Dream Dictionaries: How to Use and Choose One
The majority of people who have access to the internet have googled dream meanings or definitions at some point in their lives. While a multitude of resources usually come up, the number of differing definitions and interpretations can be overwhelming.
So how do you know which definition is the best fit for your dream?
In this brief article we’ll discuss dream resources, how to use a dream dictionary and how to choose the dream dictionary that’s right for you.
How to Best Use a Dream Dictionary
Dream dictionaries are best used when you get stuck in your self-interpretation process. They can present us with a series of suggestions to spark creative thinking and get the interpretation juices flowing again but I always suggest beginning with self-interpretation and exploration as it’s much more accurate and takes the totality of your experiences into account.
Click here to learn How to Interpret Your Own Dreams.
Let’s say that I recently had a dream I was dancing but I don’t have any idea what that could mean to me through my self-interpretation process so I decide to look up some definitions online. When I google, “what does dancing in dreams mean?” the first article gives me 4-6 definitions, the second article gives me 12, and several of the articles after that have lists and lists of endless definitions. Talk about confusing!
Below is a list of some of the things they suggested with how those definitions resonated for me:
You’re looking for passion (meh)
It’s a form of self-expression (that kind of resonates for me…)
You’ll celebrate something soon! (nah, I don’t feel like it’s predictive)
You need to work on decision-making skills (lol what?)
You’re full of joy (that’s pretty applicable for my life right now…)
But how do I figure out the exact meaning?
Easy: I go with my gut and listen to what resonates.
Seriously.
Your Gut Knows the Meaning
The mind-body-energy system is real—more real than we’ll probably ever figure out in my lifetime.
When all three of these bodies (physical, mental, and spiritual) talk to each other and we actually listen to that conversation we call it “intuition.” As 3D human beings living on this Earth most people are connected to their bodies and aware of its processes so listening to your gut can be the easiest way to start listening to your intuition.
You know that queasy feeling you get in your stomach when someone icky enters the room? That’s your intuition saying, “hey, maybe we should go somewhere else.” BUT that same queasy feeling can also be more like excited butterflies when you lock eyes with a soul connection. How do you know the difference? THAT’S intuition: the combination of the mind-body-energy system and that’s what you can focus on when skimming through a dream dictionary for definition resonance.
In the context of dreams, your gut can indicate the correct meaning as you read it because your body is constantly talking to your mind and energy systems in order to work together to bring a complete picture to your human experience. When I read definitions for a particular dream element, I always listen to my gut and then focus on my intuition to narrow down the right meaning.
When thinking about my dancing dream, my gut tells me that the definition is related to self-expression and joy (the second and last examples) but I’d like to understand that even more so I zoom out and observe the other elements of the dream.
Observing the Other Elements
When your gut feels confusing, it can be helpful to look at everything else in the dream to help you narrow down the definition.
Dream weaving is the process of looking at all of the pieces and linking them together to form your dream’s narrative. When one element has several definitions but another only has 1 or 2, it can make the identification of the first element easier.
In my dancing dream, I ended up falling onto the floor like I was drunk but I had the sense of knowing in the dream that I hadn’t drank anything and that I was just tired.
By observing the “tired” element and listening to my gut and intuition, I’m able to narrow down the meaning of dancing in my dream to ‘dancing through life.’ Lately, I have been trying to joyously dance through my life but there are several draining things that I’ve been ignoring and, deep down, I know that I need to slow down and rest.
I add these facts together and see that this dream is coming through to help me prevent a burnout. I apply the wisdom of this dream by consciously acknowledging that I need time to chill out over the next week.
A Dream Dictionary is a Tool, Not an Authoritative Dictation
Overall, dream dictionaries are meant to be suggestive, not definitive. The real definition of a dream comes from what YOU think and feel about it.
(Again, check out my article on How to Interpret Your Own Dreams).
Each individual on the planet has their own way of experiencing dreams and their own dream definitions which are determined by the totality of one’s experiences, emotions, thoughts, and soul signature. All of these factors exist for you in a completely different combination than everyone else, making your reality and your dream space (the reflection of your reality) unique.
When you use a dream dictionary, know that it’s just a collection of common suggestions designed to spark your intuition for further self-exploration.
Listen to your gut, your intuition, and then look at the other elements to weave the dream together.
Choosing a Dream Dictionary
When looking for the right dream dictionary, you’re really looking for a dictionary that resonates with you.
Resonance is something like a frequency, vibe, feeling, or energy. A dream dictionary that resonates with you means that the content is mostly in alignment with your reality and the totality of your experience.
There are several different types of dream dictionaries from psychologically-based ones to spiritual contexts to more nuanced dictionaries that focus on symbology or specific indigenous practices. All of these can be useful but your dream space will have a particular way of communicating with you and finding a dream dictionary that best reflects that communication style is helpful.
Physical or Virtual Dream Dictionaries?
Both a physical dream dictionary and a compendium of dream definitions on a website can be equally useful.
However, the resonance of a physical dream dictionary will generally be more specific and easier to feel the resonance of. I personally love physical books so when I’m looking for a new dream dictionary I go to a book store to get the hands-on experience.
Holding a physical book and browsing through it before purchasing can be beneficial for identifying if the definitions align with you.
When holding a dream dictionary, think of a recent dream and look up a few of those dream elements. Ask your intuition if the definitions feel right in your gut. If they do, see if you can weave them together to form a narrative.
If it works for you and feels like it resonates it could be a great fit! But if it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense then just put it back on the shelf and try the next one.
Cultural, Societal, and Religious Dream Resources
There are many different ways of viewing and interpreting dreams. Many of them stem from particular cultures, forms of society, religions, and spiritual practices around the world.
If you belong to a particular religion, practice, society, or culture or if your ancestors have, I think it’s worthwhile to look for a dream dictionary or resource that comes from that entity. Some of the definitions may better align with you and can be the beginning of a beautiful journey of ancestral discovery.
Dive Deeper Into Dreams With Dream Dictionary Resources
Finding the dream dictionary that resonates most for you can be incredibly helpful in moving forward with your dream practice and curiosity of dreams.
The more you’re able to reference the resource of your choosing, the more you’ll connect with your unique dream space and its language. This tool can help you refine your own definitions and begin to experience the meanings for others and their dreams.
A resonate dream dictionary is a gateway to understanding more of yourself. 🤍
Meg 🐝
