MASTER F. J., Homoeopathic
Dictionnary of Dreams
DEDICATION
This book is dedicated to my daughters Rukshin
and Mahaziver who represent my future.
-FJM
PAGE IV
Preface to second edition
It is a great honour for me and
my colleagues that the first edition published in November’ 94, got completely
sold out within a year hence I was forced to publish the second edition. This
clearly shows how useful DREAMS would be for practitioners in their private
practice and also for students to understand the theme of materia medica.
There are some major changes in
the second edition. Dreams of more than 50 remedies have been included. Lots of
new dreams have been added to the already existing remedies. Lots of printing
errors have been checked and verified. Also themes of common remedies as
understood by the dreams have been added.
You will also find in the second
edition the interpretation of common dreams been re-written, as new ideas, new
concepts were formed and evolved. I am grateful to my professional colleagues
and publishers for their encouragement.
I am eternally grateful to my
colleague Dr. Amisha Thakkar without whose effort and sincerity this book would
have been only dreamt of in my sleep.
PAGE V
Introduction
Dreams are one of nature’s
miracles, not the result of a wandering mind in sleep. A dream is an interface
between the process of life and our conscious personality.
in an overview of the study and
research concerning dreams, there is an evidence that a dream can be
a. an expression of what is
happening in the physical body;
b. a way of balancing the
physiological and psychological activities in us;
c. an enormously original source
of insight and information in us, e.g.
scanning information and forming new ideas;
d. an expression of human super
senses;
e. a meaning of solving
problems, not only in our personal life, but also in relationship and work;
f. a way of reaching beyond the
known world of experience and presenting intimations from the unknown.
What is offered in this book
The information about dreams
presented in this book has been gathered during 14 years of working and
studying dream and dream processes of our patients.
The first part of the book
represents the detailed description of dreams under each remedy with their
marks. This helps the homoeopathic physician to have an easy assessment.
In the entries in the dictionary
in the second pat of the book are explanations of many different types of
dreams and dream images.
Despite some peoples’ attempts
to explain dreams in one simple formula, dreams cover a huge range of phenomena
and human experience.
The third part of the book deals
with the common theme of dreams of certain important remedies, or while
understanding the mental picture of the remedy one can easily expect what sort
of dreams can be present in the patient.
PAGE 1
Introducing dreams
Everyone dreams during three or
four periods of sleep every night. If we recall our dreams, they may seem to be
a meaningless jumble of images, sometimes with a strong emotion attached, or
with a coherent, though not always logical, storyline.
Some people believe that dreams
are random thoughts, which our waking mind weaves a story around, while others
believe that our unconscious mind is telling itself stories. Dreams have also
been considered to be messages from a spiritual source, memories of the past,
or prophecies of the future.
The uncensored nature of dreams
has troubled many philosophers, including Plato (c. 428-348 BC) who wrote that
“In al of us, even in good men, there is a lawless wild-beast nature, which
peers out in sleep.”
From the dark Ages, hermits who
had withdrawn from society to be closer to God seemed particularly troubled by
erotic dreams. However, these dreams were often excused as being lewd
temptations sent by the Devil, to try to draw the hermit away from God. Another
convenient excuse for these erotic dreams was the theory that every dream meant
its exact opposite therefore even if a dream was sexual, it could still be enjoyed
because it indicated inner purity and a healthy immortal soul.
PAGE 2
Shakespeare’s dreams
Titania Asleep, is a scene from
Shakespeare’s popular play ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’.
PAGE 3
Biblical dreams
Probably the best known Biblical
dream is the Egyptian Pharaoh dreaming of “seven well-favoured kine (cattle)
and fatfleshed”, followed by seven more, “ill-favoured and leanfleshed”, which
eat the first seven. Pharaoh then dreams of seven good ears of corn being
devoured by “seven thin ears blasted with the east wind.”
Joseph’s interpretation of these
dreams is, “Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the
The Bible also contains dreams
that teach and instruct - God shows Peter a vision of a large vessel, like “a
great sheet knit at the four corners….wherein were all manner of four-footed
beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things and fowls of the
air.” A voice tells Peter to kill and eat, but he refuses, saying, “I have
never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” The voice then tells him, “What
God has cleansed, that call not the common.” (Acts 10:10-17).
This dream is to instruct Peter
that he must preach to the gentiles as well as to the Jews.
PAGE 4
A wise request
Solomon’s Dream, shows Solomon
asking God for wisdom - “an understanding heart to judge the people, that I may
discern between good and bad.”
PAGE 5
Pharaoh’s dreams
These dreams were prophetic,
warning of a future calamity that could be avoided if the dreams were
interpreted correctly, and if the interpretation was acted upon.
PAGE 6
Visions and visionaries
From the age of 13, the French
peasant Joan of Arc saw visions of saints. She also heard voices telling her to
go and severe the Dauphin, and expel the English from
Most religious visions are of
the Blessed Virgin Mary. The best-known religious visions were to the
14-year-old Bernadette soubrious at
A vision can often have lasting
and powerful consequences. In 1823, Joseph smith, a 17-year-old American
farm-hand, had a vision of an angel called
Visions are not always
religious, however, and many people have claimed to receive visitations from
the spirits of close friends or relatives at the exact moment of their death.
PAGE 7
Love fever
On the ninth day of a feverish
illness, the Italian poet Dante Alighieri (1265-1321) dreamt of angels leading
him to his dead beloved, Beatrice.
PAGE 8
A saintly sleep
Joan of Arc Asleep. Joan of Arc
claimed to see visions of saints, and to hear voices summoning her to a divine
mission. The success of this mission changed the course of French history.
PAGE 9
Sigmund freud
After training in neurology,
Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) began to practice what later became psychoanalysis.
Initially, following his colleague Josef Breuer (1842-1925), he used hypnosis
to treat cases of hysteria. He then replaced hypnosis with the technique of
free association, and began to explore his patients’ dreams for clues to their
problems.
Freud believed that dreams were
wish-fulfilment - in our dreams we represent our deepest desires which, in an
adult, are nearly always sexual. However, because these desires would be
offensive to our sleeping conscious minds, our censor, or superego, disguises
our true intentions. The obscurity of dreams, Freud said, “is due to
alternations in repressed material made by the censorship”. However, this
theory does not explain why we might have a heavily disguised dream one night,
and a straightforward dream of the same activity on another night.
there are many problems with Freud’s
ideas, but he must be given credit for being one of the first modern thinkers
to re-examine the symbolism of dreams. However, he must also be criticised for
seeing nearly every dream symbol in purely sexual terms.
Freud’s detractors also complain
that his theories, based on evidence drawn from his psychologically disturbed
patients, were not universally applicable. Despite these criticisms, Freud
created psychoanalysis almost single-handedly, and built a solid base for later
dream analysts to expand.
Superego censor
Sigmund Freud codified and
popularised several existing ideas of dream interpretation, but the theory of
our superego censor repressing or disguising the desires of our subconscious
mind, appears to be original to him.
PAGE 10
Dream couch
Freud’s patients lay on this
couch while relating their dreams to him. Freud sat behind them, in order not
to disturb their concentration.
Carl jung
Carl Jung (1875-1961) began as a
follower of Freud’s theories, but broke away in 1913 to pursue his own path.
Jung believed that the content of a dream was meaningful - “Dreams may give
expression to ineluctable truths, to philosophical pronouncements, illusions,
wild fantasies….and heaven knows what besides.” His theory of the collective
unconscious” stated that although the symbolism of our dreams is personal, it
is often grounded in the universal.
PAGE 11
After exploring the religions
and folklore of other cultures, Jung discovered that they shard many symbols,
and that these universal symbols frequently occur in our dreams. It is as if we
all use the same building blocks in the creation of our dreams.
Jung also believed in the
persona - the image of our personality which we project to the outside world -
and in the shadow - those parts of our personality which are kept hidden. It is
the shadow that can surface in our dreams, often as other characters, who might
be aspects of ourselves. Related to this belief is his concept of the anima and
the animus. Sometimes our anima or animus appears in our dreams as a powerful
archetype, whose purpose is to teach us that which our conscious, waking self
refuses to recognise or acknowledge.
A curious subject
Jung’s curiosity led him to
study many subjects - although best known as a psychologist, he produced works
on symbolism, alchemy and even flying saucers.
Creative dreaming
For centuries, creative artists
have used the ideas that have come from their dreams to fuel their work. One
afternoon, the poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834) fell asleep while
thinking about the court of Kubla Khan. When he woke from his dream, he found
he had two or three hundred lines of a poem in his head, and started to write
them down.
PAGE 12
After only 54 lines he was
interrupted by “a person on business from Porlock”, and by the time he returned
to his desk, the rest of the poem Kubla Khan had vanished from his mind.
After discussing supernatural
stories with Percy Bysshe Sheeley, Lord Byron, and Byron’s doctor, Mary Shelly
(1797-1851) went to bed and had a powerful dream. The following day she began
writing Frankenstein: or, The modern Prometheus, based on the previous night’s
dream.
Scientists have also been
inspired by their dreams. The German chemist Friedrich Kekule (1829-96)
visualised the molecular structure of benzene as a carbon ring after dreaming
of a row of carbon and hydrogen atoms closing in a ring, like a snake
swallowing its tail.
Lucid dreaming
Although it may seem unlikely,
it is possible to control your dreams. First, you should decide where you want
your dream to take place. Next, you should decide on an awareness signal-
something to remind your dreaming self that this is a dream. A common signal is
to look at your hand in the dream. Having previously agreed with yourself that
this should be the signal, when you find yourself looking at your hand it is
likely that you will realise you are dreaming.
As you fall asleep, try to
picture the place in your mind, as clearly as possible. If you “arrive” there
in your dream, then you have already exerted some control over the dream.
Looking at your hand, you should then remember that this is a dream, and not
reality. In your dream turn your hand around and examine it. This is a
conscious act, and if you can do this, you might be able to choose where to go,
who to meet, and what to do and say in your dream.
Experienced lucid dreamers might
agree beforehand with others that they will meet in a certain place, and in
their dreams they meet and talk. Some claim that when they compare notes the
next day, they all dreamed of the same place, the same people, and the same
conversation.
PAGE 13
Dream control
Your mind is a storehouse of
images and imaginary events. If you can decide what to think about when you are
awake, it would seem logical for you to have the same control when you are
asleep.
PAGE 14
Unconscious art.
The Spanish surrealist Salvador
Dali (1904-89) claimed that his work could only be appreciated by the
unconscious. He used photographic clarity to depict contorted landscapes and
figures that seem both nightmarish and disconcertingly familiar.
Precognitive dreams
Dreaming of an old friend the
night before they contact you is fairly common. However, it is difficult to
know if you foretold that they would contact you, or whether they “picked up”
your dream. The two events could have been convicted, or purely coincidental.
Many people claim they dreamed
that the United States President John F. Kennedy was shot, before it happened -
but unfortunately there is no evidence of anyone writing down their dream
before the assassination occurred. Of the millions of dreams that were dreamt
by Americans during the weeks before 22 November 1963, many will have featured
an expensive car, hundreds will have featured the president, and some will
undoubtedly have shown his violent death. How many of these were genuine
precognitive dreams is impossible to know.
PAGE 15
Many people dream of a disaster,
such as a plane crash, and change a flight they have already booked to another
date. If the disaster occurs, they naturally believe they were saved by their
precognitive dream. But why only this one person should be saved by their dream
is a common question, and it is probable that people often have these dreams
and then in reality nothing happens.
Some people to have a good track
record of seeing future in their dreams, keep careful written notes. If you
have a particularly powerful or disturbing dream, write it down, date it, and
give a sealed copy of it to someone else. Remember to do this before the dream
comes true, not afterwards.
Divine dreams
The philosopher St. Thomas
Aquinas (1224-74) distinguished between divine revelations and “unlawful and
Superstitious” dreams. He wrote, “It is the experience of all men that a dream
contains some indication of the future. Therefore it is vain to deny that
dreams have efficacy in divination.
PAGE 16
A death foretold
Years after the event, a friend
of Abraham Lincoln claimed that
Interpreting dream symbolism
Sometimes dreams are simply a
return of your life, but they usually contain their own story, combined with
vivid imagery. The 2nd-century roman soothsayer Artermidorus wrote that “dreams
and visions are infused into men for their advantage and instruction”, but also
gave a warning - “the same dream does not always have the same meaning in each
case and for each person”.
PAGE 17
Sigmund Freud described a number
of fairly clear sexual symbols which often occur in people’s dreams, and Carl
Jung showed that there are many dream symbols that seem to be common to all
humankind. However, you should never assume that these universal symbols apply
to your individual dreams. It is always important to work out your own personal
symbolism.
Although dreams are mainly
visual, they often base their images on word play, proverbs, common sayings,
and metaphors. Naturally, these will all vary according to your native
language.
It should also be remembered
that the meanings of symbols can change, especially in the contemporary age of
rapid visual communication. Any “general” symbolic meaning might alter because
of a popular film, television series, or the fame of an international icon. For
example, the word “Madonna” can now just as easily refer to Virgin Mary, or to
an American pop star. Also, the swastika was once considered to be a symbol of
good fortune, but now it usually means extreme right-wing politics and racial
hatred.
What your dreams can reveal
Sibilant symbol
Many snakes are poisonous, but
when twined around a staff, a snake symbolises healing. They represent wisdom,
as well as temptation, partly because of the Garden of Eden story. They can
also represent sexuality, and a snake curled with its tail in its mouth is a
symbol of eternity and reincarnation.
Some dreams are wish-fulfilment,
but you may also dream of things that you do not want. What you want and what
you need are not always the same - your unconscious may be pointing out
something that you need to do, even if it is not what you consciously want to
do. For example, in waking life you might be pursuing a feud with someone, but
your dreams may tell you that co-operation and reconciliation will be more
useful. Listen to your dreams, because they are often wiser than your waking
mind.
PAGE 18
Everyone has insecurities, and
in waking life, it is natural to overcompensate, or try to hide them. Your
dreams, however, reveal your hidden insecurities as a matter of course. Do not
dismiss Freudian symbolism altogether - many dreams are about sex, which is at
the root of numerous insecurities. For example, for a man, dreaming of a broken
pencil or a demolished chimney could well be a reference to a fear of
impotence.
Recurrent dreams tend to occur
because of very deeply rooted fears and insecurities. If you have a recurring
dream, examine it carefully each time. Work out what it is trying to tell you,
whether it is getting you better or worse, and what you can do in your waking
life in response to this recurring dream.
When you wake from a dream, get
into the habit of writing it down immediately. Write down your feelings and
depressions, too, and note unusual colours, specific numbers, or any names.
These are all important when interpreting your dreams.
Falling dream
Dreaming of falling often
reveals insecurity. It could also refer to falling in love, or into temptation.
In your dream, are you falling from grace, denoting a spiritual problem, or
from a position of power? Try to remember where you are falling from, and where
and how you land.
PAGE 19
Sibilant symbol
Many snakes are poisonous, but
when twined around a staff, a snake symbolises healing. They represent wisdom,
as well as temptation, partly because of the Garden of Eden story. They can
also represent sexuality, and a snake curled with its tail in its mouth is a
symbol of eternity and reincarnation.
PAGE 20
Colours
COLOUR MIGHT PREDOMINATE IN A
DREAM, OR A SYMBOL COULD BE AN UNUSUAL COLOUR - FOR EXAMPLE, A DOG MAY BE
PURPLE. THE SYMBOLISM OF COLOURS IS LINKED TO RELIGION, AND CAN HAVE DIFFERENT
CULTURAL MEANINGS. HOWEVER, CERTAIN COLOURS TEND TO HAVE SPECIFIC MEANINGS.
Gold
This masculine colour represents
richness and royalty, particularly kingship. Gold is the brightness of the sun,
and represents the majesty of God. It can also mean wealth, money, and by
extension, covetousness.
Silver
The symbol of purity and
chastity, silver is the colour of the Moon. It therefore represents mystical
and feminine spirituality and wisdom, and the qualities of a queen. Silver may
also refer to money.
Red
The most sexual to the colours,
red is hot, masculine, and aggressive. It can mean stop, and represents blood,
danger, and vibrant life. It is a royal colour in a religious sense - Christ’s
blood, and a cardinal’s robes, are red.
White
In the East, white is the colour
of death. In the West, a bride wears whit to symbolise virginity, and white
represents cleanness, purity, virtue, and goodness.
Purple
In ancient Rome, “taking the
purple” meant becoming a Roman senator, and purple was the imperial colour. It
is the colour of royalty, ruling, and bishops’ vestments.
PAGE 26
Orange
This is a bright, lively colour,
denoting spirituality in some religions (for example, Krishna followers wear
saffron robes). Orange is also a colour of health.
Green
This colour means go, natural
goodness, a fresh start, and growth. However, green can also symbolise poison,
jealousy, and inexperience.
Black
In the West, black signified
death. It can also mean secrecy, fear, depression, emptiness, and the
unconscious mind. It is the absence of all light, and therefore the absence of
God. An evil person’s soul is said to be black.
PAGE 27
Brown
The colour brown should always
be pt in its context - it can be the goodness and richness of soil, but also
the murkiness of mud. Brown is associated with the sensation of touch, and with
the material world.
Yellow
This can be a symbol of health
(the brightness of the sun), or
ill-health (illness such as jaundice). In many cultures, yellow is the colour
of cowardice.
Blue
This is a feminine colour. It is
the colour of the sky and heaven. It symbolises spirituality, purity, fidelity,
clarity of thought and the cool clearness of intellect and intuition. Dark blue
and blue-green suggest the sea, and therefore emotions.
Archetypes
There are many archetypal
figures, known by many names and categorised in different ways, according to
whether they are being described by, for example, a Freudian or a Jungian. A
person in a dream could be both a real person and an archetypal figure; for
example, if you dream that a friend is a priest or the Pope, the dream could be
telling you to go to that friend for spiritual guidance. Many of the archetypes
represented in the Major Arcana of the tarot can also appear in your dreams.
Everyone has “masculine” and
“feminine” traits. The anima represents “feminine” qualities, such an
intuition, in a man. The animus represents “masculine” qualities, such as
aggression, in a woman. Any woman in a man’s dream might be his anima, and any
man in a woman’s dream might be her animus.
PAGE 28
The many archetypes include the
Stranger or Shadow, Twins, Hero, Fool and Wise Old Man or Woman. Their symbolic
meanings can be found in the A to Z of Dream Symbols.
Merlin the magician
Merlin is an archetypal
magician, and Vivian is a Sorceress rather than a High Priestess, but the
distinction between these two archetypes is often blurred. Such characters in
dreams might suggest that you need to pay more attention to the mystical and
esoteric rather than to the conventional and orthodox. However, archetypes may
also have a flip side - for example, the Magician can also be the Trickster.
Reflections
A mirror implies
self-examination but what you see may be deceptive or distorted.
PAGE 29
Numbers
Symbolically, odd numbers are
male, and even numbers are female. The meanings of the numbers zero to thirteen
are: ZERO: nothingness, a void, and emptiness; ONE: man, loneliness, and ideas
of unity and uniqueness; TWO: woman, a pair or an opposite, contract, or
choice; THREE: the family creation, and movement, with a beginning, middle, and
end; FOUR: solidity, the gospels, seasons, compass points, elements, and
functions of the mind - intellect, emotion, sensation, and intuition; FIVE: the
human (four limbs plus head), nature, life, the senses, and the occult; SIX:
sex - upward and downward triangles superimposed, and the Creation (six days);
SEVEN: heaven, a holy number, a day of rest, days of the week, notes of the
scale, colours of the rainbow, pillars of wisdom, and wonders of the world;
EIGHT: infinity (when the number is turned on its side), material matters, worldly
concerns, and the eight-fold path of Buddhism; NINE: pregnancy, Buddhist
spirituality, Chinese ultimate spiritual power, and great achievement; TEN: the
commandments from the Old Testament, and according to Hinduism, the perfect
number; ELEVEN: revelation, intuition, self-knowledge, and a spiritual journey:
TWELVE: the passage of time, astrological signs of the zodiac months of the
year, and hours of the day; THIRTEEN: often considered to be the unluckiest of
all the numbers, particularly in the Western World.
Rooms in a house
According to the symbolism of
dreams, everything in a house is part of you, whether physically, mentally,
emotionally, or spiritually. As with all dream symbols, it is always important
to interpret the meanings as they apply to you personally, and in the context
of the dream.
The facade of the house
symbolises the aspect of yourself that you present to the world. Walls
represent security, or barriers against the outside world. If walls between
rooms are too solid, it could mean that you are shutting off parts of yourself
from each other. The porch is the place where you meet people and invite them
into your life, therefore crossing the threshold is an important image. Open
doors suggest an entrance to an aspect of yourself, or if the doors are closed,
a barrier.
PAGE 30
Inside the house, the attic or
the top of the house is thought to symbolise the conscious mind, and the
intellect. An attic room sometimes contains many discarded but important
objects from your life. The basement implies the unconscious mind, and
instinct. The bathroom represents cleansing, or purification, and the bedroom
symbolises rest, safety, and renewal. The kitchen suggests domesticity, warmth,
and perhaps working in partnership. The living room is the heart and centre of
you. If someone else is in the living room establish whether they are welcome,
or if they are an intruder. Balconies represent female breasts - a longing for
the security of babyhood, or a sexual desire in an erotic dream. A hallway and
corridors symbolise either the vagina (moving along them can represent sexual
intercourse) or your passage along life’s pathways. Stairs can also represent
sexual intercourse, as well as your ascent to the higher aspects of life or
your descent to the baser aspects.
Room with a view
Windows represent your view of
the world. If the curtains are drawn, perhaps you are shutting yourself in.
Closed shutters suggest Over-protection, and a smashed window could signify a
fear of intrusion.
PAGE 31
A human building
This engraving from Tobias
Cohn’s Ma’aseh Tobiyyah (Venice, 1721), compares a symbolic representation of a
human body with the structure of a building. This is an ancient idea, which can
be very illuminating in dream interpretation.
PAGE 32
Animals
Bees produce honey, which
implies nourishment. They represent a group working together, and are a
repository of wisdom - it is traditional to tell them news. Dreaming of a
spider represents being trapped in its web, or being devoured by a female.
Cats can be playful, but also
wilful. A cat-like person might be elegant, but cannot be trusted because of
its claws. The dog is a good companion. It can also be a hunter, and guards the
entrance to the Underworld.
Rats are intelligent and
cunning, but are associated with disease. Mice are timid, and could mean that
you are pointlessly running in a wheel, or are caught in the trap.
Cows are placid, provide
nourishment, and are a symbol of prosperity. Depending on the type, horses can
be sturdy beasts of burden, or fast-moving messengers. They can symbolise
controlled strength, or that your life is galloping out of control. The lion is
the king of the jungle, and symbolises watchfulness and strength. The wolf is a
fierce, strong hunter, and is a metaphor for sexually predatory behaviour. A
goat symbolises male sexuality.
If the goat butts you, your
unconscious might be shaking your composure. Sheep suggest docile behaviour,
and may imply that you are too easily led. Rabbits can symbolise unchecked sexual
behaviour, but are also associated with gentleness. The monkey is a naughty,
clever trickster, and could easily signify childish behaviour.
PAGE 33
Porky pig
A pig might suggest that you are
greedy, but it could also refer to the nurturing warmth of the family.
A frog’s kiss
If kissed, a frog might turn
into a prince or princess. Are you hoping that someone will come along and
transform your life?
PAGE 34
The wily snooze
A fox suggests that you should
use animal cunning, or that you feel hunted.
Birds
Many individual birds have their
own specific meanings, but remember, as always, to interpret birds in the
personal context of your life as well as in the context of your dream.
A bird with a broken wing might
show that you feel your hopes have been rounded. The albatross is a weight
around your neck, but also the strength to make an arduous journey. A caged
bird is beautiful but trapped, and perhaps there is an aspect of yourself which
you tend with care, but which is static in reality. The cockerel is a sexual
reference, and loud and proud, it might suggest there is something you wish to
announce to the world. A crow is a scavenger, and symbolises death, and the
dove is a universal symbol of peace, hope, and faithful love, the Holy Spirit in Christianity. The eagle
represents noble strength and power, but it is also the greatest bird of prey,
and perhaps you should beware of a predatory nature in yourself or in other
people. The hen represents fussiness and a lack of intelligence - perhaps you
are being unnecessarily overprotective.
PAGE 35
A peacock signified immortality,
but its beauty contains a certain flashiness, therefore examine yourself for
vanity. The phoenix rises from the ashes, and represents a new start in life,
and the pigeon is a messenger. Ravens suggest death, and foreboding, but also
prophecy - if they can be trusted. The seagull is associated with the sea, the
ocean of your emotions. The vulture symbolises death, but its function is to
clear up the putrefying debris after death - perhaps this means that you have
to clear out some of the dead areas in your life.
A wise old bird
An owl is traditionally
associated with wisdom. However, it can also represent cunning, duplicity and
death.
PAGE 36
A to z of dreams symbols
THE FOLLOWING PAGES GIVE
TRADITIONAL INTERPRETATIONS OF THE MOST COMMON DREAM SYMBOLS, BUT IT IS ALWAYS
MOST IMPORTANT TO WORK OUT YOUR OWN PERSONAL SYMBOLISM.
Abandonment
It is a dream to be considered
important when it occurs at any point in an individual’s life. The fear of
being abandoned is one of the most fundamental and universal one. This dream is
a manifestation of anxiety at the prospect of abandonment. Sufferers feel an
exaggerated need to have friends on whom they can count. The desire to be loved
far outweighs the need to love. This fear is both fundamental and profoundly
human but it increases as soon as the individual feels deprived or
incapacitated. These kinds of people are often negative, critical and
aggressive. In attacking others, they justify, in their own eyes, their
rejection of bonds with others. The fear of abandoned is often transformed into
a fear of abandoning others.
Some causes of this type of
abandonment neurosis are:
a) Too early weaning.
b) An upbringing in which not
enough attention is paid to the child.
Abyss
It generally symbolises the
unconscious along with the instincts, which lie within. It can also symbolise
the mother, the maternal breasts or the prenatal nothingness. A fear of falling
while standing on the edge of an abyss can symbolise an unconscious invitation
to descend into oneself in order to find the root of ones problems. It can also
symbolise the fear of knowing the repressed parts of ones nature.
Looking over an abyss shows a
fear to look deeply into oneself.
PAGE 37
Falling into an abyss can be a
sign of latent depression or of an enduring anxiety.
Accident
This could be a premonition of a
real accident, but it is more likely to be your subconscious mind worrying that
your life is crashing. Alternatively, your subconscious may be saying that you
deserve some form of punishment.
Acting
Do you feel that your life is an
act, or that someone else is directing it? Stage-fright might mean nervousness
about your real-life capabilities, and forgetting your lines suggests
insecurity. If you are watching a play that represents your life, what lessons
can you learn?
Aeroplane
The Symbolism of the aeroplane
is basically that of the bird. It is connected with freedom, climbing the sky
and heaven. Being in an aeroplane signifies a spiritual search. Dreaming that
one is the pilot indicates that one is one’s own master and that one is
steering towards a spiritual domain. Dreaming that someone else is flying the
aeroplane can signify that the ego is being led by unconscious forces. The
principle context to be considered is whether the dreamer is the pilot or a
passenger. Flying above problems, towards a goal, or flights of fancy, but with
the implication that you are putting your trust in someone else (the pilot) to
keep you safe. If you are the pilot, are you in full control? (See also
flying).
Alcohol
Relaxing your inhibitions - do
you need to unwind more? Or is it a warning to drink less? (See also Wine).
Amputation
The most frequent amputation
dreams concern arms and teeth. The dreams usually relate to the anxiety at the
prospect of mutilation, which is otherwise known as fear of castration. The
fear of castration frequently manifests itself in dreams, usually accompanied
by a sense of anxiety. We dream abut limbs being wrenched off or teeth being
pulled out or falling out. We may dream about losing out hair.
Dreaming of rotten, ripped-out
or wobbly teeth is often a sign of feeling of impotency - sexual, professional,
social, etc. The dreamer believes his/her personality to be diminished. Such
people experience the constant sense that others seek to mutilate, humiliate or
reject them. These represent the unconscious sense of being weaker than others.
This sort of dream is always a sign of guilt or inferiority feelings.
PAGE 38
Animals
Dreaming of animals symbolises
the deeper instincts and vital forces, which are often repressed. They stand
for our passions, anxieties and fears. They are projections of ourselves and
are exactly what we make of them.
Bulls: This generally depicts
ones sexual drive, the basic innate drive towards caring and providing,
parenthood.
Cats: This can represent refined
female sexuality. There is something very sensuous about the way a cat moves
and the way in which it handles itself - with refinement and dignity. Dreaming
of cats can also be intuitive dreams, warning us through its sensitivity to
moods of unseen dangers.
Cows: This usually stands fir
the feminine side of ones nature, especially the giving of oneself to others.
Snakes: The snake in dreams
represents whatever is dark and obscure. It belongs to the underground
invisible world. It is supposed to be the guardian of secrets and temples. It
represents knowledge and wisdom. It is universal sexual symbol, an erect and
phallic image. All dreams about snakes focus on the same themes - sexuality,
phallic intrusion and danger within the unconscious, wisdom and knowledge.
Apple
Love, knowledge, and temptation.
Its shape might also represent the female breast. (See also Fruit).
Armour
Protection- if it is too heavy,
you may be erecting unnecessary barriers. If it is rusty, your protection may
be insufficient. (See also Shield).
Ascending
A positive symbol, such as
climbing the career ladder. It also symbolises sexual intercourse. (See also
Climbing).
Ascension
Ascension contains all the
associations of ‘rising’ or climbing. This may involve many types of ascent:
contains, steep roads, lifts, staircases, walls, etc. Ascents into the sky are
also very common, whether the body rises on its own or as a passenger or pilot
of (See also aeroplanes)
PAGE 39
Autumn
Seasons symbolise your stage of
life, and autumn represents maturity, as well as melancholy and fading hope.
Baby
The desire to have a baby, or a
fresh start. If you are the baby, it can symbolise that you are yearning for
simplicity, or seeking protection from helplessness. (See also Pregnancy).
Bathing
Cleansing yourself. Bathing in
the sea is linked with your emotions. Nude bathing suggests letting others see
you as you really are, and has sexual connotations. (See also Dirty, Swimming,
Washing).
Bible or hoy book
This signifies a need for
spiritual instruction. Perhaps you are looking for moral guidance, or feel a
sense of holiness.
Blindness
Feeling cut off from every
aspect of the outside world, or perhaps you are being blind to an essential
aspect of your life. Blindness can also suggest eye problems - check with an
optician.
Blood
Your life-force. In some
religions it is sacred, because it represents your spirit. Spilt blood could
mean a scarify, and bleeding from a part of your body might be a health
warning. (See also Wine).
Book
A wealth of knowledge, your
life-story, or an example for you to follow - what do you need to learn? Look
at the title, and dread the words on the page.
Box
In mythology, Pandora’s box
contained all the troubles of the world, but also hope. Does your box contain
memories, or aspects of your life that you have shut away? A box can also represent
a coffin and death, or the womb and security.
PAGE 40
Breast
Caring, comfort, and nurturing
motherhood, unless the dream is clearly sexual.
Bridge
What is on the other side of the
bridge? Should you cross over? If the bridge is broken, it suggests a breakdown
in communication.
Burried alive
A desire for a return to the
safe darkness of the womb. If it is linked with physical breathlessness and a
sense of fear, it could indicate a feeling of being trapped in your life, a
genuine health problem, or simply bedding that is too heavy.
Butterfly
Fragile, perishable beauty. Also
a warning of fickleness, or perhaps a deep yearning to be free from any
restrictions. Emerging from a cocoon is a clear symbol of the transition to a
new stage of life.
Cancer
It may indicate a fear of this
illness. It can show that a part of our personality is out of harmony with our
whole self. It can be an expression of how we feel about other people’s
emotional influence on us. This influence might be eating away at our own sense
os well being.
Castle
A stronghold. Are you being
besieged, or have you shut yourself off? Besieging a castle might represent an
attempt at sexual conquest.
Castration
A fear of losing manhood and
potency. It can also represent the struggle between the male and female aspects
of a man’s personality.
Cemetery
A place of death, but also
peace. Perhaps you want to escape from, or bury, a problem in your life.
Church
the house of god - are you in
church to receive a message? A church also represents sanctuary - what are you
fleeing from?
Circle
The circle of life, the seasons,
rebirth, or immortality. Although the circle signifies wholeness and
completion, it could also indicate that you are going round in circles. (See
also Wheel).
PAGE 41
Climbing
Pay attention to what you are
climbing - if it is a rocky cliff, for example, it might indicate the
difficulty of your ascent. (See also Ascending).
Clock or watch
Perhaps a preoccupation with the
passage of time, or the minutiae of life. Clockwork can refer to the heart’s
emotions and health.
Cloths
How you present yourself.
Wearing someone else’s clothes can mean that you are taking on their role in
life. Undressing suggests shedding your facade, and has sexual connotations.
(See also Hat).
Cold
Possibly a symbol of sexual
frigidity - you are shut off from the warmth of the sun.
Cooking
Preparing food means you are
considering your physical and emotional nourishment, as well as your health.
Look at the ingredients for further clues (See also Eating, Hunger, Meal).
Corridor, hallway, or passage
Sexually, these areas represent
the vagina, therefore moving along them symbolises intercourse. They can also
represent your journey towards a goal, or the passage of your life. What are
you moving from, and to? (See also Tunnel).
Crossroads
A decision - which way should
you turn? If the “correct” direction is obvious in your dream, your unconscious
may be telling your undecided conscious mind the right path to take. Take note
of where the other roads go, even if you do not take them. If there is a
signpost, try to read it. (See also road).
Crown
royalty, grandeur, achievement,
and the pinnacle of success. But a crown also means ultimate responsibility- if
you put on a crown and it does not fit, you may be over-reaching yourself.
PAGE 42
Cup
Female sexuality. A cup,
chalice, bowl, or dish can also represent the well of emotions. What does it
contain? Is it full, empty, or has it been spilled? It could indicate a
spiritual goal. (See also Glass of Water, Water).
Dancing
A symbol of lovemaking. A ritual
dance suggests a religious aspect; a frenetic dance could be the Dance of
Death.
Day
A dream taking place in daytime
refers to the conscious mind and the “everyday”.
Dead people
Dreams in which dead people
appear are expressive of our attempts to deal with our feelings, anger or guilt
in connection with the dead individuals. It may also deal with out own
feellings about death. If the dream of dead people upsets the dreamer, it
signifies that the dreamer has not yet come to terms with the death. However,
if the dream is a pleasant one, it indicates that there has been resolution of
the loss.
Death
A new phase - a part of you
needs to “die” in order to be reborn. Dreaming of someone else’s death might
reveal your hostility to that person, or it could represent a facet of your
personality that needs to be disposed of. (See also Killing).
A dead body in a dream or the
death of someone we know is often the death of some aspect of our lives. Lost
chances or opportunities, unexpressed potentials within ourselves are
frequently seen as dead bodies. If we dream of the death of someone we know it
is often indicative of a desire to be free of the person or unexpressed aggression
towards the person. (See also ‘funeral’).
Descending
Delving into the depths of your
unconscious to seek something of value.
PAGE 43
Devil
A personification of a desire,
drive, or ambition, which your unconscious mind knows is wrong. The devil might
also be someone immensely attractive, who is leading you astray.
Dirty
Your unconscious is pointing out
aspects of your life that need to be cleansed. Do you feel guilty? (See also
bathing, Swimming, Washing).
Drowning
You are getting confused by your
emotions - perhaps you feel you are drowning in your problems. (See also Sea,
Swimming).
Earthquake
Possibly a vision of a real
earthquake, or your unconscious warning you of an impending upheaval.
Eating
Satisfying sexual, emotional, as
well as physical hunger. If you are being eaten, your unconscious is worried
that you are being devoured. (See also Cooking, Hunger, Meal).
Egg
A symbol of new life and
spiritual rebirth. If you are in the egg, a new phase of life lies ahead of
you.
Examinations
All dreams constitute a form of
judgement. In dreams the examiner is a part of ourselves, which judges another
part. Exam dreams are therefore valuable because they let us know how we see
ourselves. It can indicate self-criticism or attempts to live up to moral or
intellectual standards, habits or accomplishments, worry about some coming test
of selfvalue.
Excrements
It is important to understand
what anal stage is - when we are dealing with dreams of excrements. It the
second stage in the psychosexual development of an individual. It appears in
the 1st-3rd years of life. The main aim of this stage is a striving for
independence and freedom. This is how the individual attains resolution from
this stage. Dreams of excrement are exceptionally common and they relate to the
‘anal’ state of the dreamers i.e. the
way in which they either retain their constipated’ personality or give it
freely.
PAGE 44
[The maladaptive traits of the
anal stage are – obstinacy, frugality, parsimony, etc]
Eye
The observer, who might be you,
or someone who is watching you carefully. The eye, especially in the pyramid,
is also an old symbol of the all-seeing power of God.
Falling
Falling represents loss of
confidence, moral failure, losing face, a loss of social grace. It can stand
for threats to usual sources of security such as money, a relationship, social
image or beliefs. It can also represent falling into temptation, coming down to
earth from a lofty attitude.
Family
A desire for security and
belonging, especially if you dream of being a child, Individual members of your
family are usually themselves, or the roles they played in your life. Parents
might appear in your dreams to express disapproval of your behaviour, even if
you are an adult.
Fighting
Usually a powerful internal
struggle - the opponents are aspects of your personality at war with each
other. Fighting could also refer to a conflict or battle in your waking life.
(See also Killing).
Film or pop star
Hero worship, or projection of
an aspect of your personality onto the star. (See also her, Star).
Fire
Seemingly contradictory meanings
- fire can burn and destroy, or cleanse and purify. It can refer to the fire of the passions, in which
case it must be kept under control. It can also symbolise the Holy Spirit, or
warmth and companionship.
Fire along with water are the
universal symbols. Fire symbolises ardour. It purifies, but on the other hand,
its smoke chokes and obscures, and fire burns and devours. The fires of
passion, like real fires, destroy or give life. If fire represents God, it can
also symbolise the father. It can represent the admired father (ascendant, like
the flame) but as a destructive element it can also be seen as a father who
reduces and annihilates by his tyranny and authoritarianism. They can symbolise
sexuality in abroad sense. It also shows impulses towards spirituality and
towards the lights of inner truths. Dreams of fire can indicate suppressed
emotions like anger, which the patient is unable to express in reality.
PAGE 45
Fish
A symbol of the deep
unconscious, creativity, Christianity, and the phallus.
Flower
Beauty and the vitality of
nature. Flowers also symbolise sexuality, usually female, depending on the
shape of the flower. Opening buds suggest that you are about to blossom. (See
also Rose).
Flying
The aspect of flying connects
with the gaining of independence and expression of ones true potential. Flying
can also indicate the dealing with our internal influences, which hold us down
such as anxiety, depression, self-doubt, insecurity, etc. Flying alone occurs
most frequently and shows the independent aspect of flying. It indicates a need
to rise higher. It is an attempt to rise over one’s difficulties and conflicts.
The yearning to soar in spiritual
or intellectual ascent. It can also be a
sign of escapism, but by looking down on your life you might be able to see new
solutions to old problems. The feeling of flying in dreams can be intensely
sensual - who is flying with you? (See also Aeroplane; Birds, pages 40-41)
Fog
Doubt and uncertainty. You
cannot see the path ahead clearly, your goals are hidden, or your emotions are
confused.
Food
In dreams, food stands for
nourishment for our growth as an individual. It can also stand for something we are taking into
ourselves as new experiences. If there is a dream of food in connection with a
particular person, it stands for being hungry for a relationship with them.
Giving food stands for giving of oneself - one’s time, energy, love. Dreams of meals
indicate social pleasure and acceptance. Having food alone indicates
independence, loss of family ties, lack of social relationships.
Fool
This archetypal figure probably
represents you stepping our native and unprepared along a dangerous path. It implies
that you need to take more care and consult your wiser aspects.
PAGE 46
Forests
Forests consist of darkness,
dangers, fertility, clear dells and glades. Forests in dreams stand for our
unconscious lives. Whatever we look for in the forest of our dreams, in
actuality we look for within our subconscious. Entering deep into a forest is
to enter ourselves hoping to find clarity. Leaving a forest indicates the
achievement of our search and usually leaves us more mature and better equipped
to tackle our personal problems.
Fountain
Water denotes the emotional and
spiritual, and the energy of the fountain suggests the fountain of life, youth,
and the fount of all wisdom. A powerfully spurting fountain might symbolise
male sexuality.
Fruit
A symbol of a result of natural
outcome, such as “being fruitful”. (See also Apple).
Funeral
Dreams of funeral deals with
one’s feelings about one’s own
occasionally it may indicate a warning about the health of the person
buried. Dreaming of one’s own funeral depicts one’s own attitude about one’s
death. It can prove a remainder of what one wants out of life, a desire for
sympathy from one’s family, or a retreat from the world. Dreaming of someone
else’s funeral may indicate a wish for that person to be dead or may indicate a
desire to withdraw from the influence of that person. (See also death).
Game
Playing games an indicate that
you take life too seriously, or they might mirror competitive situations.
Athletic games may be a sexual symbol.
Garden
Your inner life. If it is so
tidy that it seems sterile, perhaps your life is too ordered. If it is
overgrown, compare it with your waking life. If you can cultivate your garden,
make it restful and colourful, because this could transfer to your life. A
garden can also have sexual connotations - undergrowth, for example, can
represent public hair, and a walled garden can signify sexual repression.
Ghost
Do not be frightened of a ghost
in your dream - it may be a “spiritual messenger” from a hidden part of yourself,
therefore ask for its message.
PAGE 47
Glass of water
The need for spiritual
sustenance, or it could simply mean that you are thirsty. (See also Cup,
Water).
God
If you dream that god is
speaking to you, listen very carefully. Whether it is god, your conscience, or
your unconscious spirituality, the message will be significant.
Hair
Long, flowing hair expresses a
desire for sensuality. An unwelcome haircut implies a fear of repression.
Losing your hair suggests insecurity.
Hands
Are the hands moving in gestures
of beckoning, applause, or warding off? Doing things with your hands might
imply a practical application of your dream in your waking life.
Hat
A statement about individuality
or conforming, authority, the military, respect, or religious observance. (See
also Clothes).
Head
The rational approach to a
subject, and the dreamer’s conscious mind. If the head is huge, perhaps you are
arrogant.
Heat
Sexual passion, but it could
also mean that you are too hot-tempered. Extreme heat, as in waking life,
suggests danger.
Hero
This archetypal figure is
possibly a male or female warrior, or perhaps a heroic film star. Courageous
and strong, the hero could be showing a bold but difficult course that you
should follow. (See also Film or Pop Star).
Hill or mountain
Gently rounded hills represent
breasts, and climbing a hill could mean sexual activity. Climbing a mountain
represents reaching towards a spiritual goal. Going rapidly downhill could mean
that you are out of control in your life.
Holiday
It indicates a sense of
relaxation, being independent. It signals a satisfaction of ones own needs. It
shows that a person has reached a stage in ones life in which one can rest on
ones past achievements.
PAGE 48
Hunger
Physical hunger, or symbolic of
sexual desire and emotional hunger. It could also mean covetous hunger for
power, prestige, or wealth. (See also Cooking, Eating, meal).
Ice
Sexual frigidity. Melting ice
might suggest that you are becoming a warmer person.
Illness
If you dream of a specific
illness, it might be wise to consult a doctor. Illnesses sometimes have
emotional causes - see if your dreams can help you to heal yourself.
Injury
May be you have been injured, or
are causing harm to others or to yourself.
Invisibilityperhaps you are hiding, feel ashamed of something, or have
a low self-image. being invisible enables you to be a voyeur, but beware of
seeing that which is better left unseen.
Journey
This could be a spiritual
journey or voyage of discovery, perhaps self-discovery. It could also mean your
daily journey through life, your life itself, or a real-life physical journey.
Dreams of journeys usually indicate our feelings about how our life is moving
with its ups and downs, our goals and aims, challenges and opportunities which
we have to face.
Key
If you kill someone from real
life in your dream, perhaps this is revelation of your unresolved anger towards
that person. People in your dreams are often aspects of yourself - is there a
part of you which you hate, or even which needs to be killed? (See also Death,
Fighting, Knife or Sword).
Kiss
Who are you kissing? Is the kiss
purely wish-fulfilment, the prelude to a longed-for sexual relationship? Or is
it a social kiss, a kiss of allegiance to a monarch or a bishop, or a kiss of
betrayal?
PAGE 49
Knife or sword
According to Freud, a knife is a
phallic symbol, and a sword is a penetrating erection. A knife or sword can
also mean cutting through problems sharply and incisively. A sword could represent
the sword of justice, or the sword of Damocles. (See also Killing).
Ladder
According to Freud, climbing a
ladder means sexual intercourse (moving up and own.). It could also refer to
climbing the career or social ladder, or to reaching greater heights in any
endeavour.
Language
Being unable to understand the
language you hear in your dream suggests a fear of insularity in your waking
life. It can also imply a serious breakdown in verbal or other forms of
communication.
Late, being
Insecurity and lack of
self-confidence, or an indication that you need to watch your punctuality more
carefully. Also a yearning for more time, and a wish that you were young again.
Lighting
Powerful natural forces, or a
thunderbolt from the God Thor with a message. A flash of illumination,
revelation, and awareness, suddenly making everything clear.
Lost being
Being lost depicts confusion, a
loss of motivation or ability to make clear decisions. It may suggest that one
is being negatively influenced by certain situations that have arisen in one’s
life and have not yet been noticed. An indication that you are going astray, or
are neglecting an important part of yourself. Also insecurity and lack of
self-confidence. Who finds you, and who or what do they represent in your life?
Love
Wish-fulfilment - who is the
other person? Or possibly an expression of your desire or need for love. If it
is family love, perhaps a wish for the security of childhood, or an indication
that love is lacking in your current family.
Map
Reading a map suggests trying to
find your way through life, and planning its direction. If you have difficulty
reading the map, perhaps you feel that you have lost your way of life.
PAGE 50
Maze or labyrinth
What are you searching for, at
the centre? What puzzle are you trying to solve?
Meal
Taking in physical and emotional
nourishment. Also the companionship of people sharing a table, which can be
spiritual or sexual. Who is with you and who is missing? (See also Cooking,
Eating, Hunger).
Milk
A symbol of comfort and
nourishment, especially mother’s milk. It can also indicate a yearning for
emotional support, and has sexual connotations because of its colour and
consistency.
Monster
A representation of your deeper,
darker aspects which, in waking life, are kept concealed. Try to learn about
these aspects, and integrate them safely within yourself. Monsters may also
symbolise a major problem in your waking life. (See also Nightmare).
Moon
The Moon is symbolic of
intuition, love and lunacy, poetry and deception, magic and mystery. It is he
mystical side or religion, and in most cultures the Moon epitomises the
mysterious female - longed for, but the mistress of illusions.
Mouth
According to Freud, the mouth
and all other orifices are equated with the vagina, but the mouth is also used
for eating (physical and emotional substance), breathing (life and spiritual
life), and communicating with others.
Music
Because music speaks to your
deepest emotional roots, it can summon up many feelings. Is there harmony or
disharmony? Are you creating the music, or conducting it?
Nakedness
Perhaps you want other people to
see you as you really are, or you may want to “bare your soul”, or be the
centre of attention. If you feel embarrassed, are you afraid of being uncovered
in some way in your waking life? Nakedness could be a plea for a return to
innocence, or brazen sexuality.
PAGE 51
Night
Delving deeply into your
unconscious, or perhaps there is much in your life that is hidden. Wandering in
the dark could signify a lack of direction, and depression. Night is also the
traditional time for romance and sex - is it sexual dream?
Nightmare
During a nightmare, keep clam,
and try to step back, rather than be involved. What are you being shown? If you
are still involved in the nightmare, approach the most terrifying part calmly,
and ask what it wants. Do not fear it because it is probably part of yourself.
(See also Monster).
During dreams may evoke intense
frightening or disgusting emotions within us. Such dreams are called
nightmares.
Nightmares arise from certain
causes –
1. Unconscious memories of
intense emotions.
2. Intense anxiety which was not
fully released at the time.
3. Childhood fears such as
abandonment, or being lost, loss of a parent, fear of strangers or a parent.
4. Fears connected with internal
drives such as aggression, sexuality, changes encountered during growth and
development.
5. Precognition of certain
events.
It is important to understand
the cause of the nightmare. Once understood, it can be more easily faced. The
simple act of imagining ourselves in the same the nightmare situation and
facing the frightening thing will begin the process of resolving our internal
fears.
Nudity
Seeing oneself nude in dreams
indicates a sense of inferiority. Clothes are a form of protection and being
unclothed is to feel stripped bare and that people are seeing right through us,
being vulnerable. These people may feel inner deprivation and inadequacy.
However it can also indicate that the person has acquired emotional stability
and security and hence does not require our social clothing. It can thus
indicate a reunion with ones inner self.
PAGE 52
Old age
Time often swaps labels in
dreams, and old age, late evening, autumn, or winter may all have the same
meaning. Old age might refer to your own old age, or be suggesting that you
compare yourself to your parents or grandparents, and learn from any
similarities. It could also be an archetype representing wisdom.
Pen or pencil
According to Freud, pens and
pencils always represent the penis, and a dry pen or a broken pencil symbolises
impotence. But they are also used for writing - is your unconscious sending you
a message, or suggesting that you communicate with someone?
Photograph or paintng
If a person is the subject of
the photograph or painting, the person could be in the picture because you feel
distant from them, or your normal image of the person may be distanced from
reality.
Pillar or column
In Freudian symbolism, a penis.
A broken column represents impotence. Pillars or columns also represent
strength and support. What or who are they supporting - is it you?
Pregnancy
Sometimes a symbol is literal -
perhaps you or your partner is pregnant, or want to be. Also creativity and new
beginning. Metaphorically, are you “carrying” an idea, plan, or project, which
may be about to come to fruition? (See also Baby).
Priest
An authority, figure,
representing conventional attitudes to religious beliefs or morality, or a
messenger from your unconscious. A priest might also represent important rites
of passage, including christening, funerals, and weddings. (See also Wedding).
Pursues
Indicates that we are being
pursued by what we have created with our thoughts, emotions. We may be avoiding
sexual feelings, responsibility, a sense of failure, guilt, emotional pain,
grief, etc. Being chased by an animal - indicates ones passions, anger, natural
feelings. Being chased by someone of the opposite sex - fear of love or sex.
Indicates being haunted by a past relationship. Being chased by a thing or a
creature - indicates usually a past experience or trauma, a childhood hurt.
PAGE 53
Quarrel
Dreaming of a quarrel with
someone implies there is something wrong with your real-life relationship, even
if it has not yet surfaced.
Queen or king
Major archetypal figures, or
perhaps your mother or father. If you are the queen or king, is this by your
own desire, indicating arrogance, or by public acclamation? It could symbolise
authority, social status, or responsibility. Dreaming of the Queen of heaven
could represent the Virgin Mary.
Rain
Associated with the emotions. A
light shower is refreshing, steady rain is depressing, and a heavy storm is
oppressive and dangerous.
Rainbow
In religious symbolism, a sign
of a covenant between God and mankind - is there an equivalent in your life? In
folklore, gold is at the end of the rainbow - could this indicate that
something beautiful will end in disappointment?
River
The river of life, and the flow
of the emotions. Is the water high or low, fast-flowing or turgid? Where does
the river come from, and go to? If it is a canal rather than a river, may be
your emotions are too tightly channelled. (See also Sea).
Road
A portion of the path that you
are following through life. Is it straight and clear, or winding and
interesting? Side-tracks might delay you, and a cul-de-sac is a dead end.
Roadworks are obstacles between you and your goals. (See also Cross-roads).
Rope
If you are bound by ropes,
remember that ultimately it is you who has tied them. Is there something in
your waking life that will entangle you and restrict your choices?
Rose
Female sexuality and virginity
(the rosebud), and the symbol of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In Freemasonry,
“under the rose” means a secret. The rose also signified spiritual
self-knowledge. (See also Flower).
PAGE 54
Running
According to Freud, sexual
intercourse. But are you running away from something or someone? Or towards
somewhere - a place of escape or safety? Is it a race? Do you long to be first,
or fear that you are being left behind?
School
Revisiting old triumphs or
torments, or a need for a structured life. Who is teaching you, and what are
you being taught? (See also Teacher).
Sea
The great sea of the emotions.
Are you sailing calmly, or are you storm-tossed? If the sea seems threatening,
perhaps you are fearful of deep emotions. The depths of the ocean represent
your unconscious, and a long voyage can signify the voyage of your life. (See
also Drowning, River, Ship, Swimming).
Searching
What are you searching for? Is
it happiness, security, friendship, love, a lost part of yourself, the meaning
to life, or anything else? Do you find it? Where?
Sex
Possibly wish-fulfilment - who
is the other person? If it is someone inappropriate, such as a married friend,
the dream could be a safety valve for your feelings, or a warning that you are
getting too close. If it is a member of your family, try to analyse your
emotional relationship. If your sexual orientation in the dream is different
from waking life, the dream may be revealing an unacknowledged closeness with
the other person, or perhaps you should pay more attention to your anima or
animus.
Shield
A shield is an essential part of
armour - what are you protecting yourself from? What are you using? Are you
hiding? Is the shield somebody you are sheltering behind? Or are you shielding
someone else? (See also Armour).
Ship or boat
Venturing out on the sea of your
emotions - are you the captain, or a passenger? Are you storm-tossed, calm or
stagnant? If ship’s motion is sensual - is this a sexual dream? (See also Sea).
Silence and deafness
Is this an oppressive silence,
or a respite from the clatter of your life? If nobody can hear you speak,
perhaps you feel ignored. If you are deaf to others, this could be a warning
that you should listen more carefully.
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Sky
Spiritually, high ideals, or
creative intellect. Is it peaceful or stormy? (See also Aeroplane; Birds, pages
40-41, Flying, Lightening).
Spring (season)
A fresh start, the promise of
new life, childhood, and early youth.
Spring (water)
Fresh and life-giving, a source
of healing and spirituality, and emotions.
Star
Home and guidance. A five-pointed
star may mean magic, a six-pointed star could refer to the star of David,
sexuality (see Numbers) or the physical and the spiritual working together. A
star might also refer to a starring role. (See also Film or Pop Star).
Stranger
This archetypal figure is also
known as the Shadow. It is probably half-hidden an unrecognised, and represents
the darker, most negative, least pleasant, and most concealed aspects of your
own personality.
Summer
This season represents
fulfilment, warmth, the goodness of nature, late youth, and early adulthood. In
mythology, the Summer Land is known as a place of goodness.
Sun
The giver of light, warmth,
energy, and life. It might represent the glory of God, knowledge and intellect,
and its light can reveal the truth. Although it is usually a positive symbol,
it can also destroy.
Swimming
According to Freud, swimming
represents sexual intercourse. Water often symbolises emotions, therefore
swimming can mean being in control of your feelings. Are you keeping your head
above water? Are you of your depth, or fighting against the tide? (See also
Bathing, Dirty, Drowning, Sea, Washing).
Teacher
An authority figure, expressing
approval or disapproval. Perhaps the teacher is giving you an important lesson,
in which case you should listen carefully. If you are the teacher, how is your
class responding? (See also School).
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Toy
A wish for childhood simplicity
and security. What or whom does the toy represent? Perhaps you want to exert
more control over certain elements of your own life, or does it signify your
desire for control of real-life situations? Are you toying with someone, or
treating someone as a plaything?
Tree
Stability and strength. Trees
are alive, and might symbolise people. They can also be sacred - they join the
ground (the material) to the sky (the spiritual). Many trees have spiritual
significance, such as the World Tree (Yggdarsil), and the Tree of Life.
Tunnel
According to Freud, the vagina,
therefore moving along it represents birth or sexual intercourse. Also the
passage of life, or a journey into your unconscious. What is at each end of the
tunnel? (See also Corridor, Hallway, or Passage).
Twins
Archetypal figures, suggesting
the need for balance, perhaps between your intellect and your intuition.
Valley
A valley between gently folding
hills, especially if there are scrubby bushes and a cleft, perhaps with a
spring or stream, is a clear and common image of the female loins. Also the
Valley of the Shadow of Death, or the Vale of Sorrow.
Wall
A barrier - is it keeping you
out, or shutting you in? have you erected barriers between yourself and other
people, or have you walled off parts of yourself?
War
A battle - perhaps between your
conscious and unconscious desires, or your intellect and emotions. It could
also be a metaphor for a conflict in your waking life.
Washing
What are you washing away? Are
you abnegating responsibility or absolving yourself of guilt? Perhaps you need
to examine your conscience. (See also Bathing, Dirty, Swimming).
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Water
Your emotions. Still water
represents the deep well of your emotions. Running water denotes lively
emotions, and cleansing. Stagnant water suggests that your emotional life is
unhealthy or dead. A dam indicates that you are bottling up your emotions. Also
the water of life, as well as associations with spirituality, birth, and
rebirth. (See also Bathing, Glass of water, River, Sea, Swimming). The context
of the dream reveals whether we are at ease or in difficulty.
Wedding
The formalisation of an informal
relationship, and a suggestion that two ideas should be brought together. It
could also represent any other religious occasion (See Priest).
Wheel
The wheel of life. A wheel can
represent a mandala, a mystical symbol of the pattern of life. The wheel can
also symbolise the zodiacal circle, or the wheel of fortune. If it is broken,
it suggests your life has been derailed. (See also Circle).
Wind
Your spirit or the Holy Spirit.
A breeze is refreshing; a hurricane is destructive.
Wine
In the communion service, red
wine and blood are interchangeable symbols, and red wine is a spiritual symbol
for life. If your own wine is spilled, this could indicate self-sacrifice; if
you spill someone else’s, your might be spilling their blood. (See also
Alcohol, Blood).
Winter
Coldness, old age, and death,
but probably emotional rather than physical death. The end of a natural cycle.
Wise old man or woman
These archetypal figures
sometimes appear as your father or mother, or as authority figures such as a
king or queen, priest, teacher, or judge. The Wise Old Man or Woman is likely
to be the voice of moral correctness, your unconscious, or perhaps your
conscience telling you how to behave.