The Mystica
Dream & archetype index

Dream Dictionary: Meanings of Common Dream Symbols A–Z

By The Mystica Editorial Team · Checked against our editorial standards · Updated · 4 min read

Each entry in our dream dictionary looks at a symbol from three angles: what folk traditions and old dream books said, how psychology (especially Carl Jung's work) reads it, and what it means in esoteric and spiritual traditions, including its links to the tarot.

Start with the symbol that stood out most in your dream, then read our short guide on how to interpret your dreams. Tarot readers will notice that the same archetypes appear in the cards: water and the moon in The Moon, falling in The Tower, transformation in Death.

B

BabyNew beginnings, vulnerability and potentialBeing chasedAvoidance, stress and something you are running fromBeing lateAnxiety, missed opportunities and pressureBeing naked in publicVulnerability, authenticity and fear of exposureBirdFreedom, messages, hope and the soulBloodLife force, passion, loss of energy and family tiesBridgeTransition, connection and crossing from one phase to another

C

CarDirection, control and how you move through lifeCatIndependence, intuition, femininity and mysteryCheatingInsecurity, trust and unmet needs

D

DeathEndings, transformation and major changeDeceased loved onesGrief, love, memory and closureDogLoyalty, friendship, protection and instinctDoorOpportunity, transition and choices

E

Ex-partnerUnfinished feelings, patterns and lessons from the pastExam or testSelf-evaluation, pressure and fear of failure

F

FallingLoss of control, insecurity and letting goFirePassion, anger, transformation and purificationFishIntuition, abundance, fertility and insights from the unconsciousFloodOverwhelm, emotional release and cleansingFlyingFreedom, perspective, ambition and escape

H

HairStrength, identity, vitality and self-imageHouseThe self, the mind and your inner structure

K

KeysAccess, solutions, secrets and opportunity

M

MirrorSelf-reflection, identity and truthMoneySelf-worth, security, power and exchangeMoonIntuition, cycles, the feminine and hidden things

O

OceanThe vast unconscious, emotional depth and the unknown

P

PregnancyCreativity, growth and something new developing

S

SnakesTransformation, healing, fear and hidden threatsSpidersCreativity, patience, entrapment and the feminineStairsProgress, ambition and moving between levelsSunVitality, clarity, success and consciousness

T

Teeth falling outAnxiety, self-image, communication and change

W

WaterEmotions, the unconscious and the state of your inner lifeWeddingCommitment, union and integrationWolfInstinct, loyalty, threat and the wild self

Frequently asked questions

Do dreams have universal meanings?

Some symbols recur across cultures, such as water, falling or teeth, and have well-documented traditional interpretations. But the most accurate meaning always comes from your own associations and the feelings in the dream.

What is the Jungian approach to dreams?

Carl Jung saw dreams as messages from the unconscious that compensate for one-sided attitudes in waking life. He paid attention to personal associations and to archetypal symbols shared across humanity.

Can dreams predict the future?

There is no reliable evidence that dreams predict events. They are best used as a mirror for your thoughts, feelings and concerns.