5 spiritual meanings of water in a dream (reasons + symbolism)

Have you ever had a dream of flowing water? A happy day swimming at the beach? What about waterfalls or rivers?

Dreaming of water is very common, but did you know that water in dreams actually has meaning?

The experience is often a sign of emotions, feelings, and thoughts that need to be expressed and released.

Water can also be a symbol of healing, renewal, and transformation.

There are also times that it’s associated with cleansing and purification, so it may represent a need to cleanse and purify your mind, heart, and spirit.

This article will list 5 spiritual meanings of water in dreams.

Are you ready to unlock the depths of water’s symbolisms in your personal life? Scroll down to know more!

1) You are full of emotions

“In the language of dreams, water often represents our emotional life, the feelings we have under the surface, while the solid ground represents what we knowingly communicate to others,” Cynthia Richmond said in Dream Power: How to Use Your Night Dreams to Change Your Life.

I remember dreaming that I stood in the middle of a restless ocean, with the waves crashing around me and the salty air in my lungs.

The sun was setting, creating a beautiful array of oranges, reds, and purples across the horizon.

In the dream, I could feel the ocean’s power, its immense strength, and how it moved and shifted.

I felt so small compared to it, yet connected to something much larger than myself.

Water dreams “carry deep, primal significance,” according to Everyday Health.

Most of the time, water is seen as a symbol of emotion. But which emotion?

It depends on the type of water you see.

Was the water in your dream calm? Flowing? Was it clean or dirty?

If the water in your dream was calm, it might signify that you are at peace with yourself and your emotions.

If the water was flowing, it could represent your openness and willingness to try new things.

If the water was clean, it represents regeneration and purity. In fact, in early Chinese religion and medicine, water was associated with purification since ceremonial bathing was “an enduring part of both the social life of the elite and their ritual calendar.”

However, if the water was dirty, you may be dealing with negative emotions and unhealthy habits, according to Psychic Library. It might also mean that you’re uncertain and confused about a situation in your life if the water in your dream is murky or muddy.

2) You are facing significant changes in your waking life

Another instance where water appeared in a dream was from my friend’s experience.

She was facing a challenging problem in her career and didn’t know what to do.

One night, she had a dream about a strong stream that parted ways at the end.

She took a dive, felt the cool water enveloping her body, and felt a sense of peace and a deep connection to the water.

The next day, she woke up feeling refreshed and inspired. She was sure the dream was significant and had a deeper meaning.

She believed the dream about the stream was a sign to choose the life where the water flows best. She was sure it had been a sign from the universe that it was time for her to make a move.

So, she took a chance and made a change in her life. She changed her outlook, quit her job, and started her own business.

Because, just like life, water is unpredictable. It ebbs and flows where it wants to go.

No matter how clear the water is, you can never tell what lies underneath and what could happen.

In fact, according to UNESCO, water’s cultural impact is undeniable. “The fate of humans and water are inextricably linked. In the words of the Whanganui River Tribe’s proverb, ‘Ko au te awa, ko te awa ko au’ – I am the river, the river is me.”

In life, we go through different situations, and now and then, we are forced to deal with certain problems or sudden changes.

A dream involving water, especially flood water, means that you are dealing with major life changes in your waking life that you may or may not be aware of – where the currents are strong and uncontrollable. There might be a situation requiring your head to be above water, too.

When dreaming about a flood, Psychic Library suggested that you may be harboring feelings of being emotionally overwhelmed. It can also represent “a crisis state” that you must resolve.

3) You are feeling out of control

With its raw and primal energy, water can either be positively powerful or suffocating.

There may be a time that you see yourself drowning in a dream. Although you are safe in reality, having this dream may still affect you even after you’ve already woken up.

That feeling of not being able to breathe and seeing nothing but water splashing all over your face – it’s a nightmare. But what does it mean?

Having a dream of drowning symbolizes your lack of control.

You may be dealing with certain problems in reality, and you might be having a hard time trying to control the situation. It may also mean you have unresolved issues and overwhelming feelings or unwanted emotions.

What happens if the dream doesn’t stop once the flood has passed? PsychNewsDaily suggested that it might mean your emotions are still strong somehow even after the dream itself has subsided.

Floods are frequently symbolic of the purifying or cleansing power of water in dreams.

And having a dream about experiencing a flood may be a sign that you need to purify both yourself and aspects of your life. Recent events might have left you feeling overwhelmed, or you may be weighed down by negative habits or a toxic relationship.

Interestingly enough, this is in contrast to Daoist philosophy, where water was a common “symbol of receptivity, pliability, and stillness,” or what they consider as yin qualities that are “necessary to balance or neutralize yang aggression and hardness.”

Chaotic water dreams might be one of the universe’s signs that you might need help navigating your life.

So what can you do if you feel like you’re losing control?

All of us have the potential to find our center and balance, but most of us don’t realize how easily we can achieve that.

I learned this from the shaman Rudá Iandê. He’s dedicated his life to helping people restore balance and live life with passion at the heart of everything they do.

But that’s not all…

Rudá isn’t just an average shaman. He uses an incredibly effective approach that combines ancient shamanic techniques with a modern-day twist. He knows how to tap into his pool of potential and power, and now he wants to share these life-changing methods with you.

In his excellent free video, Rudá shares the secret to aligning what matters in your life, as well as knowing which aspects you should prioritize. You’ll learn that there’s no limit to what you can achieve.

So if you’re ready to make that change today, to put self-doubt behind you and start living your best life, you need to check out his genuine advice.

Click here to watch the free video.

4) You are facing opportunities for growth

Aside from purity and cleansing, water also symbolizes growth and becoming.

There is an old story about a small village in Southeast Asia, a place that was nestled in a lush, green valley.

Though life was often hard for the people there, they had one source of hope and joy – the river flowing through the village’s center.

For them, the river was seen as a source of endless opportunities.

Every morning, villagers would gather around the riverbanks. It was a place of learning, with their elders frequently taking the youth to teach them about the cycle of life and how to use the river to their advantage.

It symbolized change and growth, bringing new opportunities and wisdom each season.

They would witness the waters when they thawed, bringing with them much-needed nutrients for the soil and new life. They would see how creatures would gather around it to quench their thirst.

The river reminded them that no matter how small or insignificant they may have felt, they could always have a chance to make a difference in the world.

Like the story, seeing water appear in your dream can mean growth and new opportunities in your life.

Water is often linked to feelings of abundance and fertility, which can manifest through new ideas and projects.

Are you yearning to be in touch with what you’re really passionate about?

Are you waiting to find courage and strength in your endeavors?

These are some questions and possibilities that come to mind when you think about a river.

Its significance can also extend to your spiritual development. It can be a sign that your journey is due to take a new direction, achieving new and greater heights!

Perhaps it’s a sign of an adventure that you’re about to take in unfamiliar territory?

Ultimately, it can indicate that your higher self is leading you toward new and exciting opportunities, allowing progress to reach your potential.

5) Your reality mirrors the water’s behavior

And while it can be a sign from the universe that you’ll be off to do bigger and better things, it can also be mirroring your present existence – both above and below the surface.

Pay attention to what you see, feel, and hear in the dream.

Water is an expression of life’s greatest mysteries and wonders, as it can represent the power of the unknown. It’s also a powerful tool to look inward since its reflective surface can help us to look within ourselves.

It’s an invitation to seek out those that go beyond the horizon, and it can help us to confront our struggles with courage and grace.

According to the Sleep Matters Club from Dreams Limited, because water is “constantly shifting and changing, it’s a good symbolic representation of life.”

The conditions of your dream of water will greatly influence how it is interpreted.

You are probably going through a peaceful time in your life if the water is calm and serene, and the opposite is true if the water is relentless and chaotic.

But to truly understand the symbolism in your dream, you have to think about what it means to you personally, and to do that, you have to assess the feelings it invoked in you.

Were you left inspired or worried by your dream?

If it’s the latter, Dreams Limited suggests confronting these thoughts properly.

“If the dream represents anxiousness or overwhelming feelings, it could be an idea to break down the exact causes of these stresses, as this may lead you to find solutions,” it explained.

Recently, I spoke to a psychic after going through a major crisis that left me wondering about which path I should take.

I saw a lot of turbulent waters in my dreams, from angry seas to overflowing rivers, and I knew I needed help.

I expected smoke and mirrors, but what I got were real answers and mind-blowing insights into my situation.

The gifted spiritual advisor I spoke to at Psychic Source broke through all the lies I was telling myself and gave me real clarity.

They gave me so much valuable wisdom about the things that bothered me and had been keeping me up at night.

Let me level with you:

I’m still skeptical about most psychics, but the ones I met there are the real deal, and I can personally attest to that based on my own experience.

So, what are you waiting for?

A gifted advisor can tell you what your dreams could possibly mean in relation to your waking life, and they can also empower you to make the right decisions.

Click here to get your own dream interpretation.