There are levels of consciousness that exist in the dream state that you can wake up to and still be asleep. This happens in waking life as well, but is less noticeable, like when you suddenly realize you were not paying attention to something that was happening and you snap into awareness. When this happens in a dream, it is an indication that you are waking up to higher levels of your own conscious awareness.
About These Interpretations
This page presents 1 different perspectives on this dream symbol from various expert sources. Each interpretation considers context, emotion, and personal meaning rather than providing fixed definitions.