The science of dreams: Common and cultural dreams

Dreams common to our culture and others

Dreaming in different cultures

The Australian Aboriginal people believe that dreaming is a way in which members of the tribe can enter into the “collective spirit memory,” according to “The Element Encyclopedia of 20,000 Dreams.” Dreams, therefore, connect a person to the past and the history of his people. Specifically, the Inuit of the Hudson Bay believe that when a person is dreaming, their soul is wandering in a spirit world.

The Egyptians thought that positive dreams were an indicator of misfortune in life and nightmares would signal an increase in a person’s overall happiness. They also produced the first dream dictionary, designed to help analyze dreams, according to “The Element Encyclopedia of 20,000 Dreams.”

The Greeks were the first ones to suggest that dreaming was a representation of oneself as opposed to the result of an outside influence. Plato theorized that dreams were an expression of one’s hidden desires while Hippocrates thought that dreams reflected the workings of one’s body.

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Five common dreams and explanations

Car crash: A dream about a car crash could symbolize concerns about being able to attain a goal. If the car spins out of control, it could mean that the dreamer is worried about a lack of control in his or her life.

Being chased: Dreams in which the dreamer is being chased often represent a person running away from his or her problems. Instead of confronting issues, the dreamer decides to run away. It could be an outside source of tension or an internal source.

Falling: Falling can represent a loss of control or anxiety in one’s life. According to Freud, however, dreams about falling may indicate that one is giving in or “falling” to an impulse.

Flying: Flying dreams in which the dreamer is happy and pleasantly floating can mean that one is in control and content about his or her life in general. If the dreamer is having trouble flying or continuing to fly, it can represent anxiety about a loss of control.

One’s own death: One’s own death could symbolize a desire to escape the pressure and responsibility of one’s everyday life. It could also symbolize the ending of one chapter in one’s life and the beginning of another.

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In-Depth: The science of dreaming

• The science of dreaming
• Common dreams, how they vary by culture

Written by Miranda Leung, Suzy Estrada

dreams, sleep Features, In-Depth, Issue 6, Print