dream-interpretations

Dreaming is a natural function experienced by all mammals. It's a mechanism that enables us to review what we have been doing and learning during the day, a bit like a computer saving files to the hard drive.

Any problems, anxieties, or emotional issues are processed during dreaming. Recurring dreams may indicate that a problem still hasn't been resolved and it's possible to continually have the same dream until the problem is solved.

When we dream we can often incorporate the outside world or any physical pain or discomfort that we are feeling at the time. How many times have you dreamt that you need to go to the bathroom only to wake up and find that you really do need to pay a visit to the bathroom. When we sleep we are still aware of our surroundings which could be a throw back to primitive man who had to be alert for any potential threat even when asleep.

Dreaming occurs during the deepest stage of sleep or REM rapid eye movement. Increased blood pressure and heart rate are often experienced during dreaming. Your body goes into deep relaxation and the muscles switch off. This is a mechanism designed to prevent you acting out your dreams. This may explain why sometimes it takes a while to come round from sleep and get your body moving.

Stage 1 You enter a very relaxed state as you gradually drift off to sleep. This can last up to about 10 minutes and during this time you are still aware of your surroundings.

Stage 2. This is a slightly deeper stage of sleep and normally lasts about 20 minutes. You can be woken up quite easily during this stage and will feel refreshed.

Stages 3 and 4 are when you enter the deeper stages of sleep. This is when REM or rapid eye movement occurs and takes place about 90 minutes into sleep. This is when you dream and your eyes dart about even though they are closed. You may experience REM up to 5 times a night.

Keep a dream diary by your bed and on waking write them down immediately. Dreams are quickly forgotten as your mind starts to focus on daily routines.

Dreams give you an insight into your inner self and overtime your dream diary will give you a picture of your inner thoughts and desires. If you have a problem and you don't know how to deal with it just before you go to sleep ask for a solution.

On waking recall your dreams and you may find an answer.Many writers and artists get inspirations from their dreams. The plot to a new novel or idea for the next painting.

Interpreting your dreams takes practice but over time it can give you a great insight into your inner mind. Sometimes dreams are a play on words. For example you might dream of holding a pair of scissors and cutting out a picture from the newspaper. It could mean that you need to cut someone or something out of your life!

Here are a few of the more common dreams that many people have experienced.

Flying can indicate the need to rise above problems. Anything that gets in your way during your flight may indicate obstacles in the way of your ambitions. Flying high may indicate that you have risen above a problem and achieving your ambitions. Fear of being so high may show that you are fearful of aiming to high.

Being chased or running away from something is a very common dream and may indicate a problem that you are unable to face up to. It doesn't mean that you are being persued by a person in real life. Solving your problem instead of running away from it may stop this type of dream.

Being naked and embarrassed may indicate a self conscious personality. You may fear showing your inner self to others. Clothing is a symbol of hiding behind a false identity, and shedding that clothing is seen as exposing your real self to others. You may be shy and lack self confidence but pretend to be confident and outgoing and fear that other people can see through you. If you dream that you are naked but no one seems to notice then your fears may be unfounded.

Dreaming of insects can mean small worries for a short time. They can also represent minor obstacles in life that need to be overcome.

When you are asleep you are more psychically intune since there are no external distractions. Psychic dreams are often very vivid and you can remember every detail. They are usually unrelated to your day to day life and often of events involving people you don't know.

These dreams may seem like you're watching a film or video, for example you may dream of a plane crash and then the next day see a news item about a plane crash.

A majority of these dreams are probably just coincidence but occasionally they may be in such detail and so accurate that it defies explanation

Lucid dreaming is when you are aware that you are dreaming. It's possible to be able to control your dreams if you are aware that it's a dream you are experiencing. You can learn to fly, swim, and do some amazing and impossible things during a lucid dream.

It can be a great way to increase creativity and get inspiration for writing or painting. You can create your own environment in a lucid dream, this takes practice and there are books available on lucid dreaming to help you

The dream catcher originated in the Ojibwa nation and became popular in the 1960s and 1970s. It was originally made by creating a small oval shape made of willow and then weaving strands around it like a web pattern.

It was hung above the bed of a child to catch bad dreams and nightmares. It was believed that dreams would be sifted through the dreamcatcher web like a spider's web catches flies.Today they are very popular and hung up as a decorative ornament in the home.