Learn How To Interpret Dreams
Learn how to interpret dreams with these 10 practical techniques
Learning how to interpret dreams
I’ve been interested in what my dreams mean for as long as I can remember, but learning to interpret my dreams seemed out of reach for the longest time. I didn’t know that there was a modern branch of psychology that takes dreams and the interpretation of dreams seriously, and everything I encountered about dreams and learning how to interpret dreams seemed kind of hokey and spiritually “woo woo” in a way I couldn’t connect with. Plus, taking dreams seriously is very decidedly not part of the culture I live in. The overarching cultural messages I get about dreams are statements like: “Science can’t explain dreams,” “Dreams don’t mean anything,” and, “No one knows why we dream.” These cultural messages all come with the unstated implication that dreams simply don’t matter because we don’t know why we dream. But, when we begin to learn how to interpret our dreams, it becomes clear that we can know why we dream. Dreaming is a form of internal communication that helps us stay “on track” with our deepest internal sense of who we are.
Over the last five years, I’ve come to believe that learning how to interpret dreams is vitally important to wellbeing. Learning how to pay attention to my dreams and how to interpret dreams has been an important life-changing experience for me that has helped me better connect with myself and the world around me. I hope that learning how to interpret dreams does the same for you!
10 ways to learn how to interpret dreams
Dreams will always hold a bit of mystery to them – and that’s part of their charm anyway – but there are some really practical things you can do to learn how to interpret dreams.
Learn how to interpret dreams by listening to Jungian analysis of fairy tales and myths on Jungian Ever After.
This free podcast is hosted by a Jungian analyst (a therapist who uses techniques and ideas developed by Carl Jung) and a non-psychologist. Together they interpret fairy tales and myths using a Jungian approach. I didn’t start out listening to this podcast to get better at interpreting dreams, but oddly listening to this podcast was one of the most meaningful ways I learned how to interpret dreams. Each episode, a fairy tale or myth is read and then its symbolism is discussed using Jungian techniques. It’s basically like listening to a Jungian psychologist interpret a fairy tale or myth as if it were a dream. Plus, you’re probably already familiar with some of the basic stories, so the episodes are fun to listen to and it’s interesting to hear a new and deeper take on a classic story. The most important thing I learned about dream interpretation from Jungian Ever After is how to see every character in a dream as representing a different aspect of myself. This podcast isn’t explicitly about dream interpretation, but it models the techniques involved in Jungian dream interpretation in such an accessible way that it became an invaluable part of my own journey to learn how to interpret dreams.
P.S. If you’re looking for another podcast to help you learn how to interpret dreams, check out This Jungian Life, where you can listen to three Jungian analysts discuss Jungian ideas an interpret real life dreams.
Learn how to interpret dreams by getting in touch with your intuition.
Dreams carry information from your subconscious mind (memories, ideas, feelings, etc. about your life and things about you that you don’t know or don’t consciously recall at the moment). Your intuition carries the same kind of information and speaks a similar language as dreams, so anything you can do to learn how to connect with your intuition will also help you learn how to interpret dreams. Check out these resources for learning about intuition and how to connect with your intuition:
Learn how to interpret dreams by reading books about dream interpretation.
Jungian ideas about dream interpretation have been the most helpful to me in learning how to interpret dreams, so this list of books is focused on using Jung’s ideas to learn how to interpret dreams.
Dream Wise: Unlocking the Meaning of Your Dreams by Lisa Marchiano, Deborah Stewart, Joseph Lee
This is a really practical and accessible book about learning how to interpret dreams written by three Jungian analysts. I listened to this one as an audiobook and really enjoyed it. This is a dense, meaty book without a lot of pointless fluff and it’s really practical and easy to understand. Dream Wise is straightforward enough that it’s a great introduction to dream interpretation if you’re brand new to learning how to interpret your dreams, but it also has enough depth to be helpful if you’ve been interpreting dreams for a while and even if you’re already somewhat familiar with Jungian ideas about dream interpretation. This book also contains a summary list of practical “keys” to help you learn how to interpret dreams which I found really helpful.
The Way of the Dream: Conversations on Jungian Dream Interpretation With Marie-Louise Von Franz by Marie-Louise von Franz and Fraser Boa
This book by Jungian analyst Marie-Louise von Franz (who worked closely with Jung) is out of print, but I eventually managed to grab a used copy at a reasonable price by checking the Amazon page frequently. The Way of the Dream is based on a 1980s documentary of the same name in which everyday people on the street are interviewed about their dreams and von Franz interprets them. Reading this book or watching the documentary is a really interesting and fun way to learn how to interpret dreams.
Dreams by C.G. Jung
Dreams contains excerpts from various works of Carl Jung. This is definitely a less straightforward option than the other two suggestions on this list. I wouldn’t suggest starting with Dreams, but it is a really interesting look at Jung’s approach to dreams and dream interpretation. Dreams doesn’t present a cohesive summary of Jungian dream interpretation; it’s snippets of Jung’s writings on various topics related to dreams. Once you’ve learned the basics of Jungian dream interpretation, though, it’s a thought-provoking read that you can easily set down and pick back up.
Learn how to interpret dreams by getting to know your shadow self through shadow work journaling.
Dreams often tell you about your shadow self (aspects of yourself that you have trouble accepting/don’t know about). In Jungian dream analysis, characters in your dreams who are the same gender as you are often thought to represent your shadow self. Learning how to interpret your dreams and understand what these shadow characters are telling you is an amazing way to learn about your shadow self, but there are other ways you can learn about your shadow as well. Engaging in these other types of shadow work can complement your dream shadow work and make it easier to interpret the meaning of dreams that tell you about your shadow. Check out these resources for shadow work to get started:
Learn how to interpret dreams by reflecting on the symbolism you encounter in books, movies, art, and everyday life.
Our dreams speak a strange and creative symbolic language that differs significantly from the straightforward linear way the conscious mind often functions. Learning to speak this strange symbolic language is important when you’re learning how to interpret dreams. Consuming strange and symbolic art is one way to get yourself comfortable with this way of communicating and can help you learn how to interpret dreams. Check out this list of Strange & Symbolic Movies & TV Shows To Help Build Your Intuition if you’re looking for ideas to help you get started.
Learn how to interpret dreams by keeping a dream journal.
Keeping a dream journal is one of the most helpful things you can do if you’re trying to learn how to interpret dreams. First, a dream journal helps you learn to pay attention to your dreams and take them seriously; this is a necessary foundation when you’re trying to learn how to interpret dreams. Second, a dream journal is a place to practice interpreting dreams and it creates a useful record of your dreams and dream interpretations. This allows you to re-read your dreams later and reflect on whether your interpretations were accurate. The meaning of dreams often becomes much clearer with a little time, so looking back at your dreams in your dream journal can be a really helpful way to learn the language your dreams speak. Get started with dream journaling by checking out this Real Life Dream Journal Example Entry Illustrating The 7 Key Elements Of A Dream Journal Entry.
Learn how to interpret dreams by forming a dream circle.
A dream circle is a group of people who come together regularly to talk through their dreams and help each other interpret dreams. In my opinion, it’s a good idea to have some grounding in your own ability to interpret your dreams before you embark on working on dreams with a dream circle. Dream circles can be an immensely powerful way to learn how to interpret dreams, but the material discussed is deeply personal (perhaps even more personal than the dreamer realizes at first). It can also be difficult – if not impossible – for circle members to hold back their own projections (ideas about the dream based on things going on internally with them rather than what’s going on in the dreamer’s life), so there are some reasons to be cautious about too much reliance on a dream circle and to be careful about who you form a dream circle with. Nevertheless, when it comes right down to it, these types of interactions with others are ultimately often how we learn about ourselves, so if dream circles sound interesting to you, you might want to check out Sacred Dream Circles: A Guide to Facilitating Jungian Dream Groups by Tess Castleman.
Learn how to interpret dreams with help from a Jungian analyst or depth therapist.
I wish I had known this sooner, but there are lots of different kinds of therapy and therapists and it’s important to find the right fit for you. If you’re interested in the kind of therapy that helps you learn to understand your dreams and works with deep subconscious parts of you, a Jungian therapist or a depth therapist might be the right fit. I tried therapy twice and didn’t find it really helpful, but the third time I tried therapy I ended up with a therapist interested in somatic work (working with the body) and depth therapy and it was immensely helpful because it was the right fit for what I wanted help with. A Jungian analyst, in particular, will help you learn how to interpret dreams, so if you’re feeling drawn to therapy and dream interpretation, consider Jungian analysis.
Learn how to interpret dreams by meditating.
Learning how to meditate has helped me step back from my conscious thoughts and let the freer part of my mind wander into dream-like images and symbols. This is hard to explain unless you’ve experienced it, but learning how to quiet my mind through meditation allowed me to see that behind the activity of my conscious mind there are always images and symbols floating around like you would see in a dream. Learning to meditate made these images and this part of who I am more accessible to me which ultimately helped me learn how to interpret dreams because this part of me was easier to connect with. I’d tried meditation before and didn’t get it, but now I realize that’s because I was aggressively trying to force active thoughts away from my mind instead of just accepting that they were there and watching them float around until they disappeared and were replaced with the calmer dream-like images. I used the Calm app to learn how to meditate (Jeff Warren’s Daily Trips are my favorite), and I also really like the First This meditations (this one is a free podcast).
Learn how to interpret dreams through practice!
The more I’ve paid attention to my dreams and the longer I’ve worked to try to interpret my dreams, the easier it’s become. I’ve learned that my dreams tend to use some symbols and ideas over and over to signify the same thing, so it’s like I’ve learned part of the language my dreaming self speaks. This makes it easier to understand my dreams. Practicing interpreting my dreams (and seeing them transform over time) has also helped me learn to question the attitude I take in my dreams to other characters and situations; this has helped my dreams “move forward” more quickly towards symbols I understand which eventually makes interpreting the message of the dream easier. When it comes to learning how to interpret dreams – as with many things in life – there’s no substitute for practice!
Photos for this article were created with Adobe Firefly.
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