By Naturopathic Dr. Joël, www.revivelife.ca
If you’re not getting your zzz’s you may want to work with a specialist and look at your dreams. What are they telling you?
Being late for an exam, being naked , chased or having your teeth fall out are very common dreams that many of us have at some point in our lives or another. Dreams can be a window to help you achieve balanced health for both adults and especially kids ( get them to draw them) . We have a state of consciousness, sub-consciousness and unconsciousness. If we have something that is not resolved in our every day waking life our body tries to find a way to resolve it in our state of unconsciousness.
Repeated dreams in particular maybe related to deeper unresolved issues that may cascade into common health complaints, so could actually be related to those headaches you can’t seem to get rid of . One example that I had was with a patient whose baby was breech . Her dreams were about her falling and her emotion was shear panick! Once we understood that this was associated to her fear about motherhood and balancing her busy work career as a partner in a law firm, I assisted her in helping her work through both fears of falling or failing as a mother and as a lawyer. Amazingly the nature of her dreams changed to being peaceful in her new role as a mother and exploring new activities at the park. Guess what then happened? Her baby turned and was born naturally!
Dreams are not usually literal but more about the feelings you have that result from the dream. Although many have a common theme, the exact meaning depends on the details and what that means to you.
A dream specialist or Naturopathic Doctor who specializes in homeopathy can assist you in the interpretation of dreams and support you in working through them. Homeopathy utilizes your dreams to assess the correct remedies that can improve your sleep and overall health.
1. LATE FOR AN EXAM- “ I’M LATE FOR AN EXAM!”
In this situation of being late the feeling would be of anxiety. Expanding it to the exam, This dream is rooted in the fear and anxiety that you may not meet other’s standards. You are afraid to let others down. So if you’re having late for exam dreams, look around your life and make a list of those things that you are good at and get coaching to help you be better at those things you think you are not! I’m definitely heading back for more coaching for my golf game this spring!
2. NAKED- “ I DON’T HAVE ANY CLOTHES ON! “
So you are going about your normal routine – going to work, waiting for the bus, or just walking down the street – when you suddenly realize that you are stark naked . Being nude represents your vulnerability or desire to cover up something and feeling inadequate if it is revealed. Metaphorically, clothes are a means of concealment. Depending on the type of clothes you wear, you can hide your identity or be someone else. But without them, everything is hanging out for all to see. You are exposed and left without any defenses. Thus your naked dream may be telling you that you are trying to be something that you really are not. Or you are fearful of being ridiculed and disgraced. This of course is common in situations when you are trying to impress others. If your naked dream twists to no one noticing your naked, it means that no one is aware of any of your flaws. Remind yourself that you are who you are and when you are natural , you will be best at your work and in relationships. Life is like an elevator a good friend once told me . There will naturally be people or experiences that come into your elevator or life and those that it’s there time to leave. When you can easily let go of things in your life, you make room for new relationships and experiences, so relax and enjoy the ride!
3. CHASED- “I’M BEING CHASED!”
Chased dreams are a representation that you are fearful of being pursued, attacked and ultimately being caught in your waking life. Fight and Flight is an instinctive response to a physical threat in the environment. In these dreams, you may be pursued by an attacker, an animal, a monster or an unknown figure, who wants to hurt or possibly kill you. Consequently, you run, you hide or you try to outwit your pursuer. Your actions in the dream symbolize how you would respond to this stress in your waking life. Instead of confronting the situation, your dream indicates that you have a tendency to run away and avoid the issue. So to resolve this ask yourself in real life where do you feel pursued? It could be work, a relationship or a real threat in your world that relates to politics.
Dreams can get tricky though as the attacker may even represent a part of yourself ie parts of you that are angry, jealous, ambition or in love and you are fearful about. Next time you have a dream of being chased, turn around and confront your pursuer. Ask them why they are chasing you. What are you trying to run from? One patient that I have worked with was having chased dreams which represented her fear of falling behind in a relationship. Once you understand the cause then you can work on the resolution.
4. TEETH- “MY TEETH ARE FALLING OUT! “
Dreaming that your pearly whites are falling out? What do your teeth mean to you?
• Are they apart of your vanity
• Do your teeth represent your ability to digest?
• Your ability to talk and communicate?
• Do they represent power to you?
If your teeth are related to your vanity then your dreams are more than likely about your anxieties about your appearance and how others perceive you. Your teeth help to attract those to you, even at an intimate level through kissing. If you’re having these emotions remind yourself that caring about how you look is natural and healthy. So don’t forget to brush and floss! Falling teeth may be rooted ( literally! ) in your fear of being embarrassed or making a fool of yourself in some situation. These dreams are an over-exaggeration of your worries and anxieties. Perhaps you feel that you are unprepared for the task at hand. Talk your concerns out and you will soon realize that many others may feel the exact same way and have ideas on how to help. Remember the paperclip affect! If one person is asked how many ways can a paperclip be used in 5 minutes vs a group of 3 people . The number of ideas not only triples in the group but multiplies up to 5 fold in a group. For example if you come up with 5 ideas, the group of 3 people would come up with 15 times 5 or 75 concepts. That’s because people in discussion stimulate more ideas! So get that thinking cap on and start sharing!
If your teeth are related to your ability to digest, there maybe something in your life that you are worried about “digesting” emotionally. Perhaps its that new job or being a mom for the first time. Ask for help to feel more relaxed about this role.
If your teeth are related to your ability to talk and communicate. Ask yourself where in your life are you not doing this and work towards self expression. You may want to start with journaling these emotions and then move to verbalizing ! Remember that everyone’s opinion needs to be heard!
If your teeth are related to feeling powerless, it may come from somewhere in your life where you feel just that. Teeth are used to bite, tear, chew and gnaw. In this regard, teeth symbolize power. This dream may be an indication that you need to be more assertive and believe in the importance of what you have to say.
What about dreams about your teeth falling around the world?
In the Greek culture, when you dream about loose, rotten, or missing teeth, it indicates that a family member or close friend is very sick or even near death.
According to the Chinese, there is a saying that your teeth will fall out if you are telling lies.
It has also been said that if you dream of your teeth falling out, then it symbolizes money. This is based on the old tooth fairy story. If you lose a tooth and leave it under the pillow, a tooth fairy would bring you money.
5. FLYING – “I’M FLYING”
These dreams can be great! What’s better than flying in the air feeling exhilarating, joyful and liberated?
If your flying dreams make you feel positive that suggests that that you are on top of a situation. You have risen above something. It may also mean that you have gained a new and different perspective on things. Flying dreams and the ability to control your flight is representative of your own personal sense of power.
On the other hand having difficulties with flying in your dream indicates a lack of power in controlling something in your life. Things like power lines, trees, or mountains may be obstacles (which maybe things or people in real life) that you encounter in flight. Difficulty flying may also be an indication of a lack of confidence or some hesitation on your part. Work towards identifying your obstacles” in life and get coaching on ways to work thru them.
If your flying dream leaves you feeling that you are flying too high , then it suggests you are afraid of the challenges with rising to success. . Perhaps you are not ready to take the next step or just need more support.
And lastly if your dreams lead to falling, it suggests that there is something in your waking life that makes you feel anxious that you are failing at. Talk it out and ask for help. Remember that Rome wasn’t built in a day, nor was it built alone.
6. ANIMALS
Different animals may represent different things. Wild animals represent fear of trouble or attack vs Domestic animals especially pets , usually mean good fortune. Which animals mean what? A few examples are ( remember that your dream depends on your emotions towards that animal) :
• DOGS- This is the #1 dreamed animal! Traditional symbol of the Masculine; courage and loyalty. A friendly dog denotes coming domestic happiness. A vicious dog warns you of financial or health concerns. A howling dog warns of separation from loved ones.
• CATS- An age-old symbol of the Feminine; the elegant and mysterious elements of our lives. To dream of a friendly cat, means you are developing your intuitive powers. If you are attacked by a cat, beware of an enemy pretending to be a friend. If you hear a cat screeching, beware of gossip. A purring cat promises happiness.
• SNAKES- A symbol of betrayals and enemies
• BIRDS- Are usually a sign of prosperity and unexpected happiness for you. Large birds are the symbol of Freedom. Singing birds, of happiness.
• BUGS/INSECTS- Usually represent small, nagging worries. Things that “bug” you. Traditionally, they can represent relatives. How you handle the insects in your dream, tells you how to handle these worries.
• RATS- Beware of deception! Especially from someone close to you. The dream-meaning of killing a rat is one of success.
7. DROWNING “ I’M DROWNING! “
Usually represents something in your day to day life that makes you feel like you are drowning such as workload, relationships or your personal schedule. Take time to assess and plan changes to help you out.
8. SUPERHEROS
Ever dream that you are Batman , Robin or even Wonderwoman? Well if so , depending on the emotion you feel , you maybe feeling on top of your game like you are rescuing people which can be a good thing. Be careful not to overextend yourself and work on “ fasciliating” instead of rescuing to ensure that you take care of yourself first before everyone else and then run out of resources or steam.
9. HOUSES
This is a symbol that has many meanings. In a dream, a house usually represents You. ROOMS represent different aspects of yourself. DOORS are opportunities. If it is your own home, you are on a solid spiritual foundation. If you dream that you are in a strange new house, it indicates your future, what you must do.
10. BEACH- “ I’M WALKING ON A BEACH”
This is the one we all would love to have! So enjoy and don’t forget to pick up some shells!
Happy Dreaming! To have your dreams interpreted book an appointment
FOR MORE…
- 10 Tips For Getting Your Sleep Instead of Counting Sheep
- Sleep Timing
- Sleep We All Need It But What If You Can’t Get It? 5 Stages of Sleep
- 5 Foods To Promote Sleep
- Dr. Joël’s Sleepy Time Smoothie Bowl
- Sleep: Newsletter & Video
- Sleep: Food For a Good Night Sleep-Video
Dr. Joël, ND, Inspiring Health Naturally
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