Games

Psychological / emotional perspective: Specific games such as football, baseball, rugby and cricket (which are team games) represent for many the strong ability to identify with a ‘tribe’ or a group of people. They indicate the way in which we gain identity and how we connect with people.

A referee in such a game signifies the monitoring of our behaviour. In dreams, games that require the power of thought and strategy – such as chess or draughts – often give some idea of how we should be taking a situation forward. Decisions may need to be made where we have to gauge the result of our action and take into account our opponent’s reaction.

Dreams that feature games represent the perspective on life held by the dreamer. Individual games such as solitaire indicate the dreamer’s tendency for self- amusement, in which excelling or enjoyment is a significant motive. Interactive games, like chess, indicate the dreamer’s tendency towards challenge, in which competition with another is a significant motive. In either case, the dream is highlighting your mental dexterity.

(Amusement, Cynicism, Playing games, Playing) To play games or to act sprightly in a dream means pride, arrogance, being cynical, profanity or defiling what is sacred in one’s religion and lacking reverence for it. Playing backgammon in a dream means exaltation, gaining power, honor and rank, or it could denote one’s pride, arrogance and cynicism. Playing with a wedding ring in a dream means concealing secrets, except if someone else appears in one’s dream, then it could mean looking for a missing person. Sitting and playing with one’s heels in a dream means governing. Playing football in a dream means reconciliation or making peace with one’s enemy. Ifa sick person sees himselfplaying a game in a dream, it means recovering from his illness and returning to a normal healthy life. Playing cricket ball in a dream means a fight followed by reconciliation and peace.

(Also seeBackgammon, Cock fighting, Gambling, Ball, Bullfight)