Icarus Dream Meanings

(1) Dreams of flying may derive from childhood enjoyment of swings and see-saws and represent a longing for the freedom and joy associated with (a happy) childhood.

(2) Flying may symbolize liberation — for example, getting rid of (self- imposed) shackles or irrational taboos stemming from childhood experiences.

(3) Flying may symbolize over-reaching yourself. In this case, your dream is probably warning you against projects that are too grandiose or not in accord with your fundamental constitution. This may mean that, in entertaining wild fantasies, you have actually overlooked your real capacities and gifts (remember Icarus!). See also Falling, section (1).

(4) Sky may symbolize consciousness, intellect, spirituality. A dream of flying may therefore mean cither that you should extend the range of your consciousness (e.g. by bringing up unconscious contents into your conscious mind, or taking a less wordly view of life) or that you should give your previously neglected instinctual, intuitional or feeling functions a fuller role in your conscious life. The latter would be more likely to apply if you are an intellectual and if the dream includes some fear of falling.

(5) Are you looking at the world below in a detached, uninvolved, unemotional way, so that your problems dissolve, or your values undergo radical transformation? If so, the message is clear.

(6) Since sky is an age-old symbol of God or transcendence, flying may be a symbol of coming closer to your authentic or true self, or to the meaning of (vour) life. See also God(dess).

(7) If you dream of flying fish, or a dolphin shooting out of the water, the meaning is probably that something in your unconscious wants to penetrate your conscious mind and / or to be allowed its proper place in your conscious life.

If you dream of a pig (or an elephant, say) flying, this may mean some despised and rejected ‘animal’ part of you is now - or, much more likely, needs to be - integrated into your conscious life.

(8) For flying saucers, see UFOs; or, if the saucers are flying in the kitchen, see Fight(ing).... flying dream meaning

See Raven, Owl, Dove. Spiritual content.

An attempt to get a better perspective. This symbol also has an erotic meaning. In addition, it may imply that you want to be different, as in the myth of Icarus.

A flock of birds has a special meaning, since they seem to represent the intelligence of nature in their movement, an intelligence that is completely different from humans’. They express group will, in contrast to the will of the individual. In the ancient Welsh epic poem Mabinogion, the goddess Rhiannon is described as a flock of birds, since she symbolizes female wisdom in nature. However, a flock of birds, like a colony of insects, may also appear dangerous, as in Hitchcock’s film The Birds.... bird dream meaning

A warning not to be such a realist. It might be better to just let go, as in Abyss, Cliff, Shot, Parachute, Flying, and be more open to something new. Also fear of being destroyed, as in Descent. Points to loss due to miscalculation on the part of the dreamer (see the myth of Daedalus and Icarus) or is a sign of unjustified euphoria and arrogance. This symbol often appears in dreams during times when a person has difficulty achieving orgasm and during acute midlife crisis.

Doubt and insecurity. You need to let go, as in Brook, Leaf, and Parachute. Dreams of falling often appear if you are in the process of transition to a new stage in life. Particularly when you are trying out something new, you will first, just as in the dream, fall flat on your face.

A falling dream happens again and again if you are fighting against your own limitations.

It is very helpful to change falling dreams into flying dreams.

According to Freud, falling dreams are always sexual. In the case of women, the question revolves around giving in to erotic desires (fallen women). Freud has dealt with the symbol of falling extensively in his Interpretation of Dreams.... falling dream meaning

Liberation from something that troubles you. Nevertheless, flying high has its perils. The ancient Greek myth of Icarus warns against flying too high. Your dream may show that you are being overambitious.... flying high dream meaning