Psychologists have pondered about the reasons and origins of our dreams for at least a century. The father of psychology Sigmund Freud pioneered the study of dreams, and since then, psychologists have learned so much about them.
A particularly interesting notion in psychology is that of the so-called universal dreams, or dreams that are common to all humans across history and cultures. Psychologist Patricia Garfield believes that the reason why all of us have universal dreams from time to time varies. Some of these dreams stem from our instincts and our ancestors’ experience, while others are caused by a modern cultural code and personal experience.
Garfield also points out that these dreams are very valuable to one’s psychological well-being, so knowing what they mean can teach you a lot about yourself. Now let’s cut to the chase and finally look into each of these mysterious universal dreams, and find out why we have them.
Rooms are not just rooms in the dream world, they are the reflection of your psyche. If you find a new room or new location in a dream, it may be because you have discovered a new talent or “unlocked” a new skill.
If you suddenly appear in an unknown room or house in your dream, it means that you are confused about your self-image. A dirty or dusty room may mean a neglected talent or part of personality.
An interesting approach to dream analysis belongs to psychotherapist Eddie Traversa. He states that we associate certain rooms with specific processes on a subconscious level:
I know, this is a surprising one, and yet, most people have a dream like that at least once in their lifetime. According to Penney Pierce, people who feel helpless and out of control of their lives can experience this type of dream because conceptually we associate our teeth as the symbol of our physical strength.
Garfield, on the other hand, believes that teeth falling out is a result of us clenching our jaws as a symbol of suppressed anger. She claims that it might be signaling the need to vent your negative emotions.
In the same category are dreams where you or someone else you know dies or gets injured. Though these dreams may be difficult to deal with, they are usually a good sign. From the point of view of psychologists, these dreams signify rebirth and regeneration, new insight into your own life or a relationship with another person.
When you get overwhelmed by everything that is happening in your life, you are more likely to be visited by one of those dreams where the world is about to end. Think, do you feel threatened by something or someone in your life? If so, you need to face your fear, as your mind is activating the alarm signal through this scary dream.
Note, however, that this isn’t always the case. Did you watch a catastrophe film last night or did you read too much about catastrophes in the media? If so, your mind might just be digesting what you’ve seen or read and there is no reason for concern.
A dream expert Lauri Loewenberg states that a dream about being chased is characteristic of people that avoid conflict and are afraid to bring up issues. The thing or person that is chasing you might hint what situation or conflict you’re trying to avoid.
An alternative theory claims that these dreams are a manifestation of our primitive instincts, as, in the distant past, we had to survive in the wild. The fear of being chased, then, even if just in a dream, would urge us to be more alert and wary of predators.
Speaking of cliches, how about that dream when you showed up to an important business meeting in just your underwear, or not even that? Psychologist Ian Wallace points out that it is important to notice how you felt in the dream. Did you feel proud of yourself or embarrassed?
If you didn’t experience any shame, it means that you feel like you’re underappreciated in some aspect of your life, be it work, family or relationships. If, however, you did feel embarrassment, it means that you’re afraid that someone will learn about your secrets or weaknesses.
In any case, contemplate your feeling and try to understand what caused these negative emotions, as this type of dream signifies suppressed negative emotions.
If you didn’t experience any shame, it means that you feel like you’re underappreciated in some aspect of your life, be it work, family or relationships. If, however, you did feel embarrassment, it means that you’re afraid that someone will learn about your secrets or weaknesses.
In any case, contemplate your feeling and try to understand what caused these negative emotions, as this type of dream signifies suppressed negative emotions.
The last one is a tough one, as it can mean 2 quite different things. Some people experience a falling sensation as they are falling asleep. This may also be accompanied by twitching muscles, especially in the extremities.
If you experience this often, there is nothing to fear, it’s just your body’s way of switching from a state of alertness to sleep. After a long and stressful day, your body finally starts to calm down, your heart rate and blood pressure decrease.
A very different thing happens when you’re in the midst of a dream, and suddenly, you slip and fall, or you feel like you’re falling into an abyss. Psychologist Ian Wallace believes that this kind of dream symbolizes the fear of losing control.
If you have experienced some unexpected dramatic changes or difficulties in your life, this is your mind’s way of telling you to dial things down a notch. Consider what could be causing the stress: is it your health, work, money, relationships, or maybe something else? Try to correct this problem.
As you can see, dreams can be a key to self-understanding. Next time you have one of these dreams, don’t neglect them and try to think what might have caused them.
H/T: brightside.me
