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Wikipedia describes a dream as a succession of images, ideas, emotions and sensations that usually occur involuntarily in the mind during certain stages of sleep.
The contents and purposes of dreams are not fully understood, but they have been a topic of scientific, philosophical and religious interest throughout history.
Dreams usually occur in the REM or rapid-eye-movements stage of sleep, when the brain activity is high and resembles that of being awake. REM sleep is revealed by continuous movements of the eyes during sleep. Lengths of dreams vary from a few seconds to about 30 minutes. Interesting facts revealed that the average person has three to five dreams per night and even up to seven.
There are many theories on dream interpretations, and all are varied and shifted through culture.
Sigmund Freud wrote extensively about dream theories and interpretations of dreams. He states dreams are manifestations of one's deepest desires and anxieties and is often related childhood repressed memories or obsessions. He invented a psychological technique to interpret dreams and devised a series of guidelines to understand the motifs and symbols in dreams. The more modern interpretation and theories about dreams are that dreams must be seen as a connection to the unconscious mind.
Dreams can be surreal and bizarre, ordinary to normal, varying in nature, such as frightening, exciting, magical, melancholic, adventurous, or sexual. Dreams are outside the control of the dreamer, except for lucid dreaming, where the dreamer is self-aware.
Dreams can produce creative thoughts, provide guidance and spiritual insight, inspiration and as seen in the scriptures, can to the selected few, give insight into leadership and future events. The classic example is of Joseph's interpretations of Pharaoh's dreams.
Many instances are quoted in ancient writings.
The Dreaming is commonly used in indigenious Australians for personal, or group creation.
The Sumerians in Mesopotamia left evidence of dream interpretation dating back to 3100 BC. Mesopotamian KIngs paid close attention to dreams. It is said that Gudae, the King of the Sumerian city-state of Lagash (2144-2124) rebuilt the temple of Ningirsu as a result of a dream.
The Assyrian king Ashurbanipal 11 883-859 BC built a temple to Mamu, the god of dreams, at Imgur-Eli near Kalhu.
Throughout ancient history recorded dreams refer to gods appearing in dreams to give instructions to humans, and they
are classed as prophetic dreams, good dreams sent by the gods and bad dreams sent by the devil.
The Early Egyptians in 200 BC wrote down their dreams on Papyrus. People with vivid dreams were looked upon as special/ They believed that dreams are oracles, bringing messages from the gods. They induce or incubate dreams, They would go to sanctuaries and sleep on so-called dream beds, in the hope of receiving advice, comfort, or healing.
The Chines had it as two vital aspects of the soul, of which one is freed from the body during slumber to journey to a dream realm, while the owner remained in the body.
And so in all of the cultures dreams are part of history, legends and reality.
A surprising number of people in modern day society is that dreams have deeper meanings. 43 % of people believe that dreams reveal desires and wishes.
Dream symbols and ascribing meaning has become a source of entertainment and self-reflection.
If you dream about falling, a common dream The interpretation is that falling dreams are a sign that something in your life is not going well, suggesting you rethink or consider a new direction in some area of the dreamer's life. It is a symbol of fear in real life, the failing at work or love life.
Dreams of being chased can be interpreted that you are trying to void something in your daily life, Being chased by an animal indicates that you are hiding from your own anger, passions and other feelings.
If your pursuer is a mysterious, unknown figure, it represents childhood experiences or recent trauma If you are chased by someone of the opposite sex, it means you are afraid of love or you are haunted by past relationships.
When you dream about losing your teeth, there are multiple meanings. You might be worried about your appearance, that you are concerned about your ability to communicate, or that you might have said something embarrassing. The theory is that if your teeth fall out in a dream, you lose personal power and your ability to be assertive, decisive and self-protective.
Dreams about dying.
Dreams about dying yourself or of the death of a loved one can be very disconcerting. Dream interpretations suggest that the dreams reflect anxiety about change or fear of the unknown.
I think everybody has dreamt about writing tests or examinations
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Craig Hamilton-Parker says Ëxaminations are stressful experiences in which you are made to face up to your shortcomings. The dream of failing an exam being late for one or be unprepared shows that you feel unprepared for the challenges of life.
Dreams about flying .
Tony Crisp says represents feelings of freedom and Independence. It can also indicate a desire to flee or escape from the realities of life".
The people of Africa often use the traditional healers or Sangomas to explain their dreams for them.
A person who dreams of snakes is spiritually gifted, and they symbolise your ancestors. As long as the snake does not bite you, it means that your ancestors are trying to reach you. If you are bitten, but they are not friendly to you and you need to be worried. It means that you have not responded to their efforts to reach you on many occasions.
If you dream of money means that money or good luck is on the way to you.
Gogo Moyo a Sangoma says the following that if you want to know what your dreams mean you need to look at your location, where you are in your dream,your actions what are you doing in your dream, the people who you are within your dream, and your emotions, how you feel in the dream, ashamed scared, worried relaxed or happyJapanese scientists have announced that that hey can decode dreams, by using MRI scans to locate exactly which part of the brain was active during the first moments of sleep. The dreamers are then asked what images they have seen. The answers are compared with the brain maps, and they believe that researchers were able to predict what images the volunteers had seen. They claim that they have successfully decoded some kinds of dreams.
So that is what dreams are made of in short.