Universal Landscape: Archetypal Character Aspect: Wisdom and guidance.
Dreaming Lens: Was it an old man or old woman in your dream? Was the dream character the same gender as you, or the opposite? Did he or she speak to you? Were you drawn to the dream character, or frightened? Did he or she have anything for you, share any wisdom, or offer you an object?
Personal Focus: The Old Man and his female counterpart, the Crone, are staples in Jungian psychology, as they are the archetypes that represent human wisdom. This is a Character Aspect shared by every human being on the planet and connects us to our inner guidance and our highest thought. We can only connect to this powerful energy when we can learn from our mistakes, a trait often associated with the insight that comes with age and usually is unavailable to us in our youth.
An older person that you know from life may also represent wisdom, but an interpretation of any person must connect to their traits as you experience them in life. When the Old Man or the Crone appears in archetypal fashion, the dream character will not be known to you personally, and a gift, insight, or wisdom might be offered to you. This Archetypal Character Aspect is often the first one that most people encounter on their inner journey toward integration. This is because all human beings have access to the wisdom that comes with age, making this Archetype very accessible within each of us.
Use the Dreaming Lens to deepen your interpretation of this symbol. Examine the shift or change in the dream marked by the appearance of this character. If there was a “before” and “after” to the moment of meeting, how did the dream change as a result of their presence? A positive shift may indicate the new information that is now available for your integration. A negative shift may be a signpost that the next level of material you must face in your inner work is in the Shadow. As with many archetypal dreams, there may be very little chaotic content, and the dream may consist simply of a single scene in which you encounter the figure.
Vision: Seeing an elderly man you don’t know: practice more levelheadedness and examine your actions and your life. Sometimes, the old man wants to warn of evil-minded people in your immediate environment. Seeing an old woman: anxiety, limitations, or worries. Seeing yourself as an old person: you might receive great honors; or be smart and keep your distance from certain events in the near future.
Depth Psychology: The old man is seen as a symbol of maturity in all aspects of life. This dream is always significant and should be examined carefully. Old men or old women represent either wisdom or malice, and are a warning to take a closer look at your (bad) habits.
See Youth*
Carl Jung said that the wise old man is the “archetype of the spirit” and the “speaking fountainhead of the soul.” Dreaming about him may attempt to bring the dreamer into awareness of the larger meaning of ones life. Old people in dreams represent wisdom and maturity. They may appear in our dreams at times of confusion and lack of direction, or when we need consultation and help in decision-making.
See also: Aging
If a woman dreams that she has acquired a spinning wheel, if she is expecting, she will give birth to a girl. Otherwise a sister will be born, if such a spinning wheel has a spindle or rod, it means she will get her daughter married.... woman acquiring a spinning wheel dream meaning
If a person sees a woman with a male generative organ it means she will give birth to a son if she is pregnant in real life. Moreover, the son will grow up with good character and leadership qualities. But if she is not expecting in reality, and she already has a child it means that whenever she does give birth she will do so to a son whose upbringing will be as mentioned above.... woman with male generative organ dream meaning
A creature of myth, symbolic of excitement and temptation, the anima in her heavenly and at the same time animalistic role threatening and destroying. Also a symbol of the wise woman (for instance, night owl) and a symbol of death.... bird woman dream meaning
(Teenage girl) A young girl in a dream represents an enemy however she may look. Seeing a well dressed and pleasingly adorned young woman in a dream means hearing pleasing news coming from an unexpected person. Seeing a young and a beautiful looking female servant in a dream means blessings, a favor, joy and festivities. In a dream, seeing an unknown young girl is more advantageous than seeing a known one.
The strongest in meaning are those teenage girls who are presentable, well mannered and beautifully dressed. Ifshe is seen dressed with modesty in the dream, then she represents goodness, chastity, discreteness, and following the correct religious conduct. Ifshe adorns herselfand plays up her charms in the dream, then such goodness will be public.
If a young girl sees herself as an old woman in a dream, it means that she will live with modesty and preserve her chastity. Ifan old woman sees herselfturned young again in the dream, it means regaining her strength, sexual desire and fertility.
If she engages in lawful sexual intercourse in marriage, it denotes strong religious adherence.
If she engages in sexual intercourse with someone without marriage in the dream, then her dream represents her love for the world and attachment to its glitters. Ifone sees anold woman turned young in a dream, then the above explanation becomes stronger. However, if one is poor, it means that her basic needs will be secured.
If one has lost her chances in this world, it means that she will have a new opportunity, or if she is sick, it means that she will recover from her illness. Seeing a young girl frowning in a dream means that one may hear disturbing news.
If she looks emaciated, then one’s dream denotes poverty.
If she is naked in the dream, it means business losses and defamation. Marrying a virgin teenage girl in a dream means wealth.
(Also see Little girl)... young woman dream meaning
(1) A Wise Old Man. figure mav appear in a man’s dream, a Wise Old Woman in a woman’s dream. The Wise Old Man may take various forms: for example, old bearded man, guru, priest or prophet, king, magician, teacher. The Wise Old Woman may appear as Earth Mother /
Great Goddess, Mother Church, priestess or prophetess, teacher. Attend to whatever this figure tells you in dreams: the result could be a transformation of your personality and your life, in tune with your true self.
(2) Such figures Jung called ‘mana personalities’. Mana denotes awesome, mysterious power associated with gods but also with natural phenomena and extraordinary human skills, genius, holiness, psychic powers and supranormal knowledge. These figures may therefore be frightening.
If you find them too frightening, consult a (Jungian) therapist. People may let themselves be ‘possessed’ - taken over - by the Wise Old Man / Woman and become insufferably domineering, self- important and opinionated. Alternatively, failure to acknowledge the ‘divine’ wisdom and power within yourself may lead you to project it on to some authoritarian - but not necessarily authoritative - public figure, or guru, or personal acquaintance. Whatever such a mana figure says to you in a dream will be extremely important and will almost certainly open up a new dimension of life for you.
(3) Should the Wise Old Woman appear in a man’s dream or the Wise Old Man in a woman’s dream, it may be the anima / animus that is being represented (for anima / animus, see Brother / Sister, sections (4)-(6)).... wise old man / woman dream meaning