Patricia Garfield’s Universal Dream Key

One of the more interesting and thorough classification of dreams is Patricia Garfield’s Universal Dream Key. She lists twelve general categories, with related sub-categories.


One of the many benefits of paying attention to dreams is that one can relate to much of humanity: we all have similar dreams.


(Clicking on the category will bring you to a post with examples of the dreams.)


1.0 Chase or Attack

You dream of being pursued or attacked by a wild animal, evil person, monster, or other threat. The villain may catch, harm, eat, or kill you.
Although the element of chase or attack is consistent from culture to culture, the assailant varies. Children in India, for instance, reported dreams of vultures chasing them, while no American child did–they were more likely to picture sharks as a predator.

1.5 Embrace or Love

The mirror opposite of dreams of fleeing from a dangerous pursuer are those in which the dreamer happily embraces another. These figures may be animal or human (celebrities, movie stars, politicians, royals), angels, imaginary people, or the boy or girl next door. The defining element of this category is pleasurable physical contact.

1.6 Meeting a Star

We consort with the famous in our dreams, whether they be movie, theater, or media stars, politicians and heads of state, or royalty. In this sub-category, we are not making love specifically, but have a pleasant encounter with the famous.

1.7 Having a Magical Animal Friend

Although children are more likely than adults to encounter mythological or talking animals in their dreams, adults sometimes have this dream theme, too, encountering enchanted beasts, such as a precious tame, talking bird, a snake who wears a golden crown, or a beautiful woman with a fawn’s body.


2.0 Injury or Death

You or another dream character (often a loved person) is injured, killed, or dies. Usually the cause is accidental. The villain or threat is not emphasized; injury or death just happens. This theme includes the common dream that your teeth are falling out.

2.5 Healing or Rebirth

The opposite to dreams of injury or death are those dreams in which we become healed or reborn.


3.0 Vehicle Trouble

You dream of being in or near a car or other vehicle that is out of control or has some other problem that hampers your mobility. The circumstances vary. You may find that you have no brakes, or that the steering wheel won’t work, or that you are out of gas. You may be going off the road, off a cliff, going through a red light, or crashing into an object or person. You may be in the driver’s seat, in the passenger’s seat, or in the back seat. You may be at the control panel of an airplane, seeing that you are almost out of gas. Your vehicle may be a bicycle that gets a flat tire. You may or may not try to regain control of the vehicle.

3.5 Driving Skillfully

Few dreams fall into this category, but when they do they are extremely significant, suggesting easier access to skills for coping with difficult life situations.


4.0 House and Property Damage or Loss

4.1 Losing Valuable Possession

You dream that your pocketbook or wallet is missing, misplaced, or stolen. Variations include loss of some other valuable possession, such as a watch, a diamond ring, a wedding ring, a precious vase, artwork, and so forth Even your entire house, or part of it, may vanish.

4.2 Being in a House on Fire

You dream of being in a house or other building that is on fire. You may feel frightened, make efforts to escape, or try to save others.

4.5 House or Property Improvement

The opposite of dreams about House or Property Damage or Loss is House or Property Improvement. Here, also, is where our dreams of reconstruction and remodeling occur.


5.0 Poor Test or Other Performance

You dream of anxiety-filled activity related to taking an examination in school, or of being tested in some way. There are several versions of this nightmare. You may arrive at the room to find the test has already begun; you may not be able to find the right room; you may be handed the test and realize that you do not know the answers or have never even read the books upon which the test is based. You may not have time to finish. In any case, you are uncertain you are able to pass or to graduate. In another version of the same theme, you may be due to perform in a play, musical, sport, or other event and, as you begin, realize you have forgotten the lines, do not know the part, do not recognize the material or don’t know what to do.

5.5. Giving an Outstanding Performance

Of course, dreams about speeding through a test and knowing you’re doing well, or performing superbly in an event, speak of a different level of confidence in the dreamer. These dreams may serve as rehearsal for an approaching performance.



6.0 Falling or Drowning

You dream of falling through the air, frightened. You may or may not strike the ground before awakening. A variant of this dream are images of drowning or near-drowning.

6.5. Flying Joyfully through the Air; Swimming Joyfully

Whizzing along in space, feeling the wind, sensing a delicious freedom is probably the all-time favorite dream. Although this theme may evolve as an escape out of a fearful situation, dream flying soon becomes a joy-filled activity. A similar feeling of pleasure can emerge in dreams of moving effortlessly through water.


7.0 Being Naked or Inappropriately Dressed in Public

You dream of being nude in a public place. You may also dream of being inappropriately dressed in public, for instance, showing up at work in your nightgown or pajamas. A variation of this theme is the appearance of some other dream character being naked or wrongly dressed.

The opposite of naked or ill-dressed-in-public-dreams are those in which we find ourselves wearing beautiful clothing. These dreams sometimes refer to satisfaction with the appearance of our bodies, or may refer to a situation in which we feel that we “fit” well.


8.0 Missing the Boat or Other Transport

You dream of rushing to catch a train, bus, ship, or other transport, and miss it. You may dream of arriving too late for a performance in which you are supposed to participate, and find that the play, musical production, sport competition, or other event, has already begun and you are unable to be involved.

8.5. Traveling Happily

The opposite of dreams in which problems arise around a vehicle are those relatively few dreams in which travel proceeds exceptionally well. Trips to fantastic places and past or future times also are featured here.


9.0 Machine or Telephone Malfunctions

You dream of trying to operate some mechanical equipment when it malfunctions. Many such dreams involve telephones, with the dreamer having trouble dialing, getting disconnected, or making a faulty connection. Other machines jam or break, or in some cases become actively malevolent.

9.5. Operating Machine or Telephone Easily

Conversely, dreams in which we make easy, clear connections or machines that operate smoothly suggest improvements in our emotional connections. Many of the dreamers who participated in my study of dreams during bereavement reported dreams of clear connections with their deceased parent, spouse, or child. In these cases, the dreamers received messages in the dreams that dramatically helped them cope with their losses.


10.0 Disasters, Natural or Man-made

You dream about being confronted with overwhelming natural or manmade disasters. The dream may involve a flood, torrential rain, or a tidal wave. You may see yourself or another dream character drowning. Natural disaster variations include earthquakes, typhoons, hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, firestorms and other devastations. Manmade disasters include attacks by atom bombs, hydrogen bombs, chemical warfare, and so forth.

Natural Beauty or Miracles

The opposite of dreams in which natural or manmade disasters occur are those dreams in which the dreamer is inundated by the beauties of nature, rather than by destructive forces. The dreamer may observe or participate in miraculous occurrences.


11.0 Being Lost or Trapped

11.1 Lost

You dream you are lost, perhaps feeling desperate. You may be trying to find your way in a forest, in city streets, in a maze, or inside a large building.

11.2 Paralyzed or Stuck or Trapped

Definition: You dream you are unable to move, perhaps unable to scream or breathe. The circumstances vary. You may dream that you are buried alive, or that you are caught or trapped in some other way. You may feel terror.

11.50 Discovering New Spaces

The opposite of dreams of being trapped or paralyzed are those in which the dreamer discovers marvelous new spaces. There are several versions of this universal dream.

11.51 Finding a New Room in Your House

Opening a door in your ordinary home to discover a whole new room is an uplifting variant of Discovering New Spaces. Some dreamers find incredible treasures they didn’t realize existed in the attic of their dream houses.


12.0 Menaced by the Dead

The deceased curses or otherwise berates the dreamer.

12.5 Guided by the Dead

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