It constitutes us, is even vital to us, so it is normal for the blood to appear to us frequently in dreams. But what are the interpretations of these red appearances in our sleep? Analysis with Simone Berno, author of “Magical Power of Dreams” *.
“Blood is an energy of life,” explains Simone Berno. Also, many interpretations that have developed over the years converge on this essential notion of vital force which, according to dreams, is taken from us, given back or recalled as necessary. Losing blood, observing a third party in blood, scarifying oneself, immersing oneself in blood, spitting blood, emptying one's blood…, there are certainly as many interpretations as there are circumstances in which it appears to us but they are all related to the notion of energy essential to our balance.
Freud, Jung and the symbol of blood in Islam
Many eras and civilizations have thus delivered their interpretation of blood, but, as often in the context of the symbolism of dreams, three major currents have contributed their constitutive meanings to subsequent reflections.
Among them, that of Freud who, of course, sees the symbolism of our libido in the blood. To dream of blood therefore means in the Freudian interpretation to express an active, frustrated or at half-mast sexual desire, and would be the expression of a sexuality demanding to be deployed. The red of blood, symbol of passion, adds to this physical interpretation a violent feeling of love that can be at the origin of this hormonal agitation.
For Jung, to dream of blood would have to do with entering a new stage in our self-realization as an individual. By dreaming of the blood flowing from us, we would thus agree to let go of a phase made up of impulses and move on to an era of personal fulfillment and serenity. To dream of blood is to take note of the changes necessary in our daytime life to access this emotional harmony.
In Christian symbolism, the blood is inseparable from that shed by Christ to redeem the sins of men. It is then a symbol of strength offered, of gift.
In Islam on the other hand, the blood which flows is an omen of trouble, even of danger. This is also the case with the blood found on the hands. The bright red of blood is a symbol of anger. Often it has to do with money as well.
Blood as a symbol of femininity
When the dreamer is a woman, it is impossible not to connect the menstrual cycle blood, which is symbolically intimately connected with it. “Period blood is a symbol of femininity. When it appears to her, the dreamer has to take care of her feminine and her sensitivity, "Simone Berno analyzes. Associated with different periods of a woman's life, and with motherhood (whether it is a desire or not), it therefore frequently appears in dreams to those whom these problems work even if only 'unconsciously. It can arise in pregnant women, in those who wonder about their desire to be a mother, or precisely not. It also has a strong correlation with recharging your batteries, filling yourself with new energy.
Dreaming of blood: the different circumstances and interpretations
As we have seen, blood can be present in dreams, static, internal or, above all, arise from oneself or from others. So the symbolism of this vital force entering or leaving our being will have very different meanings. There are obviously a multitude of scenarios involving the blood in our dreams, and it is impossible to list all of them, but here are a few that will serve as some avenues of interpretation for dreamers curious to discover their meaning.
- lose blood (bleeding from the nose, seeing blood flow from a wound, crying tears of blood…): "It's a loss of energy that you have to watch out for," explains Simone Berno. A period of fatigue, a lack of personal or professional enthusiasm, an illness that does not speak its name…, through dreams, our body tells us that we must be attentive to these signs to which, perhaps, we lend too much little attention when we are awake.
- see blood on the floor (or elsewhere: on a wall, in a swimming pool, on clothes, fabrics …): "this indicates that the dreamer must be careful of a psychological injury, which can be that inflicted by the dreamer on someone", explains the expert. Have we symbolically dispossessed others or ourselves of our vital force by reaching it consciously or not? The dream invites us to question ourselves.
- drink blood : "This indicates a physiological need for certain elements, such as iron". Or that of regenerating, of being reborn, of emptying oneself of one's blood in order to fill with new energy.
- coughing up blood : the disease is necessarily evoked when, upon awakening, we remember this type of dream. However, to dream of coughing up blood has above all to do with an inner suffering that we would like to get rid of, that we would like to kick out of ourselves.
- be hurt and bleed : "It's being psychologically touched by a situation when you didn't realize it. »Like a revelation, the dream therefore comes to us to withdraw the handkerchief which one put on this psychological wound which one seeks to minimize, but which nevertheless makes us suffer to the point of appearing to us in the form of this real wound. which makes us empty ourselves of our vital force.
* "The Magical Power of Dreams", Simone Berno, Solar éditions.