Art Dream Journaling: Interpreting Emotional Symbolism
- heatherkaystanfield
- Dec 12, 2025
- 4 min read
Dream Analysis: Beyond Freud
The ability to dream and the contents of one’s dreams have been speculated upon and analyzed for centuries. While ancient times provided a spiritual context for dream interpretation, there are also psychological explanations for why we dream the things we do. Sigmund Freud is largely regarded as the psychologist who brought dream interpretation into the world of psychology. Although his initial analysis was highly controversial, he laid the foundation of dream interpretation that was later explored and expanded upon by psychologists like Carl Jung and Alfred Adler.
While various branches of psychology have their own unique interpretations of dream symbolism and motivations, modern neuroscience also supports the idea of dreams having emotional significance. When we dream, we activate our hippocampus and amygdala. The hippocampus allows our brain to use the same processes as it does to collect and recall memories, while the amygdala processes emotion. However, our prefrontal cortex is largely disengaged, which is why our dreams often seem symbolic or far-fetched.
What Do Recurring Dreams Mean?
Recurring dreams can be your mind’s way of processing difficult emotions. The conscious mind may become overwhelmed or actively avoid these emotions, while the subconscious mind uses symbolism, sensory incorporation, and repetition to work through these emotions. Recurring dreams are similar to a conversation with ourselves - ruminating over specific feelings and situations in an attempt to process them and move forward.
Analyzing Recurring Figures
Repeated dreams of a specific person are often related to unresolved emotions or attachment wounds. Insecure attachment styles, trauma, or difficulties in interpersonal relationships can exacerbate stress and lead to recurring dreams about a specific individual.
While Freud majorly analyzed unconscious desires in relation to dream interpretation, Jung emphasized the idea of collective archetypes and individualistic growth. Adler, on the other hand, believed that dreams of specific people symbolized their involvement in personal goals and motivation.
Interpreting dreams of people is largely dependent on individual beliefs of what these people may represent. The context of the dreams, relationship with the individual, and social behavior and dynamics greatly influence the interpretation.
Generally, dreams of a specific person can reflect:
Lingering emotions or lack of closure
Fear of loss or abandonment
Unprocessed grief, stress, or insecurity
Characteristics you desire for yourself or a partner
Emotions regarding interpersonal dynamics
Reactions to social behavior of self and others
Unmet social or emotional needs
The person in the dream can represent:
Themselves (a literal interpretation)
An influential figure from your past
An influential figure in your present
Yourself
An idea or pattern (archetype)
Specific qualities or characteristics
Analyzing Recurring Nightmares
Repeated nightmares or dreams of a distressing situation are often related to subconscious fears or anxiety. Because our subconscious mind also processes uncomfortable emotions, it can lead to disturbing dreams. Mental health conditions, past trauma, stress, and physical health can also contribute to the frequency and intensity of nightmares.
Generally, recurring nightmares can reflect:
Avoidance of specific emotions or situations
Anxiety surrounding specific emotions or situations
Stress or feelings of a loss of control in waking life
Current or future major life changes
Fear of loss or change
Unprocessed emotions
Common recurring nightmares and their meanings include:
Death: fear of loss, change, or the unknown
Teeth falling out: reflective of stress, change, or insecurity
Being chased/attacked: feeling vulnerable or avoiding a problem
Falling: feeling a loss of control or insecurity
Being late/unprepared: fear of inadequacy or perfectionism
Natural disasters: sudden change, feelings of stress or lack of control
Being trapped: feelings of powerlessness
Getting lost: representative of change, decision-making, or purpose
Public embarrassment: feelings of social anxiety or shame
Dreams often say what our waking self can’t yet put into words or emotionally process. Contextual clues help determine the underlying message to ourselves and evaluate our corresponding emotions. Frequent recurring nightmares can be improved upon through a combination of self-awareness, therapeutic techniques, and medication.
Art Dream Journaling
Using a journal to write or draw these dreams can help you process these emotions more effectively and develop a greater self-understanding. Keeping a written dream journal improves memory and retention of dreams, as well as allowing your waking logical brain to dissect and interpret them. Utilizing art in a dream journal, whether through depictions of recalled scenes or abstract representations of emotion, can further aid memory recall and emotional processing through visual interpretation.
Furthermore, art journaling for dreams can be incredibly beneficial after disturbing nightmares or recurring dreams that cause stress or anxiety in waking life. Sometimes, dreams stick with us for hours or days after waking, and they can be distracting and emotionally distressing. Using art as a way to process these dreams also provides a method for self-soothing. Creating art helps with grounding and mindfulness, allowing us to explore the dreams and emotions while reducing overwhelming emotion and bringing us back to the present moment.
Article Resources:
Book: Man and His Symbols by Carl Jung (Interactive Book: Man and his Symbols : Carl Gustav Jung : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive)
Book: The Interpretation of Dreams by Sigmund Freud (Interactive Book: Sigmund Freud's The interpretation of dreams : Bloom, Harold : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive)
The Science Behind Dreaming | Scientific AmericanWhy We Dream: What Science Reveals About the Nighttime Mind
Disclaimer: All content reflects the author’s opinions and personal experiences. The author is not a medical or mental health professional. Nothing shared is intended to replace or negate advice from licensed professionals.
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