Saraband continue their In The Moment series of book with Interpreting Dreams by Clare Gibson. It is both an invitation to pay more attention to our dreams, and a toolkit for unlocking their hidden meanings. Read an excerpt from this fascinating book below.

Extract taken from Interpreting Dreams
By Clare Gibson
Published by Saraband

Why do we dream? And what do our dreams mean? These questions have always intrigued us. Although many theories have been proposed, no one knows for sure, not least because our dreams are so personal. That said, certain common factors can certainly influence what we dream about, as well as how our sleeping selves react to the visions and sounds playing out in our minds.

As individuals, our personal experiences and memories – good and bad – hopes and fears, friends and foes all play a part in our dreams. More generally, events in the wider world can affect our dreams, too, especially in recent years, when we have endured chaos, turbulence and uncertainty precipitated by a deadly pandemic, escalating climate change, war in Europe, dramatic political events, terrorism and religious extremism, social intolerance, polarizing culture wars, increasing financial worries and more besides. We have very little control over these unsettling global events and trends, or over their effects on us, which contributes to our anxiety. When this fearfulness surfaces in our dreams, recognizing such stressors, and perhaps taking small, practical steps in response that help you to feel more in control, even if it’s only avoiding news bulletins, may have positive results, be it in real life or in the dream world.

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People tend to remember troubling dreams far more than pleasant ones, especially nightmares and recurring dreams – and, indeed, recurring nightmares. Some such dreams reflect an issue that you already know is bothering you, perhaps a looming exam or a social ordeal that you are dreading. Less straightforward to understand are dreams that seem to make no sense, but that, on waking, stay with you and leave you feeling somehow unsettled. These may be your unconscious mind’s expression of fears or anxieties that you may have repressed rather than face up to, in which case they may be sending you a message that addressing your fear, examining the root of your anxiety and trying to resolve it, or at least come to terms with it, could result in more tranquil nights. Even just identifying a negative issue and acknowledging its existence may help to put your unconscious mind to rest.

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The unconscious mind does not always express itself clearly, so pondering the possibility that an aspect of your dream symbolized something else may give you the key to interpreting it. Could a dream of falling have represented a fear of failing, for instance? Or did you have a metaphorical dream, in which, perhaps, desperately floundering in water signified feeling out of your depth? Could a dream of hurtling headlong down a slope have expressed a feeling of going downhill fast?

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Teeth

We don’t often think much about our teeth unless there is something wrong with one of them, and when teeth feature prominently in a dream, it is rarely in a positive light. Dreams of teeth often have to do with anxiety about something, and may be tied into our feelings about a recent loss or life change.

Symbolic and Verbal Associations

Youth, vigour, or “bite”

Losing our baby teeth; leaving childhood behind

Ruminating on something, or “chewing it over”

“Wisdom” teeth

Anxiety about change or loss

Positive Interpretations:

One of the primary functions of teeth is chewing, and when we are thinking about, or ruminating on, some issue or problem, we some-times say that we are “chewing it over.” So if you had a dream in which you were chewing and chewing on the same morsel of food, this may have been an unconscious allusion to some problem that you have been faced with in your waking hours; your dream may be a signal that you should “chew over” the facts a lot more before coming to a decision about how to address the problem. Or if you dreamed that your wisdom teeth (the hindmost molars) were emerging, have you actually been feeling wiser or more mature and responsible in the real world?

Negative Interpretations:

Many people have experienced an anxiety dream about their teeth crumbling or falling out. Having a dream toothache could simply be due to the fact that you were grinding your teeth as you slumbered and your unconscious mind incorporated this into your dream. Some people grind their teeth while they sleep when they are under excessive stress during waking hours, and if you awoke to find that your jaws were clenched and sore, you should probably see your dentist to discuss whether this could be the case for you. Dreams about tooth pain or loss could also signify that you are feeling anxious about a significant life change. Have you recently quit your job, or are you and your spouse discussing divorce? Or if you dreamed that your teeth fell out, have you recently lost a loved one? Are you about to move to another part of the country, leaving your friends and family behind? Or could it be that you are anxious about growing older and losing your vigor or your “bite”? Anxiety (whether about visiting the dentist or about a forthcoming event) is also the likely meaning if you had a dream in which a dentist shone a bright light in your face as he or she poked and prodded inside your mouth. The other major function of teeth is biting, and if you dreamed that someone you know threatened to bite (or actually bit) you, could it be that this person really harbors some anger or hostility toward you?

Interpreting Dreams by Clare Gibson is published by Saraband, priced £8.99.