How do you interpret dreams?
06/02/25 11:03pm
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This post was sourced from submitted reader questions and posted by wikiHow Editorial Staff, based on our article: How to Interpret Your Dreams
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To interpret dreams, the first thing I do is write everything down as soon as I wake up. There’s such a short window where you can remember your dreams, so I try to capture as much detail as I can. Then I review the themes and patterns. I keep a dream diary, and I often notice recurring elements—like school buses or school settings. I break down each symbol or character and reflect on how they make me feel.
Dream interpretation is very personal, so I don’t rely solely on Google or symbol dictionaries. Those can be helpful, but only after reflecting on what the symbols mean to you. Over time, you start to see a bigger message or theme emerging.
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Dream interpretation is very personal, so I don’t rely solely on Google or symbol dictionaries. Those can be helpful, but only after reflecting on what the symbols mean to you. Over time, you start to see a bigger message or theme emerging.
First you have to write down everything you remember from your dream without any judgment! As you start to interpret the dream, it can be easy to forget details or even to misremember what actually happened, so you have to start from a non-judgmental space where you let the words flow onto the page without any editing.
Second, ask yourself: What were the key feelings I had during this dream? Symbols and images can be confusing because they don't speak our waking language. But you can always trust the emotions. Was there fear in the dream? Then there is probably unexpressed or unexplored fear in your waking life.
THEN you can start to pull apart the key nouns and verbs to see what they represent metaphorically. First, start with your own free associations, then you can look to other dictionaries and interpretations to help you search for new connections you may not have thought about.
Remember, to interpret dreams ethically, only YOU can determine the true meaning. Dictionaries and online searches can be helpful, but nothing can replace your own meditative and introspective reflection.
Happy Dreaming!
- Jesse
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Second, ask yourself: What were the key feelings I had during this dream? Symbols and images can be confusing because they don't speak our waking language. But you can always trust the emotions. Was there fear in the dream? Then there is probably unexpressed or unexplored fear in your waking life.
THEN you can start to pull apart the key nouns and verbs to see what they represent metaphorically. First, start with your own free associations, then you can look to other dictionaries and interpretations to help you search for new connections you may not have thought about.
Remember, to interpret dreams ethically, only YOU can determine the true meaning. Dictionaries and online searches can be helpful, but nothing can replace your own meditative and introspective reflection.
Happy Dreaming!
- Jesse
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