We are all afraid of death to different extents, but some of us are more terrified by the thought of being buried alive.
This nightmare has been present since antiquity and is popular in fiction and mythology. What does it mean if you have this dream? Death used to be a thing known only through human remains.
This means that the only way to know for sure when someone died was by checking for a physical sign – decomposition. Because of this, people have had some rather strong anxieties about being buried alive.
What Causes This dream
The notion of being buried alive is probably due to one of the following three causes:
It seems that we usually feel less pain in our dreams than we do in real life. Some people may not want to be buried because they would rather die than go through such pain.
Most ancient civilizations believed in reincarnation. Burying someone before they were dead could mean killing them in their next life or trapping them forever in the grave.
Fears of the unknown are also very strong, and being buried alive forces you to face something that we know so little about – death itself.
It should be noted that the fears expressed here are about being entombed alive, not of dying. Most people who have this fear suffer from a terminal illness or have had someone close to them die suddenly.
Factors to Consider When Interpreting This Dream
The following are the things to consider when interpreting this dream:
What were you wearing when you dreamed of being buried alive? The type of clothing worn in the dream is often symbolic and should be taken into consideration during interpretation.
In what way do you come in contact with these feelings of claustrophobia in your daily life? If this fear is something that you struggle with regularly, this dream likely reflects some anxiety about something in your waking life.
If you dreamed of being buried alive with someone else, consider who the other person was and what dreams or fears they may represent for you.
When did this nightmare first start? Once again, how long have you been having this dream? The longer you have had the dream without change, the more likely it is that it may be reflecting some anxiety about something in your waking life.
If you dreamed of being buried alive but were not at all scared or concerned by it, consider who was thinking these feelings of fear on your behalf and what you know about them.
Consider the term “buried alive” and think of all the different connotations for you. The thoughts that come to mind should help guide your interpretation as well as any archetypal elements that may be at play in your dream.
People often feel trapped when they are buried alive. Consider what you felt like as your grave was filling up and how this connects to feelings of anxiety, fear or restriction that you may be feeling in your waking life.
If someone else was trying to bury you alive, try and think of what they might be afraid of and how these fears relate to something going on in their life at the moment.
Dreams of being buried alive are often connected to anxieties about death, dying or any other major changes that are occurring in your life at the moment.
It is important to consider all these factors when interpreting this dream, as it can reveal much about who you are to yourself and what you need to do to achieve inner peace.
Dream of Being Buried Alive: Interpretation
There are many interpretations of the meaning of a dream where one is buried alive – and everyone has their own. The following are some of the interpretations of this dream:
- Comfort vs. Discomfort
Being buried alive in this dream suggests feelings of discomfort. If you’re trying to get out of the grave, it’s probably due to discomfort with your life situation (job, relationship, etc.) And if you’re struggling in vain or feel that things are hopeless, it may be a sign that you need to change your life.
- Bad or Evil
Sometimes a dream where you are buried alive may symbolize an evil person trying to “bury” someone else’s reputation…
It can also be symbolic of something negative you have done and want to keep hidden from the world – perhaps even from yourself. This is especially likely if you cannot escape the grave or see daylight, which represents reality.
- The Grave
Being buried alive in any dream can be an analogy for being trapped in a situation you cannot get out of – metaphorically being buried alive. If the grave is shallow, it may be symbolic of not making much progress.
However, if the grave is deep, this suggests hopelessness and despair. Therefore, you should consider the depth concerning your inability to escape it to determine what is troubling you.
The coffin or grave could also be an analogy for an actual physical problem that holds you back – e.g., a health issue, addiction, financial problem, etc.
- Death
Being buried alive in a dream can represent death. This interpretation is especially valid if you struggle to escape the grave because it symbolizes your struggle with letting go of life. If you can climb out of the grave, then this suggests that you are ready to move on from something in your life.
In this interpretation, the coffin itself symbolizes someone who has died – perhaps a loved one or a part of yourself that you have lost touch with.
In any case, being buried alive in this dream is an analogy for feelings related to loss and grief. It may also be a fear of your mortality, often a source of anxiety.
- Trapped
It’s common to feel trapped in our dreams, especially when buried alive. Being buried alive represents a deep-seated fear that you may not even be aware of.
In this dream, you might feel restricted or excluded from something that is happening or someone important to you. This feeling could result from problems in your waking life that you have been neglecting or repressing.
In this interpretation, being trapped may also symbolize feelings of being overwhelmed and helpless – e.g., a current crisis, major life decisions, family responsibilities, etc.
- Impending death
If the dream is a recurring one, it may be a sign that you’re not prepared to face impending death. In other words, you’re ‘digging’ your own grave by avoiding dealing with certain issues in your waking life.
In this sense, being buried alive is simply a metaphor for being trapped in a situation from which you cannot escape.
- Death of someone close to you
Suppose the dream is about being buried alive by someone. In that case, it’s possible that either a) this person represents something or someone from your waking life who is trapping you and preventing you from moving on or b) that person has recently died, and this dream is your way of coming to terms with their death.
Dream of Being Buried Alive: Meaning
The most common meanings of this dream are as follows:
The dreaming person is currently trapped by their life and lacks any motivation to change it. The dreamer wishes to die and believes that this will be the only way to escape their problems (which is why they are being buried alive).
This dream can be a sign of depression, suicidal thoughts, or a wish to die. More specifically, the dreamer may be feeling trapped by their spouse or family members – and believes that death will free them from this situation.
What Does it Mean if You Are Digging Yourself out of a Grave in Your Dream?
If you are digging yourself out of a grave in your dream, this may mean:
The dreaming person is trying to escape from the things holding them down in life (their problems/responsibilities or other people’s control).
Alternatively, it could represent a wish to “start fresh” and make a break with the past. It could also be a sign that the person feels trapped by a decision they have made and is searching for a way out of it.
In some cases, digging can symbolize boredom with life, making one want to escape from it completely.
Digging could also represent a way of working through issues in your waking life – e.g., you are trying to get over something troubling you, or you may be faced with a difficult decision and are searching for answers.
It can also symbolize the need to re-energize oneself from within and free oneself from negative feelings or situations. Digging can also indicate that the person may be feeling stuck in a relationship and looking for a way out of it.
The dreamer is probably thinking about death lately, and this is their way of preparing themselves for it, or they may even welcome death as an escape from their problems.
Sometimes, digging can indicate that the person is preparing for their funeral and coming to terms with their mortality.
To dream that you are digging your grave symbolizes your search for self-knowledge and self-awareness. You may be exploring some aspect of yourself or your feelings to discover who you are.
Conclusion
If you are currently facing something challenging at work, then it may be an indication that you need to take more assertive action over certain issues or
So, on the whole, dreaming of being buried alive can be a sign that you are feeling helpless and hopeless about your problems, some of which may be very real, others may be imagined, and you need to find a way out of them.
Thank you for taking the time to read this article !