basement

Universal Landscape: Deep secrets. Hidden or unconscious thoughts.

Dreaming Lens: Were you in the basement? Were you considering a trip to the basement? If so, were you frightened at the prospect? Was there enough light to see? Did you know what was down there? Were you familiar with the basement? Was it finished, or unfinished space?

Personal Focus: Houses represent the Self. Therefore, the basement would be the Self below the Self. As such, any dream of a basement connects with unconscious material and anything that lurks below the surface of the psyche. Since many basements are dark and gloomy, they can have an aura of menace about them. This notion is exploited in the media, such as scary basements in films where no one escapes unharmed, making the symbolic meaning of this image connect to the Shadow and those things we are afraid of in life.

Avoiding the basement in a dream indicates a fear of exploring the unknown. If you know what is down there and that makes you feel ill at ease, your dream is letting you know that you are aware of what hidden issues are being avoided. If you are in the basement and filled with fear, you may be going through a process that is scary, but perhaps unavoidable. Trying to leave a basement might parallel the waking mind’s desire to be finished with a dark period in life. If the person who is trapped is not you, use the Character Aspect technique to examine what hidden traits within yourself are beginning to emerge and need attention.

If you dream of a basement that is not dark and scary, you are still in the realm of things that are hidden or private, but perhaps not frightening. While this could symbolize previous conflicts that have been resolved, it could also point to Shadow material that is being covered up. Be vigilant in your investigation, for whatever happens below the surface will eventually impact what appears above.

The house generally represents your psychological and emotional self. Each part of the house may deal with a different part of you.

The basement is built first.

It is often below ground (or at least some parts of it), and is essentially the foundation of the house. Dreaming about a basement and understanding the dream, may provide you with valuable information which may lead to greater self-awareness.

A recurring dream about basements (i.e. being in a basement, cleaning a basement, furnishing a basement, etc.) should not be ignored. These dreams may be symbolic of your unconscious, instincts and intuition, and degree of awareness of a current situation or a problem.

The look of the basement may provide you with clues about your current feelings and state of contentment.

If the basement is a mess, and you see great disorder and clutter, it suggests that you may be experiencing confusion and that it is a very good time to sort things out emotionally and psychologically. At times, the activities which are going on in the basement of your dream may be based on past experiences or childhood memories. As with all dreams, their main purpose seems to be to bring the dreamer to higher consciousness so that he may deal with his current issues more effectively, rather than to dwell on the past.

See House.

Buildings represent the personality of the dreamer, and the basement, equally as with other underground spaces, is a symbol of the interior of the body, the deepest levels of the mind. Because of this, it is associated with the hidden part of your being, that which is guarded closely from strangers.

It is the place of your fears, problems, and feelings of guilt or regret. Once you manage to bring light to this place, there will be nothing that can resist you. In terms of dreams, dreaming of a basement full of food or treasures means that you have the sufficient resources to resolve your problems. You will not need to ask for external help. In contrast, if you glimpse a basement full of pottery, you may be mistakenly judging your situation, you should abstain from participating in unclear issues.

Popular superstition says that dreaming of a basement full of wine signifies that you will get great benefits in an unreliable manner.