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What exactly are dreams? -

When you dream at night, you are probably digesting your day’s thoughts. Your unconscious mind takes the opportunity to step in and reveal the thoughts most important to you, even if you have not realized them. However, they still need to be decoded to understand them.

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Dream diary - First, consider keeping a dream diary. It is common for symbols to reoccur, and these are the really important ones. Symbols that are very rare are probably not as prevalent in your unconscious mind.

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Definitions - Remember, these definitions are not absolute. Dreaming is, after all, a very subjective activity. These definitions are a rough guide to your own unconscious mind.

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Water - Water usually symbolizes the unconscious mind itself. It can let you know the climate of your inner-mind. Stormy seas indicate tumult, smooth pools indicate inner peace.

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Vehicles - Cars pop up in many dreams. Whoever has charge of the vehicle is in control, so where do you lie? In or out of control?

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Trapped - If you consistently dream that you cannot escape, that probably means you feel like that in real life too. Analyze your life to see if this might be the case.

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Teeth - If you are feeling anxious about growing older or being ugly, teeth often come up. It is because they are so prominent in the face and invisible to our own eyes that they become a metaphor for wider appearance insecurities.

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Teachers -

You may be actually dreaming of your teachers. It can either symbolize the fear of other people’s standards or that you crave an authority figure who can help guide you.

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Sex - It does not necessarily mean you want to have sex with the person in your dream. It may be an unconscious attraction to that person, but mostly it just means you desire some sort of intimacy, regardless of the person.

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Schools -

As an adult, dreaming of school often means you either want to understand something new, or you are afraid of something that gives you the same kind of anxiety that exams did.

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Roads - You may be thinking about your general path in life, and if it is the right one for you. Where is the road? How fast are you going along it? Ask yourself some of these questions.

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TV and radio -

It is actually quite rare to dream of media like TV or radio. If you are, they could be the connection between your conscious mind and your unconscious mind.

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People - If they are people that you do not know, then they are probably a reflection of part of your own personality.

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Nudity -

If you are naked, then you are worried about showing your true self to the world. Or, you would like some sexual interaction. If other people are naked, then it could symbolize the trust they have for you and the comfort you feel around each other.

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Mountains - Ambition is well depicted by a mountain. If you are climbing it, perhaps you are conquering a challenge in your life. Confidence is also connected to mountains.

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Money - Aside from symbolizing actual money problems, cash can also mean you are considering your own self-worth.

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Marriage - You may want to actually marry your partner. Or, the feminine and masculine parts of your mind may be yearning for unity.

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Killing - You are not some freaky murderer if you dream of killing someone. It is internal, and so it means you want to get rid of some part of your personality. Consider why you may feel this way and if you can come to terms with it.

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Houses - Houses often serve as a metaphor for the inside of the mind. Every room and hallway may represent a different part of yourself, signifying a desire for self-exploration.

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Hands - It depends on how you see them. If you are washing them, it could signify guilt. If they are tied up, Freud would say you have some suppressed sexual desires.

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Hair - If your hair is falling out in your dreams, then it could mean you are feeling particularly anxious, or are afraid of growing old. Hair can also be quite a sexual thing, again according to Freud.

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Demons -

If you have some sort of evil spirits in your dreams, then it could mean there is a naughty part of yourself that you want to change.

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Food - Either you have not had a large enough dinner, or you have a desire to enrich your body. Food often symbolizes knowledge and a desire to learn.

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Machinery malfunction - If something you want to use is not working in a dream, it could represent a wider issue of something not working in your life.

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Falling - We all know this feeling. It usually comes when things are a little out of control and anxiety is rife.

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Flying - They say that flying in your dream means you are in a happy period in your life, weightless and free.

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Death - It is not a premonition if you dream of your own death. It usually means you are coming to terms with some kind of ending in your life.

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Clothing - Clothing often represents how you judge people and how they see you. Consider whether you are in shabby or nice clothing, or the ones around you, to determine how you might really see these people.

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Babies -

Either you are feeling a little broody, or you are craving affection like children do.

Sources: (World of Lucid Dreaming)

See also: 10 common dreams and what they mean

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