What does it mean when someone dreams of a minister, priest, rabbi, or other religious representative? I know what it means to me, but the important issue is: what does that figure mean to you? While I may, because of my life experiences, associate such a person with piety, godliness, and higher moral principles and ideals, your experiences may be similar or they may be vastly different. If you were abused by such a church leader as a child, you may have generalized your feelings so that the religious leader represents pain and hypocrisy.  Others have various experiences and might think of everything between a symbol of love and hope to one of despair and evil itself. Always look to your own life events to find the meaning of your dream symbols.

An Easy Way to Figure Out a Dream.  

(A woman’s dream.) I am alone at home (not my current house but one from several years ago). It’s night, and I’m in bed asleep when a noise rouses me. I awake to discover an intruder–a tall, dark man–and I know that he’s come to loot the house. I don’t feel personally threatened, and I don’t care so much about his taking the TVs or silver, but I don’t want to lose the information on my computer. Knowing that I need help, I run out the front door and try to yell for help, but my throat seems closed and no sound comes out. I keep trying to yell, “Help! Help,” until I’m finally able to get the words out. Now yelling loudly, I run to a neighbor’s house, bang on the door, and ring the doorbell. By this time all my neighbors are gathering outside and coming to my rescue. I feel relieved. (Note the feeling here.)

Now, using general terms and only one or two sentences, tell what this dream is about. Describe the central idea of the dream as if this were a blurb for a TV show. Give it in a nutshell. (When you’ve done that, scroll down.)

*

*

*

*

*

*

Maybe you said something like: This is about a woman who, when faced with a daunting (scary, overwhelming, etc.) situation, tries to ask for help, but she has difficulty doing so. When she finally does, help comes. That’s the dream in a nutshell. Can you tell now what the woman’s problem is? Can you see how her inner self, her unconscious is trying to show her how she needs to change her behavior?

The moral to this story is: When you need help, ask for it! People will come to your aid.

A Little Snaky.

Since our dream symbols can be concrete images for figures of speech, think of all those ideas, including a snake in the grass, lower than a snake’s belly, the whole deal was snakey, being “snake-bit,” and scads of others. Check out my book INTO YOUR DREAMS for more details on how to work with your dreams of snakes and a host of other symbols.

Have you ever noticed all the figures of speech we have for nails? I’m talking about the kind pictured here. Fingernails and toenails are a whole other subject. When you dream about nails, are you putting something together, “nailing” it, or pounding something home? Think about all the ways you use nails or use them to illustrate a “point.” How is your dream using such a symbol? Look for all the figures of speech your dream may be using instead of a plain tack or six-penny.

The old year is often portrayed as an aged Father Time while the new year is a baby. Why is that? To most of us babies represent the promise of new beginnings, fresh starts. Many of us also use babies in dreams as similar symbols: new beginnings, new undertakings, new projects, new ideas.

A woman once dreamed of a baby covered in a humongous amount of poop. What was that about? We might ask her if she was involved in any new projects or ideas, etc. Turned out that she and a friend had been discussing the notion of going into business together. Sounded to me as if her unconscious was strongly suggesting that it was a “crappy” (ahem) idea.

Have you ever dreamed about babies? What was the context? What was going on in your life? Sometimes the age of the baby might suggest the age of the undertaking. Or your dreams of babies may indicate something else altogether.  What do you associate with babies?

When anybody dreams of Santa Claus, I believe most of us would associate him with the spirit of Christmas, the joy, the wonder of children and their wish list. We think of gifts and giving and family. What does Santa mean to you? What were your childhood memories? Have you ever dreamed of the jolly little man or his reindeer?

Maybe dreaming of Santa bearing gifts means you’ve been “nice” and you’re being given a reward, a pat on the back for good behavior.  MERRY CHRISTMAS!

How often do you dream of a policeman, a sheriff, a constable, a Mountie, or a Texas Ranger? What does it mean? What was the context in your dream?

Were you having a pleasant cup of coffee with a cop or had he pulled you over for speeding or some other infraction? Law enforcement officers may show up in dreams to remind us to slow down and navigate life more safety or be prepared to face the consequences. They remind us to walk the straight and narrow. They may represent the voice of conscience. Or protection. Or Universal Law. Does your heart beat faster when you see flashing lights in your rear view mirror? What do you associate with the various branches of law enforcement? Tell me about your cop dreams.

Dead and Buried

People often ask what it means when you dream of dead people. My stock answer is: It could mean several things. If you cast your deceased soccer coach or a long dead great aunt as a character in your dream, you might interpret them as you would a living person. What qualities or traits to you associate with them? Discipline? Fun? Nosiness?

On the other hand, if you dream you’re digging up a grave or see a zombie-like creature emerging from the cemetery turf and grabbing your ankle, maybe it’s reminding you that some things are best left dead and buried. Perhaps you’re dwelling on or revisiting a dead issue and causing problems for yourself. (Old guilts or such?) Or maybe it’s just the opposite: do you need to look into something you thought was dead and buried to resolve some current issue that keeps cropping up? Examine your life concerns to see which fits. (See Dream People for more info.)

If you have a question about a particular symbol or something about your own dreams, leave a comment here or check the contact page, and I’ll try to answer your question.

Often when doctors show up in our dreams, they signal something to do with the physical condition of the body. (Unless you are a doctor or are closely associated with the healing profession.) Our health and physical needs are very necessary to survival and problems there send up red flags. Some of our dreams are prodromal (before symptoms appear) and come as warnings to ward off invading germs, building gallstones, or belly fat.

On the other hand, a doctor might represent a need to “heal” some situation or relationship. (Are you on the outs with a neighbor, a family member, or other person?)

Look to other parts of the dream and your current circumstances to help figure out what your doctor represents. Remember: The people we dream about are often parts of ourselves in other costumes and makeup. “Physican, heal thyself!”

Someone asked, “What does it mean when you’re running in a dream?”

I’ll give you my stock answer: It depends on the context of the dream and what’s going on in your everyday life.

1. Are you running away from something or trying to escape from something that is chasing you? This is one of the common dreams that people have. Ask yourself if your fears/concerns are dogging you or if some of your basic needs are unmet (physiological needs or safety and security needs). Are you trying to escape guilt or something from your past? Are you trying to get away from a stressful situation?

2. Are you running toward something?  Are you trying to catch up or reach a goal? Is your life a constant running, running, running? Do you feel as if you’re on a treadmill?

3. Do you need to start running? Is your body “running” properly? Do you need to get up and get a move on?

Which fits your current life circumstances?