Being naked in your dream and what it actually means

How embarrassing!  The dream of being caught naked in public can be one of the more cringe-worthy dreams, but it can be reassuring to know that this is a very common dream!

Photo by @plqml @feliperizo.co on Unsplash

To understand why you are dreaming of being caught naked, it can help to examine the feelings brought up by being revealed nude. Being naked may make you feel vulnerable, unprepared, exposed or even ashamed or humiliated.  You may wish to hide, you may feel a loss of power. You may feel liberated and free.  Sometimes you may even be able to see the funny side of being naked in a dream!

Dreams of being nude or naked in public may ask you to question:
•    Where in your life do you feel exposed?
•    What is making you feel vulnerable?
•    What part of your self do you not want to reveal?

Being naked is not in itself a bad thing, and as children we have no shame associated with our bodies.  As we grow, we learn to adhere to the rules of society, and to cover ourselves appropriately.  When you dream of being naked, this can often be an expression of your “real self,” not the “you” that you show the rest of the world by covering up and playing a role.  If you dream of being naked and it makes you feel uncomfortable, it could be that you feel unready to reveal that true part of your self to the world yet.  You might feel the world will judge you harshly, that you must conform by covering who you really are.  Dreams of being naked often ask us to address this issue, to see what we are covering from our self and others, and what we need to reveal.

This is not about sexuality, but about being comfortable in the skin you’re in.

Being naked in a dream can also be a way for the subconscious mind to connect with the body, remembering what is like to feel free and natural, and asking us to get back in touch with our physical body.  If you have a dream like this, in waking life try to think about your body as you bathe, hug your partner, stretch or do exercise.  This is not about sexuality, but about being comfortable in the skin you’re in.  Much of how we live our busy lives with work, study or caring for the family can make us spend too much time in our heads, distracted from what we feel and what is going on in our own bodies.  If you ever catch your self feeling this way, take a few deep breaths or get up and move.  Remember to feel.

Dreams of nakedness invite us to not be ashamed of who we really are, and to enjoy the physical experience of living.

For more information on dreams and their meanings, please visit The Dream Well

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