More on Common Dream Themes and Caveats

In researching lists of common dream themes from various sources, I find that the following are usually on the list of the top ten, not in the order of frequency of occurrence because it differs with study.

- Being chased
- Failing an exam
- Being late
- Displaying nudity

- Falling
- Flying
- Having problems with teeth

I mentioned several of these in a previous post and I will not repeat my comments here. Falling or flying, not previously mentioned, often relate to how you feel about some problem or situation. If you are falling, you may feel that your sense of support or ability to deal with a problem or situation is collapsing. You feel as if you have nothing to hold onto and are either sinking of falling. 

If you are flying, this may indicate you are able to rise above a problem or situation. Another possibility for flying dreams is astral projection, which I will discussed in a previous post (1/30/2015). 

The condition of our teeth often relates to words we have spoken, which can make us attractive when spoken with kindness or ugly when spoken with hate. Crumbling or decaying teeth in a dream often indicates a need to examine our speech, which may reflect a recent verbal attack upon someone. However, as with all themes, other interpretations are possible.

Various studies have been done at universities where there is a captive audience to determine the frequency of occurrence of various dream themes. The common themes appear to be cross-cultural, although particular symbols will vary across cultures. 

In my own case, I commonly find myself in the environment of a university or the place where I was employed for over thirty-five years. This is not surprising when I consider that I was a full-time student for the first third of my life and spend over half of my life in the same career. I have repeatedly stated that the subconscious mind constructs dreams using associations that are meaningful to our conscious selves.

If you have a dream with one of the common themes listed, then you have a lot of company. As I have stated in previous posts, the key to the meaning is found in your daily life. If you dream you are late for an exam, for example, examine your life to see what test or challenge you are late in accepting or meeting.

There is a strong caveat that I would like to add concerning dream themes. The themes change with age and degree of awareness. I discuss this point in my earlier book as it has related to my own life. 

The common dream themes of college students are not likely to be the same as for people in mid-life or old age, and as your self-awareness grows, spiritual themes will become much more prevalent. In addition to an increase in spiritual themes as you awaken, dreams of precognition and universal awareness will become more common.

The studies conducted at universities that I have reviewed seem to miss the connection between meditation and dreams. When Edgar Cayce was asked by an individual how to improve his psychic ability, he was told to first examine his purpose and then with the right purpose to meditate. Regular meditation improves our intuition and activates the higher levels of mind in dreams. I will say more about this connection in a later post dealing specifically with meditation and dreams in the last section.

The fact that most people share common dream themes is not surprising because they share common experiences in their conscious lives. However, if you want to rise above the common themes and explore the unlimited potential of dreams, you must first apply the guidance you receive to resolve current issues. This takes some effort and sincerity. As you heal old wounds and become more aware, greater dimensions will open up.

You will notice that precognition is not on the list of common dream themes. This is because most people either do not experience precognition in their dreams very often, if at all, or do not recognize it when it occurs. One of the great potentials of the human mind goes largely unnoticed by both dreamers and researchers alike. 

The Association for Research and Enlightenment (A.R.E.) founded by Edgar Cayce provides a broader, more enlightened view of dreams and is a good source for further study. And the book Dreams Your Magic Mirror by Elsie Sechrist, first published in 1968, reflects the author’s experience as National Director of The Study Group Program for the A.R.E. where she had an opportunity to review thousands of dreams of ordinary people.

This past year I perused Dreams Your Magic Mirror again. I first encountered it when I started my own dream work over forty years ago, but have not thoroughly reviewed it in over twenty years. I found that the themes and guidance in my dreams is consistent with that reported by the early study group members. What I can do and have done through my dreams is certainly achievable by the ordinary person with desire and willingness to be open, sincere, and not averse to making some daily effort.