Ultimate guide to understanding your dreams

Have you ever woken up in the morning and wondered... what the?!... about the dream you just had? I know that feeling. Unfortunately and fortunately, exactly zero people are interested in hearing about your dreams: Unfortunately because wanting to tell someone about your dream is like having an itch and Fortunately because there's something really deep that can happen during our dreaming hours and not any 'ol sausage deserves to have access to that part of you.

I've been a vivid dreamer since childhood and my curiosity has caused me to trawl through many dream resources, with varying results.  What happens while I'm asleep has been the source of deep mystery, great suffering and a most steadfast connection to Source.  When people ask to talk about their dreams because they're feeling a certain way, I get it. I've compiled a guide, based on my experience but it comes with a caveat: no resource will be complete so it's up to you to discover your own truth and in turn, develop your own template to understanding yourself. I hope this resource is a good start.

Dross.  Dross is the gobbledygook that you "consumed" recently that your mind thinks it needs to process.  Think trashy tv, onslaught of advertising online, rollercoaster of emotions, things that caught your attention... You might recognise dross from your waking life but another clue is that the dream is nonsensical.  I sometimes have a dream about driving up and down the levels of a carpark - while there is a message there, I mostly regard this dream as my emotions needing a place to process.  Recognising and calling out the dross for what it is will let you not waste any more time thinking about or analysing something that needs to be - well - trashed = no further action needed.

Struggle. Dreams about fighting, running away, someone or something chasing you. They're all part of your brain processing what you have going on in your life and are another way for you to express to yourself how you're feeling, and process everything. You might be experiencing feelings of vulnerability, powerlessness, fear, frustration or dependence. They all need a place to go and your brain wants to think of the "what-if" scenarios... oh the joy! It might help to identify the area of your life you feel the dream relates to then ask yourself what you need right now to feel more confident, safe or empowered. In a sea of uncertainty, it helps to identify what you can be certain of at the moment.

If your dream is nonsensical, it's likely to just be processing "stuff".

Another form of dross is "cheese dreams".  Aunty Google says that it might be the tyramine in cheese that gives you weird dreams but there's no concrete proof.  Just consider that what you eat and drink can impact your sleep, which can also impact your dreams.  

The symbol. A strong dream featuring an animal, thing or event can be symbolic. Sometimes it's referred to as a Totem. If you dreamed of a bear (and it wasn't dross), chances are the bear was a symbol. This is when people usually google "what does a bear mean in dreams". It's more helpful question to ask first: What do bears mean to you? Even if you don't know what the animal is or it doesn't mean anything in particular to you, reflect on how you felt when you were in its presence, what you noticed about it, how it moved and what it did. Was it showing you something?  Many dreams use archetypes to tell a story or communicate a message.  

The sign. One way I experience important signs is through abstract visual objects. It is usually very simple, nothing is "happening", the object is just being shown to me. I usually have no idea what the sign means. I will draw these objects in my dream diary, along with a description of any thoughts or feelings I had at the time because there are lots of small details that I won't know are important until later. It's probable that I won't know their meaning for a long time. What helps me when I receive a sign is to give thanks for being shown the sign and to acknowledge that I have seen it.

DEATH. Dreaming about death can be a little freaky but it doesn't necessarily signal literal death. Remember: dreams talk in symbols and codes. Could it be signalling a transition or the end of a chapter, death of a relationship, leaving a job or familiar situation?

It's possible to receive a "sign" that someone is going to die - it's happened to me a number of times. Consider the possibility that it's a manifestation of your feelings - possibly fears - which are coming out this way, as dross. For most of us, death is a mysterious and scary thing. Is there a mysterious or scary thing going on in your life right now?

The cameo. The cameo is when someone you know is in your dream. This can be someone you actually know in your life or someone you know exists but don't have a direct relationship with - like Dolly Parton. A friend of mine recently made a cameo in a dream. He was trying to find a new home for a colony of bees. While it was him in the dream, it was more about what he represents in my life: sage advice, encouragement, resourcefulness and more. It was like my brain needed a character representing certain qualities to play a role in my dream and it chose him.

Visit by Spirit. Sometimes we get visits from loved ones who are now on the other side.  They might appear different to how you knew them - trust that your heart will recognise them in the dream world.  If you've been waiting for a visit from someone, be gentle with yourself and try to be patient - the emotional heaviness of grief can block us from all matter of connectedness and is a process that cannot be forced.   

Other visiting spirits can be people you don't know.  I once had a relation visit me who I didn't even know existed.  I was later able to confirm with a living relative that this was a relation of mine and it gave me great comfort to know they were there.

You could be visited by other spirits who are with you - such as guardian angels.  Many years ago a guardian angel badly disrupted my night's sleep.  I found myself sleep-walking multiple times until I heard myself say "okay, I get it!".  I wouldn't know what the "it" was until some months later, when an intoxicated person I didn't know tried to forcibly enter my house.  The guardian angel had been schooling me in the importance of shutting my door, and luckily the message got through.  

Sometimes the "who" doesn't matter as much as the "what" they're there for.  Don't get too attached to needing to find out who everybody is that visits you. If they want you to know them, they'll help with that. It also helps to remember to ask "who are you?".

Travel.  This is probably the most woo type of dream, and it requires you to build your own beliefs about the unseen world.  Here's what my lived experience and beliefs have brought me to understand:

Because I'm a spirit living in a body, when my thinking mind relaxes a little during sleep, I'm able to "leave" my body for a short period and "travel" to other places.  Want to meet up with that friend you haven't seen in ages?  No worries!  Want to go to a particular place or another "time"?  That's possible too.  If I've had a dream and something doesn't quite fit, it might be from another place or time.  That includes connecting to "past lives" or going to places that don't exist on this planet.  

HERE'S THE SQUEEZE

You get to choose what your dreams mean.  

A long time ago, I gave up seeking other people's advice about the meaning of "big" dreams.  I decided that it's enough to do my own work and confront self-limiting beliefs without the added complication of other people's beliefs.  

Here are some tips to help you on your travels:

Use protection. It can be something as simple as saying a prayer before sleep or setting an intention that you will be safe. Think of it as your sleep-time safety belt. 

Dream journaling helps.  It lets you get it all out on paper while it's fresh in your mind.  You can go back and read through the dreams you've had in the past (especially helpful with dreams you didn't understand at the time).  

You don't have to understand everything all at once. It doesn't take much for us little earthlings' minds to explode when talking about woo, how time works and infinite space. So cut yourself some slack.

Know when to stop. Overanalysing your dreams can lead you through all sorts of twists and turns. I've had many dreams that have taken years to understand. Trust that when it's the right time to know, you will.

A hui hou / see you in the flow,