What Your Dreams Are Trying to Tell You
Decode Your Subconscious and Change Your Life
Have you ever woken up from a vivid dream that felt so real, so full of meaning, but within minutes, the details slipped away like sand through your fingers? Or perhaps you’ve had a recurring dream and wondered if it was trying to send you an important message from your subconscious?
Dreams are more than just nighttime entertainment—they are messages from the subconscious mind, whispers from the soul, and sometimes even spiritual downloads from the universe. Keeping a dream journal can help you remember dreams, decode their hidden meanings, and uncover powerful dream symbolism that provides guidance for your waking life. Whether you’re experiencing lucid dreams, prophetic dreams, or trying to understand common dream symbols, learning how to interpret dreams can unlock deep personal insights.
Why Keeping a Dream Journal is Essential for Harnessing the Power of Their Messages
Dreams are the subconscious mind’s clues to us, often cloaked in symbols, emotions, and surreal narratives. If we don’t record them, these messages can fade upon waking. Keeping a dream journal isn’t about being perfect; it’s about creating a space to receive and reflect. Over time, patterns emerge, and the subconscious starts to reveal what it has been trying to tell us all along.
I often dream of animals, and I like to think they are my totem guides at particular phases of my life. For example, in 2020, a numerological 7 year for me, I had dozens of dreams featuring polar bears. That was a year of deep reflection and upheaval—not just for me but for the world at large. Through my journaling, I uncovered what polar bears symbolized for me and how they pointed to lessons in my relationships at the time.
A more recent ‘a-ha’ moment came when I was unpacking my journals after our move to Florida. I stumbled upon an entry from just before the board meeting last August. I had dreamt that I was swimming in the Gulf from St. George Island to a smaller nearby island. It was nighttime, the sky was a blanket of stars, and suddenly, massive eels, larger than my body, surrounded me. Fear gripped me, and I swam faster. The eels circled persistently, urging me to push harder. I woke up before reaching the other shore, probably from sheer fear. I recorded it in my journal during my morning pages, hoping to clear my head before the board presentation later that day.
The wild part? The night before the November board meeting, just three months later, I dreamed of eels again. I went back through my dream journal because I remembered having dreamt of eels before but not the context. I looked up the meaning of eels in a couple of books and online: What do eels mean in the spiritual world? Their symbolism hit me like a ton of bricks, and suddenly, I realized that my subconscious associated eels with the board members. Damn.
That was valuable information because it allowed me to reframe my perspective. The subconscious is programmable—highly malleable. If it holds a belief that doesn’t serve us, we have the power to change it. By recognizing this subconscious correlation, I began working on shifting my approach to board presentations. Instead of feeling like I was navigating a sea of intimidating, circling creatures, I chose to see the board members through a different lens. I started considering their experience—what it feels like to step into these meetings three times a year and the pressure they might be under. This shift has completely changed the way I prepare for and present at board meetings.
The first 2025 board meeting is in April, and I’m curious—will the eels make a comeback in my dream world? Hopefully, by working on my attitude long enough, I’ve altered that subconscious correlation.
The type of notebook you write into does not matter much so long as you keep it separate from other journals. That makes things easier to look up and review by date. I also like to sketch images from my dreams beside the description (and no, I’m not a great sketch artist - I won’t be publishing those!) so it helps to give yourself space.
This is why keeping a dream journal matters. It’s a direct line to your subconscious, offering clues, patterns, and insights that might otherwise go unnoticed. By tracking your dreams, you create an opportunity to decode these messages, reframe limiting beliefs, and actively participate in the evolution of your own mind. The subconscious speaks in symbols—are you listening?
What Types of Dreams Do You Have?
Characters in Dreams as Facets of our Consciousness
Our subconscious often speaks through the imagery of childhood or the presence of our younger selves. These dreams can reveal unhealed wounds, fears, or deep-seated emotional needs that are coming up for transformation. Pay attention to these dreams!
One powerful dream I had brought me back to Valencia, the city of my birth, where I lived until I was 11. I was walking past my paternal grandmother’s old apartment on a busy street, then turning onto the street where my maternal grandparents lived. As I walked, I saw a two-story schoolhouse. Looking up, I noticed a little girl of about six or seven in a second-floor classroom. She was visibly terrified, trying to get her teacher’s attention, seeking reassurance, but being ignored. Our eyes locked, and I felt her fear, her need for security. I wished I could help her, but instead, I kept walking.
I immigrated to America when I was 11, so it is very easy to know for me when I have dreams in Valencia - which is rare but happens, my inner child is trying to get my attention. I dream of the streets near my house, my school yard, the beaches, my backyard, the foods we used to eat there, friends and neighbors from that time. Just before this dream above, I had been having Valencia dreams. So I think I was primed to pay special attention to this one when it came along.
In a Gestalt-style interpretation, I could imagine stepping into both the role of the child that needed validation and to be seen (a theme for me, still) as well as the role of the teacher ignoring the child’s needs - perhaps myself now. I was going through a program at the time (the Dream Ark from Gene Keys) that was specifically dedicated to this type of inner work, so I was grateful for this gift that opened the door to review all of the areas of my life in which my inner child has been shut out and disenfranchised.
Animal Dreams
Animals in dreams often serve as powerful messengers from the subconscious. They may represent instincts, emotions, or guidance in your waking life. I frequently dream of animals and have come to realize it is one of the primary ways my subconscious communicates with me. The type of animal, its behavior, and the emotions it evokes can provide profound insight.
Pay attention to the animals that appear in your dreams—whether it’s a protective lion, a soaring eagle, or a snake shedding its skin—they often hold deep personal and symbolic meaning.
Dreams of Deceased Loved Ones
Many people experience dreams where they encounter a deceased loved one. These dreams can feel profoundly real, sometimes offering comfort, closure, or messages.
I have had several such dreams in my life. A few years ago, I dreamt of the mother of one of my kids' school friend who had passed away in a tragic manner. In the dream, she was riding a horse, smiling, and at peace. Last year, I saw my paternal grandmother in a dream. Aware that I was dreaming, I took the opportunity to hug her and tell her I loved her—something I never had the chance to do while she was alive. Do you ever dream of people you have lost?
Stress Dreams
We all have our “flavor” of stress dreams. During times of high anxiety in our lives you need look no further than the dreams you’re having to realize what is actually causing the biggest fear response in you, so you can do something about it.
Here are some common ones, which one(s) have you had?
1. Disaster Dreams:
Dreams involving catastrophic events like shipwrecks or airplane crashes often symbolize feelings of losing control or impending failure. These vivid scenarios could reflect underlying anxieties about your life direction or significant changes on the horizon. I still remember an awful dream I had while I was in high school (during finals, the Gulf War, and girl drama). A bomb had gone off and I was at the bottom of the ocean with debris of buildings, cars, ships and a lone toddler who sat among the coral with massive gash in his head holding his hand out to me.
2. Recurring School Dreams:
Do you ever have the one where you’re switching between classes in high school (or college) and sit down in a class only to realize it’s almost finals week and you have completely forgotten to attend this particular class? No homework assignments completed and probably will fail the final. Mine is sometimes at engineering school at times and at others it’s in grad school. I have found that I get these dreams when I feel like I have overcommitted and will inevitably disappoint someone. Or sometimes they signify a broader concern about being unprepared (usually at work).
3. Being Chased:
Dreams of being chased are especially “top shelf.”
Treat a dream about being chased like a free therapy session. Do not ignore these.
As much as possible pay attention to who is chasing you, where you are, and whether you’re able to get away. Do your legs not work and you are running in super slo-mo? All of these are clues as to what is actually stressing you out in your waking life and what all you can do about it.
4. Falling:
Oh I really hate this one. The sensation of plummeting from a high point often mirrors feelings of insecurity or a lack of support in waking life. It might also represent fears of failure or a loss of control over a situation. Interestingly, over 64% of people have reported experiencing falling dreams, making them one of the most common nightmares. My reoccurring falling dream is off the top of Half Dome at Yosemite.
5. Others:
Dreaming of teeth falling out can be particularly uncomfortable. This scenario often symbolizes feelings of insecurity, an inability to communicate effectively, or a fear of aging. Louise Hay used to say that issues with teeth could also have something to do with you biting off more than you can chew.
Experiencing events like tornadoes, hurricanes, or earthquakes in dreams can signify inner turmoil or upheaval. These natural disasters often mirror emotional disturbances or significant life changes that feel beyond one's control. For example, a tornado might represent a whirlwind of emotions or a destructive force in one's life.
Dreams Matter!
But you already know this because you’ve read this far! And you’re in good company—from ancient civilizations using them as omens to Carl Jung’s theory that they reveal parts of our psyche we have yet to integrate. Dreams also serve as:
Problem-solving tools (Ever woken up with an answer you were seeking?),
Messages from your higher self, ancestors, loved ones, or spiritual guides,
Symbols of your subconscious desires and fears,
Healing mechanisms for unresolved emotions,
and so much more
But how can we unlock our dreams’ meaning?
First, we need to remember them.
How to Remember Your Dreams
If you struggle to recall your dreams, don’t worry—dream recall is like a muscle that gets stronger with practice. Here’s how to build it:
Set the intention Before Bed
Your subconscious is always listening. When you hit the sheets, simply affirm: “I will remember my dreams tonight.” Say it with conviction—this signals to your mind that dream recall matters. With practice, you’ll wake up with more details, making dream journaling easier and more natural.
Keep a Notebook Handy
The moment you wake up, before opening your eyes, or even trying to move, try to remember the sequence you were just dreaming in your mind, then as quickly as is possible jot down anything you remember—even if it’s just a color, an emotion, or a single word. The more you do this, the more details will emerge over time. I bought a pen that has a light at the end that helps to write in the dark. Optionally you can dictate the dream into your phone.
Wake Up Gently
Avoid jumping out of bed or instantly checking notifications. Instead, lie still for a moment and ask yourself, What was I just dreaming about? Sometimes, lying in the same position you woke up in helps retrieve dream fragments.
It’s Normal to only Remember Fragments
It’s okay if you only remember fragments of a dream—just a color, a feeling, or the fact that it was nighttime. Dream recall is like a muscle; the more you use it, the stronger it gets. Even jotting down something as simple as “blue sky” or “felt peaceful” trains your mind to retain more details over time. By consistently writing down whatever you remember, no matter how small, you’ll start unlocking deeper layers of your subconscious, and soon, entire dream scenes will begin to unfold. Trust the process—your dreams are waiting to be heard.
I frequently use whatever is handy to write down fragments of dreams, especially while on the road
A Psychoanalytic Approach to Decode Your Dreams
Many people, myself included, are tempted to look up dream meanings online or in books, but dream dictionaries often offer generalized interpretations that may not fully resonate with your personal experience. Your subconscious is sending you messages in pictures and symbols. They are incredibly individualized to your lived and felt experience. Instead of outsourcing the meaning of your dreams, try this Jungian method to uncover their unique message for you. I’ve practicing dream interpretation this way for a few years now and I no longer need to reference dream dictionaries. In fact, I have started to create my own.
Step-by-Step Dream Interpretation Process:
Record the dream as clearly and precisely as possible and in the present tense.
Identify the key nouns—people, places, objects, animals, symbols, and even colors.
Make a list of these nouns.
One by one, create a personal association with each noun. Ask yourself:
What images, ideas, feelings, or thoughts come to me when I think of this object?
What does this symbol mean in my life?
Write down these associations without overthinking.
Once you have your list of associations, re-read the dream—but this time, mentally replace each noun with its personal association.
Reflect on what the dream is telling you. Ask:
Where in my waking life does this theme appear?
Is this dream revealing something I need to pay attention to?
Where in my life is this object, symbol, or emotion present—or where is it lacking?
The act of going through this step by step process jogs your memory and you will likely remember more details about the dream, and/or additional dreams you had before or after this one. Keep the thread going. Write as long as you have time for. You will not regret this. This will not be wasted time.
By using this approach, you create your own dream dictionary. You train yourself to recognize the deeply personal language your subconscious is using, rather than relying on external interpretations.
Integrating Dream Wisdom into Daily Life
Your dreams are an extension of you—whispers from your subconscious that can offer profound guidance if you listen. By weaving dream insights into your daily life, you strengthen the connection between your waking and dreaming self. Here’s how to start:
Meditate on a powerful dream image that stood out to you.
Journal about how the dream connects to your current life situation.
Take action on dream messages—if a dream nudges you to rest, maybe it’s time to slow down.
Create art, poetry, or music inspired by your dreams, letting them fuel your creativity.
Share your dreams with others in a safe, reflective space.
The more you honor your dreams, the more they will reveal. Would you be open to a dream forum here on Substack? Let me know—I’d love to create a space for exploring dreams together!
Dreams are a direct line to the subconscious, your intuition, and perhaps even something greater. Tapping into their messages can accelerate transformation. Whether you see them as psychological processing or cosmic downloads, they are worth exploring, if only to make your waking and even working life more enjoyable.
With Pisces season and its heavy planetary influence in full swing, this is a time of heightened intuition and potent dream activity. Take advantage of this energy, set your intentions, and open yourself to the wisdom within your dreams. Tonight, before you sleep, set the intention: I will remember my dreams. And when you wake up, listen—because your soul might just be speaking.