Dream dictionary
Dream meanings
What does your dream mean? For every dream we show the Western reading and the Asian tradition.
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Western reading
Hidden fear or change
A snake often points to a situation that worries you, or to a change: just as a snake sheds its skin, you may be ready to let something go.
Asian tradition
Luck and money
In Chinese tradition a snake is often a good sign: it points to money, luck or an important opportunity. If it comes into the house, luck is coming to you.
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Western reading
Losing control
One of the most common dreams. It usually comes when you feel vulnerable about something, or worry about how others see you.
Asian tradition
Worry for the family
In tradition the teeth stand for the family, so this dream can point to worry about the health of an older family member.
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Western reading
Emotions
Water mirrors your feelings: calm, clear water means inner peace, rough or muddy water means stirred-up emotions.
Asian tradition
Money and abundance
In Chinese tradition water stands for money. Clear, flowing water is a good sign, muddy water can mean obstacles with money.
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Western reading
Freedom
When you fly, you have broken free from something, or you would like to leave a heavy situation behind. If flying feels easy, you feel confident.
Asian tradition
Rising up
Flying points to success and moving up, for example at work. The higher you fly, the bigger the change.
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Western reading
Insecurity
Falling shows that something has slipped out of your hands, or you have no solid ground under your feet in a situation.
Asian tradition
Be careful
It is usually read as a warning: slow down and think important decisions through before you act.
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Western reading
A problem you avoid
If you are being chased, you probably want to avoid something in your life: a conversation, a decision or a feeling.
Asian tradition
Pressure
It points to pressure or tension from outside. Tradition advises you to avoid arguments for now.
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Western reading
A message from within
A fish in the water stands for your deeper feelings and hunches that are now coming to the surface.
Asian tradition
Abundance, a baby
The Chinese word for fish sounds like the word for abundance, so it is a very good sign. Many also see it as a sign of a coming baby.
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Western reading
A new beginning
A baby in a dream often means a new plan or a new chapter that needs looking after.
Asian tradition
A new start, joy
It points to a new opportunity or happy news, and many see it as a fertility dream.
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Western reading
Something is growing
It does not necessarily mean a baby: something new is being born in you, an idea or a change.
Asian tradition
Growth
It points to growth, in money or in the family.
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Western reading
Grief and letting go
When you see a loved one who has passed away, you are often processing missing them, or there is something left unsaid between you.
Asian tradition
A message from the ancestors
In tradition the ancestors come to warn or to bless. Many people light a candle or visit the grave afterwards.
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Western reading
The end of a chapter
It is rarely literal: it usually means a relationship, habit or stage of life is coming to an end.
Asian tradition
A long life
In tradition this is often read the other way round: it means a long life for the person who dies in the dream.
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Western reading
Feelings set free
Crying in a dream often shows that a feeling you held back is finally finding its way out.
Asian tradition
Joy is coming
In Chinese tradition this is an opposite dream: if you cry in your dream, joy will come to you soon.
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Western reading
Passion or anger
Fire points to strong feelings: enthusiasm, desire, or anger you have held back.
Asian tradition
Things take off
Fire stands for prosperity: in tradition, business and money "catch fire" and grow.
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Western reading
A big challenge
In Western tales the dragon is an obstacle to overcome: something big standing in front of you.
Asian tradition
Great luck
In Asian culture the dragon stands for power and luck. It points to success, moving up and a big opportunity.
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Western reading
Loyalty, friendship
A dog stands for a loyal friend or your own loyalty. If it bites, there may be tension in a relationship.
Asian tradition
A helper is coming
In tradition it means a friend or helper is coming into your life.
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Western reading
Cleansing
Rain washes the old away: relief, sadness that has been let go.
Asian tradition
Blessing and growth
Rain feeds the earth, so it points to growth and blessing.
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Western reading
Intuition
The moon stands for intuition, your inner voice. A full moon means something is reaching completion.
Asian tradition
Family together
In tradition the full moon stands for the family coming together again.
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Western reading
Energy, clarity
The sun brings light: you see a situation more clearly, and good energy is around you.
Asian tradition
Recognition
It points to success, recognition and good health.
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Western reading
Yourself
The house is you: the rooms are parts of your personality. An unknown room can show a new side of you.
Asian tradition
Stability
A new house is a good sign: it points to stability, growth and safety for the family.
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Western reading
Looking for direction
You do not know where to go next in a situation, and it shows up in your dream.
Asian tradition
Slow down
In tradition it is a sign to give your decisions more time.
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Western reading
Unfinished feelings
It rarely means you want them back: you are usually processing an old feeling or lesson.
Asian tradition
Old matters
An old matter or relationship may come up again in your life.
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Western reading
Fear of being judged
It comes even if you finished school long ago: you are afraid someone will judge you, or that you will not be good enough.
Asian tradition
Ambition
It points to high expectations, but also a chance to move forward.
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Western reading
Commitment
You want to commit to something: a relationship, a plan or yourself.
Asian tradition
A big change
It points to an important change, a new stage of life.
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Western reading
Change
You are getting rid of something that weighed on you, or you want to change how you look or how others see you.
Asian tradition
Cutting off worries
In tradition, cut hair stands for worries that have been cut away.
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Western reading
Feeling trapped
A situation where you feel caught in a web, or a strong, controlling person in your life.
Asian tradition
Good news
In many Asian traditions a spider coming down on its thread means good news and luck.
We have no description for this yet. Try another word.
How to remember your dreams
- Keep a notebook by your bed and write down what you remember as soon as you wake up, even if it is just one word.
- When you wake up, stay still with your eyes closed for another minute.
- Notice what repeats: a recurring dream tells you more than one strange night.
These readings are based on traditional Western and Asian (mainly Chinese, known as the “Duke of Zhou's dream book”) folk beliefs. We share them as something interesting, not as predictions.