• Acquaintance – To dream of people you know is probably a good dream.  However, the degree of your relationship with the acquaintance, and the manner in which you conduct yourself in the dream, determines what message your dream is sendng you.  For example, if you are having a pleasant conversation with the acquaintance, then you can expect your business affairs to run smoothly and your domestic life to be stable.  If you are engaged in a heated and loud discussion with the acquaintance, then you can expect  a series of humiliating and embarrassing events to surround you.  Making a new acquaintance in a dream could indicate that a change in your life is about to occur.
• Accounts - Whether you are dealing with checking and adding up figures or having accounts presented to you for payment.  Accounting dreams are a warning that you stand to lose your money if you are too free in giving credit to the wrong people or institutions.  If the accounts balance, then it is a good indication that a profitable venture is coming your way.  Psychologically, it can also imply that you are accountable for your actions.  Do you need to pay back a favor or repay someone with kindneses?  Working on accounts can also mean you are avoiding the work needed to solve financial problems.
• Acting - Dreams of acting and giving a performance suggest many things.  If you are acting, it means that you will need to work hard for your money and your plans may be delayed; but if you work hard and persevere, you will be pleasantly rewarded and everything will work out right in the end.  Performing dreams may also relate to the act you put on in front of others in real life.  Do you feel that you’re giving a good performance?  Is it draining to keep up appearances and act as if everything is fine even when this is not the case?  Acting may also suggest that your self-confidence is low and your performance may not be as good as you or your boss and colleagues or even family expect it to be.  If may also mean that you are avoiding serious problems in your real life.
• Address – If you dream of an address that has significance to you, your dream is trying to draw your attention to, and make you deal with, a situation that happened in your past but is still troubling you in your present life.  If the address evokes feelings of safety and happiness, then you can take your mind back to that period and see if something is missing.  If the address evokes feelings of unhappiness, this signifies that you wish to escape from the past but are being reminded of how you behaved at the time and  that now have an opportunity to correct it.  Writing down an address usually means luck and predicts that good news is coming.  A new address indicates a major change.  A negative association with an address may signify that there is a feeling of alienation or lack of belonging and thus a need to move on in reality.
• Admiration - Being admired in a dream suggests that you have made useful friendships and that you crave approval from your peers.  To admire others means that you are looking for guidance in some area of your life.

May you have admiration from others, and may you take the time to admire.

-the wisher

I’m not an expert on dreams, but I’ve done some research, and will talk about what I’ve learned and what I think.  Hopefully, something I say will have a bit of meaning to you and your dreams.  I’ll also talk about sleep and how to get the more restful sleep that could keep your dreams positive and pleasant.

Disclaimer:  In no way is this list meant to take the place of professional help if you are concerned about your dreams.  If you feel you are having real difficulty understanding a dream or dreams or thoughts, please seek professional help.

Grouped in loose alphabetical order, here are possible meanings of things in your dreams:

• Abduction – dreaming of abduction can have different meanings depending on the position and circumstances of the events surrounding the dreamer. If you are the abductor, the dream suggests that you have a desire for control and power over a person or situation.  If you dream that you are being abducted, this shows that you are not in control of circumstances surrouing your life and that you feel yourself being carried away by the enormity of it all.  Dreaming you are abducted could also reveal that you could be experiencing trouble and unrest in present relationships and situations.  Perhaps others are setting the pace and calling the shots and that is leaving you frustrated and vulnerable to their actions.
• Abandonment – dreaming of being abandoned suggests that you are experiencing feelings of being unloved, unwanted and emotionally isolated to the point where you have difficulty focusing on any future success in your life.   If you abandon others in a dream, it could indicate that you have anxiety about overcoming difficult conditions involving other people and situations.  Trouble and quarrels, loss of money and friends are all associated with abandonment dreams.
• Abdomen – If you dream of pain in your abdomen, it’s a good idea to have it checked out by your doctor.  Sometimes our conscious minds may be concerned about parts of our bodies and this anxiety may come out in our dreams.  It could also be a sign to trust your “gut” instincts about people around you.  Feeling the naked abdomen indicates a recovery of money according to some traditional beliefs.
• Abortion – Abortion dreams are about the release and termination of anything that is not working or is no longer wanted in your life.  It also represents feelings of rejection, guilt, sensitivity and anxiety associated with starting new ventures.  It should be viewed as a sign to overcome troublesome events in your life and get rid of those things that are hindering your progress.
• Above - Dreams of an object or something hanging above you and about to fall on you suggest that some danger or mishap surrounding you is present.  If an object falls, but lands near you rather than striking you, it suggests that you will escape whatever hazard was meant for you, but that you must exercise caution.
• Abroad – This dream signifies that a change is needed in your life and you are probably feeling very unsettled and have a real desire to break the chains and be free of the confines of yur present circumstances and environment.  The idea of travelling to a foreign destination invites new prospects and changes in your present work, choice of lifestyle and people involved in your life.
• Accident – Interpretation of an accident dream varies according to the surroundings and circumstances of the dream.  One interpretation views the dream as a premonition of an actual accident threatening the dreamer, so it may be a good idea to avoid any type of travel for a short time.  Accident dreams in different settings such as at sea, on land, or in a car suggest disappointments in your love affairs and concerns in your personal and business ventures.  These dreams could also warn of unexpected circumstances that can be accompanied by feelings of anxiety and insecurity.  Do you have fears about personal safety?  If so, perhaps you would be wise to see these dreams as warnings that you might need to take extra care in your daily routine.

Nearly every animal sleeps in some way.  It is evident that sleep performs some important function for the nervous system.

Many theories have been suggested, but the most practical seems to be the one put forward by Nobel Prize winner Francis Crick.  He claims that the purpose of sleep is to allow the brain to ‘take out the trash’ – to undo daily events that don’t need to be stored for long-term memory.  Basically, as humans we need to get rid of unimportant mental items clogging our brains and recharge during sleep so that nerve cells can be re-engaged the next day to face a new set of tasks.

Experiments in sleep deprivation have shown that it is not lack of sleep that causes people to be disturbed, but ‘dream’ deprivation.  Dreams are likely to be the result of the brain sorting through its short-term memory of the day’s events, storing some in the long-term memory and getting rid of the rest.

Who Dreams?

Science tells us that everyone dreams even nimals and birds.  Some of us can dream ibn vibrant colors and recall every detail the next morning, while a few claim they never dream at all.  There are also those of us who dream some of the time and can remember the dream in sketchy detail.

Did you know that we spend one third of our lives sleeping?  Not only that, but we spend two to three hours per night dreaming.  That means that by the time we’re 75, we have slept for 25 years and dreamed for about 10!

So, when do we dream? There are four stages of sleep:

Stage 1:  The first stage of sleep is a very light sleep.  You can easily be woken and might deny having been asleep on awakening.  Ever heard someone say, ‘I wasn’t asleep!  I only had my eyes closed’?

That’s because the brainwaves are going from a waking frequency (beta) to a more relaxed phase, known as alpha state.  this is when the body temperature, heart and pulse rate drop slightly and eyes begin to roll.  Drifiting thoughts and floating sensations, as well as vivid pictures flow throu the brain.  Stage 1 may last for five to 10 minutes.

Wishing you could sleep is frustrating.  Tossing and turning only gets worse the more stressed you feel from not being able to fall asleep.

From research on brain patterns during sleep, scientists have begun to understand and develop treatments for sleep disorders.  Sleep disorders affect the quality and duration of sleep.  Change of sleep schedule, stress, environment and illness can all affect the sleep cycle.  Medical and psychological conditions such as depression shorten the duration of REM.

You can increase REM sleep naturally by doing the following just before going to bed:

• eating foods that contain amino acid tryptophan such as turkey, milk, bananas and cheese
• having a warm bath
• not doing strenuous activities
• meditating or relaxing

Did you know that the frequency of REM sleep is highest during early childhood years?  It drops during adolescence and young adulthood and decreases in old age.  Total sleep time becomes shorter during childhood and increases in adolescence.  Older people get less total sleep but a lengthening of REM stage.

Train yourself to sleep by:

• Decreasing your stress
• do more physical exercise in the day
• don’t eat spicy foods after lunch
• do something that makes you feel good in the evening, such as spending time with loved ones, reading, watching tv, or listening to music. 

It’s not good to sleep with lights, tv or music on unless it’s the music that helps induce sleep.  Good night!

Night Terrors are sudden, dramatic interruptions in our sleep and are quite different to nightmares. 

Nightmares occur after several hous of sleep, the dream phase of REM sleep, and they wake up the sleeper with a vivid memory of the dream. 

Unlike night terrors, nightmares do not usually involve screaming, thrashing about or running around without a purpose.  People usually remember nightmares, but sufferers of night terrors have no recollection of the dream.

Night terrors occur during the first hour or two of sleep, the deep non-REM sleep, and can last anywhere from ten to thirty minutes.  They’re most common in children, causing them to bolt out of bed, thrash around and scream or run wildly through the house.  Their eyes may be wide open but they are not awake; neither are they aware of anybody around them.  Night terrors can also cause chikldren to sleep walk and/or to urinate in bed.

Symptoms of night terrors include:

• sweating
• sudden awakening
• gerror
• scresming
• rapid heart rate
• confusion
• inability to explain or recall the dream

Night terrors, sleepwalking, and sleep talking are all disorders of arousal, called parasomnias.  They are usully brought on by stress.

Almost everyone has experienced dreams that contain anxiety or fear.  These experiences can be traumatic and haunt us by recurring repeatedly.

Typical Nightmare Themes

• falling
• being chased or attacked
• walking into a meeting or a class unprepared
• being stuck in slow motion
• being trapped and unable to move or scream
• drowning or choking
• being naked in public

Experiencees of this sort are unpleasant and usually tell us that we are not making progress in solving our real-life conflicts.  Some theorists believe that recurring dreams are due to lack of action in the dreamer’s waking state.  One of the reasons for dream interpretation is to solve these problems.

What is a Nightmare?

A nightmare is a distressing dream, which can cause us to partially awake.  How many of us have sat upright from a nightmare, our hearts thumping with fear and glad to be awake?  Did you feel negative emotions in the nightmare such as guilt, sadness, anger and especially fear and anxiety?  The most frightening and common nightmare is probably being chased.  Anxiety is heightened when we can’t move, are trapped in slow motion or are paralysed and keep falling down.

Nightmares are regarded as a warning about current behaviour patterns or imbalances that we need to solve if we don’t want such unpleasant dreams to repeat themselves.  Some people try to block nightmares and those who have recurring nightmares and those who have recurring nightmares usually try to change the outcome.  However, if we block them or ignore these messages from the subconscious for too long, the nightmare may begin to show up in our real life, not as in the dream but as accidents, illnesses and relationship difficulties.

What Causes Nightmares?

A number of factors may cause nightmares, including -

• medication
• illness
• suffering a traumatic event
• undergoing a great deal of stress in one’s life such as surgery, loss of a loved one, an accident, a divorce, moving, change of job, pregnancy and concerns about financial or other matters.

Young children tend to have nightmares as they struggle to learn about dealing with the usual chldhood fears and insecurities.  It is normal for the majority of children to have nightmares between the ages of three and eight.

Carl Jung observed that parts of an individual’s whole personality may become ‘disowned’ and these are frequently projected outward in dreams.  These take the form of devils, monsters, intimidating people or animals, or even natural events such as tidal waves, floods, and tornadoes.

These symbolic forms are what Carl Jung referred to as ‘the shadow.’  If we become any of these elements of our shadow through nightmares, then ‘accepting’ these disowned portions of ourselves will help us reveal the message of the nightmare.

On the positive side, nightmares provide a release for the psyche as they can bring us valuable insight into what is causing the most stress in our lives.

Resolving Nightmares

What can be done about Nightmares?  Young children shojuld be encouraged to discuss their nightmares with an adult if it is a recurring nightmare.  Usually, children forget their nightmares soon after wking.  Adults’ nightmares offer the opportunity to understnd wht is going on in their waking lives.  With practice you can learn to unlock the code of the symbolic language of the nightmare and see how it relates to your real-life fear.  Usually the dream connects to your life, and sometimes to your past, by evoking a specific feeling.

If you are upset about a recent nightmare, create a different ending to the dream.  Choose something that leaves you feeling in control instead of helpless, as you did with the original nightmare outcome.  Then apply this new happy outcome to areas in your life that you feel need attention.

Myth:  If you dream that you hit the bottom in a falling dream, it means that you will have died in your sleep.

Falling

Many people have dreamed that they have hit bottom in a fall and they are still alive to tell the story!  Falling is a common theme, which often indicates that in your real life you are feeling a little or a lot out of control and insecure.  You may be experiencing a lack of support and grounding.  In your waking lie you may be feeling unsupported, unsafe or weighed down.  The circumstances of the fall in the dream are important to notice.  Were you pushed or did you jumpp willingly?  Could it point to a situation in real life where you are trying to escape something, someone or a situation that you either cannot cope with or don’t wish to face?

The place of falling is also important.  If you are in a falling dream, do you clutch onto something to break your fall or do you close your eyes and fall directly below?  If you can control your landing in a fall and perhaps have a soft landing, it could mean that your crisis in real life might not be as difficult as you imagined.

Flying

Sigmund Freud claimed that flying represented dreams of a sexual nature.  Most likely dreams of flying are  dreams of a longing for freedom or of letting go, as well as dreams of journeying.  You need to pay attention to the details in your flying dreams so that you can interpret correctly the way in which you see yourself journeying through life.  When you fall in a dream,, you experience a lack of support and grounding.  In real life you may be feeling unsupported, unsafe, or heavily burdened with a wish to be freer and lighter.

Naked in Public

It can be a nightmare to feel embarrassed in a recurring anxiety dream where you are the only one naked.  Ask yourself in which areas of your life you feel embarrassed, incompetent or lacking in confidence.  Generally, being naked in front of others represents a fear of being exposed in waking life.

Driving

Driving was another of Freud’s famous dream images.  He believed driving fast in a dream was associated with sexual prowess and power.  It may well be that sex is a ‘driving’ force in your life; however, it can also represent the desire for power or success.  Losing control when driving, or being on the wrong side of the road, suggest that you may not be in control of your real life.  Perhaps life is too hectic, so slowing down and not being so controlling are reflections real-life needs.

it’s important to notice the scenery and other persons in the car or around you in the dream so that you can explore your life in more detail and take control of situations.  If you are a passenger, perhaps you should ask yourself why you’re not the driver and who has control of the car.  Driving can also represent a personal journey.  Problems such as loss of control can be indicative of the obstacles or struggles experienced during that journey.  The other symbols in the dream will give clues about the reason for the journey.

Swimming or Drowning

Water is  a symbol of emotion and your spiritual life.  If you are swimming in a dream, the surrounding circumstances could tell you about your emotional spiritual state of being.  You may be in a vast sea or lake, trapped in a pond or being swept downstream by a fast flowing river.  How you cope in these situations may indicate your life-life drama.  Can you swim safely to shore?  If so, it’s a positive sign that you’re going to ocercome your emotional ups and downs and reach your goal.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, and begin to drown, then emotions are too strong for you and you’re unable to cope.  Dark, muddy water is also pointing out that you are stuck or are confused about an emotional issue.

Stuck in Slow Motion

Of all nightmarish dreams this one can be the most frusteting of all, particularly if you dream of being chased and can’t get away.  this could well indicate that you are stuck in real life, unable to get anywhere fast enough, or to voice your true feelings.

Being Injured

If part of your body is being dismembered and you’re feeling pain, it may well be that you are neglecting or mistreating aspects of yourself in real life.

Being Chased or Attacked

This common dream is one of the most frightening and can be disturbing.  You have to ask yourself who is chasing you and why.  The person doing the chasing usually represents a major fear, your shadow, or hidden self, that has grown to a huge proportion and causes terror and a feeling of being a victim.  To find out what this fear or aspect of yourself is, ask the pursuer in the nightmare why they are chasing you.  By facing your fear, you are standing your ground.  This can in turn help you to stand up for yourself in your conscious life and take charge.

‘Archetypes’ are universal symptoms that are common to everyone because they represent something that relates to the universal principles of life, or themes lived by each one of us.

Archetypal characters and symbols can come from religious teachings and images, myths, fairytales, folk tales and legends.

Here are some of Jung’s most common archetypes that appear in dreams:

The Divine Child:

The inocent, playful ‘child’ represents the true self.  If you dream of a baby or young child you may be starting a new activity or a new beginning.  Perhaps you are looking for more childlike qualities to apply to your life, such as spontaneity, a new perspective, more trust and playfulness.

The Divine/Earth Mother:

The nurturing, loving female represents growth, generosity and wisdom.  Dreaming of a mother figure can mean that there are areas in life you need to nurture.

The Shadow:

The ’shadow’ represents those parts of you that are deeply buried because they are seen as bad and rejected by your conscious.  These parts scare you or trigger unpleasant emotions and are usually the opposites of what you consciously project.  Paying attention to the shadow means having to accept the ‘dark side’ of your personality and dealing with the issues involved.

The Anima and Animus

The ‘anima’ is the hidden feminie part of a man’s personality, the feminine side.  the ‘animus’ is the masculine part of a woman’s personality.  When you lose touch with these personalities your life is not in a state of perfect balance.  It would make sense, therefore, to take note of them in your dreams and apply their symbolic meaning to your everyday life.

The Wise Old Man

The ‘wise old man’ can be represented by any authority figure whom you respect.  It could be a king, judge, priest or an older person, whom you wish to take advice from, whether the advice you get is encouraging or disapproving.

The Hero and the Hero’s Journey or Quest

As in any hero story or epic, the ‘hero’ must encounter challenges, hardships, villains, temptations and danger.  To begin the hero’s journey, you must first be cut off from your roots and be mistreated or misunderstood.  Then you can begin the adventure and discover your true self, which only comes after encounters with all the challenges listed above.  Finally, you experience an understanding and acceptance of your heroic self and reach your goal.  It is time, then, to go back to the past, back to the time when you were misunderstood or mistreated, and enlighten those who caused you to feel this way.  This process is one of spiritual growth and essential for development, and enlightenment.

The Fool or Seeker

If you see yourself as the ‘fool’ or not efficient, in your dreams the dream is suggesting that you have an important lesson to learn.  The ’seeker’ is looking for knowledge and experience and if the dreamer feels immature or naive, it shows that he or she is unprepared and needs to gain knowledge.

Monsters

Monsters represent your worst fears of the parts of your personality that are usually kept hidden away.  The best way to deal with these mosters is to face them and ask them what they want from you.  This method helps you to deal with issues that are too scary for you to deal with in normal life.

Death and rebirth

Myths and legends describe heroes and creatures that die and come back to life.  Even the Bible tells us of Jesus Christ who comes back from the dead.  And nature gives us examples of this, such as the caterpillar that hides in its cocoon and emerges as a butterfly.  When you dream of death, it is usually an indication of personal growth and suggests that after death there is rebirth and transformation.  It is a positive dream you should embrace.

Did you have a bad dream?  How about a shot of the bull!

This drink recipe will cure what ails you:

Savory spicy and Bloody Mary-esque, this variation of the classic bull shot is the perfect “hair of the dog” shot: a shaken concoction of pureed fresh tomatoes, beef bouilion and a little or a lot of the hot stuff, adjusted for personal perfection.  The key is finding the best and freshest bouilion!!

Shot of the Bull

Ingredients:

• 1 lime wedge
• kosher salt in a small palte
• 6 or more ice cubes
• 1-1/2 oz premium tequilla
• 1/4 c tomato puree
• 3 oz beef bouilion
• 1-2 dashes hot sauce to taste
• Dash Worcestershire sauce
• Pinch of freshly ground black pepper
• Garnish, limes

Procedure:

1. Run the lime wedge around the rim of a highball glass.
2. Dip the moistened rim in the salt, or a favorite chili powder/salt/cayenne powder mix, set the lime wedge aside and chill the salted glass.
3. Fill a cocktail shaker with the ice.  Add the tequila, tomato puree, beef bouilion, hot sauce, Worcestershire, and pepper.  Shake vigorously to blend and chill. 
4. Strain the mixture into the prepared glass, squeeze the lime wdge for the garnish into the cocktail and serve.

Don’t underestimate the subconscious.

Having failed to understand a dream that seems important, just before going to sleep the following night, recall the dream, tell yourself that it was too enigmatic, or vague, and ask for a clearer dream.

It is usually the case that you will send yourself a dream, that while it may not seem anything like the first one, will have the same theme and the same message, or offer a clue taht will help you to interpret it.

Another classical means of asking a dream what it means was devised by Dr. Frederick Perls, the distinguished Gestalt psychotherapist. 

Take two chairs, and place them opposite each other.  Sit in one, and imagine that your dream is sitting in the other.  Ask the dream why you cannot understand it, them move to the other chair and as the dream, answer yourself.

Move between the chair as you first ask and then answer questions.

Ok, and don’t tell anyone you’re doing this, but I’m bettin’ a fresh baked apple pie, it works. 

The process can go on for some time, bur eventually, you, as the dream, will deliver a phrase that immediately rings a bell.  when that happens, the intent of the dream should be clearly revealed.

That’ll be fifty dollars, please.