Water is a common dream symbol that often represents emotions, spirituality, the inner self, the subconscious mind, intuition, and more. Dreams about water can have many interpretations and insights into your waking life.
Common Water Dream Meanings
Emotions
Water in dreams typically represents emotions. The state or appearance of the water indicates different emotional states.
- Calm, clear water reflects emotional calmness and clarity.
- Turbulent, rough, or stormy waters symbolize overwhelming emotions or emotional turmoil.
- Flood waters represent being overwhelmed by emotions.
- Frozen water may mean blocked or repressed emotions.
Spirituality
Water has spiritual symbolism across religions and cultures. Dreams about water can represent spiritual nourishment, rebirth, healing, and connection.
- Holy water or water from sacred rivers and springs points to spiritual cleansing, renewal, and growth.
- Total submersion or emergence from water signifies spiritual rebirth or a new beginning.
- Walking on water reflects supernatural spiritual abilities and divine connection.
Inner Self
The reflective surface of calm water represents the mirror to the inner self. Dreams about water invite you to explore hidden depths within your psyche and become more self-aware.
Subconscious
The subconscious mind has been associated with the vast ocean. Dreams about water symbolize messages arising from your innermost depths, intuitive wisdom, creativity, and areas that remain unseen or unexplored within yourself.
Intuition
Water represents the fluidity, flexibility, and receptiveness of intuition. Pay attention to any insights, ideas or inspiration that seem to pour in out of nowhere when you have water-related dreams.
Types of Water Dreams
Ocean
Dreaming of the ocean can reflect the deepest levels of your subconscious mind, emotions, and inner self. It represents the wellspring of life and a connection to all living things. Dreams call you to draw upon its wisdom.
- Calm ocean water represents emotional and spiritual calmness and peace.
- Stormy, raging ocean waters reflect emotional turmoil or overwhelming life situations.
- Getting caught in ocean currents or high tides warns of being swept away by emotions or life events.
Lake
Lakes represent your inner emotions in dreams. The condition of the lake reflects your emotional state. Lakes also signify spiritual nourishment, peace, relaxation, and insights.
River
Rivers indicate the flow of emotions, life force, creativity, and spirituality in dreams. Observe the river’s characteristics to interpret the dream message.
- Calm, steady rivers reflect smooth-flowing emotions and energy.
- Raging rivers represent overwhelming emotions and life situations.
- Blocked rivers or dams indicate blocked emotions, creativity, or spiritual flow.
Flood
Being caught up in a flood means your emotions or life situations feel out of control. You may feel overwhelmed, stressed, or unable to contain intense pressures.
Tsunami
Tsunamis represent sudden, massive life changes that overwhelm you emotionally. They reflect situations that may seem like disastrous uncontrollable forces.
Swimming Pool
Dreaming of swimming pools relate to relaxation, calmness, luxury, easing stress, or taking a break from pressures. The condition of the pool reflects your emotional and mental state during times of leisure.
- Clean, sparkling pools represent rest, relaxation and clarity.
- Dirty, unkempt pools reflect stress or concerns interfering with relaxation.
Bath or Shower
Bathing dreams relate to cleansing yourself emotionally or spiritually. They reflect self-renewal, letting go of stress, cleansing away guilt or negative emotions, and gaining new perspectives.
Sinking
Sinking or drowning in water represents being overwhelmed by emotions, life situations, or a sense of failure. You may feel unable to handle or “stay afloat” amidst pressures.
Drinking Water
Drinking refreshing, clean water indicates taking in spiritual sustenance and refreshment emotionally and psychologically. Dream water quenches stress, renews positive mindsets, and flows through you with vitality.
Water Dream Interpretations
Being in Water
If you dream you are immersed in water, floating in water, or moving through water, this represents fully experiencing and flowing with emotions and spirituality.
Positive meanings: Being centered in your emotions, trusting your intuition, connecting with your inner self, spiritual immersion or rebirth.
Negative meanings: Feeling drowned, overwhelmed or swept away by emotions or situations.
Objects in Water
Seeing familiar objects submerged under or floating on the surface of water often symbolizes aspects of yourself being revealed from your unconscious mind.
Positive meanings: Gaining self-awareness, emotional insights about relationships or life situations.
Negative meanings: Feelings of having lost control over some area of your life, aspects of yourself lost or flooded with emotion.
Water Creatures
Dreaming of water creatures and animals relate to messages arising from your subconscious intuitive self.
Positive creatures like fish often represent helpful insights, ideas or resources. Dangerous creatures like sharks warn of emotions or situations that feel threatening.
Water Events
Pay attention to any water-related situations in dreams like floods, tidal waves, storms, or sinks overflowing. These events provide insights about overwhelming emotional or life situations.
When to Pay Attention
Pay special attention to water dreams during times of strong emotions, life changes, spiritual questioning, creativity blocks, or when seeking insights about relationships or situations.
Record details about the water’s appearance, creatures within it, objects coming from it, etc. These symbols provide clues to interpret the dream’s message and meaning for your life.
Dreaming About Falling into Water
Falling into water in dreams relates to feeling out of control emotionally or practically. You may feel overwhelmed by situations in your waking life that feel like they are making you “fall” helplessly.
Pay attention to the water’s characteristics for clues. Falling into calm water suggests being swept away by emotions or life changes, but you feel able to handle it. Falling into raging, stormy waters represents feeling emotionally or practically overwhelmed by chaotic situations with a sense of sinking, failure and loss of control.
Dreaming Of Driving into Water (Car Going into Water)
Driving into water in dreams reflects life situations where you feel out of control of decisions or emotions that are “carrying you away.” Vehicles in dreams represent how you are maneuvering through various situations.
If you go into the water willingly, it may indicate embracing the flow of emotions or changes. But accidentally driving into water suggests feeling powerless against being overwhelmed by emotions or external situations. Observe if you escape the water or sink for more clues to interpret the message.
What it Means
- Losing direction emotionally or practically
- Feeling powerless to control situations
- Letting emotions carry you away
Dreaming of a Car Sinking in Water
When a vehicle sinks into water in dreams, it often represents aspects of yourself or your life “sinking” or being overwhelmed by emotions, situations, or a sense of failure.
Vehicles reflect how you maneuver through life situations. When they sink in water, it indicates feeling incapable of handling or “staying afloat” in overwhelming circumstances.
What it Means
- Feeling incapable of handling emotions or life situations
- Being overwhelmed by external situations
- Sense of drowning in failure
Dreaming About Water Overflowing
Seeing water overflowing in dreams reflects emotions or situations that feel out of control and more than you can handle. Like a vessel overflowing, it suggests you feel inundated with responsibilities and pressures.
Pay attention to the container and where the water overflows from for more clues. If a bathtub or sink overflows, it may relate to being overwhelmed with your own emotions. But if the water comes from an external source like a flood, it more likely relates to outside situations swamping your ability to cope.
What it Means
- Feeling emotions are too much to handle
- Being overwhelmed by external pressures
- Life situations seem out of control
Dreaming of Clear Water
Clear, clean water in dreams indicates emotional clarity, spiritual renewal and psychological refreshment. It reflects areas of your life that feel tranquil and peaceful.
The appearance of clear water suggests you intuitively sense things clearly and are able to navigate life smoothly. You may be experiencing emotional or spiritual cleansing and renewal. Drink in the refreshing insights clear water dreams have to offer about yourself or situations.
What it Means:
- Emotional clarity and calmness
- Ability to navigate life smoothly
- Cleansing of negative emotions
- Spiritual refreshment
Dreaming of Dirty Water
Dirty, polluted or contaminated water in dreams signifies emotional difficulties and external problems. It reflects distressing emotions or negative situations that cloud your peace of mind and clarity.
Murky waters indicate blocked emotions, toxicity about a situation or hints of trouble ahead. Pay attention to where the dirty water emerges from for clues on the source of negativity. Ensure you are not ignoring inner turmoil or warning signs about relationships or situations.
What it Means
- Negative emotions or situations
- Emotional toxicity or turmoil
- Blocked inner peace/clarity
- Warning signs of trouble
Dreaming of Drinking Water
Drinking water in dreams relates to taking in spiritual nourishment or having emotional needs fulfilled. It reflects renewal, refreshment and starting fresh emotionally or spiritually.
If the water is cool, refreshing and satisfying, it signifies embracing positive transformation through emotional or spiritual rejuvenation. If you gag or the water tastes bad, it may indicate difficulty absorbing insights or integrating change.
What it Means
- Emotional and spiritual rejuvenation
- Internal refreshment and renewal
- Gaining new positive perspective
Dreaming of Walking in/on Water
Walking on water in dreams has spiritual connotations about having supernatural abilities or an extraordinary connection with divine spiritual realms. It reflects the ability to rise above emotional limitations.
If you walk on water successfully, it indicates confidence in handling situations that may overwhelm others. But if you sink or struggle, it suggests feeling unable to cope with highly emotional circumstances that leave you in “over your head”.
What it Means
- Mastering high emotions
- Rising above emotional turmoil
- Divine abilities to overcome challenges
- Confidence in handling tough situations
Dreaming of Swimming
Dreams of swimming relate to emotions, spirituality and the inner self. Calmly swimming reflects comfort navigating through your emotional waters and inner landscapes. It signifies self-acceptance.
If you flounder or struggle while swimming, it indicates feeling challenged by emotions or unsure of yourself in navigating situations. Successfully swimming against currents or high waves shows emotional resilience and inner strength to withstand difficult external pressures.
What it Means
- Navigating emotions or situations
- Getting familiar with the inner self
- Self-acceptance
- Emotional resilience
Dreaming of Drowning
Dreaming of drowning is very common and relates to feeling overwhelmed by emotions or life situations. It reflects being “in too deep” and unable to handle or cope with problems and pressures that feel like they will swallow you up.
Drowning dreams suggest you feel overwhelmed by stress, relationships, traumatic events or difficult changes which leave you struggling helplessly. They indicate a need to keep your “head above water” amidst these intense or complex feelings and circumstances.
What it Means
- Being overwhelmed by emotions or problems
- Feeling unable to cope or handle situations
- Sense of helplessness
Dreaming of Water Leaking in a House
Seeing water leaks inside a house in dreams relates to emotions or insights dripping, flooding or seeping into your awareness from your unconscious mind or intuition. It suggests you can no longer ignore or “patch up” difficult feelings or inner truths that demand attention.
Pay attention to where the water leak springs from and how much water emerges for more clues. Small leaks may indicate rising emotions or minor concerns. But water gushing in or completely flooding rooms reflects overwhelming emotions or major life situations you can no longer contain or deny.
What it Means
- Emotions flooding conscious awareness
- Inner issues demanding attention
- Ignored feelings surfacing
Dreaming of Water in The House
When you dream of water inside a house, it represents emotions overflowing into your inner world of security, comfort and the familiar. The condition of the house reflects your state of mind.
If water gently flows through clean, orderly rooms, it suggests harmony between emotions and inner life. But water flooding into a chaotic dirty house indicates overwhelming feelings that swamp your sense of stability and control over situations.
What it Means
- Emotions affecting inner stability
- Security threatened by feelings
- Needing to regain control
Dreaming About Running Water
Hearing or seeing running water inside a house in dreams relates to the flow of emotions, creativity, and spirituality circulating through your inner self.
The speed and location of running water provides clues to interpret this dream. Gently running water suggests smoothly flowing emotions. Rapidly running water may reflect intense emotions. And leaks or floods of running water indicate blocked energy and overwhelming situations.
What it Means
- Flow of inner emotions
- Level of emotional intensity
- Smoothness or overwhelm
Dreaming of Black Water
Black water in dreams symbolizes emotions that are murky, polluted, toxic or extremely negative. The color black reflects something that obscures clarity and light. Black water suggests dark feelings or unclear intentions that may harm you if ignored or handled carelessly.
Approach any black water dreams cautiously but pay attention. They often warn of underlying negativity or harm associated with a person, plan or situation that has so far remained hidden from your conscious awareness or discernment.
What it Means
- Negative emotions or intentions
- Emotional toxicity
- Warning of hidden negativity
Dreaming of Blue Water
Blue water represents clarity of emotions, intentions or situations. Seeing pools, rivers or oceans of clean blue water in dreams reflect honest communication, trust and harmony in relationships or life circumstances.
Blue also symbolizes calmness, relaxation, and fluidity of movement. Blue water dreams indicate being in sync emotionally, able to go with the flow, and at peace inwardly to handle challenges smoothly.
What it Means
- Emotional clarity/honesty
- Calmness and relaxation
- Handling situations smoothly
Dreaming of Green Water
Green water in dreams symbolizes emotional growth and revitalization. The color green represents renewal, freshness, restoration and new beginnings. Green water suggests positive change and flourishing personal progress.
Emerging into or swimming through green water signifies embracing the growth process to flourish emotionally. If the water appears thick like algae, it may indicate blocked progress that needs cleansing for fresh perspectives and renewed direction.
What it Means
- Emotional growth/revitalization
- Fresh starts and progress
- Need for perspective if murky
Dreaming of Rising Water
Rising water in dreams often represents increasing or overwhelming emotions that feel beyond your control. It reflects situations where feelings seem to flood or swamp your usual stability and rational thinking.
Observe if you successfully escape the rising water or become helplessly trapped in the dream. Your reaction indicates whether you feel able to handle difficult emotions or feel overwhelmed by situations in your waking life.
What it Means
- Emotions rising beyond control
- Feeling flooded/swamped
- Needing to handle overwhelming feelings
Dreaming of Floods
Dreaming of floods relates to emotions and situations that feel completely beyond your ability to control or handle. The waves of water represent the wave of emotions crashing down and swamping you.
Flood dreams suggest you feel totally overwhelmed by responsibilities, changes, relationships, traumatic events or stresses in your waking life. They indicate a need to seek help or support to prevent feeling completely drowned by pressures.
What it Means
- Being overwhelmed by emotions/situations
- Feeling swamped and out of control
- Need help or support
Dreaming of Jumping into the Water
Dreaming of willingly jumping into water reflects taking an emotional risk or plunging into new life changes. It suggests embracing transformation through immersing yourself in feelings or situations.
If you jump into calm, clear water, it indicates confidence to navigate changes. But jumping into raging waters suggests feeling compelled to throw yourself into overwhelming emotions or situations beyond your control.
What it Means:
- Taking an emotional risk
- Embracing life changes
- Willingly facing overwhelming situations
Dreaming of Seeing Alligators in Water
Seeing alligators or crocodiles in water represents dangerous emotions lurking within your unconscious mind or aspects of yourself that feel threatening.
These creatures wait camouflaged in murky emotional depths for the right moment to attack their prey. In dreams, they suggest destructive feelings, primal reactions, or insensitive attitudes that may harm you or relationships.
What it Means
- Dangerous emotions
- Hidden destructive feelings
- Insensitive attitudes
Dreaming of Water Breaking
If you dream your “water breaks” as if going into labor, this signifies the sudden release of pent-up emotions. It reflects the imminent birth of a new phase of life after a long period of gestation.
The dream indicates you can no longer contain the buildup of feelings or changes underway. You are on the brink of a major life transition or transformation.
What it Means
- Releasing pent-up emotions
- Imminent life change
- Major transition underway
Dreaming of a Plane Crashing into Water
Dreaming of a plane crashing into a large body of water represents feeling your lofty goals or ambitions plummeting disastrously due to high emotions.
It suggests situations where you feel unable to stay afloat amidst overwhelming feelings, changes or responsibilities that threaten to drown productivity, plans or focus. You may need to reassess priorities.
What it Means
- Goals/plans overwhelmed by situations
- Unable to stay focused/productive
- Reassess priorities
Dreaming of Rushing Water
Hearing or seeing fast-flowing water like rapids or rushing floods relates to intense emotions or changes that feel beyond control. The dream indicates situations in your waking life that seem to rush upon you without warning.
Your reaction to the rushing waters provides insight on how equipped you feel to handle mounting emotions or sudden changes sweeping you away. Can you steer clear of hazards or do you feel helpless to forces carrying you off course?
What it Means
- Intense emotions
- Sudden overwhelming changes
- Ability to cope with situations
Dreaming of Water Flowing from a Tap or Pipe
Seeing clean, clear water flowing freely from taps or pipes indicates smooth emotional flow and release of creativity. The dream suggests you feel equipped to handle challenges.
But if the faucet leaks or pipes burst, it signifies feelings and situations seem out of control. Contain the damage before stress impacts your mental health. Shut off the valve releasing negativity.
What it Means
- Smooth emotional flow
- Out of control emotions
- Need to contain stress
Dreaming of Fetching Water from a Well
Lowering a bucket into a well to fetch water for drinking represents drawing intuitive wisdom from the depths of your inner self.
It reflects the ability to access subconscious emotions, creativity and spiritual insight contained in untapped reservoirs within yourself. Bring these life-giving waters to the surface.
What it Means
- Drawing from inner wisdom
- Accessing subconscious insights
- Bringing creativity to the surface
Dreaming of a Water Fountain
A flowing water fountain signifies emotional and spiritual refreshment. The life-giving waters represent cleansing, vitality and rejuvenation through tapping into your inner resources.
The dream encourages you to renew your perspective and revitalize your mindset by taking time to connect with your intuitive self. Allow the flowing fountain to wash away stagnant feelings and attitudes.
What it Means
- Emotional and spiritual refreshment
- Revitalization
- Cleansing of negativity
Dreaming About Holy Water
Holy water in dreams reflects spiritual cleansing, blessing and protection from harmful emotions or outside negativity.
The sacred water washes away impurities, refreshes your energy, consecrates spiritual growth and shields you from destructive attitudes or intentions. Let the holy water sanctify your inner self.
What it Means
- Spiritual cleansing and purification
- Emotional detoxification
- Protection from negativity
Dreaming About a Waterfall
Seeing a waterfall represents the powerful and intense flow of emotions, creativity, intuition and spirituality pouring through your inner landscapes.
Pay attention to whether you stand under the waterfall to receive its vital flow or observe it from a distance. Getting drenched can reflect renewing yourself amidst dynamic changes. But falling over the waterfall edge suggests being overwhelmed.
What it Means
- Powerful creative/spiritual flow
- Dynamic emotional changes
- Overwhelm if falling over edge
In Summary
Dreaming about water represents the fluidity of emotions, spirituality, intuition, and the inner self. Calm clear water reflects positivity in these areas, while turbulent stormy waters relate to overwhelming negative emotions or situations.
The type of water, from oceans to pools, symbolizes specific meanings tied to emotions, spirituality, the subconscious and more. Creatures and objects in the water provide clues to interpret intuitive insights about yourself or situations.
Pay attention to water dreams during emotional times, changes, or when seeking direction. They provide messages to guide you through depths of your innermost self.
