When attempting to analyze and interpret your dreams, it is important to know that every human being, of every age, and from every part of the world, dreams anywhere from four to seven times each and every night.  There is even evidence that babies experience dream sleep while still in their mother's womb.  What they dream about, of course, is a mystery.  What animals dream about is a mystery as well, but most mammals dream as well.

The sleep cycle is divided into four distinct stages, and every person cycles through all four stages each and every night.  Every cycle contains a stage of dream sleep, and every person experiences a number of distinct dream stages, and a number of distinct dreams every night.

Typically the only dreams that are recalled, if any are recalled at all, are those dreams that take place closest to waking.  The closest the dream occurs to waking, the more likely it is to be remembered.  If a dreamer is woken in the middle of dream sleep, he or she will remember his or her dream perfectly and vividly in even the tiniest detail. We know this from years of studies of dreams.

You may be surprised to know that science is still unsure of the exact function of dream sleep.  We do know, however, that dreams are absolutely essential to our psychological and physical health.  Research volunteers given drugs to disrupt dream sleep experienced all manner of psychological problems, including problems concentrating, irritability and even waking hallucinations.

Let's explore the four stages of sleep, including dream sleep, in greater detail.
Stage 1:
The first stage of sleep is a very light one, and it is very easy to be awoken or disturbed during this stage.  Stage one of sleep usually lasts for only a few minutes, and the sleeper quickly moves on to stage two.

Stage 2:
Stage two is a much deeper level of sleep than stage one.  It is in stage two of sleep that dreams begin to form.  At this point in the dream cycle, there are usually no clear images.  Dreams at this stage mostly consist of vague ideas and thoughts drifting through the dreamer's mind.  The sleeper will continue and enter stage three.

Stage 3:
Stage three is a still deeper sleep.  In stage three of the sleep cycle the sleeper's muscles have all relaxed, and his or her heart rate and respiration have both slowed down.  The sleeper's blood pressure also falls during this stage of sleep, and the breathing is even and steady.  During this deep stage of sleep, the sleeper would be very difficult to awaken.  Typically the sleeper can only be awakened by a very loud noise or the shout of his or her name.  After a time, the sleeper will enter the final stage of sleep.

Stage 4:
Stage four of sleep, also known as REM, or rapid eye movement sleep, is the deepest stage of sleep, and the one in which the most dreams occur.  During this stage of sleep it is very difficult indeed to wake the sleeper.  During REM sleep, the blood pressure and heart rate will fluctuate, and the sleeper's brain will light up.  Studies of dreaming patients have shown that more brain activity occurs when we are dreaming than when we are awake.

It is the rapid movements of the eyes under their closed lids that give REM sleep its name, and these eye movements are the distinguishing characteristic of dream sleep, and proof that dreams are occurring.  Most REM sleep lasts only for about 10 minutes.  After that time, the sleeper returns to the deep sleep that characterizes stage four of the sleep cycle.  The sleeper will return after a time to a period of REM sleep, then cycle back into stage four.  This process is usually repeated from four to seven times a night.

The meanings of dreams are as personal and unique as the people who dream them.  No one interpretation, no matter how universal, will apply to every dream, dream symbol or dream situation.  When analyzing or interpreting a dream, it is always important to pay attention to the details of the dreams, your feelings within the dream world, and of course, what is going on in your own life.

If you do wish to interpret your dreams, either purely for fun or to pursue personal and spiritual growth, there are a few pointers that will help you get the most from your dream world.

* As you awaken, immediately replay the dream scenario in your head.  It is important to do this immediately, preferably before you even open your eyes.  The dream world slips away quickly, and as much as 50% of it can be gone in a mere five minutes.  By the time ten minutes has passed, more than 90% of the dream's contents may be lost.  Replaying the dream in your head will help you remember more of those tantalizing details.

* Immediately write down a description of the dream, focusing on key objects, symbols or feelings.  Write a few words about each key element in the dream quickly, before they are forgotten, they go back later and fill in the gaps.  Again, it is important to write your dream down as quickly as possible.  Keeping a notebook by the bed will be a big help.

* Choose a quiet place in your home to begin your interpretation process.  Cutting yourself of from sources of distraction will be very important.  The space you choose should be as quiet and peaceful as possible.  If no such space is available, review your notes a final time, fill in any details you can remember, and come back to them later.

* Use your intuition as you review your dream notes and try to make sense of your dream.  You may already know on an instinctual level what your dreams are trying to tell you.  Connecting with your intuition can help you connect with your unconscious mind.  If you meditate, a short meditation session can often be a big help.  Connecting with your inner self is always a huge help when it comes to interpreting and analyzing dreams.

* As you review your dream notes, pay close attention to the emotions they stir in you.  Paying close attention to your emotional state, both at this moment and during the dream, can help you to understand what your dream really meant.

* Think very carefully about any vivid details, situations, locations, sensations or symbols that make the dream memorable.  Open your heart as well as your mind and carefully explore the possible meaning of each symbol, situation and event.  It may be helpful to jot down the impressions in your dream journal or notebook.  As you search for meaning, don't limit yourself to obvious interpretations.  For instance, dreaming about a missed appointment could simply mean you are worried about being late for work, but that missed appointment could also symbolize a feeling of missed opportunity in your life.

* Running an inner dialog with the people or objects you dreamed about is often helpful as well.  This inner dialog is especially useful when trying to determine why you dreamed about certain people.  Try asking them in your head "why am I dreaming about you?", "what are you doing in my dream?".   It is also helpful to know that often people in our dreams are symbols of aspects of our own personality instead of literal people.

* If you are stuck for an interpretation, it is a good idea to leave your dream notebook and come back to it later.  It may also be helpful to discuss the dream with others, or to consult an expert on dream interpretation.

The interpretation of dreams by dream experts may be almost as old as dreaming itself.  We know that all humans, and many animals, dream every night, and humans have always been fascinated to learn what causes dreams and what they mean.

The interpretation of dreams dates back at least as far as 3000-4000 B.C.  We know that because the interpretations of dreams were recorded in permanent form on clay tablets.  It is thought that many primitive peoples were unable to initially distinguish between the real world and the dream world.  In many cases, these people looked upon the dream world as an extension of the physical world around them, and in many cases they saw the dream world as more powerful than the waking one.

Dream interpretation was such an important field to the ancient Greek and Roman world that dream interpreters often accompanied generals and other military leaders into battles.  Dreams were taken extremely seriously, and the Greeks and Romans in particular often viewed dreams as messages sent by their gods.  

Dreams also had a religious content in ancient Egypt, and priests their doubled as dream interpreters.  Dreams were among the items recorded by the ancient Egyptians in the form of hieroglyphics.  Those whose dreams were especially vivid or significant were thought to be blessed and were given special status in these ancient societies.  Likewise, people who were able to interpret dreams were thought to receive these gifts directly from the gods, and they enjoyed a special status in society as well.  

There are over 700 mentions of dreams in the bible, and people in biblical times saw dreams as very significant.  Dreams and their interpretations are mentioned in many of the most significant books of the bible and other holy scriptures.