What your dreams really mean – losing teeth and flying to being …

Every night, millions of us drift off to sleep and start to dream. Often what we dream about feels like a jumble of the day’s events, but sometimes, says dream expert Davina MacKail, our dreams have a message – a nudge from our subconscious to pay attention.

“Dreams can alert you to potential health issues, provide solutions to problems and warn you when you’re making mistakes in life,” says Davina, author of The Dream Whisperer. “They can also help you to grow and bring you back into balance when you feel unsettled.”

It’s thought that everyone dreams between three and six times per night. If you struggle to remember them, increasing your intake of oily fish ^[1] such as salmon or mackerel may help. That’s thanks to the cognitive boosting function of omega-3 ^[2], a study in the International Journal of Dream Research found.

Davina first became aware of her own dreams as a child when she was plagued by terrible nightmares. After working as a nurse in the 1980s, she travelled the world and trained as a healer and feng shui master. “It was my feng shui teacher who first suggested I analyse the dreams I was having about the houses I was working on,” she explains.

'I tried the 'new French girl fragrance' and was surprised by how clean it smells'^[3]

Dream expert Davina MacKail

We don't always remember our dreams (Stock photo) ( Getty Images)

“The information I received through the dreams was helpful, and that’s when I began to explore the wider meaning of dreams.” For the past 30 years, Davina has used her knowledge of dreams to help people find balance in their lives. And she has first-hand experience of their power.

“In 2014, I had a vivid lucid dream that I believe saved my life. I dreamed I crashed into a lorry – it was as if I was right there. The road was wet, and as I steered frantically I lost control of the car. A month later, travelling on the A1M Cambridge to Leeds road, my dream became a reality.

“Instead of steering wildly, as in my dream, I instinctively knew to let the car glide. Although the vehicle was a write-off, I wasn’t hurt – to the amazement of the rescue services. The experience was terrifying, but I just knew I’d be fine.” Davina adds: “The realm of dreams is a land of mystery for many people, yet dreams offer moments of truth that reveal something of ourselves, and maybe our future.”

In celebration of World Dream Day today, Davina (@davinamackail on Instagram ^[4] ) explains how to decode your dreams and reveals her top tips on bringing their hidden messages into your day-to-day life.

What your dreams really mean

Losing teeth

This is an extraordinarily common dream worldwide. It’s a fear dream, and generally a reflection on transitioning from one stage of life to another. The meaning for you personally can only be understood in relation to your life. You may be moving home, changing jobs or divorcing – what changes are taking place? How can you support yourself so you don’t feel so threatened?

Talk to a friend. Voicing worries can help to put them into perspective. What are you scared of losing?
If there is something you can’t figure out in your life, write a letter to yourself on toilet paper, outlining everything that’s overwhelming you. Then flush the letter and your worries away.

Being chased

Most of us have dreams where we are being chased by someone or something. It indicates you’re scared of, or running away from, an aspect of yourself, a situation or a problem.

Go to a quiet place in your home, take a few deep breaths and close your eyes. Go back into the dream, or if you can’t remember the details, imagine being chased.

Then, visualise yourself stopping and turning around and facing what’s chasing you. What do you see? If you can’t see anything, ask the question: “What’s chasing me?” Accept the first answer. Armed with this knowledge, try to work out what bit of your life is disturbing you, or which situation is causing stress.

Flying

Freud thought dreams about flying symbolised sex, whereas Jung felt it represented profound life changes. Another view is flying relates to an increase in self-confidence and freedom. Flying dreams often relate to a desire to escape the restrictions of your physical limitations. Often, this dream is a nudge from the subconscious to find enrichment and spread your wings – to travel, meet people and experience new things.

Take up meditation or enrol in a yoga or tai chi class, which will bring spirituality into your life. Expand your mind and your inner horizons.
Search meetup.com ^[5] for events where you can connect with like-minded people and broaden your life experiences.

Flying dreams often relate to a desire to escape the restrictions of your physical limitations (Stock photo) ( Getty Images)

Being naked

Any dream where you are naked or feel exposed stems from the primal fear that we need shelter to survive. It suggests you’re feeling vulnerable, overexposed or unprepared. But remember, most fears are based on ideas, not reality.

Do one thing every day that scares you – big or small. This action will help you move outside your comfort zone and make fear a positive motivator.

Ask yourself: “What’s the worst thing that can happen?” Usually in reality it’s not that bad.

To help overcome fear you can try using affirmations like: “I acknowledge fear but move through it”, and, “I am good and strong enough”.

Dreams about being naked stem from the primal fear that we need shelter to survive (Stock photo) ( Getty Images)

Death

Dreams about death are extremely common and don’t mean you’re going to die. These dreams are about transformation and rebirth. Death dreams highlight that you need to get rid of what’s no longer serving you. Some aspect of yourself, maybe a relationship, situation or behaviour, needs to “die” in order for you to make progress.

Try this exercise to connect with your subconscious. As you fall asleep, ask: “What do I need to know right now?”

Give yourself permission to journey into the unknown. Trust that you will receive the information that you need. When you wake up, write down your dream and ponder the symbols, the colours, any words, messages or feelings. The answer may not come to you immediately, but revisit your journal over a week or so and things should become clearer.

Dreams about death are extremely common (Stock photo) ( Getty Images)

Travelling

Travel or transport dreams are about your journey through life. The type of transport reveals how you’re progressing and moving forward. For example, a bus that stops and starts could suggest that your life is stopping and starting, whereas a fast sports car may indicate that you are speeding ahead too quickly without thinking.

One common dream involves being in a plane that crashes. If you have this dream, it could be a warning that you need to avoid a crash in your waking life.

Look at the transport method in your dream and take heed of the warning. Do you need to slow down or speed up? Are you going off the rails or is your life on track?

How to keep a dream journal

Keep a notebook by your bed. As soon as you wake up, jot down details about your dream on the right-hand page. Write down what happened – any colours, people, animals or feelings, for example. Describe the setting as best as you can and note down anything that stands out.
Date the entry and give your dream a name to help you remember the details.
Next, on the left-hand page, outline your worries. Do any insights come from the dream? If not, let your mind process the dream and come back to it in a few days. What messages or solutions can you see now?

References

^{^} oily fish (www.mirror.co.uk)
^{^} omega-3 (www.mirror.co.uk)
^{^} 'I tried the 'new French girl fragrance' and was surprised by how clean it smells' (www.mirror.co.uk)
^{^} Instagram (www.mirror.co.uk)
^{^} meetup.com (go.skimresources.com)