Symbols beginning with the letter C

Cage
dream interpretation
meaning of dream
This dream symbol suggests that you may be experiencing inhibition and powerlessness in some areas of your life. Additionally, you may be feeling restricted and have concerns about your personal freedom. (Who holds the key to the cage in your dream?) Consider all of the details in the dream and look for its possible source (i.e. family life, relationships, thoughts and/or feelings, or work life).

Cake
dream interpretation
meaning of dream
It may symbolize the sweet and pleasurable parts of life. The dream may be interpreted according to your interaction with the cake in the dream.

Calculator
meaning of dream
See: Numbers, Machinery, Money

Cancer
dream interpretation
meaning of dream
Dreams are symbolic and not literal -- most of the time. Cancer tumors in dreams represent a variety of unprocessed psychological and emotional materials that the dreamer may be obsessing on. They represent all of those things that bother, disturb, anger, or hurt us and that we never directly deal with or let go of. The dreamer's mental, psychic or emotional problems may be proliferating and infecting many areas of thought and function. You may be experiencing anxiety and fear as a result of a bad habit or a certain situation in your daily life. However, if you are very worried and cannot get it out of your mind, go for a physical. When is the last time you did that anyway? In more superstitious interpretations, dreaming of cancer may be considered a dream of the contrary, but also of warning!

Candles
dream interpretation
meaning of dream
They symbolize light and where there is light, there is hope. A lit candle suggests that you are unconsciously seeking comfort and some sort of spiritual enlightenment. An unlit candle suggests that you may be feeling rejection and disappointment or can't see anything positive or "light" in a situation or in yourself. If in your dream you watch the candle burn down to nothing, it suggests that you may have fears of getting older and dying. For men it may connote a fear about waning sexual abilities.

Cannibalism
dream interpretation
meaning of dream
Anyone who has ever raised teenagers knows all about cannibalism. (Just kidding!) This dream may reflect dark, destructive and forbidden desires or obsessions. Cannibals literally consume other people's lives and, along with it, their energy. When interpreting this dream, consider those things which consistently drain you and take away from your enthusiasm and the general quality of your life. It may be any number of things, such as career or a relationship. However, realize that you are not a victim of life, but rather its creator. Thus, make changes which will increase your energies, but not take away from others. Some believe that dreaming about cannibalism is a dream warning the dreamer to stay away from things that are destructive and less than honorable.

Car
dream interpretation
meaning of dream
The car in your dream may symbolize the physical self or ego development and ego function. In that, it represents the way that you travel through your life's journey. Consider all of the details in the dream, including its emotional content (e.g. difficulty of the road, identity of the driver, direction of the incline). Recurring car dreams usually deal with life's major themes that may include issues of control and sensibility. By carefully examining this dream, you may gain insight into important areas of life, including to how well you are navigating from one stage of your life to another, if you are assertive and take charge or are passive. Dreaming about traveling in a car is a very, very common dream theme that provides valuable information in regard to a specific part of or long-standing theme in your life's journey. See also: Journey, Road

Carnival
dream interpretation
meaning of dream
See: Amusement Park

Cartoons
dream interpretation
Seeing a cartoon world in your dreams or seeing cartoon-like people suggests that your unconscious is sending up messages which are telling you something about the way you perceive the world. The cartoon people, or cartoon characters, suggest that you may perceive yourself and those around you as comical or as not having much validity or seriousness. Your perceptions may be somewhat off due to your inability to look at the way things really are. Your mind's eye distorts things so that you are more comfortable with what is going on around you. If your world is full of stress and this dream made you laugh, consider the compensatory nature of it. In your dream you may be able to obtain moments of lightheartedness and fun.

Castle
dream interpretation
meaning of dream
A castle in a dream may be symbolic of the "cavern of the heart." It represents the home of the human spirit (yours) and the natural self. Dreams with castles in them may come from deeper levels of the unconscious, or the collective unconscious. They may represent spiritual transcendence and the mysterious and intangible force that seems to quietly, but firmly, direct our lives. A castle in a dream may also represent feelings of security, protection, isolation or remoteness. You may have a castle dream when you have realized a desire or accomplished a goal. Darkened castles may be symbolic of unconscious or unfocused desires, at times, black castles represent our failures and white, or lighted castles, symbolize achievement and awareness.

Cat
dream interpretation
meaning of dream
Cats have both positive and negative connotations. You need to consider all of the details in the dream in order to obtain accurate interpretation. The cat can be a symbol of sexuality, femininity, prosperity and power. A cat is also an independent animal, and in your dream you may be associating yourself or someone else with these characteristics. Usually the dream is telling you about yourself and not others. Historically black cats have been symbols of evil and bad luck. If you are a cat lover and have one as a pet, the symbolism may not apply to your dream. Old, superstition-based dream interpretations say that a cat is a bad omen and that you can expect deceit from those that you trust.

Caterpillar
dream interpretation
meaning of dream
This bug may represent a stage in your own personal growth and development. The butterfly is a symbol of transformation; it represents a level of individual achievement. The caterpillar, on the other hand, may indicate that you are on your way but have not reached your goal. You may be in earlier stages of accomplishing a real-life goal, a relationship goal, or even a spiritual goal. The caterpillar may represent a specific area of your life or may be symbolic of the larger you.

Cave
dream interpretation
meaning of dream
Caves are rich and thought-provoking dream symbols. At times, a woman with reproductive issues may have a cave dream, in which case it represents the womb. The cave, as the womb, can represent new life, creativity, warmth and safety. The cave can be a general symbol of a safe place, a sanctuary or a refuge. If you are experiencing much anxiety in daily life, in your dream state you may retreat to a warm cave where you cannot be disturbed by worldly demands. The cave could also represent the mysterious and unexplored parts of ourselves. It could be symbolic of the unconscious mind, which could be a pleasant or a frightening experience. Your personal associations and experiences with caves, as well as the details and the emotional content of this dream, need to be carefully considered before making an interpretation.

Celebrity
dream interpretation
meaning of dream
See: Actor

Cemetery
dream interpretation
meaning of dream
A cemetery is a collection of dead organic matter. It is a sad and depressing place that doesn't reflect any joy, and reflects even less hope. Dreaming about cemeteries may be a reflection of your mood or unresolved grief. It may literally represent sadness that comes from losing someone that you love, or it could represent your past and long-gone experiences. See also: Grave/Graveyard

Chase
dream interpretation
meaning of dream
Folklore interpretations say that if you are looking at a chase or participating in it, you will have a comfortable old age. Although this may be comforting, there is a more realistic understanding of this activity in a dream. If you are being chased, maybe you are running away from or trying to escape those things that are frightening and unpleasant (possibly your own habits and negative behaviors). If you are doing the chasing, it may be that you are expressing some aggressive feelings toward others or are pursuing a very difficult goal. On the deepest level, if a stranger is chasing you it may represent your chasing a part of yourself, the unconscious attempts to catch up with the conscious in order for you to become more aware of yourself and your own multidimensional nature.

Chewing gum
dream interpretation
meaning of dream
For several years now, I have been receiving similar dreams from people all over the world. The dreams are almost exactly the same and involve the dreamers' inability to get rid of chewing gum. The more they attempt to remove it from their mouths the larger and more unmanageable it becomes. In the dream they become frustrated and panicky because the harder they try to pull, the larger the mass becomes in their mouths. This dream suggests that the dreamer may experience frustration in daily life due to a large scale or standing insolvable problem that leaves them feeling powerless. The dream represents an inability to digest or to process information or a dilemma. It also suggests that the dreamer is not able to express him or herself effectively and that repetitive and ineffective verbal expressions are typically used. Chewing gum in dreams may be a sign of childlike behaviors, vulnerability, powerlessness, and a need for nourishment.

Chickens
dream interpretation
meaning of dream
This flightless bird may be pointing to personal characteristics and needs that you may not necessarily want to look at. Consider the activities in the dream, as well as the mood, and then attempt to make a good interpretation. Chickens can represent cowardliness, gossip, excessive talking, and powerlessness. They are not known for their intelligence or beauty, and their presence in your dream could be an invitation to get more serious and better focused. The more positive suggestion in this dream is in that chickens lay eggs. Eggs are symbolic of something new and fragile. They represent life and development in its earliest forms and as such, their possibilities are limitless.

Child
dream interpretation
meaning of dream
Some people have reoccurring dreams about a small child, while others, from time to time, dream about unfamiliar children. The child in your dream could represent your inner self, or the child within. The dream could be based on childhood memories, and it may carry a specific message or bring up long-buried issues. On the other hand, the dream could simply be a pleasant memory. Children in dreams could symbolize a need and an eagerness to learn, simplicity, intuition, new endeavors and many other positive attributes of childhood. Occasionally, the child in your dreams may be pointing to your own childish ways. Therefore, consider all of the details and the tone of the dream before making an interpretation.

Choking
dream interpretation
meaning of dream
See: Smothering

Church
dream interpretation
meaning of dream
Dreaming about being in a church is more common than most people realize. Each week I get several requests to add church to the dictionary. This may be so due to the fact that most of us went to church as children. From a very early age we had to go to church and were taught that there was a God. This was important in our life and to our families. Dreaming about churches, cathedrals, synagogues, or any other place of worship may represent our childhood associations with religion. At times, the dream may be a muddled childhood memory. The church could represent a need for greater spirituality in the dreamer's life. It may express religious beliefs, everyday occurrences, issues of safety, security and strength through community and religious expression. None of us can escape the age-old questions, "Who am I?" and, "What is the meaning of life?". Coping with our own physical mortality is a very big deal. Both our conscious, and unconscious minds are continually working and bringing issues of relevance and concern into our awareness. Think about the details of your dream and make an attempt to honestly understand its meaning.

Cigarettes
dream interpretation
meaning of dream
The interpretation of this symbol, as with all others, depends on your relationship with cigarettes. If you are a smoker or are surrounded by smokers, cigarettes may be a regular part of your daily life which has been brought into your dream state. Cigarettes could represent anything from phallic symbols and symbols of pleasure to tools of destruction. Generally, the cigarette is an object which carries social and emotional significance. When we are teenagers, we associate them with being "cool," daring, and defiant. For some adults they become a way of life where all emotions seem to be punctuated with cigarettes. Finally, as adults come into touch with their own physical mortality, cigarettes become dreadful objects, and smoking becomes a terrible burden and curse. When interpreting the dream with cigarettes in it, ask yourself what cigarettes mean to you. See also: Smoking

Circle
dream interpretation
meaning of dream
The circle symbolizes infinity, the circle of life and the eternal unknown. You, the dreamer, may have come to a greater degree of spiritual awareness, so the dream could be spiritual in nature. Carl Jung called all circular images a "mandala." It is one of the most important dream symbols which represent the psychic center of personality. It is symbolic of wholeness, completeness and unity of the self. However, as always, examine all of the details in the dream, as well as its tone and mood, and rule out the possibility of "going in circles" as the primary message in the dream.

Cliff
dream interpretation
meaning of dream
Standing on the edge of a cliff could be a frightening, but at the same time an exhilarating experience. Dreaming about cliffs generally indicates that the dreamer has come to a point of heightened understanding and awareness. An increase in the level of consciousness may have occurred. Through hard work and perseverance, the dreamer may have reached a vantage or plateau of understanding.

Climbing
dream interpretation
meaning of dream
Going upward, or ascending, is always a positive dream symbol. Whether you are struggling on a difficult rope or ladder or walking up an easy slope, this dream suggests that you are moving in the right direction. If the climb in your dream is extremely difficult, it may be pointing to some obstacles that you need to overcome before reaching your goals. Consider all of the details in your dream, and if you recently completed a difficult task, achieved a goal (e.g. graduating), this dream may be reflective in nature. See also: Cliff

Clock
dream interpretation
meaning of dream
Carl Jung called all circular images a "mandala." It is one of the most important dream symbols which represent the psychic center of personality. It is symbolic of wholeness, completeness, and unity of the self. The clock is a mandala that revolves and it may represent immortality. On the lighter side, when you are dreaming about a clock, time is an obvious issue. You may be currently experiencing anxiety in regard to a time-sensitive situation. For example, people worry about their "biological clock" running out, or they are concerned about not being "on top of things." In general, however, this dream may be a reminder that you need to speed up your actions and that time is an important factor. Old dream interpretations say that if you hear a clock strike, (or alarm go off), positive things will happen to you, and if you are winding a clock, you will fall in love! When interpreting this dream, try to remember the time and then attempt to understand how those numbers are meaningful to you.

Closet
dream interpretation
meaning of dream
The closet in your dream may have emotional, psychological, or physical connotations. Closets are used to store good things that we need as well as useless stuff. Emotionally they hold memories, secrets, precious emotions and valuable thoughts. Consider all of the details in your dream and try to see the message clearly. Do you need to clean out the closet, come out of the closet, or share the things that you have stored in that closet?

Clothing
dream interpretation
meaning of dream
Clothing generally represent our worldly appearance or status. At times, it may represent our attitudes toward ourselves and others. Mostly, it represent the way that we appear to the world. Clothes are not symbolic of our private self, but rather of our public self. A poor man wears different clothes than a rich man. A doctor's attire is different from that of a carpenter. The type of clothing that we wear varies from situation to situation. The type of clothes that you are wearing in the dream will give you clues to the meaning of the dream and to your unconscious ideas about yourself and others.

Clouds
dream interpretation
meaning of dream
Clouds are made of air and water, two of the four basic elements. Some would say that the soul is represented by air and spirit by water. Your positive energy and idealism could be represented by white clouds and your more negative personal characteristics, and private thoughts, by dark storm clouds.

Cockroaches
dream interpretation
meaning of dream
Seeing and at times just thinking about cockroaches makes a person feel squeamish and repulsed. When dreaming about these dreaded insects, the unconscious mind may be hinting to the dreamer that he needs to reevaluate and reassess a major part of his life. There is never just one roach; thus, the areas of life that need cleansing and renewal may be deep and wide. The negativity or contamination that is represented by the roaches may affect a great deal of your life. Thus, this may be a call to clean your psychological, emotional, and spiritual self. (Also, examine your motives!) On a less dramatic note, cockroaches in our dreams may be associated with food and uncleanliness, so don't leave the dishes for tomorrow!

Coffin
dream interpretation
meaning of dream
This dream symbol most likely evokes fear, but before making quick interpretations, carefully consider all of the details in this dream. The coffin could symbolize a lack of energy or vitality in the dreamer. It could represent the death of one stage of life and movement into another. (Not necessarily physical death! In fact, some cultures believe that if you see a person dead and in a coffin, he will most likely live a long and healthy life!) When dreaming about coffins, we may be contemplating the nature of the death experience and may access the state of consciousness that is attuned to the spiritual world. Most simply, and most likely, the coffin in your dreams may represent feelings of confinement and lack of freedom. See also: Burial, Death

Colors
dream interpretation
meaning of dream
Most people dream in colors, but at times some stand out more than others. Colors are symbolic and their symbolism is part of culture. We communicate with color and relate ideas with them. For example, a bride wears white and black is worn at funerals. Colors also represent energy. The meaning that you give to the colors in your dreams depends on the meaning that you give to those colors in daily life. If you "see red" when you are angry, then red symbolizes anger and not passion for you. Some generalizations have been made as to the meaning of colors in dreams. They are as follows
Black: depression, sadness, despair. Some believe it symbolizes hidden sexual desires.
Blue: spirituality, optimism, positive thoughts, communication. Some believe that when you see it in your dreams, you may be in the presence of your spiritual guide.
Green: money, jealousy, health concerns, love.
Red: passion, sexuality, anger, warning.
White: purity, transformation, cleanliness, dignity.
See also: Pink, Yellow, Brown, Purple, Orange
 

Couch
dream interpretation
meaning of dream
Dreaming about a couch could mean that you may have a need for some rest and relaxation. The couch also has other symbolism. For example, it could be an object that brings up warm memories, such as those of your first love, whom you snuggled and first kissed. Additionally, look at all the details of your dream and try to determine if your couch is symbolic of an analyst's "couch," such as Freud had. Old dream interpretation books offer a somewhat strange but curious meaning. They say that the couch may be symbolic of a false sense of security and that you should listen to the advice of those that love you!

Cow
dream interpretation
meaning of dream
In our dreams, this simple domestic animal can represent a variety of very important and deeply-felt issues. In some cultures the cow is a sacred symbol, representing divine qualities of fertility, nourishment and motherhood. Consider the details in your dream and make attempts to identify the individual, (it could be yourself), to whom the symbolism applies. Additional characteristics to consider when interpreting a dream with cows as one of the primary symbols are passivity, docility and general contentment with life. The cow is mostly a positive dream symbol, and superstition-based dream interpretation say that grazing cows are symbols of prosperity, contentment and happiness. See also: Animals

Crab
dream interpretation
meaning of dream
At first glance a crab seems to be a very negative dream symbol. It could represent a "crabby" or unpleasant personality. The claws could be symbolic of a clinging and hurtful person, or a side of your own personality. There may be too much dependence, clinging and forcefulness in your life. The crab may also symbolize your inability to effectively move forward and address your own difficulties. (Remember the crab often moves sideways or backwards.) Some folklore interpretations say that the crab is an omen of poor health. However, there is a more positive interpretation for the crab in your dream. In some areas of metaphysics, the crab is a representative of the sea and the sky. It represents physical nourishment which can be obtained from the sea and also intellectual nourishment. As with all water dwelling animals, the crab could also represent something in the unconscious and the emotions. See also: Animals, Cancer

Crown
dream interpretation
meaning of dream
A crown made of gold and jewels symbolizes power, honor, and status. It could also symbolize an accomplishment or a passage into higher levels of consciousness or spiritual awareness. When interpreting this dream, pay attention to what kind of crown it is and who is wearing it. This dream may be congratulatory, (i.e. esteem for a job well done). Different types of crowns may have varying meanings (e.g. Jesus had a crown of thorns and was a martyr). All crowns are circular and in that way they bring up issues of completeness and wholeness and point to the center of personality.

Crucifix (cross)
dream interpretation
meaning of dream
A cross can have several seemingly varying connotations, or the interpretation may be multifaceted. It may represent your spirituality and the coming together of all different parts of your personality. It is a Christian symbol and you can think about what it means to you. The other interpretation may be less spiritual and more of a reflection of how you are feeling. A cross is a symbol of pain and suffering. Think if you are feeling as though you are being "crucified" by something that is going on in your life.

Crying
dream interpretation
meaning of dream
In our dreams we experience a variety of emotions. Crying in the dream state generally has the same meaning as crying in daily life. It is a release of negative emotion, frustration, or fear. On the other hand, you could be experiencing the tears of joy. Due to repression or denial, sometimes people are unable to express their feelings. In the dream state some of our defense mechanisms may relax and an emotional release occurs. Some emotional dreams may be compensatory in nature. Thus, if you never cry in daily life, you may cry in your dreams.