The meaning of patterns in dreams

To start with, I feel the general meaning of patterns in dreams is to get and direct our attention. They amplify elements, symbols, and parts of the dream. But we’ll explore some here to see what else they might be saying.

Pattern: Repeated action

This is when an action is repeated. For instance, you turn the light on three times; you have the same conversation several times; you have to find an object a few times; you attack or are attacked multiple times.

Repetition emphasises whatever the action was, so look closely at what that action was, and also what ended the pattern – did you do it differently the last time, did you say something, what changed?

Where did the action put you – were you receiving the action, doing the action, or watching the action?

Was anyone else involved? What was their relation to you?

What was the feeling or the emotion which accompanied the action? What does amplifying or zooming in on that feeling tell you?

Was the repeated action pleasant, unpleasant, neutral?

What is the overall picture that we’re being shown, and are being asked to pay close attention to?

For a quick illustration: a cousin was hitting you repeatedly. You were really frustrated and annoyed, but couldn’t move your arms. Finally you kicked back and the cousin stopped hitting you and the dream moved on. 

This is super quick and off-the-cuff but a way of exploring ideas, something you’d elaborate on, refine, run through in different ways…

So we have: a relation causing discomfort and annoyance and crossing boundaries. You’re unable to move, maybe aren’t using your agency. The cousin could be part of you that’s related to your day to day but only welcome sometimes. It wants your attention and it wants you to “drop everything you’re doing” to listen. It isn’t that sophisticated in communication because it’s a cut off part of you, maybe less developed. Your kick in response finally shows you’re “moving your feet” on the issue. This could be positive or negative depending on where you move. Do you move to listen or look at what part of you the cousin is, or do you move on with life? Time and your attitude will tell you, and maybe your next dreams too.

Pattern: repeated symbol

This one is often friendlier, or easier to see the message or support. We often find that a symbol will come to us in waking life, and be echoed in dreams, to help us know that it’s coming to us with a particular message. 

You may have fish for dinner, and then on tv you see people fishing, and in your dream, you are given a jar of fish eggs. We could say that’s a message from the Fish totem or animal messenger. You could then look at what Fish means to you – and perhaps, and likely, it will have been a specific fish like Trout.

You can find out what people say about animal symbols and messengers online but a good bit of self-reflection does wonders first; what does Trout inspire in you? And perhaps it’s a funny example if you think of dinner, but each animal has its unique messages, qualities, colours, behaviours, and you can observe or imagine that animal and see how their behaviour might be sending you a message of support or suggestions.

Other repeated patterns

Have you experienced other types of repeated patterns? I’d love to know and will happily explore others in further updates!