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This dirty dream might just mean money is on the way.

You wake up remembering a particularly disgusting dream: You were defecating, stepping on human waste, or surrounded by piles of poop.

Before dismissing it as a nightmare, consider this surprising superstition: In several cultures, dreaming about feces is associated with money, prosperity, and unexpected good fortune.

But why would something so revolting symbolize wealth?

From human waste to wealth

One explanation comes from agricultural history.

For centuries, manure helped fertilize farmland, improve harvests, and sustain communities. Waste, despite its unpleasant appearance, was associated with productive soil and abundance.

This connection may help explain why some folk traditions associate feces with prosperity.

In certain Chinese dream interpretations, encountering excrement is considered an auspicious symbol, sometimes associated with financial gains.

Similar beliefs appear in parts of Southeast Asia, including the Philippines, where some people interpret dreaming about tae as a sign of incoming money.

Freud’s surprising theory

A psychological explanation comes from Sigmund Freud.

In his writings, Freud explored symbolic connections between feces, money, and possessions, particularly through his theory of childhood psychosexual development.

He proposed that early experiences involving bodily control could influence later attitudes toward ownership and wealth.

However, Freud’s interpretation remains a psychoanalytic theory, not a scientifically established explanation of dreams.

The meaning of letting go

Another popular interpretation focuses on the act of defecation itself.

Because bowel movements involve eliminating waste, some dream interpreters associate them with emotional release.

Dreaming about defecating may therefore symbolize a desire to escape stress, abandon burdens, or move beyond difficult experiences.

These interpretations are symbolic rather than scientifically validated.

A belief that crosses cultures

In Catalonia, Spain, Christmas traditions include the caganer, a figurine depicting a person defecating.

The figure has been associated with fertility and good fortune, reflecting the historical connection between waste and agricultural abundance.

In some Filipino households, meanwhile, dreaming about feces is regarded as a sign of suwerte, particularly involving money.

But these beliefs vary among families and communities.

Does it really mean money is coming?

Not necessarily.

Scientific research has not established that dreaming about feces predicts financial windfalls, lottery winnings, or future prosperity.

Dreams can reflect memories, emotions, physical sensations, and everyday experiences.

Still, the superstition reveals something fascinating about human culture: Even the most unpleasant things can acquire surprisingly positive meanings.

So the next time you dream about poop, don’t expect an instant fortune.

But according to some old beliefs, what looks like a dirty dream might just be a symbol of good luck.

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