Here are a few of the more well known and notable methods of dream interpretation:

Association Game

Sigmund Freud

Freud’s methods of Dream Interpretation involved creating a ‘chain association ‘for each object or dream symbol. This method involved the dreamer saying the first word that popped into their mind upon hearing the cue word. The answer they gave would be the next cue word given and so on. He believed you could then connect the dream symbols to uncover suppressed feelings. With this retrospective method you could encode the dream symbols and discover their hidden meanings based on how the dreamer identified with that particular symbol. His beliefs held that most dreams revolved around the past and were often seen as referring to some sort of repressed sexuality.

Symbolic Expansion
Carl Jung
Carl Jung liked Freud's idea of associations, but disagreed with Freud's desire to lead the dreamer farther and farther away from the actual dream image in his Dream Analysis. Instead, he advocated returning each time to the image itself as the cue word. For example: Shoes => Clothes, Shoes => Feet, Shoes=> Pair, Shoes => Ground … Etc. Jung believed this technique of "mining" each image to unearth its possible associations might lead the dreamer to discover which associations were actually most important.

Discover The Most Famous Dream Analysis Methods!

Explain it to a Martian
Gayle Delaney
Gayle Delaney (and others) advises the dreamer to amplify the dream symbols in a slightly different way when acting as a dream interpreter. Instead of generating free-floating associations, she suggests describing each image in simple, powerful terms, as if explaining its purpose and outstanding features to a Martian who knows nothing about life on Earth. For example: Shoes => These protect our feet (from cold, damp, dirt, etc.) when we walk. We can walk farther wearing these than we could without them. Sometimes, they are more stylish than practical/comfortable.....etc.

Role Playing

Frederick Perls (Gestault

Frederick Perls, founder of the Gestalt psychology movement, popularized "encounter" groups. He recommended that, in the process of dream analysis,the dreamer hold imaginary conversations with dream characters/objects, in order to give them a "voice" to communicate their meaning. He had the dreamer sit opposite an empty chair, imagining the dream character/object sitting across from them. The dreamer would ask questions of the character, and then would switch chairs to answer them trying to express the attitude of the dream character as much as possible. For example: => Dreamer: "Shoes, why did you rain down on me like that?" => Shoes: [yelling] "You idiot! Can't you see that you aren't walking in the right direction?" He urged the dreamer to see each character, object, and action in the dream as some (possibly alienated) aspect of the dreamer's own personality.

Metaphors and Puns

A majority of people in the field of the interpretation of dreams would doubtless agree that the "language" of dreams is visual and metaphorphic. Often, the same metaphorical analysis techniques that are applied to works of literature may also be applied to dreams. Some people also find it useful to look for standard literary devices such as setting, dramatic structure, etc. in their dreams. It may also be helpful to look specifically for verbal or visual "puns."

For example: METAPHOR: Shoes as outer expression of "direction" and purpose? Or groundedness?" SETTING: Old rustic church (ancient, earthy spirituality?) in stormy weather (turbulent emotions?) POSSIBLE PUNS: Rain = reign or rein? Sole = soul?

Opposites

It may be instructive to try to identify glaring "opposites" in your dreams. These oppositional forces often underline important conflicts, imbalances, or concerns. For example: Aggression vs. Passivity, Style vs. Function, and Heaven vs. Earth.

Archetypes

One of the most popular techniques in dream analysis is searching for "archetypes", mythic figures which Carl Jung believed were present in everyone's dreams. Classic Jungian archetypes include The Hero, the Wise Old Man, the Shadow (darker side of our own personality), and Anima/Animus (aspects of the opposite sex present in our own personal psychology).

Acting Out

Jungian analyst Robert A. Johnson advocates going beyond understanding dreams at an intellectual level, and "acting consciously to honor dreams." His idea is that by doing a physical act which actualizes the dream's message, you move toward truly integrating the dream's meaning in your waking life. In choosing an appropriate ritual, Johnson advises us that correct ritual is "symbolic behavior, consciously performed." He recommends choosing rituals that are small-scale, inexpensive, private, and safe. So if the shoe dream seemed to be emphasizing the need to be "grounded," to value function over style, and to consciously and assertively pursue a positive direction in life, the dreamer might for example: = Solemnly (and privately) arrange several pairs of shoes on the floor, labeling them with signs that said "Style," "Function," etc. The dreamer could ceremoniously sweep the "unwanted" shoes aside and put on the "desirable/positive" shoes.