Theresa Cheung - The Element Encyclopedia of 20,000 Dreams - The Ultimate A–Z to Interpret the Secrets of Your Dreams

Cleaning

Washingin dreams is a fairly common theme, and almost always relates to something that is troubling or worrying the dreamer in waking life. The harder the hands or body are scrubbed, the greater the need for the unconscious to be free of guilt or some kind of burden. The same applies to washing stains in clothes.

If you are taking a shower or bathin your dream, this could indicate a problem that overshadows you in waking life. If you are washing your hair, this is connected to your emotions, and if you are washing your genitals, there may be some kind of sexual adventure in waking life that you are ashamed of. You could also be worried about sexually transmitted diseases. If you are cleaning your home, this could suggest that you want to get more organized in your waking life, but before you can do that you need to dispose of dirt or dust; this may refer to ways of thinking or responding that are clouding your judgments in waking life. If you were watching a washing machinein your dream, this is a reference to your daily routine and the boredom you feel. If you are trapped in the washing machine, you feel stifled by your daily routine; it will therefore be important to make changes in daily life as soon as possible.

indicate that you have skipped something important. See also LEISURE.

To dream that you are pushing somethingsuggests energy and drive to succeed in life. Consider also how you, or someone you know in waking life, may be a ‘pushover’. To dream that you are being pushedsignifies that you are under some sort of pressure, or feel coerced into doing something. Alternatively, it implies that you feel you don’t have enough time to complete a task perfectly.

A dream of riding a horsemay be associated with your sex life, and how fulfilled or inhibited you are. If you are enjoying the ride, it could indicate a rewarding love affair, or the desire for one. On the other hand, if you are afraid of falling, you may feel inhibited sexually, or be unable to commit to your partner. The same meaning is applied to dreams of riding a motor cycle or a bicycle. If you were riding another animal, think about what that animal represents in waking life.

To dream that you are standingsuggests that you are asserting yourself and feeling proud of your achievements. To dream that you are sittingindicates indecision and not knowing what to do with your life. It could also suggest laziness.

Dreams of skatingsuggest that the dreamer is enjoying his or her life. If you are performing like a professional skater(and aren’t one), this could suggest that you are about to take off in some way in your waking life. If, however, your skates are out of control, this could suggest that in your quest for enjoyment you are acting recklessly. On the other hand, this dream could be telling you to get your skates on and put more pace and activity into a particular project or relationship.

Water in a dream almost always indicates emotions. To dream that you are swimmingsuggests that you are exploring aspects of your unconscious mind and emotions. This is a common dream for people going through therapy or counseling, as it suggests the need for emotional support. To dream that you are swimming underwatersuggests that you are completely submerged in your own emotions and need to deal with emotional difficulties. If you dream of diving, perhaps this indicates your desire to throw yourself into a relationship or project. The erotic sensation of water passing over the body led Freud to equate swimming with sexual intercourse. If you feel relaxed and happy, this foretells a long and happy relationship with your partner, but if you are struggling against the tide, the relationship may be in trouble.

If you throw or catchsomething in a dream, you need to pay attention to what it is you are throwing and catching. Are you throwing something away, or catching something you need, or something you don’t want?

Are you bogged down with routine in your waking life? Dreams of weaving, knitting, crochet and sewingcould suggest that you need to broaden your horizons, as these tasks all require attention to detail and constant repetition. If you are joining together pieces of fabric, or creating an exciting design, this could, however, indicate that you are bringing together certain aspects of your waking life. If you make mistakes with your craftwork, drop a stitch or break your thread,perhaps you have recently been tactless in your daily life or had a quarrel with someone. Were you successful in patching up your differences? See also ARTS AND CRAFTS.

In general, activities such as walking, running and cyclingare self-sufficient, pro-active and personal modes of progression, owing their movement entirely to will and physical effort. A possible Gestalt interpretation would be to regard dreams of walking, running or cycling as projections of the dreamer’s developing independence and autonomy. Your competence within your dream activity depicts your emotional stage. If you are agile, this suggests you are coping well. If movements flow, you feel in harmony with your emotions and your sexuality. If, however, you get stuck, feel stiff and cannot move easily, this could indicate that your personal development is held back by anxieties and fears. To dream you are walking is probably a comment on the pace of your waking life, and how well you are coping with all your responsibilities. If you are walking confidently, it could indicate that you are in control and taking things in your stride. Consider your destination. Do you know what it is?

To dream that you are walking at nightsignifies discontent. If you are limping, this refers to a lack of balance in some area in your life. Perhaps you feel that you are giving more than you are getting back at work, or in a particular relationship. To dream that you are marchingsuggests teamwork, or the need to involve yourself more with other people in order to achieve results. If you were running or racingand keeping up with the others, this is a positive sign, but if you were falling behind or trying and failing to win a race, you need to rethink your schedule in daily life to relieve some of the pressures on you.

When specific activities appear in a dream, you might also need to consider whether or not you are filling your waking hours with productive and positive activities. It may be that changes need to be made. For example, if you dream of running, this could simply indicate your need to exercise more. Alternatively, it could suggest that you are exercising too much, and need to get balance back into your life.

See also AMBITION AND SUCCESS; LEISURE.

We all have ambitions and strive to achieve our ideals of success in waking life. These ambitions often surface in our dreams in symbolic disguise.

According to Adler, dreams are an expression of our ambitious desire for power and success, a way of overcompensating for shortcomings in our waking life. For example, if a person is unable to stand up to their boss, they may safely lash out in anger at him or her in a dream. Thus dreams offer some sort of satisfaction that is socially acceptable.