A Guide to Creating Your Own Dream Decoding System

Books have been written on dream symbology and interpretation, often with certain images associated with a situation, relationships, an upcoming event, or even providing a hidden message.

Dreams can often combine all our senses: images, sounds, smells and intense emotions. During sleep, research is showing that we are processing information and effectively making decisions while we are unconscious, as recently reported in the Huffington Post.

The subconscious brain is not literal and thinks in the form of symbols. The conscious mind doesn't need to code things into symbols to understand them, unlike the subconscious. This means when we dream, and our subconscious is processing it will be a mixture of images, emotions, and symbology that we can learn decipher if want to take the time to understand how our mind is processing and speaking to us.

Therefore, interpreting your dreams through creating your own decoding system.

This is how you can create your own dream decoding system:

1. Build a Relationship Through a Dream Journal

The first step to building a relationship with your dreams and how they speak to you is to create a dream journal.

To create your dream journal, always start with an intent to remember your dream – make a conscious decision before you go to sleep that you want to recall your dream (this may take a bit of practice; the more you do it, the more you will remember).

Keep your journal handy in the morning and write down what you recall as soon as you awake, as your dream will quickly fade if you decide to do something else.

If you can, capture it before you leave your bed.

2. Don’t Try to Decipher, Just Download Whatever Your Mind Can Recall.

Often, as you are writing, more of the story will come, and you mustn't judge it at this stage. Once you feel you have captured it, then take a few moments to review, see if there is a message, a thread or something that makes sense to you, and what is happening in your life.

If nothing makes sense right now, that is ok – the key is to capture, as over time you will start to see a symbol or sign that will make sense to you, and maybe a story that is unfolding.

If you need to dig a little, ask yourself, “So what does this mean?” and then take a few moments to listen (or go into your meditation practice), and you will be surprised how your answer will unfold.

3. Personalise Your Own Symbols and Images, Create Your Own Dream Key.

The important thing is to ask yourself, "What does this mean to me?" For example, a snake can bring a lot of different emotions, but what does it mean to you?

It could be a symbol of transformation and shedding your skin, you are frightened, or it could also symbolise that you believe someone is deceiving you. 

As your symbols unveil themselves, you will start to create your own dream keys.

Here are a few dream keys that illustrate how they function:

• House/Home – This symbol appears during periods of personal transformation. It often manifests as home renovations, where the upstairs represents conscious awareness, while the basement or lower levels reflect unconscious belief patterns. Additional levels or wings may appear, revealing more layers of the story.
• Car – Movement is represented by cars in dreams. The direction—whether moving forward, backward, or not at all—is significant. Control is another key factor; holding the steering wheel signifies control, whereas being in the back seat while someone else drives suggests a lack of it. In some cases, there may be no steering wheel at all, preventing direction changes or stopping movement. The emotions felt in these moments are essential, whether a sense of calm or an urgent warning that a new plan is necessary to prevent chaos.
• Traffic Lights – These act as signals: amber suggests pausing and reconsidering, red indicates a need to stop, and green provides validation to continue in the current direction.
• Tidal Waves – These symbolize overwhelming emotions and the sensation of being engulfed by circumstances.
• Being in the Spotlight/Stage – This highlights the need for attention, resolution, or communication regarding something that has been avoided.
• Flying – This symbolizes freedom, the ability to rise above issues, maintain perspective, and avoid getting weighed down by details.

These interpretations are personal dream keys and may not resonate with everyone. Dream interpretation is deeply individual, as symbols take on unique meanings based on personal experiences.

Dreams are viewed through the lens of one's own life, and understanding their symbols is a personalized process. By creating individual dream keys, these symbols become distinctly meaningful.

Enjoy the journey of discovering personal dream symbols and waking up equipped to answer the question: “So, what does that dream mean?”