People in Dreams: Who Shows Up and Why

Every night your brain casts a full ensemble: parents, exes, bosses, kids, and the odd person you haven’t seen since school. People in dreams often stand for your relationship with them or for something they stir up in you. For dreams about loved ones who passed away, or about break-ups, we take extra care.

7 dream symbols

Baby
Dreaming of a baby does not mean that you will have one. A baby in a dream usually stands for something new and tender in your life, such as a project, an idea or a part of you that needs care. If you are expecting, baby dreams are especially common, and if you are not, your brain is simply fond of tiny, demanding metaphors.
Crush
Dreaming about your crush is usually a sign that they take up space in your thoughts, and that your brain is trying out the story in private. It does not mean they feel the same, and it does not mean they are thinking of you. It mostly tells you what you hope for, what you fear and how much you like them.
Deceased loved one
Dreaming of a loved one who has died does not predict anything, and it is not a bad sign. These dreams are very common after a loss, and many people find them comforting. Most of the time they are about missing someone, not about the future.
Ex-partner
Dreaming about your ex does not mean you want them back, and it does not mean they are thinking of you. It usually says more about what the relationship stood for, or about something in your life right now. Your brain simply likes to reuse a cast it knows well.
Mother
Dreaming about your mother is usually about care, belonging and how you handle closeness and independence, whether she is alive or not. It does not predict anything about her, and a dream of her dying is not a sign that she will. The feeling in the dream tells you more than the plot.
Someone you know
Dreaming about someone does not mean that they are thinking about you or dreaming about you. People in dreams are built from your own memories and feelings about them, so the dream tells you about your side of the connection. Sorry to spoil the romance: there is no cosmic group chat.
Twins
Twins in a dream usually point to duality: two sides of a choice, two sides of you, or a double dose of love and responsibility. They do not mean you are expecting twins, and they do not mean a double bill is coming. Your brain just likes a matching set.