A Dictionary of Dream Symbols

by Eric Ackroyd
(1) The back parts of anything - a building or a body, for example - mav symbolize those parts of your personality that are hidden from view, buried in the unconscious because they are disapproved of and rejected as inferior or disgusting, or because they are frightening, disturbing, threatening. Are these pans of you really inferior or shameful; and what is it that made you feel they were? You must learn to get in touch with vour deep emotional needs, and this means communicating with the parts of yourself that have been pushed to the ‘back’ of the mind.

(2) The human back - unless it is bent - may represent moral uprightness and physical or moral strength. A bent back is probably a sign that you are (feeling) overburdened or downcast. What is it that prevents you from holding your head high and opening yourself to life? Is it guilt-feelings, causing you to punish yourself? Is it your parents, vour boss, or someone else who won’t ‘get off vour back’ and keeps on imposing his or her choices and values on you? If a situation is getting you down, seriously consider getting yourself out of it physically.

The Element Encyclopedia

by Theresa Cheung
To dream of your back represents parts of yourself hidden from view, secrets that you are keeping from other people or aspects of your personality you would prefer not to think about. Your dream could be pointing to some aspect of your life that is behind you, or a situation that is over. Maybe your dream contains some other play on words: is someone getting your back up? Do you feel the need for a pat on the back? Do you need to watch your back? Is somebody on your back or trying to dominate you? Are you engaged in a backbreaking task? Is your back against the wall? Do you wish someone would get off your back?

Have you been stabbed or scratched in the back? Traditionally, seeing a back in your dream forewarns that you should not lend money to anyone. In particular, lending money to friends will cause a rift in your relationship.

If a person turns their back on you, this may suggest that you may be deeply hurt in waking life or that other people may not be ready to share their thoughts with you.

Islamic Dream Interpretation

by Ibn Seerin
(Behind, Posterior, Rear side)

In a dream, the back of a human being represents what people hold for him of praises or blame, acceptance or rejection, honor or humiliation, or it could represents one’s debts. Seeing the back of a human being in a dream also means following his tracks or practices.

If a positive look manifests therein, such as a sweet fragrance or the emergence of a radiant light, or if it turns into iron in the dream, it signifies one’s gratitude regarding his own condition. In a dream, the rear side of the human being represents his outward appearance or what renders the human being acceptable, or it could represent his garment, an ostentatious person, a show of grandeur, pride about one’s social class, a show of being wealthy, the surroundings of one’s house, the outskirts of a town, the outer display of one’s religion or his school of thought.

A broken back in a dream means fear, distress and sorrow.

If one sees his rear side dark in color, black or red in a dream, it means that he may suffer from physical abuse and beating during a fight. Seeing one’s own back in a dream also could mean buying new clothing, or it could mean feeling strong because of one’s knowledge, his son, power, political connections, wealth or property. Seeing one’s back in a dream also could mean to repudiate one’s wife. Ifone’s back is seared or cauterized in a dream, it denotes stinginess, or it could mean that he fails to comply with God’s rights upon him.

If one sees his back bent in a dream, it means a misfortune. Ifone sees the back of his friend in a dream, it means that his friend will turn his back to him at times when he needs him most.

If one sees the back of his enemy in a dream, it means that he will be guarded against his threats.

If one sees the back of an old woman in a dream, it means that the world is turning its back to him. Ifshe is in her middle age in the dream, it means that he is seeking something hard to obtain.

If she is a young woman in the dream, it means that he is expecting something and must be patient to acquire it. One’s back also represents old age. Back pain in a dream means poverty, sickness, debility, imprisonment of one’s boss or the death of a brother. One’s back in a dream also represents one’s dependence on a strong person. Ifone sees himselfcarrying a heavy load on his back in a dream, it means debts, or a vicious neighbor.

A broken back in a dream means losing one’s strength and power, or it could mean one’s death.

If a sick person sees his back broken in a dream, it means that the person who is taking care of him may die shortly, or it could mean that he will suffer from poverty. Carrying burdens over one’s back in a dream means sins. Carrying a coffin or a load ofmerchandise over one’s back in a dream means carrying forgotten debts that will surface at awkward times. Carrying wood over one’s back in a dream means backbiting, slandering people and reporting lies. Carrying a heavy load over one’s back in a dream also means having many children with little money to sustain them. Seeing a hunchbacked person in a dream means prosperity, longevity or having a large family.

(Also see Backbone, Backside, Body)