What is the Meaning of That Dream You Had Last Night?

A Brief History of Dreams and Their Interpretation

The interpretation of dreams by dream experts may be almost as old as dreaming itself. 

We know that all humans, and many animals, dream every night, and humans have always been fascinated to learn what causes dreams and what they mean.

The interpretation of dreams dates back at least as far as 3000-4000 B.C. We know that because the interpretations of dreams were recorded in permanent form on clay tablets. It is thought that many primitive peoples were unable to initially distinguish between the real world and the dream world. In many cases, these people looked upon the dream world as an extension of the physical world around them, and in many cases, they saw the dream world as more powerful than the waking one.

Dream interpretation was such an important field to the ancient Greek and Roman world that dream interpreters often accompanied generals and other military leaders into battles. Dreams were taken extremely seriously, and the Greeks and Romans in particular often viewed dreams as messages sent by their gods.

Dreams also had a religious content in ancient Egypt, and priests their doubled as dream interpreters. Dreams were among the items recorded by the ancient Egyptians in the form of hieroglyphics. Those whose dreams were especially vivid or significant were thought to be blessed and were given special status in these ancient societies. 

Likewise, people who were able to interpret dreams were thought to receive these gifts directly from the gods, and they enjoyed a special status in society as well.

There are over 700 mentions of dreams in the Bible, and people in biblical times saw dreams as very significant. Dreams and their interpretations are mentioned in many of the most significant books of the Bible and other Holy Scriptures.

In many cases, dreams were often seen as a form of prophecy. People often interpreted their dreams as omens or warnings and adjusted their activities accordingly. Dreams were often thought of as omens from deities, as messages from spirits, or as messages from departed souls. In some cases, dreams were even seen as the work of demons, meant to confuse and trouble the dreamer.

Dreams were so important that they often dictated the actions of political and military leaders, affecting everything from the prosecution of a battle to the outcome of a political decision. Dreams were also thought to provide vital clues to healers, and they were used in the diagnosis and treatment of all manners of illness.

Dreaming was often looked upon by indigenous peoples as a way to commune directly with gods and spirits, and dreams are still used in this way by cultures around the world. 

Many people believed, and some still do, that during dream sleep the soul leaves the body and communes with the spirit world.

The Chinese were one culture who believed that the soul left the body each night during dream sleep. They believed that if the dreamer were suddenly awakened the soul may not be able to return to the body. That is why some Chinese are still leery about the use of alarm clocks.

This is just one example of how ancient legends can linger into the modern world. Some Mexican and Native American societies share this ancient view of the importance of dreams and share the belief in a separate dimension that is visited during dream sleep.

These people believed that their departed ancestors lived in their dreams, and that they were able to take forms like animals and plants. Thus, dreams were seen as a way for them to commune with their recent and ancient ancestors, and to gather wisdom and knowledge that would serve them in their waking lives.

Dreams were also seen as ways to gather information about their purpose or mission in life.

The respect for dreams changed radically early in the 19th century, and dreams in that era were often dismissed as reactions to anxiety, outside noises or even bad food and indigestion. During this period of time, dreams were thought to have no meaning at all, and interest in dream interpretation all but evaporated.

This all changed, however, with the arrival of Sigmund Freud later in the 19th century. Sigmund Freud stunned the world of psychiatry by stressing the importance of dreams, and he revived the once 

dead art of dream interpretation.

How We Dream and Why We Dream

When investigating the interpretation of dreams, it is important to examine just what role dreams play in our lives. Dream research has shown that dreams play an important role, both physically and psychologically, and a thorough understanding of how we dream and why we dream is an important basis for anyone interested in dream interpretation.

The physical side of dreaming

During dream sleep, the body goes through some important changes. When in dream sleep, the level of adrenaline release goes up, the blood pressure rises, and the hear rate goes up as well. It is important to note the results that scientists have found on brain waves and dreaming. Dream research has shown that brain activity during dream sleep is actually higher than during normal waking hours. Therefore, dreaming could be thought of in many ways as a higher state of consciousness.

Dream sleep is also known as REM sleep, or rapid eye movement sleep. As the name implies, the eyes move rapidly beneath their closed lids during dream sleep. Dream sleep takes place in the final state of sleep and takes up between 15% and 20% of sleep time for the average person. Every person will dream between four and seven times during the average night, but the dreams most likely to be remembered in the morning are those that take place closest to waking.

Just because the dreamer does not remember the dreams, however, does not mean they did not occur. Every person dreams every night, whether they remember those dreams or not. It typically takes between 30 and 90 minutes from falling asleep to the start of dreaming. After the deepest stage of sleep is reached, the dreamer will cycle in and out of REM sleep during the rest of the night. During REM sleep, the blood 

pressure and heart rate both fluctuate and increase.

It is also important to know that the body is completely immobile during dream sleep. While we may toss and turn during other parts of the sleep cycle, the muscles remain completely relaxed during dream sleep. This is commonly known as “dream paralysis” or “sleep paralysis”.

The psychological side of dreaming

While science still does not fully understand the function of dream sleep, we do know that dreaming is essential to our physical and psychological well being. Studies have shown that those who are deprived of dream sleep exhibit a variety of psychological symptoms. In one study, volunteers were awakened just before they could enter the REM sleep cycle, then allowed to fall asleep again. This cycle was repeated throughout the night.

Even though all the volunteers sleep the same amount of time as usual, they exhibited an impairment in their daily activities The subjects exhibited disorientation, depression and other psychological ills. In addition, the dream deprived volunteers showed irritability and quick tempers as well. As the study continued through several consecutive nights, the volunteers continued to become more and more agitated and psychologically unwell.

This study, as well as subsequent studies have shown that dreaming is an integral part of our well being. Further studies have confirmed the importance of dreaming, and the psychological effects caused by depriving sleepers of the ability to dream.

What You Always Wanted to Know About Dreams and Their Meanings

Every dreamer has asked questions about why we dream, and what those dreams mean. While every dream is unique to the person who dreams it, the world of dream interpretation is a rich, fascinating and exciting one. We have included here some of the most commonly asked questions about dreams and their analysis.

What is the significance of dreams?

Yes. Dreams to have significance in the real world. Dreams are told in a symbolic language, and the images in dreams tend to contain hidden meanings and hidden messages. When analyzing and interpreting dreams, it is important to understand that the stories told in dreams are symbolic and not meant to be taken literally. The significance of dreams for each dreamer is a personal matter related to each person’s experience and emotions.

Why do recurring dreams happen?

Recurring dreams are among the most common types of dreams. Most often, recurring dreams indicate that the dreamer has some issue that is not being confronted in his or her waking life. Examining these recurring dreams, and understanding what triggers them, can often allow...

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