We Can't Interpret our Own Dreams

[Gordon Jerome]

Can we interpret our own dreams? I don't think so, and here's why: we lack objectivity and we lack perspective.

When I have a dream, I can make it say whatever I want it to say, and I do. That's the problem. If we are to grow spiritually from the messages our dreams send to us, we have to be willing to hear the message, and if we interpret the dream ourselves, we'll never hear the negative stuff, only the positive.

Also, we lack perspective. We see the dream from the inside, thus we see every detail and are unable to separate what matters from what doesn't. We may be so enamored by a perfectly still ocean that we never see that it's really God calling us to take a swim. Or we might see a strange fish never realizing it was catching the fish that was the real message.

So what about dream dictionaries? They would be fine, if they listed the things that are in our dreams, but at 24,000,000,000 dreams a night in this world, I find that highly unlikely. And even if they could contain all the symbols that pop up, it would have to be the case that what is a symbol to one person is always the same symbol to another person, and no symbol is the same to different people. Symbols change their meaning depending on the personality of the dreamer, the astrological sign, the cultural background, and even our gender. A gun to a person in Syria is going to mean something completely different than it does to someone on a farm in Northeastern Colorado.

Every one is a unique creation in this universe; no astrological natal chart is ever the same. Even if a house is usually a representation of the soul, that house is going to look different from one person to another. An entire dictionary would have to be written about houses in dreams, and even then the reader wouldn't know if they were interpreting it right.

Finally, I get a feeling the Divine wants us to share our dreams with one another. I get the feeling God wants us to come together in that way. It forces us to see the common humanity of each other, and we can grow in spirit even from the messages someone else gets. That’s why I love to interpret dreams so much: what’s good for you is good for me, too.

--Gordon

[IrisRavenstar]

I think, Gordon, that ultimately we are each going to be the best people to interpret our own dreams, but that it depends a great deal on where a person is psychologically. If someone has a lot of denial and repression and projection going on, then they're not going to be too good at facing some of the issues their dreams are bringing up, and then will certainly benefit from some objective help. It also takes time to simply get a feel for the language of dreams, which is different, for sure. But I'd say I like both to interpret my own, and to get help and suggestions on ones I feel are not clear to me, so I post dreams here as well as interpreting them.

I wish more people here would take a shot at interpretation, because they learn that way, and can do a better job on their own as well! Practice makes perfect! The more you do it, the more you learn.

[unclesirbobbyrobson]

We cannot interpret our own dreams!

Well thats simply not correct. I know roughly what most of my own dreams mean. But knowing how dreams work I see how it would be very difficult for someone else to interpret them.

Symbols are very personal. I have tried interpreting someones dream and then been told some simple piece of information that made the dream make total sense. I say that pets mean this symbolically then they reveal that their pet dog has just died the day before. Often such simple facts are not revealed on forums like this. Making interpretation impossible

Interpreting a dream is very complex and not an easy skill. But I disagree with your view intensely. So if other people cannot interpret their own dreams then they get someone to do it for them. Some expert who knows all the knowledge!

It is all a little condescending. Of course its not easy but I think people can start to interpret their own dreams. Its often very simple. Often dreams reflect recent moods... if things were bad yesterday then this can cause dreams which simply follow that mood. If we lie awake in bed rehearsing how we will do this or do that the next day then your dream will follow that sense of mood.

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A DREAM GUIDE

http://www.dreamsymbolism.info

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[Wolfjk]

Originally Posted by Gordon Jerome

Can we interpret our own dreams? I don't think so, and here's why: we lack objectivity and we lack perspective.

When I have a dream, I can make it say whatever I want it to say, and I do. That's the problem. If we are to grow spiritually from the messages our dreams send to us, we have to be willing to hear the message, and if we interpret the dream ourselves, we'll never hear the negative stuff, only the positive.

Also, we lack perspective. We see the dream from the inside, thus we see every detail and are unable to separate what matters from what doesn't. We may be so enamored by a perfectly still ocean that we never see that it's really God calling us to take a swim. Or we might see a strange fish never realizing it was catching the fish that was the real message.

So what about dream dictionaries? They would be fine, if they listed the things that are in our dreams, but at 24,000,000,000 dreams a night in this world, I find that highly unlikely. And even if they could contain all the symbols that pop up, it would have to be the case that what is a symbol to one person is always the same symbol to another person, and no symbol is the same to different people. Symbols change their meaning depending on the personality of the dreamer, the astrological sign, the cultural background, and even our gender. A gun to a person in Syria is going to mean something completely different than it does to someone on a farm in Northeastern Colorado.

Every one is a unique creation in this universe; no astrological natal chart is ever the same. Even if a house is usually a representation of the soul, that house is going to look different from one person to another. An entire dictionary would have to be written about houses in dreams, and even then the reader wouldn't know if they were interpreting it right.

Finally, I get a feeling the Divine wants us to share our dreams with one another. I get the feeling God wants us to come together in that way. It forces us to see the common humanity of each other, and we can grow in spirit even from the messages someone else gets. That’s why I love to interpret dreams so much: what’s good for you is good for me, too.

--Gordon

Hi Gordon,
You are suffering from "DELUSIONS OF GRANDEUR" The sooner you see a shrink the better it is for you!
Cheers Wolfjk

[Gordon Jerome]

Originally Posted by IrisRavenstar

I think, Gordon, that ultimately we are each going to be the best people to interpret our own dreams, but that it depends a great deal on where a person is psychologically. If someone has a lot of denial and repression and projection going on, then they're not going to be too good at facing some of the issues their dreams are bringing up, and then will certainly benefit from some objective help.

Yes, I would agree with that. I suppose my only debate would be that I think most people have a great deal of denial and repression going on most of the time.

It also takes time to simply get a feel for the language of dreams, which is different, for sure. But I'd say I like both to interpret my own, and to get help and suggestions on ones I feel are not clear to me, so I post dreams here as well as interpreting them.

And of course, as much as I preach that I can't interpret my own dreams, that doesn't mean I don't try--I certainly do. Ultimately, however, I feel I am incapable of rendering an accurate opinion. So, the solution is no doubt what you suggest: try, but also post to get other opinions.

I wish more people here would take a shot at interpretation, because they learn that way, and can do a better job on their own as well! Practice makes perfect! The more you do it, the more you learn.

Absolutely. Thanks for your input, Iris.

[Gordon Jerome]

Originally Posted by unclesirbobbyrobson

We cannot interpret our own dreams!

Well thats simply not correct. I know roughly what most of my own dreams mean. But knowing how dreams work I see how it would be very difficult for someone else to interpret them.

So, you're basically saying that only you can interpret your dreams? OK, but I don't agree with that. In fact, I feel quite the opposite. How can we avoid the bias and the fact that in the dream, we are actually part of the symbolism?

Symbols are very personal. I have tried interpreting someones dream and then been told some simple piece of information that made the dream make total sense. I say that pets mean this symbolically then they reveal that their pet dog has just died the day before. Often such simple facts are not revealed on forums like this. Making interpretation impossible

But see, that's just it. The messages come to us symbolically. And a symbol can mean anything you want it to mean. An outsider isn't biased in that way.

[mwyna]

I actually liked your first post in this thread. I feel it was well meaning and thoughtful. Though I agree with those that say we can interpret our own dreams. Saying that, I think it's probably safer to say 'We can't Interpret our Own Dreams without an open and honest mind'. I've seen it before and I've suffered from it before. Sometimes we refuse to have a look to that possible side of us that can be angry at someone we don't want to be, hurt, frightened of a relationship failing or of losing someone etc. When it all comes down to it, it's sometimes far harder to face ourselves then anyone else.

[unclesirbobbyrobson]

Well I have always disliked Freud especially because he had the belief that only a psychoanalyst could interpret a dream. I always feel that they are looking down on people.

Actually Freud didn't really understand dreams hardly at all. Though he certainly understood sexual dreams.

Dreams are extremely complex. Knowing how they work I always feel that if I try to interpret someone elses dream I am more likely to get it completely wrong.

Dreams do use symbols but they use them in a rich and varied way. The mind uses dream symbols in the same way we use language. Yet language is rich and complex. Just look at the average dream dictionary and each definition is just one word or a short paragraph. But in fact these should be long and complex. Dreams symbols are used in varied ways. They may refer to you... to other people. They may refer to something real OR something merely imagined. They refer to the reality that exists in our minds.

I think the best person to interpret any dream is the dreamer themselves. Understanding the symbolism of any dream is not easy. Its a matter of ruling things out. Of course many people lack the skills to interpret dreams properly. They may not be interested that much. But a dream interpreter will not really be able to do the job properly without a good deal of background information. You maybe able to interpret a dream by tapping into peoples energies. You may think you can interpret dreams but you are probable a little deluded.

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A dream dictionary based upon hundreds of real dreams

Dream dictionary symbols - How to analyse and interpret dreams

A dream guide to help you understand what has triggered your dreams

http://www.dreamsymbolism.info

[Gordon Jerome]

Originally Posted by mwyna

I actually liked your first post in this thread. I feel it was well meaning and thoughtful. Though I agree with those that say we can interpret our own dreams. Saying that, I think it's probably safer to say 'We can't Interpret our Own Dreams without an open and honest mind'. I've seen it before and I've suffered from it before. Sometimes we refuse to have a look to that possible side of us that can be angry at someone we don't want to be, hurt, frightened of a relationship failing or of losing someone etc. When it all comes down to it, it's sometimes far harder to face ourselves then anyone else.

Thank you very much.

I like what you said it's very axiomatic: "It's sometimes harder to face ourselves than anyone else." You know, that truth is probably at the heart of most personal problems.

[NfoJunkie]

Very good points made by all, except Wolf's remark. There's no need for that, man, it's just rude and insulting & shows a lack of respect for others. I'd so much rather see you contribute something helpful or thought provoking to the conversation.

I'm far from knowing how it all works, but from what everyone has said so far, both examining the dream yourself AND getting input from someone else seems to go hand in hand. We've all had different experiences and thoughts, and because of it every one of us has a slightly or drastically different perspective than everyone else, and since dreams are composed of these experiences and thoughts, they're just as unique as we are. But dreams are often so "off the wall" & "out of character" (a place where anything is possible), it sometimes surprises me that my mind came up with such a thing & even though everything makes perfect sense while dreaming, it's a lot more confusing to understand from the conscious, involved side of the window. I DO feel that I'm more qualified & able to make more sense out of my own dreams than someone else that doesn't know or understand my perspective could. HOWEVER, like anyone that's ever lived, I'm blind or in denial of the things I haven't learned or resolved yet, the ways I might be deceiving myself, & how my flaws are obvious those around me. If I didn't know this about my self or otherwise wasn't making an effort to find and fix these flaws, dreams would probably be for me what they are for most... entertaining little movies in my head that sometimes are a little disturbing but for the most part, pretty fun. MUCH can be learned from personally examining our dreams, but there are some things that might also make perfect sense that we naturally wouldn't consider or the things we don't like thinking about that we might not recognize without someone or something else pointing it out. Thanks for your thoughts & another intriguing read.