When you wake, hold the dream in your mind’s eye. This is when the dream is freshest and before your mind might unwittingly add to it. Try to recall the whole dream, include places, colors, emotions, and images. Each detail of the dream matters. Try to figure where you were, what you were doing, who else appeared in your dream, and what was the interaction between you and others. [2] X Research source Focus on these images rather than a narrative. Dreams are often just a series of images and not connected in a coherent way, and our mind later orders them.
Place the dream journal near your bed. That way, you can grab it immediately after waking up and record what you experienced. Having your dreams in a notebook will also be useful when you start your analysis. You will be able to compare dreams with those in the past, contrast symbols, and also have a handy reference.
Did your dream occur somewhere that you have been before, for example? Or perhaps it was a strange location or even your mind’s invention? These details could point to meaning. Be aware of the dream’s time-frame. For example, while some dreams take place at an indeterminate time, others are vaguely in the future or have a clear date. Note any associations that you have with a dream’s context, as well. Were you at your late grandparents’ farm? Maybe you were at church. Write these details down, too.
Record who these figures are and what they do in your dream, making sure to analyze how they interact with you. Be as specific as possible. People in your dreams may not represent anything out of the ordinary. For instance, if you dream about an ex-boyfriend, he might simply represent your ex-boyfriend. Sometimes, however, figures appear in dreams that carry messages. Figures with whom you have a less direct personal relationship can especially be these harbingers of news – or even of the future. [4] X Research source
When you take down your impressions for each dream, pause on the emotions and try to puzzle them out. Did you feel anxious – why? Did you feel fearful or hopeful? Again, why?
You might try reading up on dream symbology to help in your self-analysis. The idea that dreams reflect the subconscious and can “symbolize” things in our minds was pioneered by psychologists like Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung, for example. Pick up a copy of Freud’s “The Interpretation of Dreams,” if you feel up to it. Carl Jung even thought that some images in dreams access a “collective unconscious” that cuts across all places and times. You’ll need to bone up on these ideas if you want to identify precognitive dreams. [6] X Research source
To use one of these resources, go back to your dream journal, find important images, and then search for them. Try to be exhaustive and specific for, as you will see, the dictionaries often give very specific meanings. The idea behind a dream dictionary is that images or symbols have definite meanings, which you can then plug into your dream. For example, you may encounter future trouble with your sexuality if you had a foreboding dream about a mongoose. [7] X Research source If you dream that you are trapped inside of a coffin with a mongoose, the dream might mean two things: you will have trouble with your sexuality, and that it is a situation you should address. [8] X Research source
By categorizing the things that you dream about the most, as well as people, figures, and places, you should start to have a fairly detailed map of your dreams. Slowly start to work through your dream journal to see the possible meaning of symbols. Write these symbols down or keep charts, if it helps you to stay organized. Ask yourself: do any elements of your dreams have a possible reading for future events? Some precognitive dreams might be easier to spot than others. For example, you may be aware during a dream that you are receiving a prophecy. Alternately, you may meet with a courier – this is a straightforward symbol that you are getting a message. [9] X Research source
Some scientists think that dreams are a result of the brain firing at random. Some think that animals, humans included, evolved dreaming as a defense mechanism, while others believe that we dream in order to process information at the end of the day. [10] X Research source Still, other people strongly believe that dreams can be something more. [11] X Research source Perhaps they aren’t precognitive, but is it possible that a dream could be a message from someone or something? We really don’t know.
Dreams and symbols will vary from person to person. While some might be universal, as Jung thought, many more probably aren’t. Given how unproven dream interpretation is, you should be careful about using it to guide your life or as the basis for major decisions. [12] X Research source Interpreting the future often reveals the best path forward, but it may not reflect direct reality. [13] X Expert Source Julia Yacoob, PhDClinical Psychologist Expert Interview. 11 August 2021.
You know yourself best, and many times can identify the meaning or association of a symbol better than a dream dictionary. Trust your own judgement. If you want to get to the meaning behind your dreams, you might also try seeing a psychoanalyst. She might not be able to tell your future, but perhaps she can shine some light onto your subconscious.
