The guardrail gave way. Or the bridge collapsed. Or you lost control. However it happened, that moment when your car left the bridge is seared into your memory. Dream sites all say the same thing: “major life transition.” But they don’t know YOUR bridge, YOUR fall, or why your mind chose this specific way to wake you up.

Do you ever dream of driving your car off a bridge? My gosh, you’d be surprised how many people have this dream… and especially surprised how many people have developed gephyrophobia (fear of bridges) because of this dream! Below is one such gephyrophobe. Luckily for her, she sought out the true meaning of her dream, which allowed her to release her fear. The following is from my syndicated newspaper column The Dream Zone…

Dear Lauri,
I have a recurring dream of my car going off a bridge and I have to get me and my two sons out. We always make it out ok. It happens enough that I am spooked every time I go over a bridge and my boys are in the car.   – Denise 32, Memphis, TN

Lauri: You ARE NOT seeing the future so don’t worry.  You’d be surprised how many times someone sends me this sort of dream and tells me they are afraid to drive over bridges because of it.  Bridges in dreams symbolize transition, getting from one point in your life to the next.  We often dream of falling off bridges because transitions can be difficult and SCARY!  When we feel unsure of making that transition successfully, we get the falling-off-a-bridge dream.  Ask yourself what tough situation you are currently going through that you wish you could get you and your sons out of, just as you had to get your sons out of the car? You always make it out in your dream.  This is how your dreaming mind is reassuring you that you WILL pull through just fine.  You’ve got the chutzpa to get through anything girlfriend!  Keep that in mind and this dream won’t bother coming back.  Good luck!

Denise replies: I can relate this dream to the fact that I was diagnosed with severe dysphasia/pre cervical cancer in the fall.  I had two procedures to stop the growth and as of now things are going okay.  It’s been a very scary experience and I’ve often wondered if I was going to make it through. This dream makes so much sense now.

That dream you’re wondering about right now is trying to tell you something YOU NEED TO KNOW! When you can understand your dreams, you can change your life.  Find Out What Your Dreams Mean Right Now

“I used your dictionary to look up some of the symbols in my dream and wow….  I had no idea that dreams could tell so much! It’s great to have this understanding and I wanted to thank you.”   – Patty, Toledo, OH

You’re back in that house again. Walking through rooms you haven’t seen in years, but somehow know every corner. This dream keeps returning, and generic interpretations about “revisiting the past” don’t explain why THIS house, why NOW, why it feels so urgent. The truth is far more specific—and only you hold the key.

For the last couple of years, I keep dreaming that I am moving back in to the first home that my husband and I ever owned. Despite the fact that we have “moved on up” in the quality of the home we now own, I am always super excited in my dreams to be moving back in to this old fixer-upper.

*Yes, that is the actual house I dream about ->

It’s actually pretty common in dreams to find yourself residing in a home you haven’t stepped foot in for decades. I get asked about it all the time.

The best way I’ve found to figure out these “old house” dreams is to first realize that it’s not really about the house but rather who YOU were when you lived in that house.  Remember, EVERYTHING in your dreams is symbolic of some part of you and some part of your life. So that former house in your dream is really some part of you that needs your attention and focus right now. What happens in the dream and even the rooms that are focused on in the dream are insightful clues.

Let’s use my dream as an example. In my dream we are moving back into the house. I am excited about it. And in most of these dreams I am unpacking and setting up the room in the house I used for art in real life. When I open the closet, I discover that the previous owners were in the process of expanding it into a playroom/man cave. It’s not yet finished but I am excited to find it and more than willing to finish it.

In real life, when I lived in that house, I spent a good deal of time painting, designing T shirts and greeting cards. When we eventually moved from that house, I stopped creating art because I was focusing on building my career as a professional Dream Analyst. So that house and that room in that house represent me the artist.

Just under two years ago, when the dreams began, I had started painting again (after 18 years of doing nothing with my art). Essentially, I was “moving back in” to the groove of being an artist. I am excited in my dreams because, in real life, I wake up excited every day knowing I am going to paint! The playroom/man cave that I discover in the closet that is under construction is my Pin Up portrait business. I started it in February of this year and it has been growing ever since. And I think the man cave aspect of the room is that many of my pin up portraits are given as gifts to husbands and boyfriends that hang them in their man caves.  Ha ha!

The message of these dreams is: “This old part of you is back. Continue to build it and play with it. Continue to enjoy it. Don’t stop it like you did before.”

Just in case you are interested, you can see my custom Pin Up portraits here.

I just love my dreams. They never fail to guide me. Your dreams are doing the same for you. Here are some questions to ask yourself that will help you find the message in your former house dreams:

How would you describe yourself and your life when you lived in that house?

Is there anything in your current life that seems or feels similar to back then?
– If so, do you need to nurture that or move on from it?

How are you feeling in the dream?
– What in your current life causes you to feel the same way?

Is there any particular room that your dream seems to have more focus on?
– If so, what was that room typically used for? For example, a bathroom is used to cleanse and to relieve yourself. What from back then do you need to cleanse and relieve yourself of? A kitchen is used to prepare, to eat and to feed others. Is there anything from back then you are hungry for now?

In a nutshell, dreaming of your former home will typically mean there is something from back then you either need to bring into your current life or that you need to leave in the past. The questions above should help you figure out what it is. Life is all about growing and improving as we move forward in time. Our dreams advise us on what to leave behind and what to take with us along the way.

Want to be able to figure out your dreams for yourself? My latest book Dream on It will help you understand the symbolism in your dreams and find the hidden messages!

“Love this book! It’s very informative.”  – Dianne Guiberson (Amazon reviewer)

Everything Went Blurry in Your Dream? You’re Not Ready to See This Yet

Just when you needed to see clearly, everything went fuzzy. Shapes without detail, movement without clarity. This visual frustration in your dream has deeper meaning than generic “life confusion” interpretations suggest. What matters is what you were trying to see when the blur took over.

While the eyes of your physical body give you the ability to see, the eyes of your dream body represent your ability to know, to understand, “I see what you mean.”  The eyes of your physical body allow you to physically focus on an object, while the eyes of your dream body represent your ability to mentally “focus” on a goal or task.  The eyes of your physical body also give you the ability to view what surrounds you, while the eyes of your dream body represent your point of view, your opinion and your ability to change it.

In dreams, your eyes can suffer an array of afflictions because, in waking life, we all have an array of issues or behaviors that keep us from our focus, that sway our opinion or that keep us from opening our psychological eyes to see what is really going on.  The most common affliction our dream eyes suffer is that of blurry vision.

Dear Lauri,
I have a reoccurring dream that I am trying to drive down the road but everything is so blurry.  I cannot focus in on anything. What does this mean? – Lauren, Franklin, TN

Lauri: This dream comes to you whenever you need to “focus” on a particular issue in your life.  Something may be going on that you aren’t seeing for what it really is.  Can you think of anything to which you may be turning a “blind eye?”  Or perhaps you simply don’t have the “focus” and “drive” (motivation) you used to have in some area of your life.  Whatever the case, these dreams are telling you to “open your eyes,” look closely at your issues and at your life as a whole so that you can safely go down the road life has in store for you.

Lauren replies: I am going through a divorce at the age of 25. My soon to be ex-husband finally admitted he was an alcoholic after two years of ups and downs. I finally realized that I have a great job and that I do not need him to hold me back, or try to hurt things that I have worked so hard for. That interpretation makes great sense!

Notice how Lauren says in her dream report, “I cannot focus on anything.”  That is the message her dreaming mind wanted to convey.  Lauren’s career path, if not her whole life, had been blurred by her husband’s alcoholism.  She was so focused on him that she could no longer see her career goals, or any goals, that she originally chose for herself.

When you can “see” the powerful messages hidden within each and everyone of your dreams, you’ll also see how much easier your life will be.  Relationships, career, self esteem, decisions… every part of your life becomes clearer and easier, because your wiser inner mind knows all and gives you the answers in your dreams!!

Of all the famous faces in the world, THAT one appeared in your dream. Now you’re wondering why. Dream dictionaries give generic meanings about “admiring qualities” or “desire for fame,” but they don’t know what this particular celebrity means to YOU, or why your subconscious selected them for this message.

Here’s an example of a celebrity dream I recently helped a client with…

Last night’s dream was EPIC! I quit my job to go be in a movie with Ronda Rousey and I was going to be a dish washer. What could that mean? – Anonymous, Modesto, CA

Lauri:  In real life do you want to quit your job? If not, then there is likely something else in your life that requires a lot of work, like a relationship or a project, that you wish to quit. Ronda Rousey is the fighter in you. What situation is a battle for you right now? Rhonda also suffered a humiliating defeat. What is causing you to feel humiliated or defeated? Since this dream was all about being in a movie, this may be an issue that is playing out in front of others. Your role is a dish washer, which is your dreaming mind telling you to clear the air or clean up the mess, so to speak.

Anonymous replies: Interesting. I am fighting for something I shouldn’t be fighting for, a very messy situation. Something I desperately want and shouldn’t be part of. Long story short, I have been dealing with my flirtatious husband’s actions and decided to start living MY own life. Someone from my past has resurfaced and you could say we are now involved.

Lauri: Think hard about it and ask yourself why you think your dreaming mind chose Ronda to symbolize you right now.

Anonymous replies: Ronda is tough as nails and I believe she will win again. In the same way, I have reclaimed myself and refuse to be treated so badly. I deserve better. I don’t want to live a sad life always wanting more and being humiliated by a husband that flirts with other women. I am ready to end this marriage, just not sure how to get started. Thank you. The brain is amazing.

Check out my Pin Up art!

Yes indeed. The brain truly is amazing and has a really cool way of using celebrities to illustrate the different parts of our self.  The next time you get a celebrity in your dream, ask yourself these questions:

What is the celebrity in your dream best known for?

Is it a character they play? Can you relate to that character in your life right now?

Is it a movie? Does that movie fit your life right now?

Is it a song? Does the title or the lyrics of the song make sense to your current situation?

Or is it something else they are known for like the dream above where Ronda Rousey is known for being a fighter? How does that quality apply to you?

These questions should help you see how the celebrity in the dream is representing something about yourself and how the celebrity’s actions in the dream are  advice you are giving yourself.

Want to be able to connect the dots in your dreams and find the powerful message waiting for you? My latest book Dream On It, Unlock Your Dreams Change Your Life will help you do just that! Trust me, your dreams are your secret weapon in life, arming you with the answers and direction you need every single day to live your best life. Dream On It also makes a fantastic gift for ANYONE on your list.

“I’m still reading Dream On It and can’t put it down. I’ve been dreaming a lot more since I started to read it, but now my dreams are making sense. Thank you for a well written and enjoyable read.” – Margie Ward, Upper Darby, PA

You know exactly where you parked it. But it’s gone. The panic rises as you search frantically, checking every lot, every street. Now you’re awake, unsettled, and every dream site says the same thing: “losing direction in life.” But that explanation doesn’t touch why YOUR car disappeared, or why the search felt so desperate.

The TV remote, your cell phone, your glasses, these are a few of the most common items we tend to misplace during the day. In my many years of research I’ve found that the most commonly misplaced item in a dream is not your car keys but rather… your car! Seems kinda crazy that it would be so common to dream of losing something so huge, doesn’t it? Read on and it will all make perfect sense…

Dear Lauri,
I have had several dreams in the last year where I am lost. For example, I was in my church where I have gone since I was a little girl and can’t find my way out. When I finally do come out I cannot find my vehicle. – Amanda 30, Decatur, IN

Lauri: Losing your car or discovering that your car has been stolen is actually a pretty common dream theme, so common in fact that you are the third person who reported having that dream to me today! Your car represents your drive and motivation to continue to move forward in some area. Less often your car can represent a direction you are headed in. To lose it may mean you are losing your motivation or are feeling directionless and just don’t know how to proceed. In addition, being lost in a dream means something in waking life is causing you to feel directionless and/or uncertain as to what to do. So you’ve got yourself a double whammy of uncertainty here in your dream. However, the church setting is a friendly suggestion you are sending yourself not to lose faith right now.

You tried everything. Forcing them open, rubbing them, willing them to work. But your eyes stayed sealed shut while something important was happening around you. This dream left you frustrated and searching for answers. The generic “refusing to see truth” explanations don’t explain why your mind created this specific blindness at this specific moment.

In our dreams, all kinds of strange things happen to our bodies. Me, I’ve had an invisible arm, strange objects embedded underneath my skin and even had my teeth break into tiny pieces, to the point I was spitting, what seemed like, sand out of my mouth.

When trying to figure out what the strange things that happen to your body in a dream mean, it’s important to remember that all the different parts of your dream body represent all your different mental and emotional parts.  Your dreaming mind will give form to your mental and emotional abilities so you can better understand how well or how poorly you are using them.

Below is a dream about one of the more common bodily afflictions that occur in our dreams: the inability to open one’s eyes.  It is a great example of how this works. This is from my nationally syndicated  column The Dream Zone…

The wind was deafening. Things flying everywhere. You were trying to find shelter, protect something, or maybe just survive. This hurricane dream has you searching for meaning, but “emotional chaos” explanations don’t capture the specific devastation you witnessed or why your mind chose THIS storm to show you.

Since Hurricane Isaac just stormed through my neck of the woods and is now on his way to the coast of MS and LA I thought it would be fitting to explore what the weather in our dreams means, particularly hurricanes. The following is an excerpt from the weather chapter of my latest book Dream On It, Unlock Your Dreams Change Your Life…

Tornado and hurricane dreams both reflect the storm of worry that fill our mind from time to time. But there is a distinct difference between the meaning of a hurricane dream versus the meaning of a tornado dream, and the difference lies in the nature of the storms. A tornado is unpredictable, and you can see it coming but you never know if you will wind up in its path or not. A hurricane covers a broad area and its main characteristic is its powerful wind. And the wind is the key to the meaning of this dream. To the dreaming mind, wind represents the forceful changes that blow through our lives, “the winds of change” so to speak. When the wind in your dream is threatening, such as the winds of a hurricane, then the changes that are happening in waking life are upsetting you.

I dreamed my husband and I were trapped in a grocery store during a hurricane and could not find our son. It really bothered me.
– Chrissy 30

Lauri: Your inner mind must be feeling that you aren’t spending enough time with your son for some reason and that is where the missing comes in to play. You “miss” him. The hurricane tells us a big change has blown into your life, a change involving your son that is upsetting to you. This all takes place in a grocery store because you are hungry for the emotional nourishment your relationship with him provides.

Chrissy replies: My son just started kindergarten so you are right. We do not have the time together anymore that we are used to and I have been having a hard time adjusting.

Even though we love to watch our children grow and develop, a part of us resists the changes because it means that, before we know it, our baby will be an adult and no longer in need of our cuddles and care. Chrissy’s dream reflects her inner awareness of how fast the changes her son is going through are blowing through her life.

The message of hurricane dreams: The winds of change are upon you and are causing you a tremendous amount of upset. The more you resist the changes the more difficult they become just as it is harder to walk against the wind than with it. Rather than evacuate these hurricane force winds of change, prepare for it and withstand it. And remember, the eye or center of the hurricane is the calmest point, if you can center yourself you too will find peace despite the changes whirling around you.

Weather changes from one day to the next, even from one moment to the next, and so do our emotions. To the dreaming mind, our emotions are the weather conditions that form and flow within our psyche.  Just as a meteorologist tracks the weather in order to keep us informed and prepared to handle the days ahead, so should we track and understand our psychological weather to keep us informed and prepared to handle our lives  If you pay attention, your own dreaming mind will give you the most accurate and reliable emotional forecast available.

The weather chapter of Dream On It also covers: Tornadoes, Hurricanes, Rain, Floods, Lightning, Snow, Ice, Sun, and Rainbows

Your dreams don’t just have meaning, they also have important advice, solutions and even warnings for your life! But you won’t get those powerful made-for-you messages if you don’t know how to understand your dreams. Fear not! I’ve written three books that will help you to easily figure out your dreams every morning. Consider them dream insurance. Keeping a dream book by your bedside will ensure that the next time you wake up from a troubling or recurring dream, you can just grab the book and quickly figure it out instead of letting it bother you all day!

“I had a crazy, disturbing dream. When I awoke, I was frightened.  I’m glad I have your books! After breaking the dream apart I had so much relief!” 
– Rhonda, Dayton, TN

Someone Who Passed Visited Your Dream? This Is More Than Memory

They were there. Not a memory, not a wish—they were present in your dream in a way that felt completely real. Now you’re left wondering what it means. Generic explanations about “processing grief” or “wishful thinking” don’t capture the specific way they appeared, what they did, or why this particular night.