Dream

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A dream is the experience of images, sounds/voices, words, thoughts or sensations during sleep, with the dreamer usually unable to influence the experience. Dreams are full of (mental) imagery. This imagery ranges from the banal to the surreal; in fact, dreams often provoke artistic and other forms of inspiration. Forms of dreams include the frightening or upsetting nightmare, and erotic dreams with sexual images, erection in males, and nocturnal emission.

The meaning of dreams has interested humanity throughout history. The scientific discipline of dream research is oneirology; dreams have been understood physiologically as a response to stimuli during sleep, psychologically as reflections of the unconscious, and spiritually as messages from God or predictions of the future (oneiromancy).

Most scientists believe that dreams occur in all humans with about equal frequency per amount of sleep; what varies is the ability to recall what is dreamed.

Neurology of dreams
There are many competing theories as to the neurological cause of the dreaming experience. It is not clear in what phase of sleep dreaming takes place, where in the brain dreams originate — if there is such a single location, or even why dreams occur at all.

Dreaming has been associated with rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, a lighter form of sleep that occurs during the latter portion of the sleep cycle. REM sleep is characterized by rapid horizontal eye movements, stimulation of the pons, increased respiratory and heart rate, and temporary paralysis of the body. The nature of the relationship remains an open question, as research has shown that slow-wave sleep impedes dream recall. By way of comparison, dreams (in men) are associated with penis erection about as frequently as with REM sleep.

In line with the theory of REM sleep, the activation synthesis theory developed by Allan Hobson and Robert McCarley states that the brain tries to interpret random impulses from the pons as sensory input. Memory, attention and the other features lacking in a dream state depend on the lack of norepinephrine and serotonin, producing a psychotic state, as well as a lack of orientation in time, place and person.

On the other hand, research by Mark Solms suggests that dreams are generated in the forebrain, and that REM sleep and dreaming are two different brain systems.

Eugen Tarnow suggests that dreams are everpresent excitations of the long term memory system, even during waking life — McCarley also observes that when asked to recall their last thought, subjects often reported somewhat hallucinatory thoughts. The strangeness of dreams is then due to long-term memories being stored in "dream format"; this is reminiscent of the Penfield & Rasmussen’s findings that electrical excitations of the cortex give rise to experiences similar to dreams. During waking life an executive function interprets long term memory consistent with reality checking.

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The mysterious and often bizarre nature of dreams has led many to interpret dreams as divine gifts or messages, as predictions of the future, or as messages from the past. Alternatively, the idea of the "dream world" as real and the "day world" as imagine is another supernatural interpretation of dreams. Profound dreams believed to be sent by God have led to conversion to another religion.

Oneiromancy, prediction of the future through the interpretation of dreams, holds great credence in ancient Judeo-Christianity: in the Tanakh, Jacob, Joseph and Daniel are given the ability to interpret dreams by Yahweh; in the New Testament, divine inspiration comes as a dream to Saint Joseph, the husband of Mary.

Western philosophers of a skeptical bent (notably René Descartes) have pointed out that dream experiences are indistinguishable from "real" events from the viewpoint of the dreamer, and so no objective basis exists for determining whether one is dreaming or awake at any given instant. One must, they argue, accept the reality of the waking world on the basis of faith.

Psychodynamic interpretation of dreams

Both Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung identify dreams as an interaction between the unconscious and the conscious. They also assert together that unconscious is the dominant force of the dream, and in dreams it conveys its own mental activity to the perceptive faculty. While Freud felt that there was an active censorship against the unconscious even during sleep, Jung argued that the dream's bizarre quality is an efficient language, comparable to poetry and uniquely capable of revealing the underlying meaning.

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A lucid dreamer recognizes the dream state and can assume control of the dream. This control is particularly helpful during nightmares, when the "dream self" can face the "attacker" or other source of anxiety to confront or destroy it. Additionally, the lucid dreamers have free reign to make new objects appear, change form, or fly. Lucid dreams can occur spontaneously, especially during youth, but frequent lucid dreaming requires dedication and practice; lucid dreamers pracitice the technique for personal or spiritual gain.

Lucid dreams can be categorized into dream-initiated lucid dreams (DILDs) and wake-initiated lucid dreams (WILDs). DILDs start as non-lucid dreams, but at some point in the dream the dreamer recognizes the experience as a dream. In a WILD, conscious logic and reasoning is preserved while the dreamer transitions from waking to dreaming, and the dreamer is lucid from the beginning of the dream. A common DILD technique, mnemonic induction of lucid dreams (MILD), was developed by Stephen LaBerge; it uses mnemonics to recognize the dream-state.

Daydream

A daydream is a form of consciousness that involves a low level of conscious activity. Daydreaming generally comprises of a fantasy while awake.

Sometimes, someone who daydreams is seeking to fulfill a dream or hope in their mind. While it may seem a useless human behavioral glitch or fault, it can actually be quite constructive, especially for those who are in a creative career.

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hallucination is a sensory perception experienced in the absence of an external stimulus, as distinct from an illusion, which is a misperception of an external stimulus. Hallucinations may occur in any sensory modality - visual, auditory, olfaction, gustatory, tactile, or mixed.


Origins of the word
The word 'hallucinatory' has its roots in the Latin hallucinere or allucinere, meaning 'to wander in mind'. Altenatively in the Greek ἁλύσκειν, (haluskein), meaning flee from, shun, avoid, escape. The first usage of the word 'hallucination' in the English language is recorded as by the English physician Sir Thomas Browne in 1642. However, it was first used in its current sense by psychiatrist Jean-Etienne Esquirol in 1837.

Possible causes
Florid hallucinations are usually associated with drug use (particularly hallucinogenic drugs), sleep deprivation, psychosis or neurological illness.

However, studies have shown that hallucinatory experiences take place across the population as a whole. Previous studies, one as early as 1894[1], have reported that approximately 10% of the population experience hallucinations. A recent survey of over 13,000 people[2] reported a much higher figure with almost 39% of people reported hallucinatory experiences, 27% of which reported daytime hallucinations, mostly outside the context of illness or drug use. From this survey, olfactory (smell) and gustatory (taste) hallucinations seem the most common in the general population.

Hypnagogic hallucinations and hypnopompic hallucinations are considered normal phenomena. Hypnagogic hallucinations can occur as one is falling asleep and hypnopompic hallucinations occur when one is waking up.

Auditory hallucinations (particularly of one or more talking voices) are particularly associated with psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia, and hold special significance in diagnosing these conditions. This does not mean that the experience of 'hearing voices' is necessarily a sign of mental illness, and many people may have these or similar hallucinations without ever becoming impaired or distressed in any way.

Various theories have been put forward to explain the occurrence of hallucinations. When psychodynamic (Freudian) theories were popular in psychiatry, hallucinations were seen as a projection of unconscious wishes and desires. As biological theories have become orthodox, hallucinations are more often thought of (by psychiatrists at least) as being caused by functional deficits in the brain. With reference to mental illness, the function (or dysfunction) of the neurotransmitter dopamine is thought to be particularly important[3].

Psychological research has argued that hallucinations may result from biases in what are known as metacognitive abilities[4]. These are abilities that allow us to monitor or draw inferences from our own internal psychological states (such as intentions, memories, beliefs and thoughts). The ability to discriminate between self-generated and external sources of information is considered to be an important metacognitive skill and one which may break down to cause hallucinatory experiences.

A rarely expressed but persistent alternate explanation of hallucinations, espoused by non-materialists, is that people prone to hallucinations can sometimes perceive non-physical phenomena such as angels, visions or the voices of departed spirits or demons. For this reason, a hallucination may also be classified as an anomalous phenomenon, when no suitable scientific explanation is verified.

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In common current usage, the term nightmare refers to dreams of particular intensity, with content that the sleeper finds disturbing, related either to physiological causes, such as a high fever, or to psychological ones, such as unusual trauma or stress in the sleeper's life. The occasional body movements seen in nightmares may have a use in awakening the sleeper, thus helping to avoid the frightening dream-situation.

Occasional nightmares are commonplace, but recurrent nightmares can interfere with sleep and may cause people to seek medical help. A recently proposed treatment consists of imagery rehearsal (PMID 15984916). This approach appears to reduce the effects of nightmares and other symptoms in acute stress disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder


Nightmare was the original term for the state later known as waking dream (cf Mary Shelley and Frankenstein's Genesis), and more currently as sleep paralysis, associated with rapid eye movement (REM) periods of sleep. The original definition was codified by Dr Johnson in his Dictionary and was thus understood, among others by Erasmus Darwin and Henry Fuseli, to include a "morbid oppression in the night, resembling the pressure of weight upon the breast."

Such nightmares were widely considered to be the work of demons, which were thought to sit on the chests of sleepers. In Old English, the being in question was called a mare or mære (from a proto-Germanic *marōn, related to Old High German and Old Norse mara), whence comes the mare part in nightmare.

This type of waking dream is called mareridt in Danish, cauchemar in French, pesadilla in Spanish, Alpdruck or Alptraum in German, incubo in Italian, pesadelo in Portuguese and kanashibari in Japanese.

Various forms of magic and spiritual possession were also advanced as causes. In nineteenth century Europe, the vagaries of diet were thought to be responsible. For example, in Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol Ebenezer Scrooge attributes the ghost he sees to "... an undigested bit of beef, a blot of mustard, a crumb of cheese, a fragment of an underdone potato..." In a similar vein, the Household Cyclopedia (1881), offers the following advice about nightmares:

"Great attention is to be paid to regularity and choice of diet. Intemperance of every kind is hurtful, but nothing is more productive of this disease than drinking bad wine. Of eatables those which are most prejudicial are all fat and greasy meats and pastry... Moderate exercise contributes in a superior degree to promote the digestion of food and prevent flatulence; those, however, who are necessarily confined to a sedentary occupation, should particularly avoid applying themselves to study or bodily labor immediately after eating... Going to bed before the usual hour is a frequent cause of night-mare, as it either occasions the patient to sleep too long or to lie long awake in the night. Passing a whole night or part of a night without rest likewise gives birth to the disease, as it occasions the patient, on the succeeding night, to sleep too soundly. Indulging in sleep too late in the morning, is an almost certain method to bring on the paroxysm, and the more frequently it returns, the greater strength it acquires; the propensity to sleep at this time is almost irresistible."

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Sleep is the regular state of natural rest observed in all mammals, birds and fish. Sleep is not actually "unconsciousness," but rather, it is a natural state of rest characterized by a reduction in voluntary body movement and decreased awareness of the surroundings. Therefore, since consciousness is literally the awareness of the surroundings, being asleep is just an altered state of consciousness, as opposed to being unconscious. It is heavily influenced by circadian rhythms, and by hormonal and environmental factors as well. Sleep appears to perform a restorative function for the brain and body, as evidenced by the myriad symptoms of metabolic dysfunction that result when animals are deprived of sleep .

The function of sleep in health and in disease is being increasingly studied in specialized sleep laboratories throughout the world. Not only insomnia, but more recently elucidated sleep disorders such as sleep apnea and narcolepsy are evaluated in such facilities. The increasing prevalence of sleep disorders is likely to be a function both of more sophisticated diagnostic tests and the disruption of the normal day-night cycle in modern societies.

Methodology
Before advances in the fields of neurology, neuroscience, electronics and genetics were made, scientists studied the behavioral characteristics of sleep, such as its pattern, depth, and varying frequency. In more recent times, the electrical impulses generated by the brain are recorded using a device called an electroencephalograph (EEG), and individual genes relating to sleep-related brain function, such as the circadian rhythm, have been isolated. Molecular biology, medical science and epidemiology all play an important role in modern studies of sleep.

Sleep is often defined using specific criteria relating to EEG data. All mammals and birds fulfill the criteria for sleep based on EEG recordings. In animals where EEG data is not readily available, or their small size precludes recording an EEG, behavioral and gene specific data are utilized for sleep studies.

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The cycle of sleep and wakefulness is regulated by the brain stem, external stimuli, and various hormones produced by the hypothalamus. Some neurohormones and neurotransmitters are highly correlated with sleep and wake states. For example, melatonin levels are highest during the night, and this hormone appears to promote sleep. Adenosine, a nucleoside involved in generating energy for biochemical processes, gradually accumulates in the human brain during wakefulness but decreases during sleep. Researchers believe that its accumulation during the day encourages sleep. The stimulant properties of caffeine are attributed to its negating the effects of adenosine.

The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus plays an important role in the regulation of circadian rhythms. The SCN is influenced by external light and also generates its own rhythm in isolation. In the presence of light it sends messages to the pineal gland that instruct it to cease secreting melatonin.

Thus, three processes, each influenced by hormonal, neurological, and environmental factors, underlie sleep regulation:

A homeostatic process determined by prior sleep and wakefulness, determining "sleep need".
A circadian process determining periods of high and low sleep propensity, and high and low rapid eye movement (REM) sleep propensity.
An ultradian process
The interrelationships and relative importance of each process and system remain uncertain.

Stages of sleep

Studies of human sleep have established five well-defined stages, according to electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings and polysomnography:

Non REM sleep (NREM), which accounts for 75-80% of total sleep time:

Stage 1, with near-disappearance of the alpha waves seen in awake states, and appearance for the first time of theta waves. The stage is sometimes referred to as somnolence, or "drowsy sleep". It appears at sleep onset (as it is mostly a transition state into Stage 2), and can be associated with so-called hypnagogic hallucinations. In this period, the subject loses some muscle tone, and conscious awareness of the external environment: Stage 1 can be thought of as a gateway state between wake and sleep.

Stage 2, with "sleep spindles" (12–16 Hz) and "K-complexes". The EMG lowers, and conscious awareness of the external environment all but disappears. This occupies 45-55% of total sleep.

Stage 3, with delta waves, also called delta rhythms (1–2 Hz) is considered part of SWS and functions primarily as a transition into stage four. Overall it occupies 3-8% of total sleep time.

Stage 4 is true delta sleep. It predominates the first third of the night and accounts for 10-15% of total sleep time. This is often described as the deepest stage of sleep; it is exceedingly difficult to wake a subject in this state. This is the stage in which night terrors and sleepwalking occur.

Stage 5, or Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, associated with dreaming, especially bizarre, visual, and seemingly random dreams. REM sleep is predominant in the final third of a sleep period, its timing linked to circadian rhythm and body temperature. The EEG in this period is aroused and looks similar to stage 1, and sometimes includes beta waves.
Sleep proceeds in cycles of NREM and REM phases. In humans, the cycle of REM and NREM is approximately 90 minutes. Each stage may have a distinct physiological function. Drugs such as alcohol and sleeping pills can suppress certain stages of sleep . This can result in a sleep that exhibits loss of consciousness but does not fulfill its physiological functions.

Each sleep stage is not necessarily uniform. Within a given stage, a cyclical alternating pattern may be observed.

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Hypnagogia (also spelled hypnogogia) and hypnopompia are experiences a person can go through when falling asleep in the case of hypnagogia, or waking up, in the case of hypnopompia. When in a hypnagogic or hypnopompic state a person can have lifelike auditory, visual, or tactile hallucinations (known as hypnagogic hallucinations), perhaps even accompanied by full body paralysis. The individual is aware that these are hallucinations; the frightening part, in many cases, is the inability to react to them, even being unable to make a sound. In other cases one may enjoy truly vivid imaginations. The term was coined by the 19th century French psychologist Alfred Maury. Many artists, musicians, architects, engineers, and others demanding creativity to be successful have benefited from the hypnagogia state, where the mind can be totally free and open to creative and new ideas.

Hypnagogia differs from hypnosis in that under ordinary hypnosis, people are physically inactive, and generally find their mental stimulus to be absorbing to the point that they don't differentiate between that stimulus and reality. In hypnagogic states, a person may appear to be fully awake, but still has brain waves indicating that they are still technically sleeping. Also, in hypnagogic trance states the individual may be completely aware that they are sleeping or hallucinating, while this is not generally the case with hypnosis.

It is not an uncommon occurrence with 30 to 40 percent of people experiencing it at least once in their lives. However, it can be a sign of other problems such as narcolepsy or temporal lobe epilepsy.

It is thought to happen when a person enters or leaves REM (rapid eye movement) sleep too quickly. During REM sleep the brain blocks the signals that allow the limbs to move to ensure that we do not act out our dreams. However, when experiencing hypnagogia or hypnopompia, the individual is still conscious of their surroundings, effectively dreaming while still awake. This fact enables lucid dreamers to enter the dream consciously directly from waking state (see wake-induced lucid dream technique).

One method of getting out of this state is to stimulate a sensory nerve. Depending on the level of paralysis this can prove to be difficult. However, the eyes are still able to move and simply rolling them around can help. One suggestion is to blink rapidly and then attempt to move the facial muscles or wiggle the toes and then the feet. Targeted motion can help alleviate the state of full body paralysis. Some patients who suffer from hypnogogia have found that leaving a radio or CD player on at night allows them to wake from an episode more quickly. The individual wakes him or herself up by focusing on the music, since auditory functions of the brain remain intact during sleep.

The cause of hypnagogia and hypnopompia is usually associated with the varied sleep disorders, primarily insomnia.

Hypnagogia is often proposed as an explanation for phenomena such as alien abduction and visions of saints or demons.

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References to dreams in art are as old as literature itself: the story of Gilgamesh, the Bible, and the Iliad all describe dreams of major characters and the meanings thereof. However, dreams as art, without a "real" frame story, appear to be a later development—though there is no way to know whether many premodern works were dream-based.

In European literature, the Romantic movement emphasized the value of emotion and irrational inspiration. "Visions", whether from dreams or intoxication, served as raw material and were taken to represent the artist's highest creative potential.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Symbolism and Expressionism introduced dream imagery into visual art. Expressionism was also a literary movement, and included the later work of the playwright August Strindberg, who coined the term "dream play" for a style of narrative that did not distinguish between fantasy and reality.

At the same time, discussion of dreams reached a new level of public awareness in the Western world due to the work of Sigmund Freud, who introduced the notion of the subconscious mind as a field of scientific inquiry. Freud greatly influenced the 20th-century Surrealists, who combined the visionary impulses of Romantics and Expressionists with a focus on the unconscious as a creative tool, and an assumption that apparently irrational content could contain significant meaning, perhaps more so than rational content.

The invention of film and animation brought new possibilities for vivid depiction of nonrealistic events, but films consisting entirely of dream imagery have remained an avant-garde rarity. Comic books and comic strips have explored dreams somewhat more often, starting with Winsor McCay's popular newspaper strips; the trend toward confessional works in alternative comics of the 1980s saw a proliferation of artists drawing their own dreams.

Dream material continues to be used by a wide range of contemporary artists for various purposes. This practice is considered by some to be of psychological value for the artist—independent of the artistic value of the results—as part of the discipline of "dream work".

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premonition occurs when future events, often calamitous in nature, are foreknown via individual psychic experience. Cassandra in myth is a woman whose premontions allow her to foresee the worst, and yet is disbelieved by her people.

This is an empirically unverifiable yet anecdotally supported phenomenon. Individuals alleging to have had premonitions often report the experience to have taken place within the context of a dream. Experiences range in nature from a strong sense or conviction that something will occur, which is the weakest form, to psychic visions taking place in a state of full consciousness and awareness. These visions are usually images that are able to unfold when the human is in a state of conscious shock, hence bearing witness.

Among the most well known of such reported premonitions is Abraham Lincoln's prophetic dream of his death and funeral, which he related to both his bodyguard and his wife mere hours before his assassination. Another famous example is the sinking of the Titanic. Some people reported having dreams about something bad happening on Titanic's voyage.

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Dream interpretation is the process of assigning meanings to dreams. Various systems of dream interpretation have assigned meanings in terms of future events (oneiromancy), in terms of chance events during the night, and in terms of unconscious mental activity — to name a few.

Dream interpretation was taken up as part of psychoanalysis at the end of the 19th Century; the manifest content of a dream (what is perceived in the dream) is analyzed to reveal the latent content of a dream (the underlying thoughts of the dream — why it was dreamt). One of the seminal works on the subject is The Interpretation of Dreams by Sigmund Freud.

There has been much scientific research on dreams, and modern theories attempt to explain as many facts found in scientific research as possible. These include:

The cause and purpose of dreams
The content of dreams
The varying frequencies of dreams (more before birth, fewer towards death; increased in premature births, etc.)
The relationship between dreams and depression
The possible evolutionary role of dreaming

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Yes. Dreams do have significance in the real world. Dreams are told in a symbolic language, and the images in dreams tend to contain hidden meanings and hidden messages. When analyzing and interpreting dreams, it is important to understand that the stories told in dreams are symbolic and not meant to be taken literally. The significance of dreams for each dreamer is a personal matter related to each person’s experience and emotions.

The interpretation of dreams by dream experts may be almost as old as dreaming itself. We know that all humans, and many animals, dream every night, and humans have always been fascinated to learn what causes dreams and what they mean.

The interpretation of dreams dates back at least as far as 3000-4000 B.C. We know that because the interpretations of dreams were recorded in permanent form on clay tablets. It is thought that many primitive peoples were unable to initially distinguish between the real world and the dream world. In many cases, these people looked upon the dream world as an extension of the physical world around them, and in many cases they saw the dream world as more powerful than the waking one.

The meanings of dreams are as personal and unique as the people who dream them. No one interpretation, no matter how universal, will apply to every dream, dream symbol or dream situation. When analyzing or interpreting a dream, it is always important to pay attention to the details of the dreams, your feelings within the dream world, and of course, what is going on in your own life.

If you do wish to interpret your dreams, either purely for fun or to pursue personal and spiritual growth, there are a few pointers that will help you get the most from your dream world.

- As you awaken, immediately replay the dream scenario in your head. It is important to do this immediately, preferably before you even open your eyes. The dream world slips away quickly, and as much as 50% of it can be gone in a mere five minutes. By the time ten minutes has passed, more than 90% of the dream’s contents may be lost. Replaying the dream in your head will help you remember more of those tantalizing details.

- Immediately write down a description of the dream, focusing on key objects, symbols or feelings. Write a few words about each key element in the dream quickly, before they are forgotten, they go back later and fill in the gaps. Again, it is important to write your dream down as quickly as possible. Keeping a notebook by the bed will be a big help.

- Choose a quiet place in your home to begin your interpretation process. Cutting yourself of from sources of distraction will be very important. The space you choose should be as quiet and peaceful as possible. If no such space is available, review your notes a final time, fill in any details you can remember, and come back to them later.

- Use your intuition as you review your dream notes and try to make sense of your dream. You may already know on an instinctual level what your dreams are trying to tell you. Connecting with your intuition can help you connect with your unconscious mind. If you meditate, a short meditation session can often be a big help. Connecting with your inner self is always a huge help when it comes to interpreting and analyzing dreams.

- As you review your dream notes, pay close attention to the emotions they stir in you. Paying close attention to your emotional state, both at this moment and during the dream, can help you to understand what your dream really meant.

- Think very carefully about any vivid details, situations, locations, sensations or symbols that make the dream memorable. Open your heart as well as your mind and carefully explore the possible meaning of each symbol, situation and event. It may be helpful to jot down the impressions in your dream journal or notebook. As you search for meaning, don’t limit yourself to obvious interpretations. For instance, dreaming about a missed appointment could simply mean you are worried about being late for work, but that missed appointment could also symbolize a feeling of missed opportunity in your life.

- Running an inner dialog with the people or objects you dreamed about is often helpful as well. This inner dialog is especially useful when trying to determine why you dreamed about certain people. Try asking them in your head “why am I dreaming about you?”, “what are you doing in my dream?”. It is also helpful to know that often people in our dreams are symbols of aspects of our own personality instead of literal people.

- If you are stuck for an interpretation, it is a good idea to leave your dream notebook and come back to it later. It may also be helpful to discuss the dream with others, or to consult an expert on dream interpretation.

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One of the most common dreams around the world is the one in which the dreamer is naked. Dreams of being naked can have several interpretations, and the nakedness in the dream can manifest itself in a number of different ways.

In some naked dreams, the dreamer is simply going about his or her own business, commuting to work driving in the car, walking around the neighborhood, etc. In many cases, the dreamer is completely unaware of his or her nakedness and not at all bothered by it.


In other cases, the dreamer is aware of his or her nakedness but no one else seems to notice at all. While the dreamer may be conscious of the nakedness, everyone else just goes on about their business and make no comments. These types of dreams are often manifestations of the dreamer’s fears. Often the dreamer has fears that he or she worries may be uncovered. Dreams in which no one but the dreamer notices the nakedness are often indications that the fears bothering the dreamer are unfounded, and that no one else is concerned about them.

On the other hand, dreams in which the dreamer suddenly becomes mortified at realizing he or she is naked often indicate vulnerability, fear or shame. In many cases, the dreamer is hiding a secret or hiding something that he or she is afraid will be found out. The nakedness in the dream indicates a fear that other people see through you and will discover your secrets.



In dreams, clothes can represent concealment and hiding, so being stripped of clothes can mean being left defenseless and exposed. The dream may be trying to tell you that you think you are hiding something, but that everyone else already knows about it. This is one of the most common forms of the naked dream.

Being naked in a dream can also indicate fear of being caught off guard. For instance, many people dream that they are suddenly naked at work or at school. As a matter of fact, the dream of being suddenly naked in a classroom before taking a test is one of the most frequently studied dreams. This kind of nakedness usually symbolizes fear of being unprepared for a situation at school or work, such as an important project at work or an exam at school.

Often times these dreams of nakedness at work or school coincide with events in real life. For instance, you may dream of being naked at the office right before that big project is due, or before you are due to make that big presentation. These types of dreams can be especially common among those who feel they are unprepared for the challenge. Likewise, students who feel they have not studied sufficiently for any exam often dream of being in the exam room naked and exposed.

Sometimes these types of dreams to not coincide with real events. Rather they may simply be manifestations of a more generalized fear of being caught unaware, or of being unprepared for the challenges of life.

Other naked dreams with similar meanings involve being naked and standing in front of a crowd. Since nakedness and public speaking are two of the most common fears in the world, this combination can be mortifying, even in a dream. Being naked in front of a crowd can symbolize a fear of being exposed, a fear of being unprepared, or a fear that those around you know things about you they are not telling you about.

One of the rarer types of dream nakedness is where the dreamer realizes he or she is naked but shows no fear, shame or embarrassment. This type of naked dream can be a symbol of freedom and unrestrained exuberance. This kind of dream can indicate that the dreamer has nothing to hide and is proud of his or her life. In this case, the nakedness in the dream can be a positive thing – symbolizing openness, honesty and a trusting and carefree sense of life.

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Dreams of being chased probably have a deep, evolutionary origin. After all, our ancient ancestors actually were chased by all manner of predators, and this fear of being chased and caught has remained part of our hard wired nature.

Even today, after all fears of predation have been removed from our waking lives, dreams of being chased are there to remind us of our earlier animal nature. In modern societies, dreams of being chased can often arise from feelings of general anxiety experienced in the waking hours.

The way the dreamer responds to feels of pressure and anxiety while awake is often reflected in the dream state. Chase dreams can manifest themselves in a variety of ways. Often the dreamer will dream about being chased by an attacker or pursuer who the dreamer fears will hurt or kill them. In these dreams, the dreamer attempts to run from, hide from or otherwise outwit the pursuer. These dreams can often be very realistic, and chase dreams are some of the most commonly reported nightmares.

Chase dreams can be reactions to events in your waking life. For instance, there may be something you are supposed to do but have been avoiding. If this proposed action is a source of fear, stress and confusion, is can sometimes manifest in your dream life as an attacker or pursuer. Instead of facing your fear, you are running from it, and the attacker in your dreams represents the thing you are trying to get away from or avoid in real life.



People troubled by recurring dreams of being chased often benefit from an examination of their waking life. Finding the thing that they are running from in real life, and confronting it, is often an effective way of banishing frequent chase dreams.

In some cases the pursuer or attacker in a chase dream represents not an outside force but part of your self instead. Unresolved feelings of anger, jealousy and fear can often enter your dreams in the form of a threatening or frightening figure. In reality, the attacker in your dreams is a representation of these issues in your waking life.

Dreams where you are being chased can be easy to turn around for many people. Some people are better than others at taking an active role in their dream, but everyone who is aware of their dream should at least try to resolve a frightening dream. For instance, the next time you are being chased in a dream, try turning around and confronting the pursuer. Ask the pursuer what he or she wants and why they are chasing you.

People who are indulging in self destructive behaviors, or consumed by self destructive emotions like jealously or anger, are often troubled by dreams of being chased. Chase dreams can be an attempt by your subconscious to reach you and call attention to your self destructive behaviors.

Of course chase dreams do not always have such symbolic interpretation. Often dreams where you are being chased represent literal fear of becoming a crime victim. These type of direct fear chase dreams are more common among women than men. Women, especially those living in high crime areas, often feel vulnerable and afraid in their waking lives, and this fear can spill over into the dream state and manifest itself as a chase dream.

No matter what the reason for the chase dream, it is usually possible to reduce the occurrence of such dreams. The first step is a careful examination of the factors that are causing these dreams to occur. Whether the dream is a manifestation of a symbolic or a literal fear, confronting the thing you are afraid of is the best way to banish these frightening nighttime visitors.

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Dreams about teeth, particularly dreams where the dreamer finds his or her teeth falling out, are much more common than you might think. Some common forms of this dream include dreams in which the dreamer’s teeth crumble in his or her hands, or dreams in which the teeth fall out with just a light touch. These dreams can be extremely frightening, even more so than chase dreams or falling dreams. In addition, such dreams often leave the dreamer with an image that is hard to shake even after waking.

There are many theories about just what teeth, and losing teeth, represent in the dream world, and these can be some of the most difficult dreams to interpret. One theory holds that dreams about teeth, and losing teeth, are a reflection of the dreamer’s anxiety about his or her appearance, and about how the dreamer thinks others perceive him or her.

This interpretation is certainly valid, especially since we live in a society that seems to value physical beauty above all else. Since a good set of teeth play an important role in physical beauty, it is easy to see how uncertainties about one’s appearance could manifest themselves in dreams about losing teeth.

Since teeth play such an important role in physical attraction scenarios, such as flirting and getting the attention of the opposite sex, dreams of losing teeth can be manifestations of fears of getting old, fears of sexual impotence or other dating related anxieties.

Other interpretations of dreams of losing teeth hold that they are representations of fear of embarrassment or making a fool of oneself. For instance, someone who is dreading a potentially embarrassing situation, such as making a speech or other public speaking engagement, may dream of his or her teeth falling out. This type of dream would represent an exaggeration of already present fears or anxieties brought on by the upcoming event. People who are troubled by dreams of losing teeth or teeth falling out should examine their own lives for the source of possible embarrassment or appearance based anxieties.



Another theory holds that teeth in dreams represent power, since they are used in real life to tear, chew, and bite. Therefore, the loss of teeth in a dream represents a perceived loss of power or influence. People who feel frustrated, or who feel that their voices are not being heard, may have dreams about losing teeth. Feeling ineffective, or feelings of inferiority, are often associated with such dreams as well.

Finally, some of the latest dream research has revealed that women have more frequent dreams about teeth as they enter menopause. These dreams about teeth may be related to anxieties about appearance and fears of getting older.

There are of course other interpretations of dreams of missing or losing teeth. There are interpretations of this dream in a number of cultures around the world, further testament to the fact that teeth are a common dream theme in many cultures.

One biblical interpretation of the dream of losing teeth holds that the bad teeth mean the dreamer is placing his or her faith in the works of man rather than in the word of God. Thus the falling teeth in the dream are urging the dreamer to turn back to God for guidance.

The ancient Greeks believed that dreams about loose, rotting or missing teeth were warnings that a close friend or family member was very ill or near death.

The Chinese hold that teeth falling out is a punishment for lying, and that dreams of falling teeth are manifestations of guilt over telling lies.

Some have even suggested that dreams of missing teeth are associated with money. This connection probably goes back to the old tooth fairy story, where children are rewarded with money for putting their lost teeth under their pillows.

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Dreams where you are falling are some of the most commonly reported dreams there are, and such dreams are one of the leading causes of sudden waking from a dream.

First, let’s begin by dispensing with the myth that if you hit the ground in your dreams you will die. There are plenty of fully alive human beings who have reported hitting the ground during their dreams of falling. The fact that these people were around to report this situation is proof that this legend is merely that – a legend.

Dreams of falling are most often interpreted as an indication of unresolved fears, anxieties, instabilities and insecurities. The person who experiences recurrent dreams where he or she is falling may be feeling overwhelmed by and unable to control certain situations in his or her waking life.

For instance, the dreamer may feel that his or her home or work life is out of control, and that he or she is unable to remain on top of the situation. This kind of generalized anxiety can easily manifest itself in a dream where he or she is out of control, such as a falling dream.

Falling often represents a loss of control, or feelings of helplessness on the part of the dreamer. After all, when you fall, you have no control over your direction or your pace. This feeling of being out of control and falling often represents similar feelings in the dreamer’s waking life. Therefore those who are troubled by such dreams should be encouraged to examine their life for the source of anxiety and fear, and to confront the situation head on. Doing so often results in a lessening or even an elimination of dreams of falling.



Dreams of falling can also represent a sense of inferiority or a sense of failure in your personal or professional life. This fear could be a fear of failing in school, failing at your job, losing your social status, or failing in a relationship. People experiencing these situations are often troubled by dreams in which they are falling. These dreams of falling can represent a perceived failure to measure up to expectations, or a fear of losing your status, losing an important person in your life, or just a generalized fear or failure.

The strict Freudian interpretation of a dream of falling was that such a dream indicated that the dreamer was contemplating giving into a sexual desire or sexual impulse.

Dreams of falling are most likely to take place during the first stage of sleep. That is because dreams at this stage are often accompanied by spasms of muscles in the arms, the legs or even the whole body. These sudden muscle contractions are known to science as a myclonic jerk. The dreaming mind can interpret these muscle spasms as falling, and thus incorporate falling into the dream state. Often when dreamers experience this myclonic jerk, they awaken at feeling their body twitch. This fast reaction is part of the evolutionary mechanism that allows us to be awakened quickly in the presence of a threatening environment.

Those who do biblical and religious interpretations of dreams often see falling dreams as meaning that the dreamer is taking his or her cues from the world of man instead of turning to God for guidance and advice.

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Dreams in which the dreamer fails a test or an exam, or where he or she is confronted by an exam suddenly, are some of the most common of all dreams. These dreams can represent a variety of fears, insecurities and anxieties.

Dreams in which the dreamer is taking or failing a test are one of those unique areas of dream interpretation where a symbolic answer is not always needed. It is obvious why students would dream about failing tests. The failed tests in their dreams are literal interpretations of past, present and future tests in their waking lives. For instance, the failed test can represent regret at failing a past test, or anxiety about a recently taken test or fears of failing future tests.

Good students often actually dream more about failing tests, since they tend to hold themselves to higher academic standards than poorer students. Even a student who has never failed a test in real life may constantly dream about failing test after test.

Of course students are not the only ones who dream about failing tests, and for non students, symbolic interpretations of such dreams are often needed. Failing a test in a dream can be a nighttime manifestation of a number of fears, such as fears of doing badly at work, fears of failing to live up to the expectations of family members, or fears of falling behind in life. Dreams of failing a fest can also represent general feelings of inadequacy, low self esteem or a lack of confidence.



The situations encountered in dreams of failing an exam can range from the very realistic, in which the dreamer can literally feel the hardness of the desk and chair and feel the pencil in his or her hand, to the very unrealistic. In such unrealistic dreams, the exam may take place in a strange place, such as an open field or even an airplane hangar. In some dream scenarios, the test questions appear to be written in an unfamiliar language. This can mean that the dreamer feels unprepared for the exam, or that he or she does not feel a mastery of the subject begin studied.

Other exam dream scenarios include not being allowed enough time for the test, or the pencil continually breaking. These scenarios can also indicate an uneasiness about being unprepared for the test, or in the case of a non student, being unprepared for work or for life in general.

Sometimes dreams about taking and failing exams are so real that the dreamer actually remembers some of the questions on the exams, but these types of dreams are relatively rare. In most cases, dreams about taking and failing exams are manifestations of anxieties, fears and issues with confidence and self esteem. They can either represent concrete fears of actual failure on an exam, or more symbolic fears of failure in other aspects of life.

Dreams of taking and failing exams and tests sometimes also indicate that the dreamer feels he or she is being judged. These dreams can be a signal for the dreamer to examine his or her life, especially areas that have been neglected, and pay closer attention to them. In many cases, it will be obvious which parts of the dreamer’s life need attention. In other cases, it will require some closer examination. Such dreams often stem from a fear of letting other people down, and not from any actual inadequacy.

People who constantly dream about taking and failing test are often high achievers who set very high, sometimes impossible to reach, goals. It may be necessary for such people to reexamine their lives and their goals and set more appropriate and more reachable measures of success.

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Dreams about cheating, either being cheated on or cheating yourself, are some of the most commonly reported, and most troubling, dreams there are. Many people take these dreams as prophecies, and accuse their spouse, boyfriend or girlfriend of cheating in real life. While these kinds of dreams are sometimes valid, most times they are not.

When a dream of a cheating spouse, boyfriend or girlfriend turns out to be accurate, it does not necessarily mean you are psychic. Rather, it probably means that your unconscious mind picked up on some subtle signals that your conscious mind either overlooked or blocked out. For instance, things like a sudden change in wardrobe, new cologne or sudden interest in fitness can often signal a cheating spouse. It is possible that your unconcious took note of all these signals during the day, and then used your dream state to send a message.

In most cases, however, a dream about a cheating boyfriend, girlfriend or spouse is not about the spouse at all. Rather, the dream is most likely caused by insecurity, anxiety or guilt on the part of the dreamer. For instance, dreaming about catching your boyfriend, girlfriend or spouse with another partner probably indicates a deep seated anxiety on your part, either worry about your appearance, doubts about your attractiveness, or just generalized anxiety about the future.

Likewise, dreaming that you are cheating on your spouse or significant other can result from guilt you feel about other issues. In some cases these feelings of guilt are not even related to your relationship. Rather, the guilt could be the result of anything from cutting corners at work to cheating on a test to being less than honest with family members. Thus the cheating is only a symbol of guilt you already feel, not a prediction that you will be stepping out on your husband, wife, boyfriend or girlfriend.



Dreams about a boyfriend or girlfriend cheating on you tend to be fear based dreams. These dreams do not necessarily represent fear of being cheated on, although those fears can come out in dreams. Instead, the fear could be anything, from fear of failure on a project at work to fear of failing a test at school.

The fear expressed through a boyfriend/girlfriend cheating dream could also be the manifestation of a deep seated childhood fear of abandonment. Children of divorced parents, or children whose parent or parents have died, often express their fear of abandonment through bad dreams, and these dreams can morph into dreams where they are abandoned by a partner or a spouse.

Even though the issues expressed through dreams of cheating and being cheated on are not rooted in the relationship, it is always a good idea to work through the issues that caused the dreams. That is because the issues associated with these kinds of dreams, issues like trust and fear, are important things to work through. Issues with trust, and fear of abandonment can be very damaging to even the strongest relationship.

So whether you are the cheater or the cheatee in your dream, it is important to examine the situations you encounter in your dreams. The situations, places and people encountered while in a dream state often represent real people, places and objects, and learning the connections can allow you to correct the situations that are leading to such feelings of insecurity and anxiety.

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People often wonder if the people encountered in dreams are actual, real people, or simply manifestations of their own personality and emotions. Most modern dream interpretation holds that the people in dreams are not actual people at all, but rather symbols for parts of your own personality.

Therefore, the bubbly, exuberant blonde in your dream may into be a real person at all, but rather a side of your personality that you have been afraid to express.

Likewise, negative people encountered in dreams are often manifestations of those parts of the personality that you are ashamed of or wish to repress. Therefore, dreaming of a person you do not like could mean that you need to alter your thinking and be more open minded and accepting of others.

When examining the people in your dreams, it is always a good idea to examine the personalities of these people and try to examine what they might be trying to tell you. Examining parts of your personality you do not like can be a positive result of dream interpretation.

When interpreting dreams about other people, it is important to remember that in the vast majority of cases dreams are about yourself, not about other people. Thus, the people you meet and interact with in your dreams are much more likely to be physical symbols of your own thoughts and desires as they are to be actual representations of actual people. Therefore, interpreting dreams about other people can be a great way to work through personality and identity issues, and many psychologists and therapists use this approach to dream interpretation.



Of course there are instances in which the people you dream of really do represent actual people. Sometimes these people are relatives or friends who have passed on, while at other times they may be famous people or movie stars whom who have never met.

Dreams in which you meet movie stars or other famous people often represent a longing for something you want but cannot achieve. Sometimes the dream simply represents a conscious desire to meet the person in your dream, but most often the movie star represents something you have been striving for but failing to achieve. This kind of dream is often a way of urging you to try harder to reach your goals.

Many ancient cultures put great stock in dreams which featured departed relatives, and many of these cultures thought of the dream state as the time when the soul left the body to roam free in the spirit world. Even today, many people take dreams of departed relatives or friends very seriously, and they give these dreams many layers of meaning.

These types of spiritual dreams can indeed be very valuable to the dreamer, and a great source of comfort in a time of need. Whether they represent the convergence of souls on the other side, or just the unconscious desire to have the person back in their life, these dreams are some of the best and most fulfilling there are.

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Dreams about houses are among the most common. Dreams, both of familiar and unfamiliar houses, are great fun to interpret, and they can even reveal clues into the personality of the dreamer. Clues like whether the house is familiar or strange, comforting or scary, in good repair or falling down, provide interesting insights into the dreamer’s conscious mind.

In addition, each room of the house is a specific symbolic element all its own. Dreaming of one room over another provides clues into your state of mind, your fears, and your anxieties. Let’s start our room by room examination of your “dream house”.

The Attic
The attic is thought to symbolize your higher self, or your spiritual development. Dreams involving an attic, or climbing into an attic, often represent the search for spiritual enlightenment or a higher purpose.

The Bathroom
Dreaming of a bathroom can mean that something is not quite right in your life, and that a cleansing or purging is needed. It can also mean that something in your life is not working, and that you need to move on.

The Kitchen
The kitchen can symbolize the need for nourishment, either in the form of food, or nourishment of the soul through spiritual pursuits. What is in your dream kitchen can be revealing as well. If the kitchen contains all that is needed for a gourmet meal, it can mean that you have all you need in life. If, on the other hand the cupboard is bare of the kitchen is empty, it could mean you need to seek nourishment for your body and your soul.



The Dining Room
Dreaming of the dining room is similar to dreaming of the kitchen, but the dining room tends to symbolize a more immediate need for physical or spiritual nourishment.

The Living Room
The living room is a symbol of your normal daily interactions with the other people in your life. Dreams often include meetings with many other people in the main room or living room of the house.

The Bedroom
Dreams of the bedroom can take several turns. They can be concerned with issues of rest, or with issues of repressed sexuality.

The Upstairs
The upstairs of your “dream house” is often a symbol of your spiritual awakening or your higher self. Dreaming of going upstairs can symbolize a desire for more spirituality or religious fulfillment.

The Downstairs
The downstairs, or basement of the house often symbolizes your subconscious minds and hidden desires. Dreaming of the basement, especially if the dreams are disturbing, is often an attempt to deal with negative aspects of your life or your personality.

The Ground Floor
The ground floor is often seen as a symbol of the current events and daily agenda of your life, or the mundane, everyday aspects of your existence.

Old, Familiar Houses
Revisiting an old, familiar house, or a childhood home, often represents a longing to return to a simpler time. Dreams of childhood homes can also occur when old issues from childhood are resurfacing in your life. Events such as school reunions, or unexpectedly meeting someone from your childhood, can trigger dreams of childhood and childhood houses.

The Hallway
A hallway in a dream can often symbolize the need for a journey to an unfamiliar place in your life, or the need to explore unexplored issues.

The Porch
The porch is often seen as a symbol of being undecided about something in your life. The porch can also be seen as a symbol of being withdrawn, uncommitted and unable to make a decision.

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Dreams about birds and other animals are among the most common of all dreams. Bird dreams often symbolize a desire to reach beyond the earth and touch the more spiritual realms, but they can have other interpretations as well. This article focuses on some of the most commonly dreamt of birds and their symbolic meanings in the word of dream interpretation.

Mourning Dove
In many cultures dreaming of a mourning dove is thought of as a bad omen. This is particularly true if the mourning dove is seen in an unusual situation, such as sitting on a bed or suddenly appearing out of nowhere. Many people think dreaming of a mourning dove foretells the death of a family member or close friend.

Eagle
Eagles can be both good symbols and bad. For instance, the eagle is seen as a symbol of pride, which is one of the seven deadly sins, but also as a symbol of virtue, with is one of the cardinal virtues. The eagle can also symbolize faith, understanding, healing and flight. The Native Americans often pictured the Great Spirit as a soaring eagle, and dreaming of an eagle carries spiritual significance for many Native Americans.



White Dove
The white dove is well known as a symbol of peace, or as a symbol of the Holy Spirit in the Christian religion. Dreaming of a pair of doves can signal a yearning or a desire for love and companionship.

Goose
The goose in a dream is often a symbol of loyalty and fidelity.

Nightingale
The nightingale is often seen as a symbol of pain and yearning, or a desire to reach for the unattainable.

Ostrich
The classic picture of the ostrich is of it burying its head in the sand, and dreaming of an ostrich could mean you are hiding from unpleasant facts, or trying to avoid and unpleasant but necessary situation.

Owl
The owl is most often thought of as a symbol for wisdom and knowledge.

Peacock
The peacock is often thought to symbolize vanity.

Raven
The raven is often seen as a symbol of intelligence, but the presence of a raven in a dream can indicate the knowledge of things we would prefer not to know.

Stork
The stork is generally seen in western cultures as a symbol of babies and new birth.

Swan
The swan is often used to symbolize transformation, as well as loyalty and fidelity.

Vulture
Dreams involving vultures are often feared as predicting an impending death, or that someone in the family is gravely ill.

The Egg
The egg is the universal symbol for beginnings and new life. In Christianity, the egg is sometimes used as a symbol or metaphor for resurrection and renewal.

Dreams about birds are some of the most interesting dreams to interpret. When interpreting your own dreams about birds, do not limit yourself to the interpretations presented in this article. Dreams are as unique and individual as the people who dream them, and their meanings are deeply personal as well.

Dreams about birds can also include flying and soaring. Flying and soaring in a dream is often a joyful and uplifting experience, and flying dreams are favorite among dreamers all over the world. Flying in your dream can mean many things, including a sense of accomplishment and power, or the feeling that you are able to rise above the petty issues of the day and soar to the heavens.

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They were one of the hottest new bands in England, by they had a big problem. So far, they were only a cover band. They desperately needed to start writing original music, but their first efforts were lukewarm, to say the least. Then one night, while sleeping fitfully in a hot hotel room, the band’s young guitarist had a startling dream. In this dream, he suddenly began hearing the most amazing guitar riffs. It was unlike anything he had ever heard -- dangerous, aggressive, powerful blasts that made the guitar sound like a deadly weapon. He awoke abruptly. In a near panic, he grabbed his guitar turned on a recorder and played the riffs from his dream before they faded from his mind. The resulting song became the band’s first No. 1 hit -- and not only that -- the song revolutionized rock music, and is considered by most musicologists today to be the greatest rock song of all time. The young guitarist was Keith Richards. His band was the Rolling Stones. The song that had come to him in a dream? “Satisfaction.” And the rest is history.Richards’ experience with a “million dollar” dream is just one example of how dreams have changed the world.

Time and again, some of the most important and astounding breakthroughs have come to people in dreams. Consider, for instance, the case of Canadian scientist Dr. Frederich Banting. He had been doing research on diabetes. One night, while sleeping, he suddenly awoke and wrote down this: “Tie up the duct of the pancreas of a dog. Wait for a few weeks until glands shrivel up. Then cut it out, wash it out and filter the precipitation.” The result was the isolation of insulin for diabetics, which has saved millions of lives ever since.One more example: A man by the name of Elias Howe had been struggling for years to perfect the first mechanical sewing machine. He was stumped, but then one night he had a frightening dream in which he was about to be boiled alive in a pot by cannibals. But he became suddenly fascinated by the spears of his dream cannibals because the spears had eye-shaped holes in their tips. A needle with an eye-shaped hole was the final innovation he needed to make the first successful sewing machine.The great Swiss psychologist Carl Jung said: “Every dream left unexamined is like leaving a gift unopened.” He was right. All of us have the power to dream, but most people dismiss their dreams as random nonsense or crazy, if not sometimes entertaining scenarios, which have little to do with reality. Yet, if we all started to take our dreams more seriously, and learned to harness their power, more of us might start having one of those revolutionary dreams that could not only change our own lives, but the world.Many people think they don’t dream, or at least, do not remember their dreams. But the fact is, everyone dreams every night, whether they know it or not.

Scientists have proved that the brain must dream to function properly. If you did not dream, you would go insane. Fortunately, there are many good ways to increase the power of your own dreams, and there are methods you can use to help you remember your dreams. You can also learn to “program” what kind of dreams you want to have, and what you want to dream about. You can even learn to become lucid within your dreams -- that is, you can become aware that you are dreaming and take active part in them --it’s like using your own brain as a virtual reality machine!One of the best ways to get started is to keep a dream journal. Place a notepad by your bed and tell yourself that you are going to remember your dreams. Whenever you wake up -- even in the middle of the night -- grab a pen and write down any dreams you have had before you forget them. Also, write down your dreams in the morning. The most active dream time is just before you awake in the morning. If you want, set your alarm clock to go off every 90 minutes. Most people enter REM state, the dream state, exactly 90 minutes after they fall asleep.This is what the great science writer A.E Van Vogt did. Science fiction icon Ray Bradbury also writes only from dream inspiration. In fact, Robert Louis Stevenson, author of such classics as Treasure Island and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, said that “dream elves” came to him at night and gave him all of his story ideas, complete with plots fully laid out and ready to go. Stevenson was so amazed by these dream “brownies” as he called them, he was convinced that they were more than dreams characters. He thought they were real.One important thing to remember about dream inspirations or discoveries is this: You are most likely to have a million dollar dream if you are working very hard and diligently on a particular project during the days, and for an extended period.

But if you remember to dream about your project at night, your dreams may very well pitch in and help. By letting your dreaming mind get involved in whatever you are working on or struggling with, you are tapping into the vast power of your subconscious mind in a more direct way. You are using the symbolic language of dreams to show you a new and innovative way at looking at things.Your dreams can also help you solve personal problems, work out issues of anxiety or depression, and even solve problems in your personal relationships. In short, the potential of dreams is all but unlimited -- because they are as vast as the human imagination, which I believe is infinite.In the future, I will write more about this very rich subject, and my own extensive experiments with dreams, especially the incredibly fascinating practice of lucid dreaming. Also, I have a column on file here at Unexplained Mysteries describing one of my lucid dream adventures; it’s called “Restaurant on the Edge of Time.” Forgive the shameless plug, but my greater motive here truly is to get readers interested and excited about the enormous potential within their own minds, creative potential that is yours for the asking.

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Have you ever wanted to dream about something that you know can only happen in dreams? This could work.

Steps
Buy a small spiral notebook,set it close to your bed, and keep a pen close by.
Before you go to bed each night, write what you want to dream about in the notebook. (Be sure to label somewhere at the top!)
Read what you've written as many times as you need to get it in your head.
Lay down, relax, and think hard about what you want to dream about. Think of details, they are important!
Close your eyes, and look at the images from your dream as they appear in your subconcious. If nothing appears, read your dream again.
Think of dialogue and sounds in your dream until you are hearing them in your mind.
Think hard, but maintain a calm posture. Do not tense or anything. Just relax.
Go to sleep with these images and sounds in your head.
When you wake up, whether you had the right dream or not, write what happened parrallel or connected somehow to the dream that you wanted to have. (Again, label label!)
Compare the two dreams and think about the similarities and differences, write them if you want.



Tips
Try to sleep in a quiet area with no distractions whatsoever.
Play music associated with your dream quietly.
Label everything!
Remember details as they are important.
Read your dream journal often.



Warnings
It may take a few nights to get your dreams exactly on the mark, but once you do, you'll be happy when you wake up every morning! But don't try too hard, or you'll get a major headache!
Remember! Dreams are images and thoughts your subconscious is trying to remember.
Dreams are a healthy feature of mind. You dont understand what they are but they are necessary. Attempting to dominate them will stifle part of the natural function they perform. Balance is key.. dont do anything to extremes.

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Wish you could remember every detail of your nocturnal dreams? Do you want to use them to create original stories or to learn more about who you are?

Steps
First, you have to really want to remember your dreams.
Buy a spiral notebook, diary, or journal and set it beside your bed.
Fix a pen and pencil to the spine with a piece of medium length rope.
Now sleep and make sure you get a good night's sleep.
When you wake up, immediately write your dream, every detail, or any dialogue, word for word (this is important!) in the notebook.
While recording your dream try to stay in the same position you were in.
Do this every morning or night after waking up from a dream.
Read your dream journal every other night or so.



Tips
If you're really serious about this or if you just never seem to dream, set your alarm clock to 90 minutes after you sleep. When you wake up don't move and try to remember what you were dreaming about and jot it down.
You might not dream the first few times, so be patient!
Did you know that Roald Dahl kept a dream journal? Maybe thats where he got all his 'swishfiggler' and 'snozzcumber' ideas!



Warnings
DO jot down every single detail!



Things You'll Need
Pen or pencil
notebook
A bed, or area to sleep in

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خواب خوش بخشي جدا نشدني از زندگي تمام انسان هايي است که تمايل دارند جسم و رواني سالم داشته باشند.



کمبود خواب کافي از نظر جسمي بر ميزان ترشح هورمون ها، ضربان قلب و متابوليسم بدن تاثير مي گذارد و از نظر روحي نيز کارايي و بازده مغز را کاهش مي دهد.



همچنين موجب ابتلا به ديابت مي شود و حتي افسردگي ايجاد مي کند. همه اعضاي خانواده از والدين گرفته تا فرزندان نياز به خواب کافي و مناسب دارند تا بازده تحصيلي ، شغلي ، ورزشي و عاطفي شان افزايش يابد.



تحقيقات نشان داده اند در سالهاي اخير الگوهاي خواب تغيير کرده و افراد در سراسر جهان ، حدود 25 درصد کمتر از دهه هاي گذشته مي خوابند و در عين حال پس از بيدار شدن نيز در وضعيت نشاط جسمي و روحي قرار ندارند.



به همين دليل خواب کافي و مناسب نقش قابل ملاحظه اي در زندگي ايفا مي کند. در مورد خواب تاکنون بسيار خوانده ايد، اما اين بار ما قصد داريم به نکاتي اشاره کنيم که خانمها مي توانند با رعايت آنها در منزل ، خواب خوشي را براي خود و ديگر اعضاي خانواده به ارمغان بياورند تا در طي روز نيز خانواده با نشاط و شادابي بيشتري به کار بپردازند:



ملحفه ها را زود به زود عوض نماييد:



بهتر است ملحفه هاي تخت را هر چند روز يک بار عوض نماييد. آنها را با آب گرم شسته و در شستن از نرم کننده ها استفاده کنيد.



شايد برايتان جالب باشد اما بررسي ها نشان داده که وقتي افراد در هنگام خواب از ملحفه و روبالشي تميز و نرم و با عطر خوش استفاده مي کنند، زودتر به خواب رفته و بهتر مي خوابند.



ساعت را در نزديکي يا در معرض ديد قرار ندهيد:



بسياري از مواقع ، وقتي ساعت در نزديکي يا روبه روي فردي که قصد دارد بخوابد قرار گيرد، او با نگاه کردن به آن يا در مواردي با شنيدن و گوش دادن نا خواسته به صداي آن شروع به تفکر درباره کارهاي انجام شده يا نشده آن روز و برنامه هاي روز بعد مي کند و ديرتر مي خوابد. در ضمن در خواب نيز آرامش کافي را نخواهد داشت.



استفاده از بالش مناسب اهميت زيادي دارد:



چنانچه مدتي بر يک طرف بالش خوابيده ايد؛ آن را برگردانيد تا حالت محدب آن حفظ شود. استفاده از بالش مناسب نه تنها به کيفيت خواب کمک مي کند، بلکه از ايجاد دردهاي سر و گردن نيز جلوگيري مي کند.



استفاده از بالش نامناسب در سنين ميانسالي و کهنسالي حتي ممکن است موجب بروز افسردگي شود زيرا موجب اختلال در کيفيت خواب شده و روي سيستم عصبي افراد تاثير مي گذارد. ارتفاع آن زياد نباشد و اگر به پهلو بخوابيد، مستطيلي بين گردن و شانه ها ايجاد کند که گردن در وضعيت افقي قرار گيرد.



همچنين براي جلوگيري از تعرق بايد روکش دولايه نخي داشته باشد که قابل شستشو نيز باشد و موجب بروز آلرژي نشود.



اما آنچه بتازگي کشف شده و بسيار جالب است ، اين که چنانچه مواد داخل بالش به جاي پلي استر از جنس مواد خنک و ترکيبي از فيبر سراميک و سولفات سديم باشد، خواب بسيار بهتر و لذت بخش تري را براي شخص به ارمغان مي آورد. زيرا سر را خنک تر نگاه مي دارد.



در صورتي که چنين بالشي را نيافتيد، مي توانيد به دنبال بالشي با الياف و فيبرهاي طبيعي باشيد تا حداقل کمتر از مواد حاوي پلي استر سر را گرم کند.



سعي کنيد در انتخاب رنگ و ضخامت پرده مورداستفاده در اتاقها دقت بيشتري نماييد:



در مورد اتاق خواب ، استفاده از پرده هايي که در آن مقداري از رنگ سبز استفاده شده باشد در ايجاد آرامش و خواب راحت تر موثر است.



در ضمن توجه داشته باشيد که صرفا استفاده از پرده هاي توري و نازک در اتاق خواب مناسب نيست و بايد پرده تقريبا ضخيم نيز وجود داشته باشد و هنگام خواب پرده ها تقريبا بسته (نه به طور کامل) باشند تا محيط راحت تري فراهم کنند.



گرماي نسبي پاها خواب راحت تري به دنبال دارند:



اين موضوع در مورد کودکان اهميت بيشتري دارد. اما در مورد بزرگسالان نيز بي فايده نيست. شايد تصور کنيد گرما مانع خواب خوش مي شود، اما بايد خاطرنشان کنيم که وقتي دماي پاها از ساير نقاط بدن بيشتر باشد، جريان خون در اين محل تسريع و راحت تر شده و با کاهش دما در ناحيه مياني بدن ، خواب بهتري را براي فرد به ارمغان مي آورد.



مادران اصولا هنگام خواب بر بالين فرزندان مي روند و با کشيدن يک ملحفه يا پتوي نازک روي قسمت پاي فرزندان ، اين مورد را رعايت مي کنند.



پيش از خواب نوشيدن آب مفيد است ، اما نگذاريد اعضاي خانواده آبميوه بنوشند:



بررسي ها نشان مي دهد استفاده از مواد قندي مانند آب ميوه موجب مي شود فرد بين 20 تا 30 دقيقه ديرتر به خواب برود.



مصرف ميوه هاي سرشار از ويتامين Cنيز خواب را به تعويق مي اندازد، اما در عوض نوشيدن آب يا شير قبل از خواب مفيد است.



پس بهتر است خانمها کاري کنند که فرزندان عادت نکنند قبل از خواب آبميوه يا برخي از ميوه ها را ميل کنند. فقط خوردن موز پيش از خواب به دليل اين که موجب ترشح هورمون ملاتونين يا هورمون خواب و آرامش مي شود، براي اعضاي خانواده مفيد است.