BOYFRIEND
See RELATIONSHIPS.
BRACELET
See JEWELRY.
BRAIN
See BODY.
BRANCH
See TREE.
BRAKES
See CAR.
BREAD
See FOOD.
BREAK To dream that you break something, like a window or a chair, indicates that changes lie ahead and that you want to change the direction in which your life is heading. Alternatively, it suggests that you need to take things more slowly. If you drop or smash things in your dreams, this indicates that you are letting go of – or need to let go of – some project, relationship, person, or idea. Be sure to analyze the significance of what is being dropped or smashed. Another explanation for dreams of breaking things is that you are expressing some dismay or regret at how you let something slip through your fingers.
BREAKFAST
See FOOD.
BREASTFEEDING To dream that you are breastfeeding symbolizes tenderness, love, nurturing, and motherly love. It indicates your unconscious connection with the nurturing principle. To see someone nursing or dream that you are nursing suggests that you are nurturing, or need to nurture, aspects of yourself.
BREASTS
See BODY.
BREATH Breathing indicates the presence of life, so in your dream the condition or speed of your breathing may depict your pace of life. If you are holding your breath, this suggests fear and stress. If you are panting or breathing fast, this suggests excitement and stimulation. If you are underwater or not breathing at all, this reproduces the condition of the womb and indicates a need to escape from waking reality. To dream of breathing warm air denotes the possible onset of trouble, while breathing cold air foretells strength and courage. If you are feeling stifled by stale air or oppressive humidity, this indicates an ill-advised friendship that isn’t encouraging the dreamer to fulfill their potential. Or perhaps you feel stifled by your current circumstances in waking life. Alternatively could you be feeling breathless with anticipation? If you dreamed of taking in great gulps of invigorating air, your dream may be urging you to clear the air – resolve a tense situation – in your waking life, or it may have been referring to a sense of freedom and lightness.
BREATHING
See BODY.
BREEZE If you dreamed of stepping outside in your dream and feeling a fresh and gentle breeze, this has symbolic associations with the life force or spirit that is trying to breathe new energy into your waking life. Alternatively, your dream may have been urging you to have a brighter and breezier attitude to your waking life by blowing away the cobwebs and pulling yourself together.
BRIDE/BRIDEGROOM/BRIDESMAID
See RELATIONSHIPS.
BRIDGES If bridges or a bridge appear in your dream this is a clear symbol of transition from the present to the unpredictable future. Crossing the bridge suggests that you possess the strength within you to cope with life’s journey and with difficult events such as moving home, divorce, or a new job. If you dream of wandering across a bridge, can you see what potential future was waiting for you on the other side?
BRIEFCASE If you lose your briefcase, handbag, purse, or wallet in your dream, your unconscious may simply be urging you to be more careful with your finances in waking life. Handbags for women and briefcases for men are highly personal items, carrying everyday and emergency objects, not to mention address books and keys, and if you lose either in a dream it might suggest that you are feeling anxious about your identity in waking life. On the other hand, if you were looking through someone else’s bag, you may be curious to know more about them in waking life. As symbols of femininity, handbags and purses in dreams may also refer to female sexuality, while briefcases and wallets may refer to male sexuality.
BROOM Dreams that feature brooms are considered to be a sign of good fortune, suggesting that you are making a clean sweep in your waking life. The dream may be urging you to sweep out something from your past, so pay attention to what you are sweeping up. If the broom is damaged, you may be suffering from low self-esteem or feelings of insecurity. If the broom is being used outside, are you taking too much interest in the outside world and neglecting what is really important to you?
BROTHER In dreams, brothers tend to depict an aspect of yourself rather than the brother himself. They can also represent the characteristics you like or dislike about your own siblings and the dream may be telling you something about those particular characteristics in yourself. An older brother can represent experience and authority, while younger brothers can suggest vulnerability and, in some instances, immaturity. If a woman dreams of a younger brother, it can express either her own or her brother’s rivalry or vulnerability, but if she dreams of an older brother, it might signify her extrovert self.
See FAMILY.
BROWN
See COLORS.
BRUISE
See BLISTER.
BUBBLE This image in a dream suggests day dreaming or something that isn’t real or something delicate that can easily be damaged.
BUCKLE
See CLOTHES.
BUD If you dream of flower-buds in the middle of winter, your unconscious may be mirroring your longing for spring and warmth. It might relate to a budding relationship, a potential talent waiting to be developed, or to someone close to you. The unconscious can sometimes use buds or seeds to symbolize unborn children, the potential germination of an idea. If you picked or nipped your bud this could be urging you to nip something in the bud. If the bud looked plump and ready to flower this could mirror a potential development in your life. To recap: a flower-bud represents