How to learn to interpret your dreams?
First, I would suggest that you do not look to dream dictionaries for interpretations -- or even guidance -- to your dreams. Though there may be a few general archetypical similarities shared by all dreamers (i.e., deep pools of water tend to symbolize the unconscious), there is really not a singular set of meanings attached to anything you dream. In other words, if you, say, dream of a dachshund, you are not necessarily "... highlight[ing] your loyalty and devotion to others, " nor are you necessarily "well grounded and rational in your thinking." I chose that example randomly from the Dream Moods dictionary, which looks to me to be just as useless as all the rest of the dream dictionaries out there.
Dream interpretation tends to work best when you can go to an expert and have them interpret for you... but keep in mind that this must be done in person by a qualified examiner who knows you very well; dreams cannot be effectively interpreted over the internet by strangers, no matter what they tell you. Yes, sometimes these dictionaries get something right, but usually that's more a case of clever wording by the interpreter/dictionary, or overly hopeful listening by the dreamer; sort of the way newspaper horoscopes work.
Though I don't think it's a great idea, you can interpret your own dreams, if you take care and are willing to do a little work. This is done through careful examination of what you dreamed, involving thoughtful introspection based on what you dreamed, and what those remembered images might mean specifically to you. You also must learn to gather all of the symbols and images from your dream, whether you thought they were important or not, and assemble them in a pattern that speaks to you. There is an excellent book called Inner Work, by Robert A. Johnson, that clearly describes a four-step approach to interpreting your dreams, which is still available at Amazon. If you are serious about interpreting your dreams, then I highly recommend that you step away from the dream dictionaries and get your hands on a copy of this book.
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