Self-awareness dictionary

Shoe

First consider if you are currently having problems with your feet that are being carried over into the dream state. Otherwise, we only wear shoes that fit us well. Thus, you may be expressing unconscious feelings of self assurance or confidence. You may have issues concerning your self-identify, but if the details of this dream are supporting, you may be reassuring yourself that you are on the right path and have mastered a degree of self awareness.

Source: Dream Lover Incorporated, http://www.dreamloverinc.com

(See also: Dream Archives, Meaning of Dreams, Dream Interpretation, Dream Dictionary, Dream Dictionary - Shoe , Meaning of Dreams about Shoe , Dream Interpretation Shoe )

Yard

In daily life the appearance of a backyard is usually a reflection on the people living in the house. A neat and well groomed yard, with grass and flowers, usually indicates that people living there are conscientious, caring, and have enough energy to maintain their property. The yard in your dream may be a reflection of how well you have been able to maintain your internal and external environment. The backyard points to things that are less obvious and, at times, may be unconscious. It may also represent childhood memories that hold positive and negative emotions and lead to self-awareness. If the yard in your dream was a measuring unit, think about what you are measuring and if any growth has taken place.

Source: Dream Lover Incorporated, http://www.dreamloverinc.com

(See also: Dream Archives, Meaning of Dreams, Dream Interpretation, Dream Dictionary, Dream Dictionary - Yard , Meaning of Dreams about Yard , Dream Interpretation Yard )

Pain

Physical

Pain in dreams is an interesting phenomenon. Sometimes, a peculiar sleeping position becomes the trigger event for a painful dream. It's the body's way of saying, "Hey stupid, roll over." However, the ability of the brain to produce physical stimuli that match the dream event is an amazing thing. It makes dreams that are emotionally realistic even more real.

Often, the pain sensation is related to a particular facet of body awareness or relationship disparity. Nowhere is this more apparent than in dreams of injury, infection, and amputation where physical sensations accompany visual images. Try to recall where the pain was centered, and relate that body part to aspects of your life that are applicable.

Was the pain caused by you, another person, or an object? Was it caused purposefully, or by accident?

 Was the pain acute or merely a nuisance?

Psychological

In dreams, we are often faced with dilemmas that create a lot of anxiety for the dreamer. Some of the things we do not know directly in our self-awareness are unknown because the trauma of unmediated awareness would be devastating. If dreams cause psychological pain, it should be treated much the same way as physical pain.

Does it hurt enough to get help, or just a little bit when precipitated by peculiar actions?

How often does it occur, and is it staying the same or getting worse?

Does it interfere with daily routines because the lingering pain is so troubling?

Do you feel you have enough knowledge and resources to treat the pain yourself, or does it feel as if the pain has deep roots in your life?

Depending on how you answer these questions, you may wish to seek professional help dealing with the psychological pain of dream events.

Source: iVillage, http://www.ivillage.co.uk

(See also: Dream Archives, Meaning of Dreams, Dream Interpretation, Dream Dictionary, Dream Dictionary - Pain , Meaning of Dreams about Pain , Dream Interpretation Pain )

Midheaven: The Midheaven is the first point in the chart to be calculated. The Midheaven is the part of the zodiac that is the highest (most elevated) visible point in the sky at the time you are born. If you ask the question, “How long has it been since zero degrees of Aries was at the Midheaven?” the answer tells you what degree of the zodiac is there in terms of time. If the Sun is at zero degrees of Aries, the Sun will be at the Midheaven at noon. Noon in this case is based on Local Time. Standard and daylight time can affect the zero Aries Sun’s position, placing it to one side or the other of the Midheaven point.

The Midheaven reflects what you know – or can know – about yourself. It represents ego-consciousness. Infants have little or no boundary between Self and Other. As children grow and learn, they come to understand themselves as separate beings, and they learn to depend on their own intelligence, emotions and skills. In short they learn about themselves as they learn about the world. The Midheaven reflects this self awareness.

Psychologically healthy adults have a clear sense of Self, distinguished from Other. They know what their core motivations are, and they know what skills they have to achieve their physical, mental, emotional and spiritual goals. The sign the Midheaven occupies indicates the nature of self-understanding, and provides the springboard from which you can dive into the process of gaining ego consciousness – understanding of what moves you on a deep personal level.

The Midheaven offers a way to understand yourself better, and is key to developing a flexible ego. We all know people who seem brittle and inflexible. We sense that they might “break” if they are pushed too hard in certain areas. Flexibility means developing an ego structure that can withstand the onslaught of life experiences and adapt or adjust to them. Astrology points out one path toward the development of broad-based ego skills, and it describes both the limitations of your ego and the positive potential of self awareness.

(See also: Midheaven , Magic, Shamanism, Paganism, Wicca)

FENG SHUI

Feng shui (translated as “wind and water”) is the Chinese system of balancing the energy patterns of the physical environment. A composite of mystical beliefs, astrology, folklore, and common sense, the Chinese believe feng shui blends ancient wisdom with cultural tradition.

The laws of feng shui provide for positioning homes/businesses and designing room and office layouts in ways that promise to enhance the quality of their owners’ lives and businesses by channeling energy in positive ways. These principles strive for creating balanced, peaceful dwellings by bringing together the external and internal and living in harmony with natural and man-made environments.

Good feng shui promises occupants health, happiness, prosperity, and long life - a conscious connection between the outside environment and the world within. These same principles can also be applied to the human body (called min xiang shue) to promote inner character and restore harmony to areas of imbalance. Through meditation and daily exercises, min xiang shue can allow a deeper self-awareness and regeneration.

(See also: FENG SHUI , Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

Grave, Graveyard

Graves are generally depressing and represent some form of death. On a very physical level this dream does not appear to be a very happy omen. However, the dream could also have deeper and more spiritual meaning. It could represent things which require deep thinking and are not "on the surface." Graves could also symbolize the unconscious. If someone close to you has recently died, it may be normal for you to have dreams about graveyards and death. However, if this dream is coming up and there has been no death in the family, consider your feelings in daily life. If you are feeling depressed or helpless in any way, "look inside" and make attempts to increase your self awareness and your spiritual identity.

Source: Dream Lover Incorporated, http://www.dreamloverinc.com

(See also: Dream Archives, Meaning of Dreams, Dream Interpretation, Dream Dictionary, Dream Dictionary - Grave, Graveyard , Meaning of Dreams about Grave, Graveyard , Dream Interpretation Grave, Graveyard )

Uniforms

Dreams of uniforms often point to self-awareness. Conformity through clothing is one of the unspoken rules of culture and we often perceive parts of our wardrobes as our "uniform" for particular roles we fill in life. In dreams of uniforms, it does not matter if the uniform is officially recognized or simply identical clothing on numerous persons.

If you are in uniform, and there are others dressed the same way, consider who is with you in the dream and what camaraderie you share with them. It may be that you are recalling a satisfying tenure in military service, employment, or identity with a particular group. If you are in uniform and others are not, it may reflect a feeling that you perceive yourself as more loyal than others.

A 24-year-old man reports dreaming: I am in the Navy. They have not trained me. I report to my ship with my only uniform, which is summer whites. Everyone around me is in dress blues. Nothing on the ship goes right. This dreamer, a college student, was contemplating an officer's commission in the navy. He was excited, but hedging his commitment. This dream reflected those concerns and warned him to examine the situation more closely.

Uniforms can also be a symbol of authority. Note the person wearing a uniform in your dream. Was it a logical situation for that person to be wearing a uniform?

Source: iVillage, http://www.ivillage.co.uk

(See also: Dream Archives, Meaning of Dreams, Dream Interpretation, Dream Dictionary, Dream Dictionary - Uniforms , Meaning of Dreams about Uniforms , Dream Interpretation Uniforms )

Marriage

It is a symbol of commitment and, depending on the details of your dream, you may be currently dealing with this issue. The commitment could be to your work, to yourself or to your partner. Mostly, a marriage in your dream represents the coming together all various parts of yourself (feminine and masculine, or spiritual and rational). It could represent a greater level of awareness where by the dreamer's conscious and unconscious elements are becoming more familiar and are embracing one another. The marriage dream is affirmation and encouragement to grow in self-awareness and to transform yourself. On a more practical level, if you are not married but would like to be, this dream could also be a form of wish-fulfillment.

Source: Dream Lover Incorporated, http://www.dreamloverinc.com

(See also: Dream Archives, Meaning of Dreams, Dream Interpretation, Dream Dictionary, Dream Dictionary - Marriage , Meaning of Dreams about Marriage , Dream Interpretation Marriage )

Spider

Some believe that the spider is symbolic of an unkind and sneaky individual. Are you the spider building a web, or are you being dragged into one? A spider's web might represent entanglement and the general complexities of life. Depending on the details of the dream, it could also symbolize a smothering individual. Ironically, very old dream interpretations say that the spider is an omen of good luck! Alternatively, Carl Jung felt that the spider's web was a symbol of wholeness due to its formation (circular shape), construction and complexity. He called circular symbols "mandalas" and said that they hold valuable meaning for the dreamer. The spider and his web may be calling for an integration of the dream's personality leading to greater self-awareness and resulting in feelings of completeness. Therefore, the spider and his web may be considered profound and spiritual dream symbols that call for greater self-understanding and encourage us to derive meaning and satisfaction from the intricate framework and interplay of life.

Source: Dream Lover Incorporated, http://www.dreamloverinc.com

(See also: Dream Archives, Meaning of Dreams, Dream Interpretation, Dream Dictionary, Dream Dictionary - Spider , Meaning of Dreams about Spider , Dream Interpretation Spider )

Art/Drama/Music Therapy: Using these "expressive" forms of art as a vehicle for change, self-awareness and growth, counselors guide their clients to a resolution of psychological or emotional problems.

(See also: Art, Drama, Music Therapy , Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Mountain

Climbing a real mountain is not always fun but it usually challenging and rewarding. Some say that the mountain may represent spirituality while others suggest mental development and self-awareness. The most literal interpretation of climbing a mountain is that it represents attainment of goals. If you are ascending a mountain you may be are working hard and trying to accomplish your goals, whether they are spiritual, emotional, or material.

Source: Dream Lover Incorporated, http://www.dreamloverinc.com

(See also: Dream Archives, Meaning of Dreams, Dream Interpretation, Dream Dictionary, Dream Dictionary - Mountain , Meaning of Dreams about Mountain , Dream Interpretation Mountain )

Basement

The house generally represents your psychological and emotional self. Each part of the house may deal with a different part of you. The basement is built first. It is often below ground (or at least some parts of it), and is essentially the foundation of the house. Dreaming about a basement and understanding the dream, may provide you with valuable information which may lead to greater self-awareness. A recurring dream about basements (i.e. being in a basement, cleaning a basement, furnishing a basement, etc.) should not be ignored. These dreams may be symbolic of your unconscious, instincts and intuition, and degree of awareness of a current situation or a problem. The look of the basement may provide you with clues about your current feelings and state of contentment. If the basement is a mess, and you see great disorder and clutter, it suggests that you may be experiencing confusion and that it is a very good time to "sort" things out emotionally and psychologically. At times, the activities which are going on in the basement of your dream may be based on past experiences or childhood memories. As with all dreams, their main purpose seems to be to bring the dreamer to higher consciousness so that he may deal with his current issues more effectively, rather than to dwell on the past.

Source: Dream Lover Incorporated, http://www.dreamloverinc.com

(See also: Dream Archives, Meaning of Dreams, Dream Interpretation, Dream Dictionary, Dream Dictionary - Basement , Meaning of Dreams about Basement , Dream Interpretation Basement )

BODY-MIND CENTERING: a movement-reeducation approach that explores how the bodyÕs systems contribute to movement and self-awareness. The approach also emphasizes movement patterns that develop during infancy and childhood. Incorporates guided movement, exercise, imagery and hands-on work.

(See also: Body-mind centering , Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Pregnancy

Pregnancy has two points of entry into our dream lives. The first is dreaming of oneself as being pregnant. The second is that you actually become pregnant in waking life and that trigger event creates this particular dream content.

In dreams, anyone can get pregnant. It is not an experience that is limited by gender or age. Generally, it is a herald of creativity, virility, or wealth. However, there are numerous underlying themes that need additional interpretation.

If you are a younger woman who dreams of getting pregnant, but has no waking intention of doing so, it is likely that you are working through an archetypal transition into a new self-awareness. One of Jung's archetypes is the archetype of parenting or preserving the species. To see oneself engaged in such activity is to grow from being a child to identifying more prominently with adults.

If you are sexually active, but without the intention for pregnancy, your dreams of pregnancy may occur in harmony with your monthly cycle. In these dreams, there may be a certain amount of "what-if" anxiety that needs resolution.

A man who dreams of being pregnant himself is often in a situation where his virility or creative participation in the world is in question. This occurs most among men who see themselves as less creative than they would like to be. The dream serves as a form of compensation to illuminate the more creative facets of their personality. Men who are pregnant do not give birth exclusively to children, but a wide range of objects that somehow support their mission in the world.

Becoming pregnant in waking life can conjure a huge variety of dream events. These range from the violent to the hilarious and almost everything in between. Since pregnancy conjures a wide variety of feelings in waking life, from euphoria to tremendous anxiety, this is not too surprising.

Other dreams that are prevalent during pregnancy include dreams of marital infidelity, death of the partner, chronic health problems, birth defects in the child, losing the pregnancy through accident or miscarriage, having twins or multiples, and dreams of heightened fertility where additional conceptions and gestations occur frequently or despite prevention.

Infidelity and death of the partner dreams often are played out in response to feelings of insecurity due to appearance changes or changes in sexual relationships during pregnancy.

Dreams of chronic health problems and birth defects represent negative wish-fulfilment anxiety on the part of the woman.

Dreams of multiple-order birth and repeated gestation are the most complex dreams. Often, pregnancy is overwhelming at some level for the woman. These feelings most often stem from fear to adequately mother. The onslaught of pregnancies may be a visual representation of this anxiety.

Source: iVillage, http://www.ivillage.co.uk

(See also: Dream Archives, Meaning of Dreams, Dream Interpretation, Dream Dictionary, Dream Dictionary - Pregnancy , Meaning of Dreams about Pregnancy , Dream Interpretation Pregnancy )

IIP Consciousness Development Program: System developed by author Waldo Vierra, M.D., who founded the International Institute of Projectiology (IIP) in 1988 in Brazil. IIP defines projectiology as the science that studies the out-of-body experience as a tool for achieving self-awareness.

The program involves training in the management of bioenergy. potential benefits include: access to other planes of reality, amplification of the intellect, elimination of the fear of death, increase of psychic abilities, recall of past life experiences, and self-healing.

(See also: Consciousness Development Program , Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

Losing a Valuable Object or Person

The things we value most often serve as an extension of our self-awareness. A favourite hat, car, or relationship reflects a part of how we feel about ourselves. Therefore, the loss of such an object in a dream is significant. It is equally significant whether you actually own the object in waking or not.

If the thing lost is an inanimate object, what does it symbolize for you? Examples would be jewellery, favoured clothes, or pictures and family heirlooms. In losses of this kind, the indication may be that you are nervous about losing an expensive or important new object in your life.

If a person is lost, the first question to ask is, "Who?" It may be that you have questions about your commitment to another or their commitment to you. However, it is not too unusual to be looking for a stranger.

Why are you searching for this person?

Do you find this person? Where?

Source: iVillage, http://www.ivillage.co.uk

(See also: Dream Archives, Meaning of Dreams, Dream Interpretation, Dream Dictionary, Dream Dictionary - Losing a Valuable Object or Person , Meaning of Dreams about Losing a Valuable Object or Person , Dream Interpretation Losing a Valuable Object or Person )

Student: In Zen a student is a traveler, one who is practicing Zen under a master or teacher to find self-awareness. The student is really his or her own teacher, though they usually do not know this until they have been enlightened. In this book, student does not mean one who studies Zen academically.

 (See also: Student , Buddhism, Body Mind and Soul)

Death

Death can appear in dreams in many forms, ranging from the near-death experience to wish-fulfilment projected on others. It may seem to be terrifying, or almost joyful in its sense of power.

The near-death experience can be either a psychological phenomenon or a physical one. The physical phenomenon comes from lucid dreaming in a nightmare condition. You may become aware of the body paralysis of the REM state and feel powerless to defend yourself in the dream. This can create an overwhelming sense of vulnerability to the threatening circumstances of the dream and a near-death experience. The psychological facet is part and parcel of feeling endangered by your circumstances. This danger may be tangible or merely sensed in the dream. If it is tangible, the source of the danger is the area for interpretive work (whom, why, how, and what has endangered your life?). If the danger is merely sensed, it may symbolise ambivalence over a soul?s transition into facets of self-awareness you may not want to completely embrace.

There is also a spiritual near-death experience. People who seek out-of-body experiences in their dreams may feel themselves prevented from returning to the body. These dreams are powerful images of how we sense the cosmos or spiritual realities impacting upon our lives. Was the death a sudden deprivation of life or a release from the struggles of it? Moreover, as you became aware of dying, was it threatening or peaceable?

Dying in a dream is not too unusual, though if it happened with regularity our waking lives would probably begin to feel a little unstable. To die yourself is very troubling. Most people have not invested much emotional energy in preparation for death and feel that death is a strong enemy to be avoided. By the way, how did you die in your dream and do you assign responsibility to anyone for your death? These are important questions.

The death of a loved one may be the result of numerous factors. You may feel genuine anxiety for that person?s well-being. The death may be more symbolic than that as you struggle with the reality of your love for that person as weighed against repressed anger towards them. Finally, it may herald the passing of the relationship if the loved one is romantic and not familial in connection.

The death of a stranger can be the development or transition of different aspects of the self. Consequently, it is often useful to decide how you knew the stranger and whether you seemed deeply moved or only casually concerned with the death. It may be that the randomness of life is the central concern. In this case, look at who else in the dream is concerned with the stranger?s death ? your connection to the fellow mourners is important. The death of a stranger may symbolise stereotypes that need to be explored as a means to a greater self-understanding. Are you being confronted with situations where your attitudes about others are being challenged?

Source: iVillage, http://www.ivillage.co.uk

(See also: Dream Archives, Meaning of Dreams, Dream Interpretation, Dream Dictionary, Dream Dictionary - Death , Meaning of Dreams about Death , Dream Interpretation Death )

Team Sports

Team sports are prevalent in our world and seem to be increasing in popularity and diversity. Dreams of team sports include the dreamer as observer, player, or coach. Often, it's simply a wish-fulfilment fantasy of wanting to be a sports legend. However, it the coaches and other players seem very familiar to you, or are actually people from facets of your waking life, the dream has more to say.

Commonly, the dream is about participation and connectedness to the common goals held by others in your life. "Being a team player" is emphasised often in work and family these days.

Whichever of the three roles you most identify with determines your self-awareness within the team sport. Observing from the audience may indicate that you are feeling "off the team" or outside the action. Observing as a player who does not enter the game suggests that you feel others are ambivalent about your skills, or you yourself may be so.

Being a player shows your willingness to participate in the game. If you have too many roles on the team or do the work of several players, it may be that you are feeling that people expect too much from you.

Finally, being the coach is a position of leadership and control. In this case, determining how the team did is important to appreciating the message of this dream.

Source: iVillage, http://www.ivillage.co.uk

(See also: Dream Archives, Meaning of Dreams, Dream Interpretation, Dream Dictionary, Dream Dictionary - Team Sports , Meaning of Dreams about Team Sports , Dream Interpretation Team Sports )

Hotel

All dwelling places generally represent the dreamer's psychological, emotional, or spiritual condition. The dream may reflect a current reality, issue, or dilemma and attempt to bring the dreamer into greater self-awareness. Because a hotel is a transitory dwelling, it suggests a time away from one's responsibilities or routine. As a dream symbol it could reflect a need for rest and reflection. Depending on the details of the dream, specific information can be ascertained. For example, if the hotel is luxurious it suggests prosperity and positive decision-making. However, if the hotel is rundown and inadequate, it may reflect a time of uneasiness and depravation. Whether the hotel in your dream represented a retreat or escapism is for you to determine by examining your current daily reality. Finally, a hotel may refer to a temporary stage in life or be a form of compensation with which the dreamer eases the anxiety and stress experienced during the day.

Source: Dream Lover Incorporated, http://www.dreamloverinc.com

(See also: Dream Archives, Meaning of Dreams, Dream Interpretation, Dream Dictionary, Dream Dictionary - Hotel , Meaning of Dreams about Hotel , Dream Interpretation Hotel )