Everyone dreams - even animals and birds have dreams. Some people can recall the details of their dreams vividly whilst others can only remember their dreams in sketchy details. And of course there are those who claim that they have never dreamed at all. The truth is we spend one third of our lives sleeping and two to three hours per night dreaming. This would mean that by the time we reach 75, we have slept for 25 years and dreamed for around 10 years. Dream analysts believe that dreams are messages from our unconscious minds that are intended to provide clues to help us understand ourselves better. They are a reflection of our thoughts and take us to places where the impossible is made possible, where our deepest fears and desires are revealed. They also provide solutions to help us overcome our problems. Thus we can still be quite productive whilst we are sleeping!
The earliest examples of dream interpretation can be found in the Bible. The most popular Biblical dream is Pharaoh's dream which can be found in Genesis 41:1-26. In his dream, Pharaoh saw himself standing by the Nile, when up out of the Nile came seven cows, handsome and fat; they grazed in the reed grass. Behind them seven other cows, ugly and gaunt, came up out of the Nile; and standing on the bank of the Nile beside the others, the ugly, gaunt cows ate up the seven handsome, fat cows. Then Pharaoh woke up but fell asleep again and had another dream. He saw seven ears of grain, fat and healthy, growing on a single stalk. Behind them sprouted seven ears of grain, thin and blasted by the east wind; and the seven thin ears swallowed up the seven fat, healthy ears. Then Pharaoh woke up and had Joseph summoned to interpret his dreams for him. According to Joseph, "Both of Pharaoh's dreams have the same meaning. The seven healthy cows are seven years, and the seven healthy ears are seven years - the same in each dream. So also, the seven thin, ugly cows that came after them are seven years, as are the seven thin, wind-blasted ears; they are seven years of famine. Seven years of great abundance are now coming throughout the land of Egypt; but these will be followed by seven years of famine, when all the abundance in the land of Egypt will be forgotten." Needless to say, Joseph's interpretation of these dreams had a great impact not only on the land of Egypt but also on the future of dream science, research, and interpretation.
Sigmund Freud (1856-1939), also known as the 'father' of psycho-analysis, believed that dream analysis was a powerful tool in discovering our hidden thoughts and desires. His work therefore focused on the causes of dreams. For him our conscious minds are disgusted by our hidden desires and they repress these urges because the social constraints we live with make it impossible to satisfy all human urges. According to him, "the purpose of dreams is to allow us to satisfy in fantasies the instinctual urges that society judges unacceptable." He recognized the importance of symbols in dreams, arguing that they always have hidden meaning which can only become clear through dream work. To understand dream symbols, Freud developed a technique known as 'free association' in which the dreamer describes thoughts and feelings as they come to mind.
While Freud was interested in the causes of dreams, his student, Carl Jung, was interested in the purpose of dreams. Carl Jung (1875-1961), was a psychotherapist, a philosopher and mythology scholar. He believed that dreams compensate for what we lack during our waking life and the neglected aspects of the personal unconscious would appear in our dreams. He also believed in the 'collective unconscious' - archetypal images shared by people all around the world, regardless of their religions and cultures. For him telepathy and precognition were possible through dreams because dreams connect the dreamer with the collective unconscious. Jung's theory is prospective - he was of the opinion that dreams can give us hints of what the future holds.
Throughout the history of mankind, there have been countless numbers of dreams that have predicted future events with great accuracy. Among some of the more famous prophetic dreams in history were the assassination of President Kennedy, the assassination of President Lincoln, the sinking of the Titanic, and the dream visions of Joan of Arc. It was said that several people had predicted President Kennedy's assassination a few days before it happened. President Lincoln even dreamed of his own corpse laid out in a room in the White House. Prior to the sinking of the Titanic, several passengers cancelled their trip at the last minute after having dreamed that it sank. And of course the dream visions of Joan of Arc created history when God instructed her to save France from the English.
The amazing power of the mind to generate information from increasingly deeper levels of awareness can be harnessed. There have been many great examples of scientific discoveries that were made in dreams. For instance, Albert Einstein's dream of a sledge which traveled at the speed of light has led to the Theory of Relativity. Frederich Kekule, who was totally unable to characterize and define the structure of benzene, discovered the molecular formula of the benzene ring after dreaming of the snake that eats its own tail. By thinking about a problem and mulling it over just prior to sleep, one can therefore 'dream out' the answer. This can happen spontaneously or over a period of time.
Experience has taught me that dreams can foretell the future and provide answers to our many questions about life. Many years ago when I was still a temporary teacher and part time law student, my mom died of cancer. After her death, I suddenly felt worried and insecure because I did not have a permanent job. Although it was never my intention to become a teacher, I knew that if I wanted to get the Ph.D. that I have always been yearning for, I had to get a permanent job so that I could fund my education. That was when I applied for a place at the Teachers' Training College. No doubt, competition was great because of the recession and I was worried sick. One night, after praying, I went to sleep and in my dream, I saw myself in a Teachers' Training College but I had no idea where it was because I had never seen it before in real life. At that instant, I knew that my prayers were answered! One month after that, I received my acceptance letter from the Teachers' Training College in Ipoh. When I went to that college for registration and saw it for the first time, my heart was filled with praises for Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mary because it was exactly the same one I saw in my dream.
In this article, I would like to provide some interpretations for religious imagery in dreams. I hope that my readers would find these interpretations useful to them. Those who are interested in reading more about dreams can refer to my reference list below as these books can provide a lot of useful information about this topic.
Abbey - To dream of an abbey means peace of mind, consolation for the soul, freedom from anxiety and stress. It symbolizes a place of sanctuary where guidance can be sought and a peaceful and positive resolution to your problems can be achieved. An abbey is propitious to the dreamer if seen in the sunlight. In darkness, it foreshadows sadness and failure.
Adam & Eve - Dreaming of the Biblical parents in the Garden of Eden is a bad omen. It tells that catastrophes and troubles may be inevitable, including operations and family difficulties.
Altar - The dream is propitious as long as it is one in which reverence is shown. Dreaming of praying in front of an altar is a sign of release from pressing worries.
Altar Boy - To dream of an altar boy performing his duties in the chancel of a Church indicates good news from an unexpected source.
Angels - Angels, described as 'messenger' from a divine source, are a good omen. They represent goodness, protection, and divine grace. Dreaming of angels is one of the most positive dream experiences we can have. These celestial messengers may appear in many forms, but they always suggest transcendence and the opening up of communication. For Freud, a female angel would symbolize womanly perfection. Jung believed that angels were intermediaries between the lower and higher aspects of the self. He also believed in the paranormal - that the angel could be a visitor from the divine!
Apostle - If an apostle speaks to you in a dream, pay attention to the details of the spiritual message as he may be trying to tell you that some areas of your spiritual life needs to be attended to. To dream of an apostle is also an indication that the dreamer needs spiritual guidance and something to believe in.
Archbishop - To dream of being in the company of an archbishop could mean that you are holding onto the religious beliefs of your early years. The meaning of your dream would be determined by your personal attitude of how the role of the archbishop was presented to you during your childhood days.
Christ - Dreaming of Christ augurs peace of mind and contentment.
Dreaming of Christmas
Christmas - To dream of Christmas suggests advancement and prosperity. It is a forerunner of satisfaction and repose if you dream of happiness among children during this holy season.
Church - The church is a place of refuge or sanctuary from one's problems. It helps us to assess the state of the spiritual aspects of our lives.
Convent - As a symbol of seclusion, the convent symbolizes seclusion, retirement form the world, and from the conflicts of sexuality and emotions. If the dream is a happy one, it represents your desire for rest and recuperation from emotional struggles or conflict. If it is an unhappy one, it is a sign of your fear that life and pleasure are passing you by, probably because you are too focused on your job or vocation.
Crucifix - The crucifix is a symbol of protection (the need to protect yourself from others) but it may also be an indication that you are being burdened by the problems of others.
The crucifixion of Jesus
Crucifixion - Crucifixion images in a dream link with the human being's need to sacrifice himself through passion and through pain.
Devil - In dreams, the devil is a manifestation of everything that the dreamer considers to be bad or evil. He may be symbolic of misfortune or illness. A devil represents temptation which often arises from the repressed sexual drives which demand attention.
God - Dreaming of God is a symbol that we acknowledge the divine - that there is a power greater than ours. He represents a comforting image of an authority figure who can take charge and protect us. Alternatively, this dream may also suggest that you have to learn to be responsible for your own actions.
Halo - Dreaming of someone with a halo suggests feelings of serenity, protection and purity. However, if you see yourself wearing a halo in your dream, it could be an indication that you feel pressured into a role that isn't allowing you self-expression.
Heaven - A dream of heaven may signify a temporary wish to retreat from the realities of life as it gives us consolation and pleasure particularly when our waking lives are less than perfect. As an ideal image of harmony and plenitude, it can be a message to remind us not to give up on our goals and to try to achieve them.
Hell - When you dream of hell, it is likely that your life has already hit rock bottom and could be about to change for the better.
Holy Communion - A desire for transformation to take place in some parts of your life. May also symbolize sadness at someone's absence.
Hymn - Hearing or singing hymns in your dream may indicate your desire for spiritual growth. It may also be a sign of your desire to be praised, admired, esteemed, and appreciated.
Judas - Judas is a symbol of betrayal as he was tempted to do something which he knew was wrong. Seeing Judas in your dream requires that you should think carefully about your own actions or motivations in relation to those around you.
Mary, the Mother of God
Mary, the Mother of God - The symbolism of Mary, both as the maiden and as the mother, is a potent one. She epitomises all that is woman, and all that is holy.
Moses - Moses often appears in dreams as the holy figure who will lead us out of difficulty.
Nun - A nun symbolizes morality and sexual restraint. Dreaming of becoming a nun indicates your wish to connect with the more idealistic side of yourself. Depending on the mood of the dream, it may also indicate feelings of frustration and restriction.
Prayer - Dreaming that you are praying suggests that you are in need of guidance on a certain issue or approval (from those in positions of authority). It may also indicate your desire to conquer uncertainty and look for solutions to a problem.
Vicar - A vicar in your dreams represents your spiritual quest or progress.
References:
1. Inserra, Rose. (2008). The Meaning of Dreams. Hinkler Books.
2. Ball, Pamela J. (2003). The Complete Book of Dreams & Dreaming. Arcturus Publishing Limited.
3. Dreams: Hidden Meanings and Secrets. Tophi Books.
4. Parker, Jennifer. (2010). Dreams & Nightmares. The Reader's Digest Association.
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