"Walk out into the street
With arms out, got a love you can't defeat
Neither down nor out, there's nothing you have that I need--
I can breathe."--U2, "Breathe," No Line on the Horizon

Dreams of dreaming underwater are far more common than one might expect. And the best part of these dreams is that usually they are accompanied by feelings of power, elation, joy, and freedom. But how to interpret such a dream?

When interpreting a dream about breathing underwater it is important to note that there are actually two prominent symbols that must be looked at--breathing and water.

As for the latter, no matter what form it takes--snow, sleet, ocean, lake, stream, rain--water in dreams usually stands in as a symbol for the emotions. Different water forms can help one identify what kind of emotional content is indicated but nonetheless water will usually mean some kind of emotion is coming to the forefront of the psyche.

Breathing, on the other hand, involves another element--the element of Air. Air in dreams is usually symbolic of the intellect and intellectual pursuits and endeavours.

Given that water is an emotional symbol and air an intellectual one, what does dreaming about having the ability to breathe underwater mean?

As mentioned, dreams of underwater breathing are almost always pleasurable and the reason for that is that there is a harmony in the dream--the emotions and intellect are in balance. Despite being underwater, which could mean one felt as if she were drowning or overwhelmed by the emotions, the dreamer is now at harmony with her surroundings and environment. She has tackled the hard work of treading water and seeking simple survival and has moved into a space where despite rough waters and emotionally turbulent times, she can still find the intellectual capacity to be in her emotions without becoming her emotions.

Enjoy these dreams. Take them as signs of psychic progress and spiritual growth. You're not sleeping with the fishes anymore, you're swimming with them!

Until next time, sleep well and dream out loud!

*~Aisling Ireland~* is an ordained Interfaith Minister, available for weddings and commitment ceremonies and a Spiritual Counselor providing dream interpretation and Tarot readings. To make an appointment check out her website at: Sang-Realta Spiritual Counseling

"Man and His Symbols" is probably the most accessible and informative book you can find on C.G Jung's ideas on dream interpretation while U2's No Line on the Horizon" is a dream set to music.