What It Really Means When You Dream About Water
Water as a dream symbol is open to a wide variety of interpretations. Water is, after all, the basis of all life — according to the United States Geological Survey, our bodies are about 60 percent water, while over 70 percent of our planet's surface is water-covered (via USGS.gov). Water is, of all the elements, the one most deeply linked with the subconscious, and thus quite likely to show up in our dreams.
Water in a dream may symbolize emotions that run deep, or perhaps (if the water is muddy) feelings that are confused and unclear. Water may be cleansing and healing, or water could swallow you up and threaten to drown you much like an overwhelming emotion such as anger or pain (via Everyday Health).
In order to determine what role is played by the water that flows through your dreams, you'll need to take into account not only what you've got going on in your life just now, but also the type of water it is and your position in relation to it (such as being immersed, swimming, or just wading ankle-deep).
What type of water was in your dream?
If you dream of flowing water from a river or stream, the Psychic Library indicates this might symbolize changes in your life, which are occurring either peacefully (smooth-flowing water) or too quickly (a swift-running or turbulent flow). If you dream of the ocean, this could symbolize either the unknown or the limitless horizons that lie ahead of you.
Dreaming of water in the bath or shower may indicate a need to attend to personal care, while a swimming pool dream may stem from a desire to relax — or else, perhaps, if you're just standing beside the pool, a need to dive right in and "take the plunge," no matter the initial shock. A dream of rain may mean sadness, with raindrops standing in for tears, but rain could also symbolize cleansing and healing from sorrows that are now passing from you.
If the water in your dream comes out of your own body (ahem, pee) — well, the Aunty Flo dream dictionary blog says that a bed-wetting dream might have a positive meaning such as good health or good luck, but... uhh, you still might just want to wake up and check the sheets, just in case.