10 Most Common Dream Symbols And What They Mean

In the dream state, nothing is off-limits! From free-falling to nightmares, literally, anything can happen! But you might be wondering, what do your dreams mean? Dream symbols can tell us a lot about ourselves and where we are in life. When we’re stressed we might be running away from something, and when we are content, we might see a specific animal. Although dreams can be interpreted in so many ways, read on to learn about the most common dream symbols and what they might mean to you!

1. Falling

Free-falling in the dream state is nothing like the lyrics to Tom Petty’s catchy, upbeat song! If you’ve ever dreamt about falling, you probably remember it being a terrifying experience!

This dream symbol might suggest that in real life, you are losing control of a certain situation. This situation might be overwhelming, and the lack of control is giving you anxiety. Depending on how you are falling will also give you clues as to what you are struggling with in real life. For example, if someone pushes you and then you fall, it might suggest that you are being forced into change by a specific person.

2. Naked in Public

This classic dream symbol happens to the best of us. If you dream about being naked in public, this might mean that you are embarrassed by something about yourself, and you don’t want others to know! So if you get this dream, don’t get worried! Just remember to love yourself for who you are!

3. Unprepared For an Exam

I still wake up with nightmares like this. I’m sitting in my Biology class and the teacher is handing out a test that I have not studied for… Sound the alarms!

If you have this dream, it might be because of stress in your real life. As students in this highly competitive society, we are trained into demanding only the highest performance from ourselves academically, and with that level of expectation comes stress and anxiety. So if you have these dreams later on in life, it’s because you associate the stress and pressures of exams with whatever major source of stress is in your life now. If this becomes a reoccurring dream, try identifying what is triggering stress in your life.

4. Flying

Admit it. After you watched Peter Pan as a kid, you wanted to get your hands on some of that pixie dust. While the idea of flying in the dream state sounds like fun, flying can either be one of the best or worst dream symbols you have depending on the situation. For example, if you are flying and happy, this could mean that you have recently conquered obstacles in your life that were holding you back. Essentially, you feel free. But if you dream about flying and you are terrified, this could mean your subconscious is telling you that you need stability in your life.

5. Sex/Infidelity

Sex dreams are very common, and oftentimes they have little to do with actual sexual desires. If you dream about having sex, this might mean you are subconsciously merging the qualities of that particular person with your own qualities (a merging of energies).

If you dream that your SO is cheating on you, more often than not it is really about your subconscious sorting through your own feelings, emotions, and insecurities. So if you have this dream, don’t assume that your boo is cheating on you!

6. Animals

Animals are very important dream symbols, with many different interpretations. It really just depends on what animal you dream about. Generally, though, the characteristics of a specific animal represent the self. Some examples of characteristics include an elephant’s wisdom or a lion’s power.

One of the most common animal dream symbols is the snake. Snakes are powerful energy symbols that can represent both dangerous and healing traits within the self. Because snakes shed their skin, some dream experts believe that snakes symbolize rebirth and growth.

7. House

Dreaming about a house is often a direct representation of the self, but pay attention to where you are in the house. If you are upstairs or in the attic, this could mean spiritual awareness. If you are in the basement, this might mean sexual awareness. If you walk into a room that is dark, this means you are exploring parts of yourself you have not explored before.

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8. Teeth Falling Out

This dream symbol is actually surprisingly common. Teeth mainly symbolize our strengths and pride. So if you dream about your teeth falling out, this could mean that you are unable to understand or process a changing situation, and have not come to terms with it. Ask yourself, in real life, is anything changing that is making me uncomfortable?

9. Being Chased

This dream symbol is similar to the “unprepared exam” symbol. If you dream about being chased, this is your subconscious clearly telling you that you are avoiding a difficult situation or person in your real life. If you dream about running and then hiding, this could indicate that not only is there a difficult situation you are avoiding, but you also feel guilty about it!

It’s time to stop running and face your fears!

10. Death

Yes, dreaming about death can be a really scary dream symbol. But you should know that they aren’t always an ominous symbol. If you dream about death, this might actually be about your subconscious processing the end of something in your real life. Examples of change that can set off a death dream include leaving your current job or moving into a new house.

We get death dream symbols so we can understand change better. As the old saying goes, when one door closes, another one opens. So if you dream about a loved one dying, do not panic! You are not predicting a family death, you are just having an honest conversation with yourself.