Hidden meaning of dreams

The hidden meaning of dreams is found in symbols that the dreamer sees. There are two ways of attributing meanings of dreams. The first is recognizing the similarity of the symbol with an event in the dreamer’s life. For instance, rain symbolizes tears. The other method is interpreting the dream as the opposite of the symbol. For instance, candy could mean bitterness or tears and weeping could mean joy. Some interpreters connect meanings with colors. Pastel shades are favorable while darker shades are disturbing.

[edit] What is the history of finding the hidden meaning of dreams?

Although primitive societies are known to have found hidden meanings in dreams, the first recorded historical event was the dream of the wife of Julius Caesar of his murder on the ides of March. In the Bible, the Old Testament has many instances of Egyptian Pharaohs relying on the interpretation of their dreams. Joseph and the more well known Daniel were famed for their expertise in interpreting dreams. Gods’ message, it is believed is conveyed to humans through dreams.

[edit] Have psychologists studied the hidden meaning of dreams?

The father of psychology Sigmund Freud associated dreams with wish fulfillment and stated that the hidden meanings of dreams are instigated by the person’s desires on the previous day. Carl Jung made a more detailed study of interpreting dreams and found Freud’s wish fulfillment theory too simplistic. Jung believed that the hidden meaning of dreams was based on the entire conscious mind and reflects its depth and intricacy. The meaning of every dream is unique with a logic and language of its own. Calvin Hall believed that dreams are a cognitive sequence of thoughts and fears that stay in the subconscious during sleep.

[edit] Why is it important to study the hidden meaning of dreams?

Psychologists and dream interpreters believe that understanding dreams will help an individual understand the way he or she behaves and comprehend the actions that arise out of such behavior. The interpretation of dreams may help in the correction of many behavioral disorders and depression. If a person needs to correct behavioral mistakes the hidden meaning of his or her dreams will help focus on the mistakes or behavioral lapses and help in their correction.

[edit] How does one find the hidden meaning of dreams?

Dream interpreters rely on a number of factors to figure out the hidden meaning of dreams. The context and the environment of the dream, the role played by the dreamer in the dream, the role played by the other players in the dream is an important feature, the emotions displayed by the dreamer and other players in the process of the dream, the positive events and the negative events in the dream are all factors that aid the interpreter in unraveling the meaning. The dreamer is also asked to reflect on his or her recent past and an interpretation of the hidden meaning of the dream is arrived at. Some interpreters believe that fears and problems of the individual manifest themselves as dreams. Some attribute two meanings- a superficial meaning and a latent meaning that are taken together to interpret the dream. If the dream is repetitive interpreters believe it could be a premonition asking the dreamer to beware of someone or something.

[edit] Conclusion

Dreams have latent meanings and sometimes help dreamers to wake up to new life enhancing possibilities.