A light in a dream can be a potent symbol, but understanding how to decipher it can be a challenge. So here, we look at dreams about light interpretation and meanings to help you make sense of what you saw.
What associations do we have with light?
To find the correct dream interpretation, it is not enough to say that a certain symbol “means” something in every dream it appears in since dreams are highly subjective.
The meaning of a symbol in a dream depends as much on the associations the dreamer has with that symbol as the symbol itself, so what do we associate with light?
During the daytime when the sun is shining or inside when a light is switched on, we can see clearly – while in darkness, the opposite is true. For this reason, one of the strongest associations we have with light is clarity, either of thought or perception.
Light is also a metaphor for knowledge while darkness can represent ignorance, something else that light in a dream may symbolize – after all, when we learn something important or realize something we didn’t know before, we call it “enlightenment”.
Enlightenment is a word that can also be used in a spiritual sense, referring to a spiritual or religious awakening, and for some people, light in a dream could be connected to ideas like this.
When you shine a light on something, it highlights whatever is in the light, and it can bring something to your attention, something you were perhaps unaware of before – so light in a dream may represent your consciousness as opposed to your subconscious mind.
Finally, many children – and even some adults – are afraid of the dark, so light can represent reassurance, safety and security.
Some common ways to interpret dreams about light
Having looked at some of the things light can mean to us, now we can talk about some of the most common ways to interpret dreams about light.
Realization or understanding
As we mentioned above, a light in a dream can symbolize clarity, and dreaming of a light can be a message that tells you that you have recently come to a new realization or a new understanding of a situation that seemed opaque before.
For example, perhaps someone you know has been behaving strangely, and you haven’t been able to understand why.
However, you have suddenly realized what is causing their strange behavior, and the light in your dream represents this realization and clarity.
Seeing the right way to behave
When we see the error of our ways and realize the correct way to think or behave, we often refer to it as “seeing the light”, and a dream about a light could be connected to this.
Perhaps you have been behaving badly or immorally, but you have now come to see that you have been at fault.
This dream of a light could be a message to enforce your realization, encouraging you to change the way you act in the future – or it could be urging you to accept and atone for your mistakes.
Alternatively, the light could be a message trying to help you see that the way you are behaving is wrong – in essence, encouraging you to “see the light”.
Spend time thinking about what this dream could be about and how it relates to your life – deep thought and self-analysis may help you understand why your behavior is wrong.
Shedding light on a situation
Another possibility is that you have recently learned some new facts about a situation you didn’t previously understand, and this has helped “shed some light” on the situation.
Perhaps on a conscious level, you aren’t yet fully aware of the importance of the new information you have learned – but by taking the time to process what has happened and what you have found out, you will come to understand things better.
A new idea
In popular culture, the image of a lightbulb being switched on is associated with the sudden appearance of a new idea, so a light in your dream could be related to a new idea or a new solution to a problem that is about to occur to you.
This could be related to a thought or an idea that’s bubbling just below the surface of your conscious mind, and if you take the time to explore your innermost thoughts, you may realize consciously what you aren’t yet fully aware of.
For example, perhaps you are thinking about making a major change in your life like going on a long trip, changing your career or moving to another country.
The idea might not yet be fully formed, and you might not have been giving it enough attention. However, if you can focus on the thought and develop it, perhaps you will understand what you need to change to start living a happier and more fulfilled life.
A spiritual awakening
A dream about a light can often be related to some form of spiritual awakening.
For example, if you have recently been devoting yourself to spiritual development, perhaps through meditation, the dream could be telling you that the breakthrough you seek is near at hand.
However, another possible interpretation could be that you are currently neglecting the spiritual aspects of your life.
In this case, the light in your dream represents the realization that you need to spend more time on the spiritual side of your life to find the correct balance with purely material things.
Light on an ob