To properly analyze your swimming dream, let’s begin with water. Water is life! The wise ancients revered it. Holy water is still used in Christianity today. And our own bodies consist of up to 60% water. We obviously need it to survive; there is no doubt that water is sacred.
In your dream the water itself could symbolize:
The state of your emotions or subconscious
Life and rebirth, renewal, new beginnings. It is also symbolic of spirituality, knowledge, healing, and refreshment.
Was the water clear, dirty, murky, calm, tumultuous, deep, shallow? All of these factors give you clues about the state of your emotions and subconscious.
To see calm, clear water in your dream means that you are in tune with your spirituality. It denotes serenity, peace of mind, and rejuvenation. To see muddy or dirty water in your dream indicates that you are wallowing in your negative emotions.
To see a pool of water in your dream indicates that you need to acknowledge and understand your feelings. It is time to dive in and deal with those emotions. Alternatively, a pool indicates your desire to be cleansed. You need to wash away the past. See River meanings here.
Now that we have the water conditions clarified, let’s move on to swimming. To dream that you are swimming suggests that you are exploring aspects of your subconscious, mind, and emotions. The dream may be a sign that you are seeking some sort of emotional support. It is a common dream image for people going through therapy. Other meanings: (take what resonates and leave the rest)
- You are moving towards a new life goal.
- You are heading in the right direction.
- Soon, significant changes are coming your way.
- An internal struggle about a difficult life decision.
- A desire to have a baby.
- A subconscious indication that you will soon give birth.
- An internal spiritual conflict.
- Your mind’s need to relax and work through a challenging problem.
- A desire to be free of a person, such as a lover, supervisor or situation.
In my last dream, the rising clear water was crowded with other people. I swam to get ahead of them all. I relate this to a new beginning in my life in which I put myself first. Remember, you are the best interpreter for your dream.
To dream that you are swimming underwater suggests that you are completely submerged in your own feelings. You are forcing yourself to deal with your subconscious emotions.
To dream that you are swimming away from someone or something indicates that you are avoiding some deep emotional issue. You are refusing to acknowledge and confront your feelings because they may be too painful or too fresh. In particular, if you are swimming away to escape danger or death, then it suggests that you are letting fear take over your actions. You are afraid of change.
To see children swimming in your dream indicates that you need to adopt a more carefree attitude.
To dream of swimming against the current means, you are working against the flow of life somehow. It could be a subconscious indication you are making the right choice, but the process of change won’t be easy. You are going against powerful forces. An indication that the person you are dating is not the best match. Questions to ask yourself: Did your dream involve swimming against the current? Did you struggle as part of the dynamic? Was the experience physically exhausting?
To dream of swimming with the current: This could be an indication you are making the right choices. A metaphoric affirmation that you will be OK. A sign that big changes are quickly coming. Your mind’s way of suggesting you are at risk of losing control over a given situation. A gentle nudge from your subconscious to slow down. Questions to ask yourself: Was the water fast-moving? Did it seem like you were being swept away? Were you in control?
Swimming with someone: A deep and intense shared journey with the person you swam with. Your mind’s physical projection of love for this person. If you swam with a stranger, it could be a mental projection of your hidden shadow (the hidden self). A longing to be with someone adventurous and exciting.
Struggling to swim: An unresolved conflict with a family member. Worries about your use and abuse of alcohol. Learn more in this post about how alcohol can make depression worse. An aspect of your sexuality that you’ve denied. Challenges in school or worries about passing a class. An indication that the person you are romantically interested in is a bad match.
To dream where you swim effortlessly suggests that you are going to encounter success in the coming days. If you are managing projects at the moment, this implies that things are going to be successful. It is the right time to start building new relationships with people and engaging in new partnerships as this will have a positive impact on your life. It is a time whereby you will feel happiest in life.
Swimming in a crowd of people can mean that you feel like you are lost in a crowd or do not feel like you take enough time for yourself. You may feel like you are putting others’ needs and interests ahead of your own.
If you dream you are swimming alone, it could mean that you seek some time and solitude to better understand and explore your own feelings and emotions about a situation. You may feel that you are emotionally detached from a situation or from others in your current life. It’s important to think about how you felt during the dream and how this may contrast with how you feel in waking everyday life.
Resources: dreammoods.com, auntyflow.com, guycounseling.com, journeyintodreams.com
