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Common Themes

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

dam

you have pent-up emotion that needs to be aired. (ackroyd)

damsel in distress have you had a dream where you slay a dragon and rescue the imprisoned beautiful princess... or something along those lines? this may be a signal to a man that the anima (feminine side) needs to be freed in the unconscious so his personality can become balanced. (ackroyd)
dancing

represents sexual intercourse. it could represent a coming together of the anima and animus. if you join in a dance, either with another person or a group, you come into cooperation with him/her/them. that person or group could symbolize part of yourself that has come undone, for example the unconscious. if you are doing a crazed solo dance, like you're possessed, that could mean that some 'psychic element' (ie. a behavior) is threatening to take you over. (ackroyd)

danger if you have a sense of danger in your dream, there is probably a conflict between your conscious and unconscious. don't run away from the danger; stay and face it so it can be resolved. (ackroyd)
darkness

is a common symbol for the unconscious. if the dark scares you, you are afraid of the unknown in your unconscious. if a light shines in the darkness, the light means that the truth you are seeking lies in the unconscious. if you have trouble reaching the light, you may feel frustrated about something in waking life. (ackroyd)

if the dark place is like a womb, it represents either your mother or your relationship with your mother. it might be a message to break free from your domineering mother. the womb may also represent death, as an escape from life's troubles. (ackroyd)

dawn as dawn represents a new day in life, in dreams it may represent a new start. as dark symbolizes the unconscious, dawn may symbolize bringing things from the unconscious to the conscious. . (ackroyd)
dead people

dreams in which deceased loved ones appear occur partially out of grief, especially if the death was recent. over time, the dreamer begins to understand that death is acceptable because the loved one led a good life. unless the dreamer has unfinished business with the loved one, they usually wake up touched and happy. (pliskin)

people with terminal illnesses tend to dream about their dead loved ones welcoming them to the afterlife. (pliskin)

if the dead person in the dream is actually still alive, you may have hidden resentment toward that person.

if the dark place is like a womb, it represents either your mother or your relationship with your mother. it might be a message to break free from your domineering mother. the womb may also represent death, as an escape from life's troubles. (ackroyd)

death of a parent, child or sibling Freud: a 'typical dream', represents repressed feelings of jealousy and/or hatred towards the person who dies in the dream. (ackroyd)
demons

represent parts of the unconscious that have been repressed but are threatening to resurface and cause problems. try and integrate these parts back into the conscious to avoid conflict. (ackroyd)

devil

satan as we perceive it today was originally considered a fertility god, so his appearance may represent an agent in the unconscious that may 'give birth' to a new development in life. (ackroyd)

evil satan may reflect your fear of hidden parts of your unconscious that, if used, could help . (ackroyd)

dirt/dirty

our society deems being dirty as unacceptable and disgusting. if you are dirty in your dream, you may not be able to accept yourself. this is a common occurrence in the dreams of depressed people. (ackroyd)

disease if someone you know has a disease in your dream that they don't have in real life, you may either have anxiety toward or a suppressed resentment toward that person. (ackroyd)
divorce

if you're married and you dream about divorcing your spouse, perhaps deep down you really want that to happen. it may also symbolize a split within your psyche (the conscious and unconscious, or masculine and feminine sides, etc.). (ackroyd)

dog a dog, like other animals, may represent your 'animal' nature. if it's an angry dog, there may be a repressed part of your unconscious that is threatening to emerge. this will cause problems if you don't acknowledge it and try to incorporate it into your conscious. (ackroyd)
door

may represent the opening of a new phase or development in life. it could be an invitation to explore the hidden depths of your unconscious. if there is someone or something on the other side of the door, there is something you need to let out of your unconscious and bring into the conscious. a closed door may represent a situation in which there seems to be no way to move ahead. try and figure out what this obstacle is blocking, and find ways to get around it. (ackroyd)

dove as most people know, a dove is a symbol for peace. it can also signify love (including the sexual kind). if the dove talks to you, it may be advice or a warning from your unconscious. (ackroyd)
downhill

common in those approaching middle or old age, going downhill can represent a fear of physical or mental decline. it could also signify letting go and relaxing. (ackroyd)

dragon

if the dragon's guarding treasure, the treasure represents yourself, and the dragon is trying to prevent you from realizing your true self. (ackroyd)

Jung: the first step of the individuation process is the conscious (ego) freeing itself from the unconscious. the story of st. george slaying the dragon illustrates this idea. st. george is the conscious, and the dragon is the unconscious. (ackroyd)

if you have an overbearing mother, she could be represented by a dragon in your dreams. slaying the dragon symbolizes the ending of the attachment and becoming independent. (ackroyd)

a dragon can also symbolize sexuality. when you see the dragon, do you feel fear? if so, you may be afraid of sexuality taking over your life. no matter what you feel towards the dragon, don't kill it. instead tame it. as in life, don't kill the unconscious urges, tame them. (ackroyd)

drinking

your unconscious is offering you something that will improve your life. (ackroyd)

drowning

this is a signal that you are overwhelmed in your life. tidal waves indicate the strength of the emotions you are holding back (pliskin)

you may be afraid of being taken over by repressed unconscious forces. water represents the feminine side, so it may symbolize an attachment to the mother. failing to become independent of the mother may result in unsuccessful relationships with women in the future. (ackroyd)

dust

in life, something that is dusty usually hasn't been used or touched in a long time. there may be a part of yourself that you haven't used in a long time, either externally or internally. a person covered in dust usually represents you, and it means you need to rejuvenate yourself. dust can also be a symbol of death or mortality. (ackroyd)

dwarf

dwarves are shorter than normal people, so they may represent a stunted personality. this means that you need to utilize the repressed parts of your unconscious. they may signify your true self that has not yet been fully realized. (ackroyd)

dying

some believe that dying in dreams signifies rebirth, shedding old self for a new beginning. pliskin believes that dying represents an involvement with something harmful, be it a relationship or a behavior (pliskin)

you may have anxiety towards death, or that the only way for you to advance in life is to leave behind old habits, behaviors, etc. in essence, your 'old self' will die to make room for your 'new self.' if you die repeatedly in your dreams, you might be harboring an unconscious wish for death. have you been unhappy lately? (ackroyd)

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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