If this were my dream
I have very vivid dreams. When I was younger, I would search dream dictionaries and dream analysis to figure out the meaning of my dreams. These interpretations left me cold and eventually after buying and trying a lot of these dictionaries, I gave up on dream analysis.
Still I knew that my subconscious was trying to tell my waking mind something important. So I think in revenge, my under mind sometimes gave me prophetic dreams. I met people in my dreams first before I met them.
When I became ill, it was very unsettling when my dreams either stopped or they were all about fighting an invader. Yes, my body was fighting itself through an autoimmune disorder so this interpretation made sense.
I have taken the psychology classes where in the 1980s and then later in 2001. In the 1980s a lot of the researchers were still thinking that dreams were just brain farts. That one of the main reason for dreaming was to digest what happened with the waking mind.
After decades of sleep research, dreams have gained more importance again. Some of the psychologists do use dream analysis in helping their patients.
In my case when I was taken off immunosuppressants, my brain started back online. This was two decades of drowning in brain fog and memory loss. Sometimes I couldn't even access memory. If you can't access your brain functions it makes it hard to write. In my case I write to understand and explore ideas.
Anyway a friend of mine introduced me to Udemy. I found Ron Masa Exploring Dreams #1 . It was the first time I saw one-on-one instructions on how a person can analyze their own dreams. Plus it works.
The main thing about dream analysis is that every dream and object in the dream has many layers. You can interpret using many different filters like Jungian, physical, spiritual, religious mythology, etc. There are so many ways you can look at one object. Plus the under-mind has a low sense of humor so expect puns. Lots of puns.
When interpreting someone else's dream you should start with "If this were my dream..." This acknowledges that each one of us has different meanings attached to different objects. If the person feels the "ah-ha" moment then the interpretation is right. The person is the only one to know for sure what the dream means.
For instance-- a dreamer sees a volcano. If it were my dream I would think it was uncontrolled emotion erupting in a controlled way. Another person would see Hawaii. Only the dreamer would know which one resonates with him.
And the volcano may represent much more.
Dream analysis is personal work. When I have used this practice, I have learned more about myself. Many of my anxieties are soothed when I finally figure out what my dreams are telling me.
So if you are interested in this type of personal work, I suggest Ron and his wife. They have worked in the field of psychology and dream analysis for many years.