Volumes could be written about this subject, and have been. In this node I will try to give somewhat of a
crash course on this way of
finding yourself and provide starting points for further research.
On the importance of numbers:
Numbers are never insignificant. The order of them, however, may be. For example, if you
dream that you wake up at 12:01, and your
significant other's birthday is on January 12th, there might be a connection. Numbers can be represented in characters and objects, three coins in your pocket have the same significance as meeting someone with a number three on their shirt.
On the importance of repetition:
Repetitive dreams (dreaming the same thing night after night) are indicative of an unresolved issue. Once the issue is dealt with, even mentally, the dream passes. The same phenomenon is found in young
children who want to hear the same story over and over again.
On the importance of characters:
Men can represent women, women can represent men and people in general don't represent themselves. The best method of finding out who and what the people
symbolize is to run it through one's head. When the right person is reached,
you will know. There is no more to it.
On the importance of symbols:
The following were shamelessly lifted from a variety of sources, including but not limited to, Mr. McAdam.
Angel - protection
Barrel - if full, prosperity. If empty, tightness of money.
Bear - a friend who is awkward will help you, if you are kind to him (her).
Bees - successful work.
Birds - if flying high, good luck. If flying low, bad luck. If singing, success.
Boat - a fortunate journey.
Book - sought-after wisdom is within reach.
Bread - material well-being.
Bridge - if crossed, a happy solution to a problem.
Calendar - loss due to untimeliness.
Chair - a change in employment.
Cheese - gain, profit.
Crab - separation.
Desk - if one is working at a desk, it means one should spend more time outdoors. If the desk is empty, it means a change in jobs.
Duck - someone acting anonymously.
Eggs - abundance.
Fishes - on the surface of the water, abundance and wealth. At the bottom, danger. Fishes can also indicate fertility or pregnancy.
Flag - change, success.
Fruit - abundance.
Gambling - good, if one loses. Bad, if one wins.
Glass - if broken, success. If empty, distress.
Goat - inconsistancy in a relationship or job.
Grasshopper - loss.
Guitar - declaration of love.
Gun - deceptive gain.
Hermit - need to bring quietness into one's life.
House - home life, often future home life. If one dreams of a home with a light inside or smoke rising from a chimney, it means one is unlikely to live alone. An empty house denotes living in solitude.
Key - opportunity for gaining wisdom.
Kiss - betrayal or self-betrayal.
Lamp - be prudent.
Mirror - betrayal.
Monkey - someone near is not to be trusted.
Mushrooms - long life, protection.
Mustard - problems anew.
Owl - don't start anything on next day.
Palace - sorrow caused by pride.
Pen - a new offer or proposal.
Prison - if entering, oppression. If leaving or escaping, recovery from depression.
Rabbit - if white or grey, friendship, partnership, success. If black, lies and reverses.
Reptile - slander, betrayal.
Ring - reconciliation.
Scissors - quarrels.
Snake - someone has a grudge against you.
Stapler - becoming attached to someone of questionable integrity.
Swan - great success.
Telephone - bad news awaits. Bad luck.
Trees- if a path through a forest, one will soon find one's purpose in life. If downed trees, success. If trees bare of leaves, a new beginning. If full trees, danger from complacency.
Umbrella - lasting friendship, security.
Vinegar - jealousy.
Volcano - adventure, passion.
Water - if flowing water, such as a river or stream, increased romance. If water is murky, one is unsure of one's own feelings.
Weapons - be on guard.
Wine - a happy old age.
Worms - put small worries aside.
Of course, these vary from person to person. For example, if you were bitten by a rabbit as a small child and this has scarred you, don't go with the above definition for the rabbit symbol.
On the rule of opposites
As it has often been said, opposites are true in dreams (Death signifies rebirth, winning in a gamble is bad luck...) However, the opposites aren't complete and exlusive opposites, moreso they are associated and interchangable in one's mind.
Finally,
The suicidal dream
Killing oneself in a dream can mean many things, but does not neccessarily indicate
depression. People who have kept dream journals and killed themselves have most often had this as a
final dream: The dreamer is in a
large vehicle (Airplane, 18-wheeler, etc. A regular car does not qualify) and is
headed towards a sunset. If someone tells you that he/she dreamed this, get
professional help. By all means. Or, if they trust you enough, seriously talk to them.