Dance This is a symbol of particular significance.  The dance is one of man's earliest modes of expression and is probably older than language itself.  In prehistory, dancing was a kind of body-language. Today, the dance still has the significance for us of a medium of erotic information and communication.  The body-language of modern dances nowadays, with their accent on sexual gestures, is thoroughly reminiscent of primitive ritual dances.  As a dream occurrence, it is an indication that psychic energy has been set in motion and that certain psychic elements are, so to speak, being charged up.  The gestures and mime involved in the dance, i.e., the body-language, indicate more specifically how the dance should be interpreted.

Death Death is, for the psyche, a process of transformation.  Things which die in a dream are frequently replaced by something new.  But usually the further developments in the dream show that spiritual renewal first requires sacrifices to be made.

Decapitation Decapitation in a dream is not necessarily of such a dangerous nature as it may seem at first glance.  For example, the psyche may be signaling with this image that the dreamer has been seeing things much too logically and has trapped himself in a situation where there is now way out.  The symbolic decapitation indicates a way out of this mental predicament.  Dreams in which the dreamer then receives a new head have been recorded.

Desert If the setting for a dream is the desert, this should be seen as a danger signal.  This image gives symbolic expression to modern man's isolation in the mass society of today.  No spiritual relationships can thrive on desert sand.

Devil The devil appears in dreams when the dreamer has suppressed religious problems form his consciousness without seriously considering them. Some consideration of the question of the purpose of life is an absolute necessity for psychic equilibrium.

Doctor The doctor is an important symbolic figure.  His appeareance signals a threat of spiritual equilibrium. As a rule, he shows the dreamer which problem needs treatment.  It is possible that the doctor appears purely as a warning signal. The diagnoses of dream doctors often seem nonsensical; their healing methods are reminiscent of magic.  Experience has shown, however, that the dream doctor often signals psychic conflict - and also the outbreak of physical illness - long before the first symptoms can be determined.

Domestic animals, pets Until about a hundred years ago, domestic animals like horses, pigs, cows, poultry, dogs and cats were a part of human everyday life.  They were productive and useful animals.  In dreams they remain helpful animals, i.e. they symbolize helpful psychic functions.  In modern industrial society, man has lost his personal relationship to domestic animals.  The pets kept in a big city nowadays are a substitute for lack of affection.  This should be taken into account when interpreting the dream.  The owners frequently identify themselves with their animal favorites.  The attention and affection which they show to their pets is of a covertly erotic nature.

Donkey In common speech, the donkey is referred to in the context of male sexuality.  The comparison arises form the fact that the sex drive can be as obstinate as a donkey because it cannot be influenced by the will.  Riding on a donkey means being in command of one's animal instincts.  In the language of dreams, a donkey does not possess its proverbial stupidity.

Dove Nowadays, the dove is a symbol of peace.  In the Old Testament, the dove with the olive branch does not symbolize peace, but good fortune or renewal. The dove used the olive branch to branch to convey to Noah that the dangers of the Great Flood were over.  This news provided the impulse for Noah to leave the ARk and start rebuilding civilization.  In classical mythology, the dove belonged to Aphrodite (Venus), the goddess of love - here, however, with the subsidiary significance of purity and innocent lover or, to be more precise, platonic relationships. In a dream, the dove indicates the creative thoughts which arise form  a platonic relationship.

Dragon The dragon symbolizes the threatening and devouring aspects of the female personality.  A battle with a dragon,  however, always signifies the dreamer's battle with himself or with an unconscious aspect of his psyche.

Dwarf In mythology, dwarfs are earth-spirits which belong to the great goddess of nature.  In fairytales, they appear as spirits which help humans.  They can also have a sexual significance, particularly when dwarfs with hoods appear.