INCREUVABLE's" Dream:

Dream Symbols: being chased by killers, cars. I couldn't run, my car wouldn't start, gun can't fire."

"MISLEAD'S DREAM:

Dream Symbols: son, surgery, blood, cutting, beating up nurse.

PAT'S DREAM:

Dream Symbols: dream is in black & white, hallway, shadows, skyscraper, door, shooting, dead, window, running, hospital, enemies, frozen, doctors, alley, car, death scream, red.

BONNIE LASS'S DREAM:

Dream Symbols: naked, bed, feet, mice, #8, feet on ground.

RICHARD B's DREAM:

Dream Symbols: city, Advertising Convention, bright light, religious items, department store, huge building, wearing white flowing gown, Progress as you look but don't BUY, One-way only, no backtracking allowed, frustrated, breathless, Feel like Someone is following you, Room of dressy men's clothing ; you cannot see connection with spirituality, one single exit, Night has fallen, CARS line the street going UPHILL, hearing minister's voice from farther up the hill, but ignore and duck back into the store you didn't even seem to like at all.

SCOTT'S DREAM:

Dream Symbols: window fan, crabs, #2, FALLING ASLEEP within a dream, Family of ZOMBIES, ZOMBIES coming into your HOUSE, wishful thinking type dream.

NACIMAY'S DREAM:

Dream Symbols:Doctor, Pregnancy test, woman @ clinic, waiting, what people symbolize in our dreams, tired of waiting, leaving doctor's office.

"PARADOX'S DREAM :

Dream Symbols: One of my friends was recently killed in a car accident, I have been praying to be able to see her in a dream, remember her lying on a bed that may have been mine, The room was very dim, but light was coming in through a window, "You do know don't you that I'm not really here."; bruised & strange looking eyes and the blanket you did not want lifted, guy , hug, clung desperately, I didn't want her to leave, I was scared, crying, I told her I'd never forget her; her birthday.

ADRIFT's DREAM :

Dream Symbols: being shot, ocean, water, ships, father aboard your ship, #40.

LORI B's DREAM:

Dream Symbols: work, co-workers, men, standing in hall-way, chakras, chest, kundalini, snake. (scroll to second dream to find Lori B's dream interpretation)

TMD's DREAM:

Dream Symbols: Aquarium, Fish, water, fish grabbing your hands, fish jumping out of aquarium onto the floor, goldfish, big silver warrior fish, repulsion of picking up fish, worms taking over tank, barren fishtank.

** More to follow as time permits ** But please remember--I'm not putting an A-Z list up here. It will be in my book one day, or you can check the book list available on the links page. Better yet, take the tips on this site and start your own journal for inner guidance that can't be beat!

** Remember, all these are generalizations and each individual dream must be interpreted on it's own merit, by the individual dreamer. You can take in suggestions and advice, but don't see them as gospel in your case unless it truly seems to fit your dream scenario and FEELS RIGHT to you. Your intuition will let you know if you have hit on something; otherwise you'll feel a nagging sense of doubt.

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Here's a link to a huge resource on sleep disorders put together by NASA:

SLEEP DISORDER RESOURCES

Here is an A-Z by State listing of Sleep Disorder Clinics:

American Academy of Sleep Medicine

 

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