Have you woken up confused after a strange dream before? If you have, then you probably shrugged it off as nothing after a few minutes of pondering over it.
You probably didn’t know this, but almost all your dreams have some deeper meanings. These might show you some things about yourself that even you may not have known.
Thanks to the art (and science) of dream interpretation, your dreams don’t have to be so confusing anymore. You can glean some information from your dreams and finally understand what your subconscious has been telling you.
We’ve gathered a few common dreams (just five dozen… not much) and their meanings to help you sleep better tonight. You can check them out.
- What does it mean when you dream about having an affair?
So you cheated on your partner in a dream? That’s not a problem. Cheating on your partner in a dream doesn’t always mean you’ve been having unfaithful thoughts in real life.
The dream could be a result of a desire to escape or try something new.
An example given by J.M. Debord in his book, The Dream Interpretation Dictionary, says that maybe “the thought of quitting your job and living on an island crossed your mind, and the desire is growing in you to do it.”
- What does it mean when you dream that you’re speaking in an accent?
Having an accent in your dream can mean different things depending on how the people in your dream respond to it.
An accent that draws positive attention may signify that you feel a sense of confidence or pride. However, if the accent gets a lot of negative attention, it may mean that you feel attacked or insecure.
- What does it mean to have cats in a dream?
According to some dream interpreters, cats are usually a bad omen. Having them hanging around in your dream might mean some sort of disloyalty or deception going on among your close friends/family.
A black cat may foretell illnesses, and chasing it away might lead to some sort of good fortune.
So, yes, if you see a cat in your dream, try chasing it away. You may gain some good luck instead.
- What does it mean to have dogs in a dream?
Dogs are the opposite of cats. When you see them in your dreams, they usually signify close friends, and sometimes they can indicate good times ahead.
However, a snarling dog could mean that one of your friends isn’t entirely what they seem. And if a dog gives you a bite in your dream, then a ‘friend’ is up to something that would harm you.
A barking dog might also be a sign of danger in the future, maybe some issues with the law.
- What does it mean when you dream about aliens?
Aliens. They’ve found their way into almost all aspects of our lives, from movies to novels and sometimes our dreams.
If you dreamt of being abducted by aliens, it might mean that you are experiencing something strange or abnormal in your life. Maybe a new person in your life is triggering some feelings that are unlike you.
It might also be that you were abducted and brainwashed into thinking it was a dream. Those aliens are crafty.
- What does it mean to dream about an airport?
The interpretation of this one seems easy enough. You might be worried or excited about a flight, maybe yours or someone else’s.
But it might also signify a time of change in your life. J.M Debord says that “Airports are points of departure, such as when you’re leaving behind old beliefs or practices or a time of life,”
It could mean that you’re ready for an exciting change. You’re cleared for take-off!
- What does it mean when you are bald in a dream?
Losing your hair in your dream can indicate a sense of lost vigor or youth, helplessness, or exposure. That seems terrible, but a bald head might also mean a clean mind, especially when the head is spotless and sparkling.
As your hair is a strong visual identifier, baldness may also mean a sense of conformity (or blending in). Maybe you feel like you’re losing yourself in your work or an organization.
- What does it mean when you are playing sports in a dream?
If you usually play sports or get athletic, doing those activities in your dream might not mean much. If you’re not that kind of person, it could mean that you are pushing yourself towards a goal in real life and should try not to go overboard.
It may also show that you are surrounded by rivals who you should be careful with.
- What does it mean if you’re baking or cooking in a dream?
Like with sports, if you do a lot of baking or cooking regularly, cooking something up in your dream may not mean much.
However, it may have more significance for everyone else (maybe even you, a professional chef).
According to Craig Hamilton-Parker in The Hidden Meaning Of Dreams, cooking up a storm in your dreams might “represent plans you are nearly ready to put into action.”
Baking in your dreams might also be your body telling you you’re pregnant or a reflection of an urge to conceive. So maybe you should run a test, you never know, something might be cooking in the oven.
- What does it mean when you are wearing armor in a dream?
Armor in the dream means that the dreamer is protecting themselves emotionally from something or someone.
Hamilton-Parker recommends introspection after this type of dream. Once you discover the origin of this fear, you may see that you may not need to be so guarded.
- What does it mean when you dream about someone?
We’ve all heard couples calling each other the ones in their dreams, so you must have a clue about this one. If you see someone you love (or even like) in your dreams, it could just show how much you feel about that person.
But if you dream your partner is with someone else, it may not mean they have been unfaithful. It could just mean that you’re no longer as excited about your life as others are about theirs.
- What does it mean when you die in a dream?
Death in a dream might get you scared, but you shouldn’t be terrified. It doesn’t mean you are about to die, maybe from a terminal illness that you didn’t know you had.
It could just signify that something important or a stage in your life is coming to an end.
The Dream Show podcast host, Jane Teresa Anderson, says that “Dreaming about death often means that you feel something is coming to an end in your life. But that being said, how you react to the death in the dream can mean different things.”
- What does it mean when you die in a dream but feel peaceful about it?
Experiencing a death in a dream usually leaves you feeling agitated, but if it happens and you feel at peace with it, that means that there’s something in your life you are ready to let go of.
Out with the old and in with the new!
- What does it mean when you dream about being scared of dying?
If you feel scared of dying in a dream, it could mean that you are afraid of letting go of something in your life, even though that thing might be coming to an end.
You could think hard about whatever it is that is bringing those feelings about and decide how best to come to terms with its end.
- What does it mean when you dream your teeth are falling out?
If you dream of losing your teeth, you might be in a situation where you feel like you are losing control of events in your life.
According to Psychologist Ian Wallace, “Your teeth symbolize how confident and powerful you feel, so some situation is causing your confidence to crumble in waking life.”
- What does it mean when you dream about birds?
Dreaming about birds is also common, and this could mean that you are waiting to hear from someone or expecting a message. Birds have always been seen as symbols of communication.
According to Michael Lennox in his book, Dream Sight: A Dictionary and Guide for Interpreting Any Dream, phrases like “a little bird told me,” hint at beliefs that trace back to Nordic mythology.
The head of the Nordic pantheon, Odin, had two all-seeing ravens that accompanied him and told him all the important happenings in the world of men.
- What does it mean when you dream you’re on a plane?
Dreaming of being in a plane can signify a feeling of sudden changes. Your dreams are trying to tell you that such change is needed, and you might be wishing for it.
This connection to sudden and dramatic change is due to the speedy way a plane takes off and flies towards a distant destination.
Michael Lennox wrote, “As a plane is our world’s fastest mode of public transportation, it connects symbolically to those moments in life where change is rapid and total.”
- What does it mean if you dream that one of your limbs is gone?
You might have had a dream where you suddenly looked down and couldn’t find your legs. If you have, well, it’s also common.
Amputations or missing limbs might show a reduction in movement or ability.
A lack of one foot might show a sense of tenacity or an inability to be impeded on your path. However, if you’re missing both feet, it might mean you feel stopped entirely on your way.
- What does it mean when you dream you’ve lost your head?
Your head is a part of your body you can’t miss, so it is pretty peculiar not having it on in your dreams. But according to Lennox, it’s just the sign of “an eradication of a thought process, or to your sense of identity.”
It’s normal, so try not to lose your head over it.
- What does it mean when you dream you’re in bed with a coworker?
If you’re shuffling under the sheets with a coworker, that doesn’t mean you have a crush on them. So, maybe put a pause on the bouquet just yet.
Anderson says that it just means that they have some positive qualities you admire and welcome in your life.
- What does it mean when you dream you’re in an empty room?
So, you dreamt you were in an empty room? Wallace says that dreaming of vacant spaces might tell you that you have some dormant talents you are yet to use and develop.
According to him, “The more time that you spend exploring your dormant talents, the more likely that you will find other doors opening for you in waking life.”
- What does it mean when you dream you’re in an empty room and you’re scared?
It becomes different if that vacant room triggers feelings of anxiety or fear. In that case, it signifies something you’ve realized in your life recently that is unexpected. It may be something old that you haven’t looked at for a while.
The dream is about you trying to open that door or explore that feeling and the fear accompanying that action.
It could be emotions from an old relationship you swept under the carpet or any other thing. You have to open up that door, despite the fear.
- What does it mean when you dream of an out-of-control car?
An out-of-control car in your dreams (maybe you’re trying to drive one, or you have one coming at you) can signify your lack of control over your road to success.
You want to predict essential things, plan for events and keep your affairs in order, but somehow, it’s not working out.
Wallace recommends that you stop trying to control the situation and “relax your grip.”
- What does it mean when you dream of a regular car?
Like many of the above, if you have set your mind on a car in real life (maybe that cool Ford SUV you want to buy), then dreaming about it might be just that.
It could also signify steady progress in your life towards a specific goal. So, if you dream of a car that’s moving steadily, then your life might just be progressing just as fine.
- What does it mean when you dream your car is missing?
A car is a means of getting to a destination, so usually, in our dreams, it is used to represent your progress or drive towards your career goals.
So, if you’re searching for your car in a dream, it might mean that you have lost your drive or zeal to pursue your goals and are looking for a way to regain them.
- What does it mean when you dream there are animals nearby?
Different animals may give you different feelings and would signify different things. A dove might signify purity, while an eagle might mean something else entirely.
But Lennox says that anytime an animal is in your dream, it might mean that you have an issue that is bothering you, and your dream wants you to stop trying to think your way out of the bind but to turn to your instincts for the answer.
- What does it mean when you dream you’re in an attic?
A house usually signifies yourself, with different rooms standing for various aspects of yourself that you can explore. An attic can mean your intellect or mind, or even your memories.
When the attic is musty or looks like it hasn’t seen use for a while, it may reflect an unhealthy avoidance of some emotions and feelings.
- What does it mean when you dream about having a baby?
Dreaming about a baby can signify some new phase you are about to step into in your life. It may also mean an increased potential for new things.
A baby might also signify responsibilities. Things you feel like you might have to tackle shortly.
- What does it mean when you dream you can’t find your shoes?
If you can’t find your shoes in your dream, it might mean that you don’t know where to stand on a topic. It might be a personal decision you have to make or an ongoing argument.
Whenever you make up your mind, you will not have these dreams again.
- What does it mean when you dream you lost something valuable and can’t find it?
If you lose something valuable in your dream, or maybe you spend the entirety of the dream searching for something and don’t find it, it may be that you feel like you’ve lost some of your value in real life.
Ian Wallace says that “If we are looking for our purse or wallet, then we are reflecting on our value to others as we may feel that we have lost some self-esteem in waking life.”
- What does it mean when you dream you’re searching for someone?
Searching for someone in a dream doesn’t necessarily mean the person is missing in real life, so don’t call the cops yet.
The search might not even have anything to do with the person at all. Wallace believes that when you search for people in your dreams, you are trying to bring back some parts of your personality that you can’t anymore.
- What does it mean when you dream you have suddenly become very wealthy?
If you dreamt that you were swimming in dollar bills, or maybe you won the lottery in your dreams, it could show that you’re feeling good about your life at the moment.
According to Wallace, You may also have become aware of the “richness of the self.” This is different from material wealth; it has more to do with spiritual growth and acquiring wisdom.
- What does it mean when you dream that you’re falling in love?
Maybe you had your very own Romeo and Juliet story, only that it happened while you were sound asleep. That may be because you don’t have that sort of intimacy and passion in your life.
It can also show that you are falling in love with someone in the waking world. So, now you can go pick up that bouquet.
- What does it mean when you dream that you’re falling?
This sort of dream is usually followed by a start as you jar yourself awake in a panic. It seems like your dream is telling you to concentrate more and hang on, but Ian Wallace begs to differ.
He says that “you are hanging on too tightly to a particular situation in waking life. You need to relax and let go of it.”
So, your dreams are telling you to loosen up and let go.
- What does it mean when you dream that you’re flying?
Flying in your dream is usually a sign that you’ve freed yourself from a difficult situation. You’re “flying free” from circumstances that have been a burden in your waking life.
Wallace says that it is usually because you have managed to make a difficult important decision or have finally completed a task and are free from the responsibility associated with it.
- What does it mean when you dream you’re flying, but there’s an obstacle?
If you’re flying in a dream, but there’s an obstacle blocking your flight or something tethering you to the ground, it may mean that you feel something is keeping you from accomplishing your goal.
You feel like something is starting, but it’s not ready yet. These feelings might apply to a relationship or a job, but the details of the dream will bare your feelings to you.
- What does it mean when you dream that you miss your plane or train?
If you miss your flight or your train in a dream, that would probably mean that you have many commitments. All of them seem important, and they are all equally pressing.
You may be taking on too much work to achieve the satisfaction you wish to get for yourself.
Wallace advises you to “listen to your internal rhythms instead of constantly trying to beat the clock.” Being aware of your priorities and letting go of unnecessary demands and commitments are the ways to go.
- What does it mean when you dream that you call the wrong number?
Maybe in your dream, you keep trying to reach a person on the phone but always end up dialing the wrong number. That suggests that you may be feeling like you just cannot connect with someone like you used to.
That usually means that a particular way you used to communicate with someone isn’t working anymore.
That may also show itself with another kind of dream, where you keep pressing the wrong buttons on a calculator. This just shows that whatever you’re doing in your waking life is just not adding up.
- What does it mean when you dream that you’re naked in the middle of a crowd?
That is probably the most common of these dreams, seeing that it’s been depicted in many movies and media. But it goes somewhat like this. You’re probably at work or school; basically, a public crowded place, and you find yourself naked.
Nakedness in dreams is closely linked to vulnerability. The dream means that you might be in a situation that causes you to feel vulnerable or exposed.
- What does it mean when you dream that you’re barefoot?
Being barefoot is a bit close to nakedness in dreams. It shows vulnerability but has more to do with the path you are walking.
It might show how you are navigating the twists and turns of life’s choices. Walking barefoot leaves your feet exposed.
According to Lennox, “If you are exposed to the elements, it leaves them vulnerable to injury. This can have a great impact on your journey and how you get to where you intend to go.”
- What does it mean when you dream you’ve gone blind?
Blindness in a dream indicates that you are ignoring some important thing in your life, or you can’t see something important.
Lennox said, “By dreaming of the inability to see, you may be expressing areas in your life that you may be blind to…You may be dreaming of a situation in your life, or your personality, where you have a blind spot.”
- What does it mean when you dream you’re playing a board game?
Athletics are nice, but what about a board game in your sleep?
If you see board games in your dream, it might mean that you are a cool-headed calm person, and you prefer the civilized route of conflict resolution to any other.
It may also be a sign that you prefer emotional calmness to confrontation in conflicts. You love the understanding that rules bring into such situations and hope you might bring them into emotional discussions.
- What does it mean when you dream of an explosion?
Bombs might seem like agents of destruction, but they are a lot better in a dream setting.
A bomb might signify that you are experiencing or expecting a significant change. You can get more details by actually analyzing the context behind the detonation of the bomb.
- What does it mean when you dream that you show up for an exam but aren’t prepared?
That is another extremely popular one. You show up at an exam venue, and you realize that you’re utterly unprepared for the exam. You might have forgotten everything, or you may not even understand the words on the paper.
This feeling is probably because you have an exam coming up in real life and probably feel like you haven’t entirely prepared for it.
- What does it mean when you dream that you show up for another exam and you’re still not prepared?
This dream can be a sign of something else. It can show that you are a high performer who is used to doing things correctly. It can also show that you might perform well in the future.
According to Anderson, “it’s your fear of being unprepared that drives you to be ready to perform.”
- What does it mean when you dream that you can’t find a bathroom?
If you find yourself searching for a bathroom in your dreams (and failing), it might indicate that you think you’re not taking care of your own needs.
You might be taking care of some demanding children without having a lot of time for yourself. Or maybe in a relationship where you cannot express yourself.
- What does it mean when you dream you need to use the bathroom?
Dreams of needing to use the bathroom are relatively common; they might mean that you need to release some things from your life. You need to do away with some unnecessary stuff and declutter.
In the words of Jane Teresa Anderson, “you want to let the crap out of your life.”
- What does it mean when you dream that you need to pee?
This dream has plagued little kids everywhere. You might need to pee in real life, and your subconscious is telling you that with dreams of water or searching for a toilet.
Usually, when you finally pee, you’ll find out that you’ve wet the bed.
- What does it mean when you dream that you’re accused of a crime?
You might dream of being accused of committing a crime or maybe actually committing one. While that might be scary, it just might be your subconscious telling you that you’re hiding something from yourself in your waking life.
And no, you’re probably not hiding a stash of stolen diamonds. The crime in question is usually a conscious decision on your part to overlook some talents of yours to gain social acceptance.
- What does it mean when you dream you’re entering a lot of new spaces?
You may find yourself in a house and walking through doors and getting to new spaces, which probably have more doors, leading to more areas. These dreams usually indicate an exploration of yourself.
All those new spaces indicate that self-exploration would lead you to several possibilities that would leave you better than you were previously.
Wallace advises that “You need to be open to opportunity and not close the door on any chances that you create.”
- What does it mean when you dream something is chasing you?
You might be running from something in your dreams, and you find it impossible to outrun it. You’d keep running till you wake up from the terrible dream.
Running away from something in your dreams might mean that you have an issue you are avoiding in your waking life. You might want to face it, but you can’t seem to find the courage.
Your subconscious might be trying to tell you to stop running from your fears and face them instead.
- What does it mean when you dream about a bridge?
Seeing a bridge in your dreams might indicate that you’re ready to move into a new chapter or to make a change in your life while keeping a connection with your past.
Lennox says that a bridge “relates to the connections we make in life, hence the warning in the phrase ‘don’t burn your bridges.’”
Another thing happens if you are not entirely okay with the change. If that is the case, the water under the bridge might be excessively rough.
- What does it mean when there’s a candle in your dream?
A candle in your dream can mean a lot of things.
It can be an indication of a spark of inspiration or creativity. Maybe after you had a pretty good idea, you may sleep and dream of candles.
A candle may also symbolize creation. It could represent the start of something new in your life, maybe a relationship or a job.
If the candle is blown out, that could mean the end of something.
- What does it mean when you dream you’re climbing something?
You might find yourself climbing up something in your dream, a mountain or maybe a tower, and exerting yourself to reach the top.
That could signify that you enjoy a challenge. Difficult journeys are not a problem for you, as long as the reward at the end is worth it.
- What does it mean when you’re exploring a closet or looking in a cabinet?
Remember that a dream house usually signifies yourself. Now, if you’re going through a closet, it probably suggests something you are hiding or ashamed of.
Lennox said that “What you discover in a closet should be viewed through the focus of something you are hiding from or not wanting to face.”
If the closet is stuffed with junk, it might just be a pointer to some avoidance issues that you need to address.
- What does it mean when you dream about a farm or cowboys?
Dreams of farms and cowboys may point to a self-sufficient side in you. Working on a farm just shows that you could dig deep within yourself to get your needs met, and you’d not want anyone to do that for you.
Owning the farm in your dream might then be your subconscious pointing out that you are responsible, not only to yourself but also that others depend on you.
- What does it mean when you dream you’re getting a divorce?
You might wake up in a panic after signing the divorce papers in your dream, but you don’t have to worry about it. Your marriage isn’t breaking up; it is still as strong as ever.
The divorce might be your dream telling you that the number of commitments on your to-do list might be excessive.
According to Wallace, you might just be “trying to balance your commitments and honor the promises you have made to other people.”
With this amount of pressure, you may start dreaming of divorce.
- What does it mean when you dream you’re getting married to someone you don’t know?
This dream indicates an apprehension of the unknown. You may just have taken on a new job, and as such, you know very little of the new place. Or you just agreed to attend an event where you don’t know what you might have to do.
Committing to something you’re not sure of might lead to having this dream.
- What does it mean when you dream that you’re a professional athlete?
The life of a professional athlete is a big one. Competing in the big leagues and being part of something larger than yourself are enticing aspects of the professional athlete’s life.
If you’re someone who wants to be recognized in the wider society, even if not for your physical prowess, you might have dreams where you become a professional athlete.
According to Ian Wallace, when people have this dream, it “reflects their acceptance into a wider society were to have their skills and talents recognized, they will have to work as part of a team, and this will help them to ultimately achieve their goals.”
- What does it mean when you dream you’re unable to speak?
That is one scary dream that we all must have gotten once or twice. We may find ourselves unable to make a sound in our dreams.
Wallace traces this to an ongoing issue in your waking life, where you want to talk and say what is on your mind, but for some reason, you can’t.
He advises you to analyze those cases where you feel overlooked and cannot make your voice heard (figuratively). There must be some way for you to make your opinion recognized.
Photo by Armand Khoury