As you type, the journal compares your words with the dictionary and underlines matches. The longest phrase wins, so "falling down stairs" is matched as one symbol, not three.
Some entries need context. A single everyday word, such as "house" or "water", is marked more lightly because it may not be a symbol at all. A few entries also skip phrases that would give false matches, such as "teeth" in "teeth of the storm".
You are in charge. Use "Not in this dream" on any card to hide a match; the journal remembers that choice for that entry.
Matching happens in your browser, on your device. No text is sent anywhere. Your entries are kept in local storage, which is why export matters. See the privacy note for the detail.
On the patterns page, each symbol counts once per entry, however many times you wrote it. The counts describe your words, not your mind, and are best read as a prompt for reflection.
This guide is general information, not medical advice. If dreams or sleep are affecting your health, speak to a doctor.