Dream Images: Flying

        Dreams about flying usually represent 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 possibilities.

        Tie it in with the context of your dream...what were
you doing in your dream besides flying? How did it make
you feel? Also, the type of flying 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.
Flying dreams fall under a category of dreams where
you become aware that you are dreaming, known as lucid
dreaming. Many dreamers have described the ability to fly
in their dreams as an exhilarating, joyful, and liberating
experience.

        If you are flying with ease and enjoying the scene and
landscape below, then it suggests that you are on top of a
situation. You have risen above something. It may also
mean that you have gained a different perspective on
things. Flying dreams and the ability to control your flight is
representative of your own personal sense of power.
Having difficulties staying in flight indicates a lack of
power in controlling your own circumstances. You may be
struggling to stay aloft and stay on course. Things like
power lines, trees, or mountains may further obstruct your
flight. These barriers represent a particular obstacle or
person who is standing in your way in your waking life. You
need to identify who or what is hindering you from moving
forward.

        If you are feeling fear when you are flying or that
you feel that you are flying too high then it suggests that
you are afraid of challenges and of success.

In reality, we do not have the ability to fly. Thus
such dreams may represent that which is beyond our
physical limitations. In your mind, you can be anybody and
do anything. Another way of interpreting flying dreams is
that these dreams symbolize your strong mind and will.

        You feel undefeatable and nobody can tell you what you
cannot do and accomplish. Undoubtedly these dreams
leave you a great sense of freedom.

         Being Caught In A 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.
         To be continued on Dream Images...   atj

Common Dream Images

MOST COMMON DREAM IMAGES


        One very important thing to keep in mind is to interpret
symbols within the context of the dream they appear in,
rather than piece by piece which would leave too much room
for error. There are thousands of symbols, and it depends
upon the context of one's own personal dream as to what
they all mean for him/her.

        Look at it this way...a dream is like a puzzle, and
although there are several pieces that are quickly pieced
together because they are so obvious, the puzzle isn't
complete until all the pieces are placed together bit by bit.
Then you have the complete picture...until then, you'll only
have disjointed images that don't add up to anything
coherent, and you'll still be confused.

        So please remember that and try not to piecemeal a
dream...it needs to be fully interpreted or it will most likely
be totally wrong.
Let’s look at some of the more common dream images
and what they could mean.

• Teeth Falling Out

        This is probably the most prevalent dream image that
people report. It is disturbing to them because it affects
vanity and personal appearance – but only in the dream! 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, and 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.
        Another theory is that dreams about your teeth reflect
your anxiety about your appearance and how others
perceive you. Sadly, we live in a world where good looks
are valued highly and your teeth play an important role in
conveying that image. Teeth are used in the game of
flirtations, whether it is a dazzling and gleaming smile or
affectionate necking. These dreams may stem from a fear
of your sexual impotence or the consequences of getting
old. Teeth are an important feature of our attractiveness
and presentation to others. Everybody worries about how
they appear to others. Caring about our appearance is
natural and healthy.

        There are cultural interpretations of this type of dream
as well. A scriptural interpretation for bad or falling teeth
indicate that you are putting your faith, trust, and beliefs
in what man thinks rather than in the word of God. The
bible says that God speaks once, yea twice in a dream or a
vision in order to hide pride from us, to keep us back from
the pit, to open our ears (spiritually) and to instruct and
correct us.

        In the Greek culture, when you dream about
loose, rotten, or missing teeth, it indicates that a family
member or close friend is very sick or even near death.
Note: In addition to this, I have experienced several occasion of
          dreaming that my tooth was falling and our relative died. This
          happened not only once but several times. I purely believed
          that this is true. A week ago my daughter had a Dream that
          her tooth was also falling and three days later my cousin living
          in Australia had died. Not only a coincidence but it is a real truth
          regarding this theory. My first information about this comes from
          my 84 year old mother who is currently bed ridden for 6 years of
          her sickness.

        According to the Chinese, there is a saying that
your teeth will fall out if you are telling lies.
        It has also been said that if you dream of your
teeth falling out, then it symbolizes money. This is based
on the old tooth fairy story. If you lose a tooth and leave it
under the pillow, a tooth fairy would bring you money.
         To be continued......    atj

INTERPRETING YOUR DREAMS


        Interpreting your dreams can be a lot of fun. As we’ve
said, it can also give you valuable insight. Dreams are like
coded messages from your unconscious mind. When you
decode them, you gain access to a wealth of intuitive
wisdom.

        Remember that only you can interpret your dreams.
Many people have published "Dream Dictionaries" that
describe what each part of the dream symbolizes. Actually,
the same dream can have infinite meanings, depending on
the person who dreamed it. The important thing is, what
does it mean to YOU?

        Interpreting dreams isn’t something you can pick up
and become an expert at right away. It takes time and
practice. First, keep the following things in mind:

• Dreams are the reaction of the inner self to daytime
activity and often show the way out of the dilemma. So
relate them to current activity, because dreams may be
retrospective as well as prospective.

• Observe carefully recurrent dreams, as well as the
serially progressive ones. These often illustrate
progress or failure.

• Be practical in your interpretations. Always look first for
a lesson. What have you refused to face or been
ignoring?

• Dreams come to guide and help, not to amuse. They
direct your attention to errors of omission and
commission and offer encouragement for right
endeavors. They also give us the opportunity to pray
for others and to help them bear their burdens.

• Look for past-life experiences in your dreams. These
manifest themselves not only in color, but in the proper
costume and setting of their period. They come to warn
you against repeating the same old mistakes; to
explain your relationship and reactions to certain
people and places; to reduce your confusions; to
enable you to better understand life.

• Dreams that are unchanged through the years indicate
the dreamer's resistance to change.
The difficulty most people have with interpreting their
own dreams is that they aren't objective enough. Their
familiarity with the people and places in their dreams
obscures the dreams meaning. Experts have come up with
the “I AM and I NEED” formula, devised to overcome this.
Here's how it works.

        Once you have your dream written on paper, get two
different colored pens. Using one color, underline every
negative word or phrase in the dream which indicates
limitation, disrespect, containment, avoidance or damage.
Using the other color, underline every positive word or
phrase. You now make two lists. List the negative words and
phrases under a column titled I AM. List the positive words
and phrases under a column titled I NEED. You are almost
ready to interpret your dream.

        Determine the subject matter of the dream. The
location where the dream takes place is one of the best
methods for doing this. When you have determined the
subject matter take each of the phrases or words in the 'I
AM' column and fit them into the following sentence.
When it comes to my (subject matter) I AM (phrase or
keyword)
Change the phrase or keyword slightly to force the
sentence to make sense. If you cannot determine the
subject matter apply the keywords to yourself in general.
This exercise tells you how you feel or react to the subject
matter of the dream. When you have done this read through
the 'I NEED' column to learn what you must do to correct
the problem. To get the meaning put each of the phrases or
keywords into the sentence,
When it comes to my (subject matter) I NEED (phrase
or keyword)
Let's take an example. Using the sentence 'The dead
woman lay on the cold hard slab'. The negative keywords
are; dead, cold and hard. Women, in dreams, can represent
emotions so in this case the sentences constructed would be
When it comes to my emotions I am dead.
When it comes to my emotions I am cold.
When it comes to my emotions I am hard.
The meaning is obvious. With analyzing just one
sentence from a dream we have learned a lot about the
dreamer. Using this technique you now have all of the
information you need to start interpreting your dreams.
However it takes practice to be able to apply what you have
learned. Be patient with your efforts.

        Not all dream interpretations will be that cut and dried,
but it is a way to remain objective when you are analyzing
what your dreams mean and how best to put the messages
they are conveying to good use in your life.
Keep in mind that Most dreams are * NOT *
precognitive, and once one learns the subtle differences
between a precognitive dream versus a regular dream, they
are easily discernable and will put your mind at ease.
The first thing everyone should consider is the typical
universal symbology of the dream images. For instance,
death symbolizes the end of something that's ready for
change, and a new beginning. Most people start out highly
resistive to changes of any sort, and see any upcoming
change in their life as something foreboding and scary.
Death dreams are usually about change.

        The symbols and what they represent is the most
fascinating part of dream interpretation. There are literally
hundreds of them. We don’t have the space to address ALL
of them, but we will touch on some of the most recurring
themes in dreams as well as the symbols of those dreams
and what they mean.

HOW TO REMEMBER YOUR
DREAMS

        When beginning the steps towards interpreting your
dreams, many people find it helpful to keep a notebook – a
dream journal, if you will – right next to your bed with a pen
or pencil. As soon as you are physically able, begin your
journal.

        Write down your dream as soon as you remember it.
Write down everything you remember, even if it doesn't
make sense. Most often, the parts that don't make sense or
are out of place are the most valuable. Every detail, even
the minutest element in your dream is important and must
be considered when analyzing your dreams. Look closely at
the characters, animals, objects, places, emotions, and even
color and numbers that are depicted in your dreams.

        Ask yourself, "What does this remind me of?" Write
down the first thing that comes to your mind. This will likely
be the real situation in your life that is symbolized in the
dream. What did that real-life situation make you feel like?
If this is the same feeling represented in your dream, you're
on the right track. Often when there is more than one part
to your dream (more than one story line) that usually means
there are two things your subconscious is trying to tell you.

        Remember that we have between four and seven
dreams per night. If you wake up from a dream, write it
down. Don’t roll over and go back to sleep. If you don’t
write it down, you’ll never remember it in the morning! At
the very least, you can jot down the basic premise of the
dream and go back in the morning to fill in the rest of the
details such as feelings, etc.

        Suggest to yourself every night as you fall asleep, "I
will remember my dreams." Say this over and over. Your
sub-conscious will act on this subtle suggestion. Practice
keen observation in your dreams through self-suggestion
prior to sleep. When a problem confronts you, you might
want to ask by prayer for guidance to be sent to you
through your dreams.

        Trust your instincts! If something seems important, it
probably is. Try not to let your logical side take over.
So you’ve got your dreams down on paper. Where do
you go next? The next step would be interpretation.   atj

Why Remember Your Dreams

WHY REMEMBER YOUR DREAMS?

        Your dreaming mind has access to information that is
not readily available to you when you are awake. Your
dreams may reveal your secret desires and subconscious
feelings.

        In remembering your dreams, you will have an
increased knowledge about yourself, bring about selfawareness
and self-healing. Dreams are an extension of
how you perceive yourself. They can be a source of
inspiration, wisdom, and joy.

        You don’t have to interpret your dreams in order to
solve your problems. But just as there is the saying that
“Death cures cigarette smoking,” you might find that
listening to your dreams may help you solve your problems
before you run out of time.

        Dreams are always “true”—it’s just that what they
mean isn’t always what we think they mean. Sometimes a
dream gives a warning of danger, but if you pay attention to
the dream and change your ways the danger won’t
necessarily happen. And most often a dream’s meaning will
be metaphorical, not literal.

        For example, a woman may dream that her husband is
having a sexual affair, but it would be a mistake to conclude
that her husband is really having an affair. The dream is
simply providing the woman graphic evidence that she
somehow feels betrayed by her husband. Once she
acknowledges that feeling, she can then start examining her
life consciously—and honestly—to find out why she feels
betrayed and what she needs to do about it.

        All dreams essentially tell us one important thing:
“Wake up!” That is, just as you must wake up from a dream
to remember it, the dream itself is telling you to “wake up”
to the truth that you try to hide from others—and from
yourself.

        Of course, there is a positive as well as a negative side
to remembering and interpreting your dreams.
       The negative side is that you may come across a side
of yourself that you really don't like or are afraid to know
about. You may discover that you aren't (always) the "Miss
Goody Two Shoes" or "Mr. Nice Guy" that you profess to be
during the day. You may discover that your childhood was
not all ice cream, roller-skating and amusement parks. You
may end up shedding light on dark places and recall secrets
long repressed. This can be scary stuff.

        The positive side is that you go through a
metamorphosis or catharsis and become -- you. You
become the “you” that you were always meant to be. You
will become truer to yourself and therefore, you will find
that you are happier.

        Learning to recall your dreams may help you become a
more assertive, creative person.
        In remembering your dreams, you are expressing and confronting your
feelings.
        Remembering your dreams can help you come to
terms with stressful aspects of your lives.
        But this may be easier said than done. Five minutes
after the end of the dream, half the content is forgotten.
After ten minutes, 90% is lost. Dreamers, who are
awakened right after sleep, are able to recall their
dreams more vividly than those who slept through the night
until morning.
        Obviously, remembering your dreams is vital to
interpreting them. So, how can you better remember your
dreams?   atj

WHY DO WE DREAM?

•  The brain receives stimuli from many different sources

all day long. There are far too many stimuli for it to
process. The mind prioritizes the stimuli and makes you
aware of those that need immediate attention (the crying
baby, the out-of-control car, your boss' request) so that you
may act accordingly.

•  The stimuli that you are not consciously aware of are

nevertheless noted by the brain, but on a subconscious level
(the drip of the bathroom water faucet, the remark by a
coworker at the water cooler while you were on the
telephone.)

• Furthermore, you feel emotions all day. Some you

acknowledge and act on (you say thank you and smile when
you are complimented.) Some you repress or do not allow
yourself to act on (you don't punch your boss in the nose
when he tells you the report you worked on for a week is no
longer needed.)

•  Traumatic experiences occur that you face (you call the

police) or if it too painful, you deny them happening and
send them deep into your subconscious (repression.)
In addition to all these emotions and stimuli the brain
must process daily, it also keeps your body functioning; it
remembers names and faces; it allows you to talk and walk
and chew gum (sometimes all at the same time); and
performs numerous other activities that you take for
granted.

•  You must admit -- that's a lot to do. At night, when

your body must rest, the mind continues working. When no
longer called upon to type letters and do the grocery
shopping, the brain concentrates on processing all of those
subconscious stimuli and emotions (while still maintaining
body temperature and breathing, etc.)

•  This is why we dream. Only you are not awake to

receive the signals at a conscious level -- you can not hear
or see or touch (at a conscious level) while you are sleeping.
The brain must resort to other means to get the signals
through to your conscious mind. This is why we dream the
way we do.

• The mind uses everything at its disposal (which is

everything it has ever been exposed to) to get the message
across. Simply put, dreaming is the minds way of
processing all of the stimuli and emotions it has received
during the day or repressed over time, so that you may act
on them.

•  All in all, it's a pretty neat system. But unless you are

remembering and making sense of your dreams, you are
missing out on countless opportunities to learn about
yourself and experience life to its fullest.
Even though we’ve addressed it before, it bears
repeating.

 Why should you try and remember your dreams?

Why People Dream

                  WHY DO WE DREAM?


        The brain receives stimuli from many different sources
all day long. There are far too many stimuli for it to
process. The mind prioritizes the stimuli and makes you
aware of those that need immediate attention (the crying
baby, the out-of-control car, your boss' request) so that you
may act accordingly.
        The stimuli that you are not consciously aware of are
nevertheless noted by the brain, but on a subconscious level
(the drip of the bathroom water faucet, the remark by a
coworker at the water cooler while you were on the
telephone.)
        Furthermore, you feel emotions all day. Some you
acknowledge and act on (you say thank you and smile when
you are complimented.) Some you repress or do not allow
yourself to act on (you don't punch your boss in the nose
when he tells you the report you worked on for a week is no
longer needed.)
        Traumatic experiences occur that you face (you call the
police) or if it too painful, you deny them happening and
send them deep into your subconscious (repression.)
In addition to all these emotions and stimuli the brain
must process daily, it also keeps your body functioning; it
remembers names and faces; it allows you to talk and walk
and chew gum (sometimes all at the same time); and
performs numerous other activities that you take for
granted.
        You must admit -- that's a lot to do. At night, when
your body must rest, the mind continues working. When no
longer called upon to type letters and do the grocery
shopping, the brain concentrates on processing all of those
subconscious stimuli and emotions (while still maintaining
body temperature and breathing, etc.)
        This is why we dream. Only you are not awake to
receive the signals at a conscious level -- you can not hear
or see or touch (at a conscious level) while you are sleeping.
The brain must resort to other means to get the signals
through to your conscious mind. This is why we dream the
way we do.
        The mind uses everything at its disposal (which is
everything it has ever been exposed to) to get the message
across. Simply put, dreaming is the minds way of
processing all of the stimuli and emotions it has received
during the day or repressed over time, so that you may act
on them.
         All in all, it's a pretty neat system. But unless you are
remembering and making sense of your dreams, you are
missing out on countless opportunities to learn about
yourself and experience life to its fullest.
        Even though we’ve addressed it before, it bears
repeating. Why should you try and remember your dreams?   atj