Nails: A staple in building and construction, the nail is the ultimate tool for keeping the separate pieces of any structure together. A nail is the element that is introduced into an environment in such a way as to join disparate segments together, and herein lies its symbolic meaning. To see or use nails in a dream is to have access to that which will keep the thing you are building together in strength and integrity. The thing you are building represents a new idea in consciousness, and the nails ensure that it will take proper form.
Naked: You are dreaming of vulnerability, and some situation in your life is likely causing you to feel exposed. This is one of the most common dream images experienced by almost everyone at some point or another. It expresses the fear we all have of being vulnerable or exposed in life in a way for which we aren’t prepared. In Western culture and especially in the United States, the public is generally not very comfortable with nudity. Given this predisposition to cover up our naked selves, it would be a natural representation in the dream state for nakedness to indicate feeling exposed in some area of life. Where you are naked in a dream and who you are naked in front of will provide you with all the clues you need for an accurate interpretation of such a dream.
Navel: The navel is our original connection to Source. Through it, all needs were met with such immediacy that there was no actual experience of need. This part of the human body also has a connection to the desire for maternal care. In a dream, you may be connecting to either one of these primal sensibilities. The navel is also the seat of the emotional center and is where you connect with your instincts and gut feelings about things. Use the context of the dream to understand how to perceive the meaning of this image.
Nazi: This is a strong image that is ultimately archetypal in nature, but is often difficult to get a grasp on because of the enormous emotional content often associated with it. The Nazi ideology has to do with racial purity, precision, and annihilation. If you dream of a Nazi character, you are dealing with a very deep shadow figure of organized hatred. It is important in shadow work to recognize that all things live within us, even the most deplorable aspects of evil. Such an image in a dream is asking you to step into acceptance of all of your humanity, even that which feels unforgivable.
Neck: The neck is the center of the voice, and as such, any dream image that involves this part of the body is symbolically representing your current relationship with how you are expressing yourself in your life. Any sort of compromise to the neck indicates breakdowns in your communication and challenges in you having a strong connection with your voice. Anything that highlights, adorns, or otherwise calls attention to the neck is asking you to recognize the value of your convictions and to stand up for what you want to say.
Necklace: An adornment worn around the throat, a necklace symbolically highlights the voice and how well you are able to speak your truth and stand powerfully in what you have to say. Dreaming of a necklace indicates that this area of your consciousness needs some attention. Whatever is happening with a necklace in a dream may be a statement of your current relationship with your voice and sense of personal expressiveness.
Needle: The primary use of a needle is to penetrate in an almost invisible way, whether it’s a needle for sewing or a hypodermic one for medical reasons. The symbolic meaning therefore connects with this very precise way of penetrating below the surface of something in a way that leaves no evidence of its presence. In a dream, needles connect to this need or desire. The type of needle will figure prominently in your interpretation. A needle that has been used for drug use is an indication that something has happened in the past that is destructive but that has left almost no trace of the original act.
Nephew: A nephew is like the child you can walk away from, giving you a parental sensation without the responsibility. If you have a nephew in waking life, this dream is reflecting the quality of that individual as a character aspect of yourself. Such a dream is asking you to consider these qualities in your own life.
Nest: The primary purpose of a nest connects to giving birth to young, and many creatures in the animal kingdom build nests for this. The implication when a nest is present in a dream is that something has just been or is just about to be created. Since it is likely to be an animal that is using the nest, what is being generated will connect to your instincts, as all animals connect to your instinctive nature.
Net: A net is a structure for gathering some things while letting other elements pass by, such as fish and water. In this way, it is a symbol for distinguishing between an object of your desire and that which is extraneous. What you are grasping for with a net or what the net is designed to capture is an important part of your interpretation. Such an image in a dream indicates the intention to catch a prized object.
Newspaper: Though these are less and less common in our culture, newspapers are a conduit for a person to connect to important current events. As a symbol, a newspaper relates to how well informed you are in your community and your social experience in life. The presence of newspapers in your dream may indicate a desire to be better informed about the world in which you live.
Niece: A niece is like the child you can walk away from, giving you a parental sensation without the responsibility. If you have a niece in waking life, this dream is reflecting the quality of that individual as a character aspect of yourself. Such a dream is asking you to consider these qualities in your own life.
Nightmares: These are the important dreams that help us maintain emotional and psychological balance and equilibrium in the face of stress and fear. Nightmares are those frightening and often very memorable dreams that can wake you up and leave you riddled with anxiety. While there may be underlying neurological causes for nightmares, for the most part they are simply a common experience in the world of dreams; sooner or later, you are likely to have one. There are many emerging theories about the neurological structure of nightmares and what some of the value of having them might be with regard to stress and psychic balance. However, these don’t address the question that most people want an answer to, and that is, what causes them? Of course, the answer to that question is that we still don’t really know what causes nightmares, or any dreams for that matter. We do know that there are some medications that can impact the quality and intensity of dreams, including the frequency of nightmares. There are plenty of old wives’ tales associated with activities that can supposedly bring them on, such as eating red meat or other heavy foods before going to sleep. There are even those who believe the direction you lie in while you sleep can cause bad dreams. These are not, however, proven scientific facts, nor are they validated by my personal experience of interpreting thousands of dreams over many years. Nightmares are not easily forgotten, and the residual emotional reaction they sometimes generate can often linger in our conscious awareness far longer than the fond memories of our more pleasant dreams. However, this inherent capacity to remember them often makes them easy to work with. Additionally, people are sometimes highly motivated to understand them because of the upset they can create. If dreams are indeed messages from the unconscious, a nightmare is one way it has of telling us to pay attention, as there may be shadow material coming up. This always means there is something important to learn.
Nighttime: Nighttime is the feminine side of the day. Because there is darkness at night, any dream that takes place at night is rooted in the shadow and pertains to the hidden aspect of your nature.
Nine: The final number in the system is nine, which represents completion and endings. All things must end in order for the inevitable new beginning to follow. Nine embodies that cycle of existence that demands that change occur and that the old give way to the new. The shadow side to this is the fear of death and the resistance to change that comes with an ending.
Nipples: The nipples provide access to sustenance through breast milk. However, they are also an erogenous zone. In a dream, they may relate to either or both of these fundamental meanings. You may be experiencing maternal instincts and a need to feel more cared for if they appear in a dream. If you are dreaming of a man’s nipples, there still may be such a need being expressed to introduce a more feminine-principle approach to your experience.
Noose: A noose is a deadly knot that is designed to end a person’s life by cutting off the air supply and also by breaking the neck. Anything that relates to this part of the body is symbolically linked with your relationship with your voice and taking a stand for what you have to say. A noose in a dream is an indication that there may be some strong consequences for either speaking your truth or being unable to do so. The context of the dream and your own personal habits may indicate which is the more likely meaning.
Nose: The nose connects to the sense of smell, the most ancient of the senses and one that is connected to the reptilian brain. Smell is primal in nature and connects you to your fundamental ability to know more about your environment. In this way, the nose in a dream may be expressing your current ability to trust your instincts about where you are in your life. The nose also has connotations about butting into other people’s business, with the use of the term “nosy” as indicating someone who pays too much attention to the affairs of others. Such an image in a dream may indicate a crossing of boundaries either by you or by someone else toward you.
Numbers: You are tapping into your structural thinking and getting a glimpse of the building blocks of all reality. Math and numbers are behind all of how life is constructed. The movements of the earth, moon, and other planets are geometrical in nature. Music is simply math expressed as tone. Digital technology reduces various data to numeric sequences and then converts it back to its original form. Our need to describe physical phenomena led us to create nine whole numbers that, in different sequences, can express anything from gravity, to the speed of light, to the way visitors can identify which house on the block is yours. When a number is featured in a dream, there is a rich symbolic meaning hidden in it. You can use the fundamentals of numerology as a way to understand what a dream with numbers might mean. If there is more than one digit involved, add all the values together until you arrive at a final single number. For example, if an address is 115 Main Street, you would add one plus one plus five and get seven. There is an elegant evolution present in the archetypal interpretation of the numerical sequence, which can be considered a sort of journey. We started the journey alone in the infinite (one), discovered opposites and relativity (two), invented creativity (three), built a foundation (four), expressed freedom (five), partnered with another (six), went inward to find spirituality (seven), and expressed and enjoyed the rewards of the outside world (eight), and now we come to a close (nine). Each of these numbers is elaborated upon in the individual entries.
Numbness: There is information in all sensation. To be without sensation is to be blocking some form of nonverbal communication about the potential danger in a situation. You may be blocking painful feelings by making yourself numb to them. This may or may not be a good idea, for sometimes blocking pain is a good way of getting through a very difficult circumstance. Consider where you are feeling numb and ask yourself what you might be feeling or sensing if this part of you weren’t numbed off.
Nun: This is an archetypal character aspect connected with extreme devotion to spiritual principles, though often this idea is expressed as the shadow of such devotion because of personal associations with this image. Also because of the media, this symbol carries with it a great number of potential shades of meaning, from an intense level of respect to humorous irreverence. Additionally, especially for those who grew up in parochial school, there is a powerful connection between nuns and strict discipline that is often connected to corporal punishment. On the serious end of the spectrum, the nun is the symbolic bride of Christ and represents a level of dedication that is unparalleled in our modern culture. In this light, the character aspect of a nun in a dream connects to a deeply committed spiritual side of your nature that is willing to sacrifice much for the sake of your beliefs. For those individuals with experience in the Catholic school system, nuns can also connect to a level of strictness that represents obstacles to spiritual connection because of a distaste for the authoritative severity nuns can be known for. Lastly, the figure of the nun in her habit has been incorporated into the world of comedy, and for many people this image sparks feelings of amusement and parody.
Nurse: A nurse is the bringer of care when illness or injury is present. As a character aspect in a dream, it is the part of your personality that can be called upon when a great deal of nurturance is necessary. If you dream of a nurse, you need to cultivate a stronger relationship with your inner caretaker.