The Symbolism of Struggling with a Pen in Your Dreams

Dreams are often a window into our subconscious, reflecting our innermost thoughts, feelings, and challenges. When you dream of trying to pick up a pen, it can carry significant meaning related to your creativity, communication skills, and self-expression. A pen, as a tool of writing, embodies the power of expression, the recording of thoughts, and the sharing of ideas.

Yet, when you find it difficult to pick up this simple tool in your dream, it may indicate feelings of frustration or obstacles in your waking life that prevent you from expressing yourself fully. This dream might also highlight anxieties surrounding your personal, academic, or professional life, where you feel hindered or constrained. Understanding the nuances of this dream can provide you with valuable insights, helping you navigate the challenges of self-expression and creativity in your life.

By examining these symbols, you can unlock a deeper understanding of your thoughts and emotions, guiding you towards personal growth and self-discovery.

• Dreaming of a pen often symbolizes creativity and expression.
• Struggling to pick up the pen may represent obstacles in communication or self-expression.
• Such dreams might reflect feelings of frustration in your waking life.
• The pen can also indicate academic pressures or the fear of failure.
• Understanding these dreams can lead to personal growth and insight.

Symbols

• attempting to lift
  • Hitching:

    (Hitching; Jerking; Lameness) Limping in a dream means becoming incapacitated, or being unable to conclude a project one is pursuing. Limping in a dream also means acquiring knowledge, understanding one’s religion, or growing in wisdom. Limping in a dream also means travels.

    If the limping is caused by one’s right leg in the dream, it could mean that an illness will inflict one’s son, If the limping has affected the left leg in the dream, it could mean that one’s daughter will be engaged. If one has no children, or if he has no plans to travel, then limping in a dream means a warning to set back, slow down and to be careful about his next move. If one’s leg is dislocated in a dream, it means DICTIONARY OF DREAMS 255 that his wife may get sick.

    Limping in a dream also means longevity, knowledge and religious understanding. Seeing a woman limping in a dream means receiving something deficient. The same goes if a woman sees someone limping or hopping on one foot in her dream.

    Limping in a dream also represents trickery, perfidy, or treason.

  • Jerking:

    (Hitching; Jerking; Lameness) Limping in a dream means becoming incapacitated, or being unable to conclude a project one is pursuing. Limping in a dream also means acquiring knowledge, understanding one’s religion, or growing in wisdom. Limping in a dream also means travels.

    If the limping is caused by one’s right leg in the dream, it could mean that an illness will inflict one’s son, If the limping has affected the left leg in the dream, it could mean that one’s daughter will be engaged. If one has no children, or if he has no plans to travel, then limping in a dream means a warning to set back, slow down and to be careful about his next move. If one’s leg is dislocated in a dream, it means DICTIONARY OF DREAMS 255 that his wife may get sick.

    Limping in a dream also means longevity, knowledge and religious understanding. Seeing a woman limping in a dream means receiving something deficient. The same goes if a woman sees someone limping or hopping on one foot in her dream.

    Limping in a dream also represents trickery, perfidy, or treason.

  • Allowance:

    (Allowance) In a dream, a raise means satisfying one’s needs and it could indicate the house servant, or an employee.

• trying to pick up
  • Philander:

    (Flirting; Love poems; Philander) Courting a woman or singing love songs to her or displaying amorous behavior for her in public in a dream represents someone who divulges people’s secrets.

  • Wanted:

    (Claim; Search; Wanted) In a dream, pursuit means one’s destiny, or death. If one sees himself wanted by his enemy in a dream, it means that he may die shortly. On the other hand, pursuit in a dream also could represent things that foster one’s pride, such as knowledge, schooling, degrees, money, or work.

    If one sees himself pursued by someone in a dream, it means sorrow and distress. Pursuit in a dream also represents one’s goal in life. If one is not a fugitive, then to see himself wanted in a dream means appeasement of his fears.

    If one sees an ugly looking person searching for him in a dream, he then represents an unwanted catastrophe, or a mishap. If one is caught by his claimant, then it means increase of his fears. If one sees himself pursuing something, or seeking to get something in a dream, it means that he will attain his goal or at least a part of it.

  • Pickax:

    (Digging) A pickax in a dream represents strength, resoluteness, or contemplating good deeds. A pickax in a dream also may represent an opportu¬ nistic person who draws people to himself for selfish interests, interferes in everything, or craves wealth.

• striving to grasp
  • Strive:
  • Seizing:

    (Holding; Seizing) Gripping to somethingby the hand in a dream means buying a new property, renewal of one’s control over something, getting married or begetting a son.

  • Grabbing:

    Grabbing to a wall, a tree or a branch in a dream means the nearing end of one’s life, depending on how firmly one is grabbing to it. Firmly grabbing to something in a dream is also means holding dearly to a strong man.

• pen
  • Pencil:

    (Pencil; Tongue) In a dream, a pen represents knowledge, learning, a child, a tradesman, or commanding what is good and forbidding what is evil. If a tradesman or a craftsman sees a pen in his dream, it means that he will be successful in his trade, or that he will preside over people of the same trade. If a tradesman earns something with a pen, or writes an invoice with it in a dream, it means that he will be protected from poverty through his trade.

    If a writer sees himself carrying a pen, or holding a paper, or an inkwell in a dream, it also means having a source of income, protection against poverty, earning one’s DICTIONARY OF DREAMS 325 livelihood from writing, or from working under someone in authority. A pen in a dream also represents one’s manager, his controller, a cosigner, a witness in an agreement, entering into a marriage agreement, or it could represent an intelligent son who will become a famous writer. Owning a pen or receiving a one as a gift in a dream means acquiring knowledge.

    Then, if one proceeds to write with it in his dream, it means receiving an appointment, or occupying a position of authority. Looking at a pen one is holding in his hand and seeing another pen laying beside him in a dream denotes having a half brother, or if one’s mother is pregnant, it means that she will deliver a new son. A pen in a dream also means a guarantee.

    If one’s wife is pregnant, then if he sees a pen laying beside an inkwell in his dream, it means that she will beget a son. Holding a pen in a dream also means making an oath. If one’s pen is broken or scratched in a dream, it will reflect on his business, trade and livelihood.

    Moistening a pen from an inkwell in a dream means committing a sin. A pen in a dream also represents virtues by which one is known, or it could mean complying with a court judgement, or signing a court order, or it could represent a scholar, a judge, one’s tongue, a sword, one’s penis, a railway, generosity, abundance, human¬ kind, one’s confidant, or winning victory over one’s enemy. If one’s pen looks in good condition in the dream, it means that one’s oath or covenant is true.

    Otherwise, a defective pen in a dream represents a false oath, or a biased agreement. A pen in a dream also means longevity and prosperity.

  • Bite off:

    (Bite off; Nip; Tweak) Pinching someone in a dream means envying him, or plotting to get some of his money which he will eventually get. Pinching someone in the butts in a dream means betraying him with his wife. Pinching someone in the belly in a dream means wishing to get some of his savings.

    Pinching someone in a dream means hurting him with words. Pinching or biting DICTIONARY OF DREAMS 331 someone’s hand in a dream may represent a snake bite, or a bite of a scorpion. Pinching someone’s hand in a dream also means receiving unlawful money then incurring heavy losses, or it could mean paying a hefty fine.

  • Tweak:

    (Bite off; Nip; Tweak) Pinching someone in a dream means envying him, or plotting to get some of his money which he will eventually get. Pinching someone in the butts in a dream means betraying him with his wife. Pinching someone in the belly in a dream means wishing to get some of his savings.

    Pinching someone in a dream means hurting him with words. Pinching or biting DICTIONARY OF DREAMS 331 someone’s hand in a dream may represent a snake bite, or a bite of a scorpion. Pinching someone’s hand in a dream also means receiving unlawful money then incurring heavy losses, or it could mean paying a hefty fine.

• writing instrument
  • Pencil:

    (Pencil; Tongue) In a dream, a pen represents knowledge, learning, a child, a tradesman, or commanding what is good and forbidding what is evil. If a tradesman or a craftsman sees a pen in his dream, it means that he will be successful in his trade, or that he will preside over people of the same trade. If a tradesman earns something with a pen, or writes an invoice with it in a dream, it means that he will be protected from poverty through his trade.

    If a writer sees himself carrying a pen, or holding a paper, or an inkwell in a dream, it also means having a source of income, protection against poverty, earning one’s DICTIONARY OF DREAMS 325 livelihood from writing, or from working under someone in authority. A pen in a dream also represents one’s manager, his controller, a cosigner, a witness in an agreement, entering into a marriage agreement, or it could represent an intelligent son who will become a famous writer. Owning a pen or receiving a one as a gift in a dream means acquiring knowledge.

    Then, if one proceeds to write with it in his dream, it means receiving an appointment, or occupying a position of authority. Looking at a pen one is holding in his hand and seeing another pen laying beside him in a dream denotes having a half brother, or if one’s mother is pregnant, it means that she will deliver a new son. A pen in a dream also means a guarantee.

    If one’s wife is pregnant, then if he sees a pen laying beside an inkwell in his dream, it means that she will beget a son. Holding a pen in a dream also means making an oath. If one’s pen is broken or scratched in a dream, it will reflect on his business, trade and livelihood.

    Moistening a pen from an inkwell in a dream means committing a sin. A pen in a dream also represents virtues by which one is known, or it could mean complying with a court judgement, or signing a court order, or it could represent a scholar, a judge, one’s tongue, a sword, one’s penis, a railway, generosity, abundance, human¬ kind, one’s confidant, or winning victory over one’s enemy. If one’s pen looks in good condition in the dream, it means that one’s oath or covenant is true.

    Otherwise, a defective pen in a dream represents a false oath, or a biased agreement. A pen in a dream also means longevity and prosperity.

  • Copyist:

    (Copyist; Handwriting) A calligrapher in a dream represents knowledge, charting and clarity. Otherwise, a calligrapher may represent distress, trouble, unhappiness, seeing everything dark, or he could represent DICTIONARY OF DREAMS 67 uptightness. A calligrapher in a dream also represents someone who teaches people tricks, for writing is a trick.

  • Handwriting:

    (Copyist; Handwriting) A calligrapher in a dream represents knowledge, charting and clarity. Otherwise, a calligrapher may represent distress, trouble, unhappiness, seeing everything dark, or he could represent DICTIONARY OF DREAMS 67 uptightness. A calligrapher in a dream also represents someone who teaches people tricks, for writing is a trick.

• ballpoint
  • Pencil:

    (Pencil; Tongue) In a dream, a pen represents knowledge, learning, a child, a tradesman, or commanding what is good and forbidding what is evil. If a tradesman or a craftsman sees a pen in his dream, it means that he will be successful in his trade, or that he will preside over people of the same trade. If a tradesman earns something with a pen, or writes an invoice with it in a dream, it means that he will be protected from poverty through his trade.

    If a writer sees himself carrying a pen, or holding a paper, or an inkwell in a dream, it also means having a source of income, protection against poverty, earning one’s DICTIONARY OF DREAMS 325 livelihood from writing, or from working under someone in authority. A pen in a dream also represents one’s manager, his controller, a cosigner, a witness in an agreement, entering into a marriage agreement, or it could represent an intelligent son who will become a famous writer. Owning a pen or receiving a one as a gift in a dream means acquiring knowledge.

    Then, if one proceeds to write with it in his dream, it means receiving an appointment, or occupying a position of authority. Looking at a pen one is holding in his hand and seeing another pen laying beside him in a dream denotes having a half brother, or if one’s mother is pregnant, it means that she will deliver a new son. A pen in a dream also means a guarantee.

    If one’s wife is pregnant, then if he sees a pen laying beside an inkwell in his dream, it means that she will beget a son. Holding a pen in a dream also means making an oath. If one’s pen is broken or scratched in a dream, it will reflect on his business, trade and livelihood.

    Moistening a pen from an inkwell in a dream means committing a sin. A pen in a dream also represents virtues by which one is known, or it could mean complying with a court judgement, or signing a court order, or it could represent a scholar, a judge, one’s tongue, a sword, one’s penis, a railway, generosity, abundance, human¬ kind, one’s confidant, or winning victory over one’s enemy. If one’s pen looks in good condition in the dream, it means that one’s oath or covenant is true.

    Otherwise, a defective pen in a dream represents a false oath, or a biased agreement. A pen in a dream also means longevity and prosperity.

  • Pushball:

    (Baseball; Basketball; Cricket ball; Football; Glob; Golf ball; Handball; Ping- Pong ball; Pushball; Snowball; Tennis ball; Volleyball) A ball in a dream signifies a dispute, an argument, a fight to control the world and its resources. Some will desire it and others will reject it. A ball in a dream also could signify travels or moving between places.

    Usually, a ball in a dream represents a man. If it is made from leather, then it represents a leader, a boss, or a scholar. Playing ball in a dream means a fight.

  • Volleyball:

    (Baseball; Basketball; Cricket ball; Football; Glob; Golf ball; Handball; Ping- Pong ball; Pushball; Snowball; Tennis ball; Volleyball) A ball in a dream signifies a dispute, an argument, a fight to control the world and its resources. Some will desire it and others will reject it. A ball in a dream also could signify travels or moving between places.

    Usually, a ball in a dream represents a man. If it is made from leather, then it represents a leader, a boss, or a scholar. Playing ball in a dream means a fight.

Practical Steps to Uncover Your Dream's Message

• Reflect on Your Current Life Situation

  Take a moment to consider what aspects of your life may be causing you to feel stressed or unable to express yourself. Are there situations at work or in your personal relationships where you feel your voice isn't heard? Reflecting on these scenarios can help you identify what the dream may be urging you to address.

  Writing these thoughts down can also aid clarity and serve as a form of expression. Just as the pen is a tool for communication, using it to jot down your feelings can be therapeutic, allowing you to process emotions and thoughts that may be stifling your creativity. Acknowledging these feelings can also motivate you to take the necessary steps toward resolution and self-expression.

• Engage in Creative Outlets

  Explore creative activities that encourage free expression. This could be journaling, painting, composing music, or any form of art that resonates with you. Engaging in creativity can help unblock any feelings of frustration tied to communication difficulties in your waking life.

  Creativity allows you to approach your feelings in a different way, helping to ease the anxiety of needing to express yourself perfectly. Remember, there are no right or wrong ways to create. Let go of perfectionism and enjoy the process.

  This can transform your dream's message into action and enable you to find your voice. Additionally, sharing your creative work with others can foster deeper connections and improve your confidence in expressing yourself.

• Consider Seeking Support

  Sometimes, our dreams signal deeper issues—beyond simple frustrations. If you find that the same motifs recur in your dreams or that your feelings of inadequacy persist, consider discussing these with a friend or a professional. Speaking about your experiences can provide valuable perspectives and guidance.

  Acknowledging where you feel challenged can be the first step in overcoming these barriers. Furthermore, a qualified counselor may offer techniques to address the challenges in communication and self-expression you are facing. Never underestimate the power of support; sharing your burden can lighten it and create pathways to solutions you may not have seen before.

FAQs

• What does it mean to dream about trying to pick up a pen?

  Dreaming about trying to pick up a pen can symbolize struggles with self-expression and communication. The pen, a tool of writing, often represents creativity and the sharing of thoughts. Difficulty in grasping it may reflect feelings of frustration or the perception that your voice is not being heard in your waking life.

• How can I interpret the emotions I felt during the dream about a pen?

  Emotions experienced during the dream can offer significant insights into its meaning. If you felt stressed or anxious in the dream, it could indicate underlying issues in your waking life related to communication or creativity. Conversely, feeling excited about picking up the pen might reflect positive aspirations in your creative endeavors.

• Are there specific symbols associated with pens in dreams?

  Yes, pens in dreams can symbolize various concepts, primarily linked to creativity, knowledge, and communication. They often represent a desire to express thoughts and ideas, as well as the challenges one might encounter in doing so. The condition of the pen in the dream can also suggest different meanings; for example, a broken pen might highlight feelings of frustration or limitations.

• What should I do if this dream recurs frequently?

  If you find that this dream recurs, it may suggest persistent feelings of inadequacy in terms of self-expression or unresolved issues in your life. It’s essential to reflect on what barriers you might be facing. Consider journaling or talking to a trusted friend or therapist to process these feelings and explore the underlying causes of the dream.

• How does cultural background influence dream interpretation?

  Cultural background can greatly influence dream interpretation. In Islamic tradition, dreams are seen as meaningful messages that may come from Allah. Therefore, their interpretation often relies on spiritual insights. It’s essential to approach your dreams with an understanding of your cultural context and personal beliefs, as they can shape the symbols and emotions associated with your dreams.

References