Dreams in which a person weeps are often remembered for a long time. Episodes where one literally sobs from grief, experiences acute insult, or, conversely, sheds tears of happiness leave a particularly strong impression. In popular dream books, such a plot has several interpretations — from a warning about impending troubles to a symbol of future joy. Let's analyze how the two most cited dream books — by Gustavus Miller and Zadkiel — diverge in their interpretation of the exact same emotional image.
Miller: Crying as a Harbinger of Trouble
In the dream book of American interpreter Gustavus Miller, crying in a dream carries a predominantly unfavorable meaning. The specialist associated such dreams with potential troubles, family disruptions, and disappointments in everyday life. At the same time, Miller drew an important distinction: if a person sees other people crying, this, in his opinion, may symbolize future reconciliation after a period of misunderstandings. Thus, even in the “negative” interpretation, there is an element of conflict resolution — it is simply achieved through experiencing someone else's pain.
Zadkiel: The “Upside-Down Dream” and the Promise of Change
A completely different logic is offered by Zadkiel in his Universal Dream Book. In his system, crying and sobbing are viewed as a so-called “upside-down dream”: tears portend joyful events, business success, and pleasant changes. According to this interpretation, even if difficult moments are present in current life, they may conclude favorably. Zadkiel emphasizes that crying in a dream is a signal of emotional release, followed by relief. A person who has seen such a dream may receive a reason for joy, see the results of their own efforts, or experience long-awaited changes in circumstances.
Gender Differences in Interpretation
Old dream books traditionally divided interpretations according to the dreamer's gender. For women, crying in a dream was mostly associated with personal experiences, romantic relationships, and family circumstances — that is, the sphere historically considered “female” within folk beliefs. In men's interpretations, crying was more often associated with business matters, a sense of responsibility, family duties, and those experiences that a person is not used to openly demonstrating. Both approaches converge on one point: tears in a dream reflect what the dreamer cannot or does not want to express in waking life.
Tears of Joy: Release and Completion of a Stage
A separate layer of interpretations concerns tears of happiness. Such a plot is no less emotional for the sleeper, yet in symbolic interpretation it carries a different message. Tears of joy can signify release from inner tensions, the fulfillment of a long-standing desire, or the feeling that a difficult life stage is finally behind. According to Zadkiel, crying in a dream generally has a favorable meaning: a person may receive a reason for joy, see the results of their efforts, or experience pleasant changes. At the same time, Miller's dream book does not give such an unambiguously positive interpretation of crying itself, limiting itself to a warning about potential distress.
What Science Says: Emotions, Not Prophecies
It is important to consider that dream books belong to folk beliefs and symbolic interpretations. There is no scientific evidence that crying in a dream foretells specific upcoming events. From the standpoint of modern psychology and neuroscience, such plots are associated with experienced emotions, accumulated stress, or impressions from everyday life. The brain processes emotional experience during sleep, and tears in a dream are essentially a mechanism for psychic “discharge.” If a feeling of lightness and peace remains after waking up, the dream can well be perceived as a symbol of emotional release rather than an omen. Thus, the two dream books offer opposing symbolic codes for the exact same image, while science reminds us that behind this image lies primarily the dreamer's own emotional state.
