50 hidden meanings behind the most common dreams

Like dreams about your partner cheating on you, dreams about being unfaithful with no grounding in reality say something about your relationship. “There’s something your subconscious is trying to let you know you are putting too much time and energy into,” Loewenberg says. “It’s taking away from the marriage.”

“This dream would indicate aspects of self that are yet undiscovered or undeveloped,” Poizner says. “Maybe the person who always hated politics becomes consumed with that interest, or the heady intellectual, at a certain age, now becomes passionate about exercise. New ways of experiencing the self, a widening or broadening of the self, interests or patterns, may be imminent. Look at what is in the room for hints about what that potential might look like.”

“Encountering aliens is a classic “shadow” dream – in that what is most “alien” to us is ourselves – our higher selves – or the part of ourselves we’ve cast out,” says dream expert Kelly Sullivan Walden. “Alien dreams reveal our deep-seated fears of rejection, loneliness, and alienation. Perhaps you are afraid of exposing your true self for fear of being thought of as weird. If your dream takes place in outer space, you are opening to a universal perspective beyond the myopia of mundane ordinary life, tapping into unexplored solutions and inspiration. If you learn to harness these dreams and not be so frightened, you can attune yourself to a higher vision to assist you with your earthbound challenges.”

“That intruder symbolises some kind of negative element you feel has intruded on your normal routine or peace of mind,” Loewenberg says. “Ask yourself what’s going on that’s changed your routine and intruded upon your thoughts. That’s what your intruder represents.”

Walden says there are two interpretations of this dream. New parents may have it as they prepare to raise their child, but it can also symbolise a creative project that needs nurturing. “I believe this dream is alarming because it’s trying to get our attention so that we don’t forget to care for the child in our lives, as well as the child “aspect” of ourselves,” she says. Try asking yourself about new projects in your life and the best way to care for yourself through any life transition you may be experiencing, she suggests.

“This type of dream usually highlights a glitch in connection with someone important to the dreamer,” Walden says. “I believe this dream is trying to help the dreamer problem-solve in such a way that would ultimately make them more intuitive, compassionate. These dreams can be frustrating, but I believe they have very positive intent. They’re alerting us to the fact that there is an issue in our communication and it’s urging us to become creative, resilient, and resourceful regarding the ways that we reach people.”

“This is what I call the ‘mystery lover dream,’” Loewenberg says. “A stranger in a dream, someone you don’t know, will symbolise a part of yourself.” For example, if you dream about an unknown man, it may represent traditionally masculine qualities you want to channel in your actions.

Planes are normally symbols of aspiration when it comes to dream interpretation, Walden says, so dreaming of a plane crash can mean you’re worried about a goal that’s gone south. “These dreams can be a nudge to drop your ego and earthly baggage, in order to be lighter, and not so heavy laden,” she says. “When our dream plane crashes, it could signify that we’re simply not yet ready for our “dream” to take off…that we need to mourn a vision that didn’t come into fruition, get grounded and become better prepared so that with our next experience on the jetway of life, we’ll be ready to take off.”

There are two ways to approach this dream interpretation, Loewenberg says. You’re either worked up about something and need a break from it or you’re just in need of a vacation.

Pay attention! Many great figures in the past have found inspiration for their greatest ideas through their dreams, Walden says.

Here are 13 world-changing inventions that literally came from dreams.