- The theme actions has 13 symbols in the dream dictionary.
- The most searched symbols of the theme are falling, flying, being shot.
- Every symbol is read three ways: folk dream books, psychology and sleep research.
- The details of the dream, the colour, the behaviour and how you felt, change the reading.
- Dream interpretation is a tradition of reading symbols; it does not predict events.
What actions mean in a dream
In the 20th century psychology joined the tradition. Sigmund Freud read dreams as the expression of repressed wishes, Carl Gustav Jung as the psyche’s attempt to restore balance. Modern sleep research shows that the content of dreams is shaped largely by the day’s impressions and by sensations in the sleeping body.
If you cannot find the exact word, start from a theme. Inside each theme the symbols are grouped and compared with one another.
Most searched dreams about actions
FallingActionsA dream about falling is traditionally read as a struggle followed by a rise if you are not hurt, and as hardship if you are. Psychology reads falling as loss of control and of support, and research shows it is one of the most common dreams of all, often tied to the body’s own jolt at the edge of sleep.FlyingActionsA dream about flying is traditionally read by the height and the view: flying high and free means ambition and release, flying low and heavy means worry. Psychology reads it as freedom from a weight or a wish to rise above a situation, and research lists flying among the most common and most pleasant typical dreams.Being shotActionsA dream about being shot is traditionally read as a sudden blow from someone you trusted: sharp words, betrayal, a loss that comes without warning. Psychology reads the shot as an attack the dreamer feels defenceless against, and research places being attacked among the most common themes of nightmares.CryingActionsA dream about crying is traditionally read as the opposite of what it shows: dream books say tears in sleep bring relief or joy by day. Psychology reads crying as feeling that has no room in waking life; research adds that waking up in tears is common after stress and grief.Being chasedActionsA dream about being chased is traditionally read as running from a threat or a duty; folk books say the chaser shows where the danger lies. Psychology reads it as avoidance of something the dreamer will not face; research ranks it among the most common dreams in every culture studied.Killing someoneActionsA dream about killing someone is traditionally read by who is killed: Miller says killing a defenceless person means sorrow, killing in defence means victory. Psychology reads it as ending something, not someone; research finds aggression in a large share of dreams.FishingActionsA dream about fishing is traditionally read by the catch: folk books say a full net brings gain and an empty hook disappointment. Psychology reads fishing as drawing something up from the unconscious, an idea, a memory, a feeling; research adds that dreams of patient effort mirror the day’s search.DrawingActionsA dream about drawing is traditionally read as planning: folk books say the dreamer is sketching what they mean to do. Psychology reads drawing as giving shape to an inner image; research adds that people who draw or design by day dream of their craft.Being lostActionsA dream about being lost is traditionally read as a warning that the dreamer has strayed from the right path in some matter. Psychology reads it as uncertainty about a decision or a role, and research counts it among the most common dream themes in the world.
All symbols: actions
Being chasedA dream about being chased is traditionally read as running from a threat or a duty; folk books say the chaser shows where the danger lies. Psychology reads it as avoidance of something the dreamer will not face; research ranks it among the most common dreams in every culture studied.Being lostA dream about being lost is traditionally read as a warning that the dreamer has strayed from the right path in some matter. Psychology reads it as uncertainty about a decision or a role, and research counts it among the most common dream themes in the world.Being shotA dream about being shot is traditionally read as a sudden blow from someone you trusted: sharp words, betrayal, a loss that comes without warning. Psychology reads the shot as an attack the dreamer feels defenceless against, and research places being attacked among the most common themes of nightmares.CryingA dream about crying is traditionally read as the opposite of what it shows: dream books say tears in sleep bring relief or joy by day. Psychology reads crying as feeling that has no room in waking life; research adds that waking up in tears is common after stress and grief.DrawingA dream about drawing is traditionally read as planning: folk books say the dreamer is sketching what they mean to do. Psychology reads drawing as giving shape to an inner image; research adds that people who draw or design by day dream of their craft.End of the worldA dream about the end of the world is traditionally read as a great change rather than a catastrophe: the end of one way of living. Psychology reads it as the dreamer's world, a job, a family, a belief, coming to an end, and research links such dreams to stress, the news and major life transitions.FallingA dream about falling is traditionally read as a struggle followed by a rise if you are not hurt, and as hardship if you are. Psychology reads falling as loss of control and of support, and research shows it is one of the most common dreams of all, often tied to the body’s own jolt at the edge of sleep.FightingA dream about fighting is traditionally read as a quarrel on the way, or as a struggle already under way that the dreamer is winning or losing. Psychology reads it as conflict, with another person or within oneself, and research counts aggression among the most common dream interactions.FishingA dream about fishing is traditionally read by the catch: folk books say a full net brings gain and an empty hook disappointment. Psychology reads fishing as drawing something up from the unconscious, an idea, a memory, a feeling; research adds that dreams of patient effort mirror the day’s search.FlyingA dream about flying is traditionally read by the height and the view: flying high and free means ambition and release, flying low and heavy means worry. Psychology reads it as freedom from a weight or a wish to rise above a situation, and research lists flying among the most common and most pleasant typical dreams.Killing someoneA dream about killing someone is traditionally read by who is killed: Miller says killing a defenceless person means sorrow, killing in defence means victory. Psychology reads it as ending something, not someone; research finds aggression in a large share of dreams.WalkingA dream about walking is traditionally read as progress at one's own pace: steady if the road is easy, laboured if it is muddy or uphill. Psychology reads the walk as the dreamer's way through a period of life, and research finds walking the most common movement in dreams of all.WarA dream about war is traditionally read as strife: disorder in business and quarrels at home, or victory and brisk activity if the dreamer's side wins. Psychology reads war as conflict too large for one person, and research shows war dreams rise sharply when war is in the news.
Questions people ask
What does it mean to dream about actions?
It depends on the symbol and the details. Folk dream books give each symbol a fixed reading, psychology asks what this image means to you, and sleep research reminds that dreams rework the day. Open a symbol for all three.
Does the same symbol always mean the same thing?
In dream books, mostly yes. In psychology, no: the same image can mean different things to different people, and your feeling in the dream is the key.
What if my symbol is not here?
Use the search. If nothing comes up, describe the dream in a few words on the search page; the editor reviews suggestions and adds the symbols that people ask for.
Sources
- Miller G. H. Ten Thousand Dreams Interpreted, 1901.
- Freud S. The Interpretation of Dreams, 1899.
- Jung C. G. Man and His Symbols, 1964.
- Artemidorus. Oneirocritica, 2nd century.
- Hall C. S., Van de Castle R. L. The Content Analysis of Dreams, 1966.
- Schredl M. Dream research: an introduction, in various editions.
How this page is made
Each symbol page sets three readings side by side and names where each comes from. A symbol is published only when its page has a full description with sources. Search volumes decide which symbols are written first.