English Version | Encyclopaedia of dreams

Who hasn’t fallen asleep only to find themselves in an incredibly vivid dream, whose narrative has the power to shake us to the core because it’s so surprising? Exactly, I rest my case. At first glance, the questions that arise are simple, yet pressing: why do we dream? What happens to our subconscious when we do? And, above all, do they really mean anything at all? Throughout history, various theories have emerged on this topic. One of the schools of thought that remains most relevant today is that of Sigmund Freud, one of the most renowned neurologists and the founder of modern psychoanalysis, who argues that dreams are representations of our deepest desires and thoughts. Between science and a holistic approach to wellbeing, the body of knowledge regarding what happens in our brains whilst we sleep is constantly growing. Yet when it comes to discussing dreams, we enter a realm of knowledge that is more distant, almost ambiguous — but not entirely inaccessible. “When we fall asleep, there is a decrease in activity in parts of our brain, particularly in the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for planning, reasoning and self-control,” explains Stephanie Gailing, author of The Complete Book of Dreams and a wellness astrologer. When we dream, our subconscious — which is linked to emotions, memory and imagination — operates with greater freedom. “The subconscious acts as a sort of night-time manager of our mind,” she continues. According to the expert, dreams have tangible positive effects on our well-being. When we dream, we process difficult emotions and experiences, consolidate memories and strengthen our learning. Put simply, dreams reshape our perceptions and perspectives on everyday challenges, whilst reducing stress levels and increasing our self-awareness. “One way to think about dreams is to see them as a magnifying glass — in that they highlight thoughts and feelings that the waking mind cannot always perceive clearly — and also as a compass — a tool that allows us to use this newly acquired awareness to guide our lives with greater clarity, confidence and knowledge,” she concludes.

Curiosity and knowledge go hand in hand – and, when it comes to dreams, the same philosophy applies. In the name of mental health that involves peace of mind, analysing and interpreting the different elements that make up each dream becomes a therapeutic experience with beneficial results for our well-being. Gailing believes that keeping a record of our dreams, through the act of journaling, is synonymous with creating a repository of our innermost thoughts. “If dreams offer us insights into our subconscious, by better understanding that part of ourselves, we can work towards a more holistic sense of well-being,” she says. The easiest way to identify the elements that help us interpret our dreams is, according to the astrologer and author, to keep a dream journal. In this practice, which she considers essential, she recommends including not only a space to write down the full dream, but also side sections where one can note symbols, one’s emotional state during the dream and upon waking, what happened the previous day, recurring images, and even other factors such as the lunar phase or, where applicable, the stage of the menstrual cycle. “Doing this allows you to observe various dreams over time and see if there are any recurring patterns between them,” she explains. But the truth is that, when it comes to dream journals, for many, this practice has long since ceased to be an analogue experience.In an age increasingly driven by fast consumption and the instant gratification brought about by technological advances, artificial intelligence has come to permeate every aspect of daily life. Platforms such as ChatGPT have become constant companions and trusted advisors to those who find themselves increasingly distanced from human connection. Today, with a mere prompt, this type of software takes on the role of a multitude of professionals, without taking into account education, knowledge and, above all, ethical considerations. When it comes to dream analysis for greater holistic wellbeing, the question arises as to whether or not we can trust artificial intelligence to perform the task (well), thereby bypassing the entire process of identifying elements through journaling and a process of inner reflection. “Personally, I don’t think we should turn to AI to analyse our dreams, because I believe dreams are something sacred,” says Gailing. According to the astrologer, these platforms can provide us with a list of what certain symbols mean. But this may not correspond to what someone’s dream actually means, as dreams operate on the basis of each person’s individuality and intimacy. “Of course, you can provide the AI with a lot of details, but that involves sharing a great deal of personal information, which can be uncomfortable or unsettling for many people,” she explains.

In dreams, memory is blurred and control slips away. Time takes on a mystique that defies logic; the settings are worthy of a production that straddles the fantastical and the cinematic; the narratives lack structure. It is a world that is difficult to explain, probably because, paradoxically, it is also a world that is incredibly easy to forget. “The question of why our memory of dreams is so hazy is not yet fully understood,” says the astrologer. From what is known, it may be linked to various factors. According to Gailing, one of these is physiology — since some of the neurotransmitters needed to convert short-term memory into long-term memory drop to low levels whilst we dream, creating an inherent block to the consolidation of dreams in the mind. Sleep disruption also contributes to the difficulty we have in remembering what we dream. It is during the REM sleep phase that scientific research suggests the most vivid — and therefore most memorable — dreams occur. This phase occurs most predominantly in the early hours of the morning; therefore, people who tend not to sleep for prolonged periods or who suffer from some form of insomnia are more likely to have increased difficulty recalling their dreams, as they are not completing full REM sleep cycles. The expert also believes that the fact that most dreams are difficult to retain in memory is a kind of defence mechanism on the part of the brain. “If we start from the premise that dreams offer us insights into our subconscious and into emotions that we dismiss because they are too complex to accept or deal with, it makes sense that dreams are difficult to remember. It is possible that we have some internal defence mechanism that strives to keep them away from our conscious mind,” she reflects. “Furthermore, most of our minds are attuned to the rational thinking of the left hemisphere of the brain, which we rely on during waking life. But dreams defy the ordinary; they are visual, illogical and do not follow common patterns,” she continues. “That is where the challenge (and the difficulty) lies in translating these images and putting them into words, especially within a short space of time. Here, time is of the essence, as statistics indicate that, on average, after five minutes, we forget 50% of what we dreamt and that, after ten minutes, only about 10% remains in our memory,” he concludes.

Dreams arise directly from our subconscious, and the lack of control we feel over them is evident and somewhat frustrating. However, according to Gailing, there are certain circumstances in which it is possible to retain some control whilst dreaming, namely during lucid dreams and through the practice of dream incubation. “In lucid dreams, we are aware that we are dreaming — that is, we realise we are in a dream and are able to control various elements, including the setting, the characters, the actions, and so on,” explains the astrologer and author. In turn, “dream incubation is a practice that involves setting intentions before going to sleep”. The process involves focusing on a specific theme one wishes to explore and, consciously, asking our dreams to bring us awareness or clarity. “Here, we do not necessarily have total control over our dreams, but we can, to a certain extent, guide them to focus on something that interests us,” she says.

What do dreams really mean? A practical guide

Identifying the different elements that make up dreams and drawing conclusions about what they might mean is an extremely personal and intimate act. As Stephanie Gailing argues, “dreams are very personal and their meaning depends on the dreamer, their life and what they are going through; [therefore], although different themes or symbols may have an archetypal meaning, I feel it is always important to reflect on what the dream means personally to the person who had it”. The astrologer also notes that it is crucial to look at how someone reacts or responds to a dream, reaffirming that context is indeed very important. Nevertheless, according to the expert, there are a number of themes and types of dreams that appear to be quite common and are identified in dream surveys as being shared across various people and cultures.

Dreaming that you are being chased

In this type of dream, it’s likely that, in waking life, the various elements translate into a constant feeling of being out of control or a conscious fear that someone wants to harm you. On the other hand, it may also indicate that something (or someone) is actively trying to get your attention.

Dreams of falling

If you dream that you are falling, or about to fall, this may indicate that you feel out of control in your waking life. It is also common for feelings of fear or terror to manifest in this type of dream.

Dreaming that you are not prepared for a task (or trying to do it repeatedly)

These dreams tend to indicate a lack of confidence in your abilities, but they are also linked to anxiety, particularly regarding personal performance.

Dreams about death or someone who has died

Although the most obvious meaning of dreaming about death is the fear of dying, this type of dream can take on different forms and have different outcomes. If you dream of someone who has already died, it is likely that you wish to find a way to reconnect with the memory of that person, and that you are forced to confront the fact that you miss that relationship. On the other hand, if the dream relates to the death of someone who is still alive, it may reflect a grieving process or symbolise the end of one phase of life and the beginning of another.

Dreaming of teeth falling out

This is one of the most common dreams and tends to reflect a time of rebirth and transformation. It can also symbolise the lack of control you feel over the changes that lie ahead. 

Dreaming that you are flying

Linked to a desire for adventure and a search for freedom, dreaming that you are flying often symbolises a feeling of being somewhat ungrounded or unrooted in your current life.

Dreaming that you are naked in public

This type of dream tends to be an expression of the feeling of vulnerability that follows an embarrassing situation. If you have experienced something like this recently, dreaming that you are naked in public may be a way for your subconscious to process the event in a healthier way. 

Dreams about pregnancy

Dreaming about pregnancy can have quite different meanings. On the one hand, this type of dream may reflect a range of feelings related to creativity. On the other hand, some people have premonitory dreams linked to intuition. For some, this type of dream may represent a deep-seated realisation that they are pregnant, or simply reflect an intimate, perhaps as yet unspoken, desire to become pregnant.

Recurring dreams

Gailing states that recurring dreams are quite common, and that many people seem to have them. The astrologer believes they are a kind of warning sign for something our subconscious wants us to pay attention to, such as an unresolved situation. “It is important to pay attention to recurring dreams,” she explains. “Often, by giving them space and attention, the unconscious inspiration becomes clearer and, from there, it is possible to work on these issues on a conscious level. If there is a resolution, the dream may stop appearing so frequently — or even disappear — as its purpose seems to have been fulfilled.”

Nightmares

According to the astrologer and author, nightmares are defined as disturbing dreams in which we feel threatened or deeply distressed. “They often provoke fear or anxiety and, because of their strong emotional intensity, end up waking us up — which explains why we so often remember them so vividly,” she explains. “We are living in very challenging times (...). There is a lot for the subconscious to process throughout the day,” she continues. From this perspective, nightmares can give us clues about psychological conflicts that remain unresolved; however, when they are recurrent or very frequent, they may be linked to issues of post-traumatic stress, anxiety, depression or periods of profound stress.

“To dream well, we need to sleep well,” says Gailing. Getting enough good-quality sleep not only gives us more energy and clarity for our daily lives, but, as scientific research shows, it is also essential for our health and well-being. “If we can process the things in our lives more effectively whilst awake, we are less likely to have such disturbing dreams,” she continues. Practising good sleep hygiene — which is based on factors such as maintaining regular sleep schedules, making the bedroom a peaceful and cosy space, avoiding eating too close to bedtime, setting aside time to wind down before sleep, meditating and limiting exposure to blue light from devices — is essential for a good night’s sleep. It is almost a maxim that the astrologer advocates: “having a clear and calm mind is a wonderful state to be in when we let ourselves drift off to sleep”.

Translated from the original in The Sleeping Issue[s], published April 2026. For full stories and credits, see the print issue.