Dreams about birds are a fairly common theme at bedtime. If you or a loved one has been covering this ground at night, you may have questions about what it all might mean. As part of a Huffington Post series on dreams and their meanings, we spoke to Cynthia Richmond, author of "Dream Power" and frequent guest on shows like "Oprah" and "Dr. Phil," to get expert advice about the meanings of your or your loved one’s dreams about birds. Note: While dream analysis is highly subjective, this post might provide some insight into why this dream occurred or is recurring.
What do dreams about birds mean?"Land stands for what the dreamer knows for sure," says Richmond. The air, on the other hand, represents the dreamer's thoughts, including gossip, praise, criticism, worries and even fears. "The birds, as creatures that live in the air, represent thoughts that may have eluded us previously, becoming clearly conscious to us," she explains.
What can I learn about myself from dreaming about birds?"You could learn about what people are thinking about you," suggests Richmond. This includes ideas you've heard but haven't fully absorbed or explored yet.
Are there any tricks to avoiding or inducing dreams about birds?According to Richmond, it really depends on the person. If you want to dream of birds because you think they are pretty or you feel peaceful when dreaming about them, look at photographs of them and think about them before dozing off. If your bird dreams have a deeper meaning to you, speak with a dream specialist who can help you go from there.
Beyond analysis, what cultural symbolism can be found in dreams about birds?In more religious cultures, dreaming about a bird could represent an angel or spirit.
Who tends to have dreams about birds most frequently?Dreams about birds often come to people who are full of thoughts, whether they are troubling or jubilant. Men and women of all ages dream about birds.
Does dreaming about a dead bird have any significance?A dream where a bird is dead or dying usually means that a thought, goal or aspiration has died.
Cynthia Richmond is a board-certified behavioral therapist, educator, speaker and author of "Dream Power." She writes a regular column, "In Your Dreams," for the Los Angeles Times and has appeared as a dream expert on "Oprah," "Entertainment Tonight," "The View," "Donny and Marie" and "Dr. Phil." In addition, Richmond provides live dream interpretations on InfiniteQuest.com.