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The Meaning of Dreams About Handcuffs header image

Did You Dream About Handcuffs? Here's What It Means

A image like handcuffs can be a complicated one to get one's brain around. Because dreams are abstractions of our subconscious minds, and they may include specific references to our waking-life, no single dream interpretation can ever match everyone's dream.

Below are three interesting interpretations of dreams about handcuffs, seen from three different angles.

Which meaning explains your dream the best?


What does handcuffs mean in dreams?

1. The traditional interpretation

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Mary Leyen
Dream Expert,
Contributor: "3 of Dreams Book of Dreams"

A dream about wearing handcuffs can symbolize feelings of restriction or confinement in your waking life. But the specific meaning of handcuffs in a dream obviously depends on your present circumstances.

You may feel trapped in a situation or relationship, or burdened by responsibilities. On the other hand, seeing someone else in handcuffs can indicate your desire to control or dominate that person, or it may reflect your judgment about their actions or character.

It can also symbolize your wish for justice or retribution. These dreams are often a call to examine your relationships and personal freedom.

Handcuffs is a somewhat complex and intriguing dream image to to really give you a single answer for. To really say for certain, I would need to get an understanding of the dreamer's past and current mindset.

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2. The psychoanalyst's interpretation

Ernesto headshot
Ernesto Andrahi
Psychoanalyst,
Contributor: "3 of Dreams Book of Dreams"

Dreaming of oneself in handcuffs can indeed signify a sense of restriction, but from a Freudian perspective, it may also represent suppressed guilt or self-punishment.

Also: The unconscious mind may be manifesting these handcuffs as a symbol of self-inflicted punishment for perceived wrongdoings. Conversely, observing another in handcuffs could be a projection of your own feelings of guilt onto another, or perhaps a latent desire to exert authority. It may also symbolize a subconscious wish for the other person to be held accountable for actions that have affected you. These dreams invite introspection about personal guilt, power dynamics, and accountability.

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3. The spiritualist's interpretation

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Liz Morrison
Shaman and Spirit Guide,
Contributor: "3 of Dreams Book of Dreams"

Dreaming of wearing handcuffs can be a spiritual message about your soul feeling confined or restricted, perhaps due to self-imposed limitations or societal expectations. It's a call to liberate your spirit and embrace your true essence. Seeing someone else in handcuffs, on the other hand, can symbolize your spiritual desire for justice or balance. It may reflect your soul's yearning for karmic retribution or the need for others to face the consequences of their actions. These dreams are spiritual signals urging you to break free from constraints and to seek harmony and justice in your life.

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Which dream explanation matches your dream?

Which of the preceding explanations for handcuffs fits with your unique situation?

Only you can say for sure. Bear in mind that our dreaming mind can be a complex and multifaceted landscape. Any object or image from a dream can reflect many different meanings — or symbolize multiple activities in our daily life.

Do you have a different explanation on a dream about handcuffs you can add? Add your personal analysis to the comment section below.

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