Dream Symbol: Common Dream Symbols and Their Meanings

Dream interpretation involves the identification of dream symbol: the assessment of dream symbols and associating possible meanings to them. The symbols, people and objects encountered in dreams can sometimes be baffling, and the meaning of a dream can be difficult to ascertain. Dreams and their meanings are as individual as the people who dream them, but the following list of common dream symbols and some of their many meanings can help get you started in the fascination and fun world of dream interpretation.

Dream Symbol: Angels
Angels are of course a symbol of cleanliness and goodness, and their manifestation in a dream can often embody the quest for spiritual goodness and enlightenment. In addition, angels often materialize in dreams as guides or teachers, and many people take the advice of these angel dream guides very seriously.

Dream Symbol: Animals
Animals in dreams symbolize base, instinctual actions, emotions and desires. These base desires are often subdued so that we may live in a civilized society, but just the same, they are there, lurking in the shadows so to speak.

Different animals have different meanings in dreams. For example, dreaming of cats may mean you have been repressing the intuitive, feminine side of your nature, while dreaming of lions could mean that you have been repressing anger. The key to taking meaning from animals in dreams is to think about the particular traits each animal symbolize.

Dream Symbol: Black
Dreams about black, or black objects can be signs of evil or darkness.

Dream Symbol: Blood
Blood in a dream can often be a symbol of vitality and power. The meaning of blood in the dream is dependent on the context. For instance, violent and bloody dreams can indicate an emotional turmoil in your life or a loss of control, while dreams of bloody hands can point to feelings of remorse.

Dream Symbol: Cars
Cars can signify a sense of freedom, and of being in control.

Dream Symbol: Dancing
Dreaming of a dance can have many meanings, depending on the nature of the dance and its context within the dream. Dancing can symbolize marriage, romance or sex. Dance can also be a sign of the freedom of movement or teamwork.

Dream Symbol: Eggs
Eggs in dreams can be symbols of beginning or revitalization, or completeness and fruitfulness. Dreams of broken eggs, or breaking eggs in a dream, can stand for a crushed faith, or a breaking out of your shell, depending on the context.

Dream Symbol: Fog
Fog in a dream can be a sign of a lost or baffled waking life. Fog can also mean you are beginning to discover different parts of your life or your personality.

Dream Symbol: Gate
A gate can stand for a doorway or an exit, depending on its context. It can also be a symbol of a beginning or an end.

Dream Symbol: Illness
Dreaming about illness can be your body’s way of telling you there is something wrong. The subconscious mind can also sense things that the conscious mind is unaware of.

Dream Symbol: Keys
Dreaming of keys can be a sign of the keeping of a secret, or that you have been locking away your feelings.

Dream Symbol: Mountain
Dreaming of mountain climbing can be symbolic of achieving a goal or reaching for higher levels of success. Dreaming of coming down a mountain can mean you have overcome overwhelming odds, while gazing at a mountain in a dream can denote you are contemplating a major life assessment.

Dream Symbol: Owl
An owl may be the symbol of knowledge and wisdom. In addition, the owl represent the subconscious itself. Owls are often used to deliver important messages to dreamers.

Dream Symbol: Road
A road in a dream can represent the direction or goal of the dreamer. A straight road may mean that everything is going effortlessly, while dreaming of a bumpy or winding road can be a sign of apparent problems with your place in life.

Dream Symbol: Stairs
Dreaming of stairs can point toward a rise or a lessening in your stature, finances or your spiritual life. What stairs mean depends on which direction you are going in your dream.

Dream Symbol: Underground
Dreaming of venturing underground can stand for a trip to the dreamers subconscious mind, or mean that he or she is wrestling with issues that need to be faced. Going underground in a dream may mean that the dreamer is ready to deal with previously reserved issues.