What Does It Mean to Dream of Moving?

In waking life, moving a house can be a huge hassle. If you dream of moving, though, you may get the excitement of trying out new surroundings without all the hard parts like packing your stuff.

Moving Dream Symbolism

Endings

A dream of moving can symbolize that a particular period of your life is ending. Even if you physically stay in the same residence, what you do or who you do it with might be changing.

If a relationship is a significant part of your living arrangements, like if you live with a romantic partner or with members of your family, a dream of moving could reflect your interest in ending or changing the dynamics of that relationship.

Beginnings

A dream of moving can symbolize that you are starting something new in your life. Moving to a really nice house could especially symbolize an opportunity for a fresh start that you have reason to be excited about.

Identity

Your house in dreams can symbolize your identity. Moving house in your dream could therefore symbolize that you are changing how you see yourself or present yourself to the world.

If the physical appearance of the house is very different from what you are used to, the details of the difference could show how you think you are changing. You might be getting richer or poorer or more colorful, for example.

Death

For those who believe in life after death, dying might just be like moving from one residence to another. A dream of moving could therefore refer to the death of someone in your life, whether you suspect a death is coming or are processing a death that has recently happened.

Even if no one physically dies, however, moving can mean the end of certain things in your life. This may trigger the same sort of grief that a death does. See also death and dying dreams.

Common Moving Dreams

Dream of moving into a new house

A dream about moving into a new house can be a potent image of renewal. As your house in your dream can symbolize your identity, dreaming of moving into a new house could symbolize that you are overhauling your sense of self in a public enough way that others might be aware of it.

Dream of packing and moving

If you really are considering moving in your waking life, a dream about packing and moving could certainly be part of your process of adjusting to the change. Even if you do not plan on moving, though, a dream of packing and moving could symbolize that you are completing some important stage in your life.

As many people get rid of excess possessions when they move, a dream of packing and moving might show that you are considering which parts of your current life you want to take with you into the future.

Dream of moving furniture

Moving furniture can be one of the more challenging parts of moving into a new house or apartment. Dreaming of moving furniture could therefore symbolize that you need to be realistic about the costs of a big life change you are considering.

Redecorating the house you already live in can sometimes be almost as good as moving to a different house for giving you a fresh start. A dream of moving furniture in this context, where you aren’t moving to a new house but just rearranging the space you already live in, could symbolize that you have the resources you need to meet your goals but just need to use them more effectively.

Dream of moving to a horrible house

Dreaming of moving to a horrible house could symbolize that you are intentionally choosing to confront something difficult in your life, like a health problem or a history of trauma. This would more likely be the case if the dream had you choosing a fixer-upper house that you intended to renovate.

If your dream of moving to a horrible house is one where you felt like you were pushed into it against your will, though, this could symbolize that you have anxiety about your finances or social status. However, while the dream may accurately show your fear that some problem in your life will lead to you losing money or status, it might not be able to tell whether or not your fear will come true.

If you are house hunting in your waking life, dreaming of moving to a horrible house could reflect your anxiety about the process. You may be afraid that you won’t be able to find or afford the kind of house you want, or that you might choose a house only to regret it later. While it can be difficult to distinguish anxiety from intuition in a situation like this, sometimes this type of dream could serve as a warning against a house or other living situation you are considering.

Dream of moving to another state

In the United States, there can be significant cultural and political differences between one state and another. This is often talked about in terms of the distinction between red states, where the politics are dominated by the Republican Party, and blue states, where the politics are dominated by the Democratic Party.

A dream about moving to another state could symbolize that you feel like you don’t fit in where you are, perhaps due to conflict over political or cultural issues. If your dream of moving feels good, you might have cause to hope that a geographic cure would help your problem. The other side of a geographic cure, however, is that you bring yourself with you no matter where you go.

If you are dreaming of moving to another state just to be with a specific person or group of people, though, this could be a comment on your relationship with them. Whether or not you are considering moving in your waking life, you could feel like the existing relationship is always on their turf or always on their terms. Are you secretly resentful about this dynamic, or can you honestly say the equivalent of, “I’d rather live in his world than live without him in mine?”

If your dream about moving to another state feels bad, like you are being pushed to move somewhere against your will, this could symbolize that you feel you lack control over your life. Whether or not moving is an option you are considering in your waking life, you may feel like someone in your family has more than their share of power and influence, and they are not adequately taking your needs into account.

Dream of moving out

A dream about moving out could be more about your relationship with whoever you currently live with. You may want to end the relationship, and you would generally know in your waking life if that were the case. If you don’t want to end the relationship, though, maybe the relationship just needs to change.

It is common for young people to move out of their parents’ houses not as a rejection of their relationship with their parents but as a normal part of their development. If you live with your parents, dreaming of moving out of your parents’ house may symbolize that you are getting ready to set out on your own.

If you have already lived apart from your parents for some time, though, a dream about moving out of your parents’ house could symbolize that you feel like your parents still control you in some ways. You may need to continue working to claim your independence.

Dreaming of moving out of a residence you share with a spouse or romantic partner could symbolize that you have concerns about your relationship. Even if you don’t feel like the relationship needs to end entirely, it may need to change substantially in order to survive. You may feel like you need more space to pursue personal growth that you can then bring back to the relationship.

Conclusion

Moving is always a big change, so your dream of moving probably reflects that something is shifting for you, whether or not it is your physical surroundings. If you have been waiting for the right moment to take action, your moving dream might show that you are becoming ready on an inner level to proceed further.