Dreaming of falling is a super common dream, and pretty scary, too! I used to always have this dream where I was flying on an airplane and, after looking down, realized that there was nothing keeping me in place. I would then free fall through the air, waking up just before landing.
There was such a sense of threat and fear in this dream, but I always tried to forget about it soon after waking up. However, years later I have realized the reason behind this dream, and what it really meant for me.
Dreaming of falling usually signifies anxiety and a loss of control. However, you need to look deeper at the dream in order to fully understand what it might mean for you. In this article, we will look at different ways you may be dreaming of falling, and the cause of this.
Why Are Dreams Important?
When I used to dream of falling, I was never really interested in my dreams. I always used to shrug them off, not realizing that they actually have significance in my waking life.
Over the years, I have become more in tune with the dream world and now know the importance of dreaming. Our dreams teach us so much about our subconsciousness and are seen by many psychologists as a form of therapy, allowing us to combat our deepest, darkest fears.
Dreams allow us to connect with things that we have suppressed, shining a light on our psyche. They help us figure things out, allowing us to grow both emotionally and spiritually.
Dreams will typically use symbolism, so just because you are dreaming of spiders doesn’t mean you need to pay more attention to spiders in your waking life! Your dreams are a metaphor, so you need to consider what the spiders might represent.
Dreaming of Falling Meaning
Now we know the importance of dreams and how they can help guide you in your waking life, we can dive deeper into what it might mean for you if you are dreaming of falling.
Because this dream is so common, it doesn’t mean the same thing for everyone!
When you are recalling your dream of falling, consider the context and emotions you feel. Were you feeling scared, or was the falling a more freeing feeling?
Are you by yourself in the dream, or are there other people who are also falling with you?
Let’s look at some common dreams of falling and what they might mean for you.
Dreaming About Falling From an Airplane
I thought I would start by looking at the falling dream that I used to always have. I always used to feel super scared in these dreams, and really think that my life was in danger!
Dreaming about falling from an airplane is typically a sign of low self-confidence. Right now, you are struggling with who you are, and you are feeling pretty insecure.
Remember how in my dream I would be in an airplane, and then suddenly realize that there is nothing holding me in? This represented my self-esteem and how I never really felt safe! I
was not confident in who I was as a person, and my subconscious was telling me this in my dreams. My psyche wanted me to know that I needed to address my low self-esteem and work on ways to love myself and celebrate who I am.
If you are dreaming of falling from an airplane and realize that it is a sign of low self-esteem, there are things you can do to work on your confidence. I am a big fan of self-love affirmations and really think that they can make a difference in regard to how you feel about yourself! A gratitude journal is also a great way you can remind yourself of all the good in the world around you.
Dreaming About Falling From the Sky
A really common falling dream is dreaming of falling from the sky. This dream can be scary, but it can also feel pretty liberating. How you feel in the dream will give you a big indication of what the dream means for you!
If you are dreaming that you are falling from the sky in a fast-paced and rapid way, it can suggest that you do not have true control over your life right now. You are going through some big changes, and you feel pretty scared and lost. In the dream, you are plummeting through the air quickly, worried about when and where you will land.
Like in your dream, you are not in control in your waking life. There are things that you need to address in order to find some stability.
This is probably easier said than done! There are so many things that are out of our hands but affect us massively, such as world news and events. So, it is important to identify things that you do have control over and work with them in order to find stability in your life.
Working with your spirituality is a great way of finding peace in your waking life. Try out different spiritual practices, such as Tarot, Palmistry, or crystal healing. See what works for you, and what gives you peace and stability!
Sometimes, dreaming of falling from the sky can be a pretty freeing experience. You may feel as if you are limitless, and as if you are on top of the world! You might be feeling as if you are falling in slow motion, taking in your surroundings.
This dream will typically signify that you are going through some big changes, with some huge decisions to be made. However, instead of feeling overwhelmed and scared, you are feeling pretty excited. The world is at your feet right now, and there are so many new opportunities for you to grow and succeed.
Dreaming of Falling Into a Dark Abyss
You may have dreams where you are falling off a high place into an unknown dark abyss. This can be a horrifying dream, and you will find it hard to shake that terrifying feeling until long after you wake up.
By definition, an abyss is a ‘deep immeasurable space’, or a ‘vast chasm’. Not something you want to fall into, right?! Abysses are scary in both the waking world and the dream world, and are often used as a metaphor for the unknown and our deepest fears.
If you are dreaming of falling into an abyss, you are afraid of something in your waking life. You may not have addressed this fear when you are awake, and this is why it is appearing in the dream world. There is something niggling at you, but you are not facing up to this fear.
If you are dreaming of falling into the abyss regularly, you need to take a look at your waking life and what you might not be addressing. One common fear which triggers this dream is the fear of the future and the unknown. We do not have control of the future, and we can never truly know where our path in life is going. It is normal to have fears about the future, but they can become pretty overwhelming.
If you are overwhelmed by the fear of the future, and it is causing you nightmares, you may want to practice meditation. Meditation is a great tool that allows you to focus on being present in the current world around you. By centering and grounding yourself through meditation, you can allow yourself to be grateful in the present.
Dreaming of Falling Off a Cliff
If you are dreaming of falling off a cliff, your psyche is telling you that you need to be warier of where you place your step in your waking world. Of course, your subconsciousness isn’t worried about falling off an actual cliff. As dreams use symbolism, the cliff is a metaphor for all kinds of issues that you might fall into if not careful!
Dreaming of falling off a cliff suggests that you need to pay more attention to how you are behaving in your waking world. Are you not treating your body as kind as you should? Perhaps you are dismissive of friends and loved ones, not giving them the respect and love that they deserve.
Don’t worry too much about this dream, though. It isn’t a premonition, rather a warning from your subconsciousness. Be more aware of your actions in the world and how they affect both you and those around you!
Dreaming About Tripping and Falling
When we dream of tripping and falling, our subconsciousness is highlighting our anxiety and worry, telling us that this is something that we need to address.
Tripping up in the waking world when you are walking can be pretty embarrassing, and you always feel as if everyone is looking at you! Similarly, in your dream, there may be a feeling of cringe and awkwardness after your fall. There is not much physical pain, and you aren’t in any life-threatening danger. However, you may feel emotional pain and embarrassment.
If you are dreaming of tripping and falling, your psyche is telling you that you may be a bit preoccupied with how you present yourself in the waking world. You are pretty anxious, not wanting to get anything wrong. Those of us who are perfectionists will typically have these types of dreams.
You may be worried about falling behind. Perhaps you are constantly comparing yourself to others and their successes. Maybe you feel as if you are not as successful in your career as you thought you would be by now!
It is time to take a step back and look at what is really important in life. Does it really matter if you didn’t get that promotion that you wanted? Does it really matter if you slip up and say the wrong thing in a social situation occasionally?
Identify all the good things in your life and what you are proud of! Use a gratitude journal to remind yourself of all the things you are thankful for. Sometimes, we just need to remember all the things that we take for granted!
What Does It Mean If You Experience a Hypnagogic Jerk?
We can’t talk about dreaming of falling without mentioning the hypnagogic jerk. You might not recognize the name, but you probably will recognize the sensation!
According to Healthline, a hypnagogic jerk is when you are drifting asleep and you suddenly wake up with a weird jerk of the body. You will often get the sensation of falling, and your body physically reacts and wakes you up. It is super weird but super common!
There is no spiritual reason for experiencing a hypnagogic jerk, and the physical reasons haven’t yet been discovered. However, there are some theories.
It might be because your brain is still pretty active and alert, with stressors and anxiety on your mind. If you are experiencing a hypnagogic jerk frequently, you may need to take time to wind down before you go to bed in order to get a deep sleep that you need.
Another theory about the hypnagogic jerk is evolutionary. According to Live Science, the hypnagogic jerk might be an ancient primate reflex. Because we evolved from primates (who sleep in trees), scientists have suggested that when our muscles relax, our brain jerks us awake in case we are asleep in a tree and might fall out!
Whatever the cause of hypnagogic jerks, they are nothing to worry about!
Are You dreaming of falling?
Dreaming of falling is a really common dream. Whether you are dreaming of falling off a cliff or falling into a dark abyss, it is because your subconsciousness has a message for you!
I hope this article has helped you understand why you might be dreaming of falling, and what you need to do in order to move on from these dreams.
If you love learning about dreams, check out our article on lucid dreaming. This is a fascinating phenomenon that can help you learn about yourself and the spiritual world!