Underworld Dream Meanings

Dreaming of dogs could symbolize loyalty and hard work.

If someone calls you a dog, it’s a negative reflection on your personality.

If you are being treated like a dog, you are most likely being abused in some way. On the metaphysical level, dogs are consider to be the guards of the underworld, and for the dreamer they may be bringing up some messages from the unconscious. Finally, dogs could represent the more basic or animal parts of ourselves, and some think that they specifically represent male energy.... dog dream meaning

1- When we dream of a descent, such as coming down a mountain or steps, we arc often searching for an answer to a particular problem and need to be conscious of past trauma or something we have left behind and what we can learn from it.

2- We may fear a loss of status, and yet be aware of the positive aspects of such loss.

3- Going down into the underworld, the quest for mystic wisdom, rebirth and immortality arc all shown in dreams bv descent.... descent / descending dream meaning

1- To dream of an abyss indicates the dreamer recognises within themselves the so-called bottomless pit or void. This is an aspect of the unknown which all of us must face at some time or another in our lives.

It is a risky action which must be taken without knowledge of what the outcome is going to be.

2- There is a fear of losing control, of a loss of identity, or of some type of failure. More positively, it is possible to go beyond our own boundaries or present experience.

Also the abyss indicates our coming to terms with oppositcs such as right or wrong, good and bad.

3- The Underworld, and inferior matters, appears in dreams as the abyss.... abyss dream meaning

A form of rapid transit that travels through underground tunnels, the subway may symbolize exploring the underworld and moving through psychological milestones to your destination of wholeness.

A subway may also indicate a preoccupation with getting to work and may reflect concerns in making a deadline.... subway dream meaning

Symbol: The tree of the righteous, the cypress is a sacred symbol of life, connected to the gods of the underworld.

Vision + Depth Psychology: Seeing a cypress means a sad event or setback at work or at home. Planting a cypress: somebody is going to die.... cypress dream meaning

Dreams of this nocturnal bird symbolize wisdom, patience, and intuition.

The owl also symbolizes Athena, goddess of wisdom, discernment, and leadership. Because of its excellent night vision, the owl reflects the aspect of you that sees things in the dark that go unnoticed by your day-To-day consciousness. In Shamanism, the owl represents a creature that travels between worlds, between life and death, the underworld and the outer world.

The owl is also a wise advisor or guide.... owl dream meaning

Beans symbolize prosperity; they announce an increase in material goods and conjugal happiness.

Beans were the food that the Greeks sent to the dead and offered to Demeter; but, above all, that which they dedicated to Persephone, wife of Pluto and queen of the underworld for six months. As a consequence of this Greek tradition, beans have a negative meaning of discord and familial arguments.... beans dream meaning

1. Cemetery, graveyard.

2. The underworld.

3. The uncon­scious.

4. Staying in a garage signifies being unable to galvanize one’s own efforts in one’s behalf.

5. Driving out of a garage means taking action.

6. Parking car in garage refers to return­ing to safety after a difficult time. ... garage dream meaning

Dogs in dreams could symbolize a large variety of ideas and concepts, but mostly they are symbolic of the dreamer’s defensive structure and may represent personal boundary issues. Carefully consider all of the details and the mood in your dream. First, if you have a dog, it may be natural to dream about him. We become emotionally attached to our dogs and we dream about them just as we dream about anything else that is important to us. Otherwise, dogs could symbolize loyalty and hard work.

If someone calls you a dog, it is a negative reflection on your personality.

If you are being treated like a dog, you are most likely being abused in some way. On the metaphysical level, dogs are consider to be the guardians of the underworld. Finally, dogs could represent the more basic or “animal” parts of our nature and some think that they specifically represent male energy. Male, aggressive (could be over friendly) energies.... dog  dream meaning

As a metal, mercury is a universal alchemical symbol representing the yin.

It is the symbol of the passive and the undifferentiated state which may be found deep within the psyche. Chinese refer to it as “liquid silver” and it corresponds to the dragon and to bodily fluids of blood, semen, water and, at times, to the kidneys.

The planet Mercury may be seen as following the Sun (universal father; consciousness; life) and the Moon (universal mother; birth; unconscious). In Greek mythology Hermes was the messenger of the gods and the god of speed. This intelligent and quick witted immortal, easily traveled between heaven, earth and the underworld. Seeing the planet Mercury or the metal in your dream may represent your need for communication, adaptation and movement. All of these may be necessary for daily life. However, this powerful dream symbol may be calling your attention to more personal and intrinsic matters. It may suggest a need to look carefully into your internal world. By doing so, you may become aware of a need to the develop a more fluid ability to navigate within your psyche, which includes your thoughts, motives, feelings and intuition; then notice the way all of these components are translated into and effect daily life.... mercury (hermes) dream meaning

Pluto or Hades are synonymous with hell. Pluto is the brother of Zeus and Poseidon and the ruler of the underworld, or the land of the dead.

The kingdom of the dead is located underneath the surface of the earth.

It is not only the holding place for the eternally damned, but is symbolic of metamorphoses, mineral wealth, germination and the transition from death to life. From a psychoanalytic point of view, Pluto may represent the deepest and the oldest part of the psyche. It may be the holding place of the darkest and most negative and disturbing elements of the individual.

The most destructive emotions and the greatest fears may be hidden there. However, this dark part of the psyche may also hold the greatest amount of transformative energy and power. As the unconscious demons begin to surface and are processed and then assimilated by the conscious mind, the individual begins to develop and experience feelings of completeness and wholeness. Astrologically, Pluto is symbolic of radical reconstruction that rejects harmful elements and is built on a solid foundation. Seeing Pluto in dreams seems to be an extremely valuable message from the unconscious. It suggests that the dreamer needs to contemplate and to explore his inner world; to face his fears and negative traits, to travel inward and then to emerge stronger and more alive than before the psychic or soulful journey began.... pluto (hades) dream meaning

Being rooted, grounded, protected. Everything grows from the womb of the earth, symbol of motherli- ness and fertility.

The type of earth may also point to the dreamer (for instance, clay, sand, humus, etc.) Memories and ancestors are residing deep within the earth. Also a symbol of a difficulty in digesting reality.

In the I Ching, earth represents the dedication to conception, the mother.

The food for the people of the Babylonian underworld was earth.

According to Jung, earth and clay are the food of the underworld, because as the earth accepts the dead, the dead eat the earth.

Basis and foundation of a subject.... earth dream meaning

Demands for pleasure, a messenger of a pleasurable life.

According to mythology, the hyacinth grows and blooms at the door to the underworld.... hyacinth dream meaning

Going with the flow, but there is a certain amount of stain connected to it, in contrast to the image of Brook, River. Often a symbol for the shadow or underworld (as in underground sewage pipes). Need for cleansing (see Toilet). It may also be a sign of concern for the environment (see Environmental Pollution).... sewage / waste dream meaning

The opposites and contradictions that are in need of differentiation and balance. Your ambivalence is becoming known, which is a positive development.

According to Jung, two identical symbols refer to the unconscious, because two identical things cannot be distinguished from one another. Messengers from the underworld, for that reason, appear usually in twos.... two dream meaning

As dreams apparently emerge from what has been named the unconscious, it is helpful to understand ideas regarding it, and something of its nature.

In ancient cultures we occasionally find hints regarding the unconscious, but not definite statements as were presented by Freud. In the dream theories worked out by the Iroquois American Indians, they believed that through dreams the hid­den or unconscious area of the psyche makes its desires known (see Iroquoian dream cult).

The Greek stories of the Underworld also clearly depict common unconscious activi­ties.

In general, however, many ancient peoples developed con­cepts of exterior agents such as devils, angels, spirits and God to account for phenomena which today we connect with the unconscious.

The first philosopher to talk clearly of an aspect of the mind being unconscious was Leibnitz. He observed that one often recalled at a later date some detail of experience which at the time one was unaware of. One must therefore have observed it unconsciously. So in general the word means anything we are not generally aware of in our being.

Freud’s concept of an unconscious element of human na­ture which influenced conscious behavior was strongly re­sisted. It was disturbing to many people and questioned the idea of humans being the ‘captain of their soul’.

The Freudian slip has become one of the popular examples of the influence of the unconscious. Saying to guests arriving at one’s house, Tm so sorry—I mean glad—you could come’ suggests one’s real feeling was sorrow at their arrival, not gladness. There is a story of a faculty member of Oxford University who asked the guests at a function to toast the queen, but his actual words were ‘Let us toast our queer dean.’ However such slips might be seen as attempts to conceal our real feelings, rather than evidence of unconscious motivations.

Taking into account not only Freudian and Jungian ap­proaches to the unconscious, but something of more recent research, the term unconscious must be taken to represent many functions and aspects of self, rather than something we can neatly define. Therefore, we might think of the term as being like the word ‘body’, which means a whole spectrum of organs, functions, chemical processes, neurological events, systems, cell activities, as well as one’s experience of these. ... unconscious dream meaning

Points to faithfulness and deep emotions, but also to the desire for relaxation.

It is the symbolic color of the soul, since blue also symbolizes the depth of the sea and the expanse of the sky. It also stands for the unconscious, as well as isolation, expanse, and infinity. It stands for pure, clear Water, distant mountains, and sky. Blue symbolizes nature that has been saved. Pay attention to the degree of brightness!

The color blue may also indicate fogginess (like drunkenness); see also Alcohol.

It is also a symbol of depression (“I am feeling blue”). And last, but not least, a symbol of cold (particularly metallic blue).

Blue can also, as in the case of “blue mountains,” symbolize the connection between heaven and earth— spirit and nature. Blue coats were worn by wise women, pointing to our connection to water, mist, and heaven.

Blue is also the color of the cape worn by Mary; the womb that bore Christ is a symbol for the “sacred vessel.”

In alchemy, blue is the color of the moon, standing in for silver, and blue is also the color of the soul.

As opposed to Red, blue indicates a soothing, cool state (in color therapy, blue is considered relaxing).

In the Orient, blue is the equivalent of black and is considered the color of the underworld.

In Egypt, the underworld of Osiris is depicted in blue or black.

The Sufi (a mystical circle, followers of Mohammed) saw blue as the center of a flame, the expression of the highest form of passion.

A reflection of blue as an expression of passion is also found in our culture in the phrases “the blue hour / ’ and “blue movies”; also the “blues” in music.

ASTROLOGY: A symbol of Neptune.... blue dream meaning

Insightful intellect that reflects reality.

A common allegory for self-observation. We are looking into a mirror in our dreams in order to confirm our identity. If, in a dream, we are looking into the mirror and do not see our own but somebody else’s image, it is always a sign that we are living in a fantasy world.

It is also possible to see an actual person in the mirror.

The mirror is considered an attribute of the Fool, always pointing to vanity as one of the classic seven sins. Fools have often been depicted with mirrors.

The image of a mirror in a dream is a very important event, and should be analyzed in detail.

For the Greeks, a mirror appearing in a dream meant the death of the dreamer, since what he saw in the mirror was considered a look-alike. In fairy tales, a mirror represents hidden and future events, and the image of the soul.

According to Jung, the mirror is usually considered magical; it is “a knowing mirror,” as in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Using a mirror often transforms us into a mythical state. In Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass, Alice enters another world through a mirror. In Cocteau’s film Orpheus, the mirror is the entrance to the underworld.

The image of a mirror also points to a tendency to inflate emotions and lose touch with our grounding.... mirror dream meaning

1- When animals appear in a dream they usually represent an aspect of the personality which cannot be properly understood except on an instinctive level.

Animal with a cub
This will represent motherly qualities and therefore the mother.

Baby animals
The dreamer will be dealing with the child-like side of his or her personality, or possibly children known to him.

The hurt young animal
The dreamer may perceive a difficulty in becoming mature or facing life.

Eating the animal
The dream could be about the ‘demons’ one creates which can only be overcome by assimilating them in a constructive way. Pagan belief thought that one took up certain aspects of the animal that were superior in certain respects to ordinary’ human attitudes.

Godlike, talking awe-inspir- ing or wise animals, or those with human characteristics

Animals have not vet become conscious of, or pitted themselves against, the power from which they came so the wisdom they show is innocent and simple.

It is always important to pay attention to this aspect of animal life in fairy tales and dreams, since we need to be in touch with that part of ourselves.

Helpful animals
The subconscious is producing helpful images from its depths.

The figures of animals arc an easy way for the dreamer to accept that help.

Killing the animal may destroy the energy derived from the instincts. Taming or harnessing the animal shows the efforts made to control the dreamer’s instincts and, if possible, make them productive and useful.

To dream of trying to find some refuge from animals whether by building defences - or perhaps by running away - is indicative of the dreamer’s struggle with his animal instincts, and whether the action being taken is adequate. Such instincts may be threatening or damaging to aspects of the dreamer’s life.

2- When we need some sort of understanding of our own psychological urges, animals will appear which symbolise those qualities. These are:

Bear
The mother (see Family) appears in dreams in many forms, the bear being one of them.

The image may be of the possessive, devouring mother or of the all- caring mother.

If it is recognised in the dream that the bear is masculine the image may then be of an overbearing person, or possibly the father.

Bull
Usually the bull in a dream denotes the negative side of behaviour, such as dcstructivcness, fear or anger (for example a bull in a china shop). However, more positively, the bull is recognised as sexual passion or creative power.

Slaying the bull
Indicates initiation into the world of the mature adult who succeeds in mastering his instincts and can also represent the sign of Taurus in the Zodiac.

Cat
To dream of cats is to link with the feline, sensuous side in human beings, usually in women. Goddesses such as Bast the Egyptian cat goddess arc usually represented as having two sides to their natures, one devious and one helpful, so the cat often denotes the capricious side of the feminine.

The elegant but also the powerful, yet overly self-sufficient aspect of woman, may also be perceived as the cat. Chameleon The dreamer is recognising either in himself or others the ability to adapt and to change according to surrounding circumstances.

Cold-blooded animals or reptiles
The unfeeling, inhuman aspect of the instincts is often portrayed by reptiles and other cold-blooded animals. They are usually recognised as being destructive and alien.

Composite animals
To dream of composite animals could indicate some confusion in sorting out what qualities are needed.

The various qualities of the different animals of which they are made up need to be assimilated and integrated. There are two potentials of development in one figure.

Half-animal, half-man
The dreamer’s animal instincts arc beginning to be recognised and humanised.

Cow
The eternal feminine, especially the mother (see Family) or mother figure (see Archetypes) is often depictcd by the cow. This is partly because it provides milk and nourishment.

Deer/Reindeer
The deer and the reindeer herd have a strict hierarchical structure.

The dreamer recognises his place in the world.

The deer symbolises pride/nobility

Deformed animals
The dreamer realises that some of his impulses are offensive, or revolting.

Dog
Also see individual entry

The dreamer may recognise a faithful and constant companion, a protector or more negatively, somebody the dreamer can’t shake off and who might make trouble.

A dog that the dreamer owned or knew at some period of his life There may be memories asso- ciated with that period of his life, which hold clues to present behaviour.

A huntress with dogs The dreamer is making a connection with one of the feminine archetypes, that of the Amazon (see Archetypes).

A dog guarding gates, being near a cemetery In dreams this indicates the guardian of the threshold, and creatures which must be put to sleep or tamed before there can be an initiation into the underworld Domesticated (tame) animals When we dream of domesticated animals we arc aware of those parts of ourselves with which we have come to terms. There are passions which arc being used in a controlled way although there is the suggestion that those passions were never very formidable. Elephant To see an elephant in a dream is to recognise the qualities of patience, long memory, strength and fidelitv. In the more esoteric sense it signifies radiant and glowing wisdom.

Fox
A fox in a dream tells of hypocrisy, cunning and slyness.

Frog
A period or act of transformation (a frog transforms from a tadpole and moves on to the land). There is something repugnant which is turning into something of value (i.e. a frog into a prince). Also see Snake as all reptiles have the same significance.

Goat
To dream of a goat is to recognise creative energy and masculine vitality. It may also represent the dark side of human nature, promiscuousness and sexuality.

To be riding a goat is to be trying to come to terms with the dreamer’s relationship with the dark side of his nature.

The goat may also represent the Devil or Satan.

It is also the symbol for Capricorn.

Hare
The hare highlights intuition, spiritual insight and intuitive ‘leaps’. Intuition may be debased into madness by fear or ignorance. Because of its association with the moon, the hare can, in its negative aspect, signify the Priestess/Witch aspect of femininity or the Priest/Sorcerer of the masculine (see Archetypes). In its positive imagery however it is the radiant hare (often holding its baby in a cave) and thus the Mother of God.

Hedgehog
The hedgehog can represent evil and bad manners, or literallv our inability to handle a ‘prickly’ situation.

Horse
The horse in a dream represents the energy at the dreamer’s disposal.

A white horse depicts the spiritual awareness of the dreamer; a brown one the more pragmatic and down-to-earth side, while a black horse is the passionate side of the dreamer’s nature.

A pale horse is taken to indicate death, and a winged horse depicts the soul’s ability to transcend the earthly- plane.

If the horse is under strain or dying there is a severe weakening of the dynamic power that carries the dreamer forward. Ibo much pressure may be being experienced in our lives.

If the horse is being harnessed to a cart the dreamer may be concentrating too hard on thoroughly- utilitarian objectives.

In a man’s dream, a mare will denote the Anima, a woman; or the realm of the feminine (see Archetypes).

In a woman’s dream, being kicked by a horse may indicate the Animus or her relationship with a man.

A horse that can get through any door and batter down all obstacles is the collective Shadow (see Introduction) those aspects of the personality which most people attempt to suppress.

The horse as a beast of burden is often the Great Mother (See Introduction). or mother archetype (see Archetypes). In modern dreams the car has largely taken over from the horse as a symbol with many of the same associations (see Car and Journey Sections).

Hyena
The hyena is generally taken in dreams to signify impurity, instability and deviousness.

Jackal
The jackal is associated with the graveyard, and therefore with Death. As a scavenger it is also a cleanser. Esoterically, it is the servant of the transformer, guiding souls from the earth plane into the light.

Jaguar
The jaguar’s main qualities are its speed and balance. It stands for the balance of power between the dark and light forces. Kangaroo This somewhat exotic animal often stands for motherhood. and also strength. Lamb The lamb is the innocent side of man’s nature.

It is said that evil cannot withstand such innocence.

Leopard
The leopard represents cruelty and aggression, and traditionally the deviousness of wrongly used power. Lion The lion stands for majesty, strength and courage. It can also represent the ego and the passions associated with it.

If the dreamer is struggling with the lion there should be a succcssful development as long as the dreamer is not overpowered, or the lion killed.

A man-eating lion shows that an aspect of the personality- has slipped out of alignment, putting both the dreamer and his surroundings at risk.

A lion lying with a lamb There is a union, or compatibility of oppositcs; instinct and spirit going hand in hand. Lizard also see Reptiles The lizard appearing in a dream represents instinctive action or ‘one-track’ thinking.

Lynx
The main quality associated with the lynx is its keen eyesight, thus in a dream it can often portray objectivity. Monkey The monkey characterises the infantile, childish and arrested side of the dreamer’s character.

The qualities of mischief, impudence and inquisi- tiveness all belong to the monkey. While these are often seen as regressive tendencies, that of lively- curiosity maintains a necessary lightness of spirit.

Mare
see Horse

Mole
The mole is often taken to represent the powers of darkness, but can often signify the blind persistence and determination which enables the dreamer to succeed. Monster/Dragon also see Dragon in D Section A fear which is beyond understanding, usually welling up from within rather than from the outside world, is often represented in dreams by monsters and dragons.

The devouring monster The dream may deal with a recognition that ultimately we arc all absorbed back into a greater whole.

If the dreamer gets the better of the monster he will have mastery over his own fear of death, and may be able to harness this forcc for his own use. Cutting out the monster’s heart or other vital organ, or lighting a fire inside it, depicts the struggle against the dark forces of the underworld.

Mouse
Also see Vermin

The mouse’s quality of timidity can often be addressed in the dreamer, if it is recognised that this can arise from turbulence and lack of understanding.

Otter
The otter is uniquely equipped to exist within its chosen element of water and to be able to gain subsistence from its environment, all things the dreamer may- need to develop.

Ox
The ox depicts the ability to be patient, and to make sacrifices for others.

Parts of animals
(the limbs, eyes, mouth, etc.)

These have the same significance as parts of the human body (see Body).

If the four legs are particularly emphasised possibly in contrast with a three-legged animal the whole rounded personality with all four functions of the mind fully developed is being highlighted. Pig or Wild Boar The pig is taken in Western belief to indicate ignorance, stupidity, selfishness, and gluttony.

The dreamer’s better self may be beginning to recognise these unattractive qualities in himself. Without such recognition there can be no transformation or mastcry of them. Pigs and jewels There is a conflict between the lower urges and spiritual values. Perhaps there is a failure to appreciate spiritual values. Big litters of piglets can represent fruitful- ness, although sometimes without result, since the sow can depict the Destructive Mother (see Archetypes). Wild Boar The wild boar depicts the archetypal masculine principal, and therefore the negative Animus in a woman’s dream.

(See Introduction).

The dreamer may be evading an issue that should be challenged and dealt with more daringly.

Prehistoric animals
A trauma from the past, or from childhood, may be causing difficulty. Rabbit Rabbits appearing in a dream can mean one of two things.

The obvious connection with fertility could be important or it could be that the trickster aspect of the personality could be coming to the fore (see Hare).

A white rabbit may show the dreamer the way to the inner spiritual world and, as such, act as a guide.

Ram
The ram is a svmbol of masculine virility and power, and by association has those qualities of the sign of Aries in the Zodiac.

Rat
also see Vermin ‘flic rat signifies the diseased and devious part of the dreamer or of his situation. It can also represent something which is repulsive in some way.

The dreamer may be experiencing disloyalty from a friend or colleague.

Reptiles
To dream of reptiles indicates that we are looking at the more frightening lower aspects of the personality. We may have no control over these, and could therefore be easily devoured by them. We are afraid of Death or the death process, but must go through a process of change in order to be reborn.

Seal
Dreaming of a seal suggests that we are at one with the clement in which we live.

Serpent
Also see Snake

The serpent is a universal symbol which can be male or female or it can be self-created. It can signify death or destruction or conversely life and also rejuvenation.

It is the instinctive nature and is also potential energy. When the power of the instinctive nature is understood and harnessed, the dreamer comes to terms with his or her own sexuality and sensuality and is able to make use of the higher and more spiritual energies which become available. In a man’s dream a snake may appear if he has not understood the feminine or intuitive part of himself, or when he doubts his own masculinitv. In a woman’s dream the snake may manifest if she is afraid of sex, or sometimes of her own ability to seduce others. Because of its connection with the Garden of Eden, the serpent is the symbol of duplicity and trickery; and also of temptation. Sheep The sheep is renowned for its flock instinct, and it is this interpretation which is most usually accepted in dreams.

The helplessness of the sheep when off balance is also another aspect which is recognisable, as is the apparent lack of intelligence.

The god-fearing, ‘good sheep’ and also the passive and ‘sheepish’ may have relevance within the context of the dream.

To dream of sheep and wolves or of sheep and goats is to register the conflict between good and evil.

Sinister Animals Any threat from animals indicates the fears and doubts the dreamer has over his ability to cope with the stirrings of the unconscious. Snake - also see Serpent. Snake dreams occur like serpent dreams - when the dreamer is attempting to come to terms with his or her more instinctive self.

Inevitably, this has to do with the recognition and harnessing of energies which have been suppressed and thwarted. Since the most primeval urge is sexuality, the image of the snake is the most primitive one available.

A snake twined around the body or limb

This indicates some form of bondage, possibly being enslaved to the passions.

A snake, or worm, leaving a corpse by its mouth

This can sometimes represent the sexual act (the little death), but can also signify the dreamer’s control of his or her libido.

A snake in the grass This image denotes disloyalty, trickerv and evil. With its tail in its mouth This image is one of the oldest available to man and signifies completion and the union of the spiritual and physical (see Shapes, Circle). Being swallowed by a snake This shows the need and ability to return to the ultimate, and lose our sense of space and time (see Eating). Because snakes are such a low form of life, while also being in some cases poisonous, they have become associated with death, and all that man fears. Snake twined around a staff or similar (see Caduceiis) The unconscious forces that are released once the dreamer reconciles the opposing sides of himself create healing, rebirth and renewal, and this is universally represented as two snakes entwined round a central staff.

It is a symbolic representation of the basic form of DXA, the ‘building blocks’ of life.

The colours of the snake may give additional insight into the meaning of the dream (see Colours). Squirrel The squirrel represents the hoarding aspcct of our personalities.

Tiger
The tiger signifies royalty, dignity and power and is both a creator and a dcstrover

Toad
To dream of toads is lo connect with whatever the dreamer may consider ugly in life, or in his behaviour. However, implicit in that ugliness is the power of transformation and growth into something beautiful.

For a toad and an eagle to appear is to note the difference between earthly and spiritual values.

Transformation of animals In dreams, the metamorphosis of the dreamer or other people into animals and vice versa shows the potential for change within any situation.

Unicorn
The unicorn is a symbol of purity and traditionally could only be owned and perceived by virgins.

It is a return to, and a resurgence of, an innocence necessary in self-understanding, and it often suggests the control of the ego and selfishness.

Vermin
In dreams vermin may represent the enforced contemplation of something that is unnecessary or that has invaded one’s spacc.

Vertebrates
Animals with backbones often give an understanding of the qualities associated with that animal.

The smaller and lower orders of animal signify the unconscious, the higher orders the emotions.

Whale
The whale, because it is a mammal which lives within water, indicates the power of resurrection and rebirth man’s abilitv to come back from the dead.

Weasel
The weasel traditionally highlights the devious, more criminally oriented side of ourselves.

Werewolf
see Sinister Animals

Wild animals
Usually wild animals stand for danger, dangerous passions, or dangerous people. There is a destructive force arising from the unconscious, threatening the safety of the individual. Such a dream may be a way of understanding anxiety.

Domesticating wild animals The dreamer may- have come to terms with his or her wilder side.

Wolf
Dreaming of wolves may- indicate that we are being threatened by others, whether singly or by the pack.

The dreamer may- have cruel sadistic fantasies without taking responsibility for them.

The She-wolf The hussy; but also the carer for orphans and rejected young.

Wounded animals
The dreamer may be suffering either emotional or spiritual wounds.

Zebra
This animal has the same significance as the horse, but with the additional meaning of balancing the negative and the positive in a very dynamic way.

3- By understanding animals and their symbolism we approach life in a more simplistic and natural way.... animals dream meaning

1- The act of Ascension is a breakthrough to a new spiritual plane which transcends the state of being human.

It is an awareness of different levels of concentration, which give a different perspective to being human.

2- Ascension is an altered state of consciousness which can occur as a result of meditation and spiritual practices. In dreams it is seen as acceptable and real, and is often accompanied by symbols of paradise.

3- Ascension frequently follows the experience of a descent into the underworld.... ascension dream meaning

The body represents the individual and is his outward physical manifestation of all that he is. In dreams, the body often represents the Ego (see Introduction). Since being ‘physical’ is the baby’s first experience of itself, the body- forms the prime source of information.

Psychologically, most experience is translated into bodily feeling, and therefore becomes a rich source of symbolism in dreams. When emotions cannot be faccd in ordinary everyday life, they very often become distorted dream symbols.

Physical manifestation of an inner spirituality.

Different aspects of the body can have various meanings in dreams.

For example:

To dream of the upper part of the body is to link with the mind and the spiritual aspects of the charactcr, while the lower part of the body represents the instincts and emotional aspects of a character.

An adult’s head on an immature body, or a child’s head on an adult body is an indication that the dreamer needs to recognise the difference between mature thought and emotion.

If there is conflict between the upper and lower part, it indicates that there is disharmony between the mental faculties and instinctive behaviour.

The right side or hand being especially noticeable in dreams signifies we should take note of the logical side of our personality, whereas the left side or left hand indicates we need to be aware of our intuitive, creative side.

Body parts can have relevance as follows:

Abdomen, stomach, belly When the dream appears to concentrate on the abdomen, there is a need to focus 011 emotions and repressed feelings. Anus also see Excrement.

The young child’s first experience of control is as he or she gains control over bodilv functions. In dreams, the mind returns to that experience as a symbol of self- realisation and self-reliance and. more negatively, of suppression and defence. Such a dream therefore is indicating an aspect of childish behaviour or egotism. Arms We use our arms in all sorts of different ways. In dreams we may be defending ourselves, fighting or being held. We may also be showing passionate commitment. Back Dreaming of seeing someone else’s back suggests we should identify the more private elements in our characters. We should also be aware that other people may not at this present time - wish to share their thoughts with us. We may also find that we are vulnerable to the unexpected.

If we dream of turning our backs, we arc rejecting the particular feeling being experienced in the dream. Backbone If the backbone is particularly noticeable in a dream, we should consider the main support structure in our lives. Intellectually; we need to consider our firmness of character. Blood also see individual entry and Menstruation in M Dreaming of blood can have one of two meanings. It can signify that the dreamer feels on some level that a sacrifice is being made. This links into the ancient belief that the blood somehow contained the life of the spirit, and therefore spilt blood was sacred. It can also represent renewal of life through its connection with menstruation. Many- people fear blood, and thus a dream about blood can highlight the need to come to terms with these fears. On a more spiritual level it represents the blood of Christ.

Breasts also see individual entry Usually; to be conscious of breasts in dreams, indicates our connection with the mother figure and our need for nurturing. Such a dream can also indicate a wish to return to being an infant without responsibilities.

Constipation (in life as well as in dreams) Retention signifies an inability to let go of the past or of previous patterns of behaviour, literally to be uptight. Excrement I he dreamer may not have progressed on a subconscious level beyond a feeling that anything to do with bodily functions is dirtv and self-centred.

There may be an element of rebellion in the dreamer’s waking life. Playing with excrement can represent money and value, so playing with it in a dream can highlight anxiety about money, as well as fear of responsibility.

If the excrement is transformed into living animals, maybe rats, the dreamer is coming to terms with the fact that he is responsible for managing his own impulses. Excrement in its more spiritual meaning belongs to the realm of feelings and we may simply be trying to get rid of bad feelings. Those bad feelings can be turned into something worthwhile. Evacuation of the bowel usually highlights our need to be free of worry and responsibility, or possibly the need to learn how to be uninhibited. It can also signify the sexual act.

Eye Any dream to do with the eye is to do with observation and discrimination.

It is indicative of enlightenment and wisdom, protection and stability. It has a connection with the power of light and, in ancient times, of the sun- gods. Through its connection with Egyptian symbolism, the eye is also a talisman. Loss of eyesight signifies the loss of clarity and, depending on which eye, can be either the loss of logic (right eye) or the loss of intuition (left eye). Regaining the eyesight can indicate a return to the innocence and clear-sightedness of the child. Fat To dream of becoming fat is to recognise the need to widen the scope of our activities in some way.

If the dreamer is uncomfortable with his or her size it would indicate fear possibly of taking on too much responsibility or of not being adequate for a task. Hair The hair represents strength and virility. In dreams to be combing the hair is to be attempting to untangle a particular attitude we mav have.

To be having our hair cut is to be trying to create order in our lives.

To be cutting someone else’s hair may be to be curtailing an activity (it is possible that there may be some fear or doubt connected with sexuality).

To be bald in a dream is to perhaps recognise one’s own intelligence. Hand The hands are one of the most expressive parts of the body and signify power and creativity.

The two hands contrasted with each other, a different object in each hand There may be some conflict in the dreamer between his belief and his feelings.

A hand on the breast signifies submission. Clasped hands indicate union or friendship, while clenched hands suggest a threat. Folded hands suggest deep repose, or a state of rest.

The hands covering the eyes generally represent shame or horror, while hands crossed at the wrists suggest that one is being bound.

The open hand represents justice and the laying on of hands signifies healing and blessing particularly if the hand is placed on the neck.

The hands placed together is an indication of dcfencclessness, while placed in someone else’s is an indication of a pledge of service. When the hands are raised this can indicate either adoration, prayer or surrender; if the palms are turned outwards a blessing is being given, while when they are raised to the head the dreamer should give a great deal of thought and care to his situation. Washing the hands suggests innocence or rejection of guilt, while wringing the hands signifies grief.

A huge hand, particularly from the sky suggests that one has been ‘specially chosen’.

The right hand is the ‘power’ hand, while the left is passive and receptive. Sometimes in dreams the left hand can represent cheating. Head The head is considered to be the principle part of the body. Because it is the scat of the life force, it denotes power and wisdom.

Dreaming of the head suggests that we should look very carefully at the way we deal with both intelligence and folly.

To dream of the head being bowed suggests supplication. When the head is covered we may be covering up our own intelligence or acknowledging somebody else’s superiority.

A blow to the head in a dream can indicate that we should reconsider our actions in a particular situation. Heart The heart is the centre of the being and represents ‘feeling’ wisdom rather than intellectual wisdom.

It is also representative of compassion and understanding. Heel This suggests the part of ourselves which is strong but, at the same time, vulnerable. Jaw The jaw often is representative of our self-expression. It also, on a more esoteric level, suggests the opening to the underworld. Kidneys The kidneys are organs of elimination, therefore to dream of them is to be aware of the need for cleansing.

Knees The knees are symbolic of prayer and supplication, and of emotional commitment. Limbs Whether it is partly to do with some kind of cellular memory and the growth process that takes place is uncertain, but in dreams anv limb can be taken to mean sexuality and fears associated with gender issues. Being dismembered can be taken in its literal sense - we are being torn apart. Sometimes this can suggest the need to restructure our lives and begin again. At other times it can indicate that there is a way in which we arc being threatened to the very core of our existence. Liver The liver is representative of irritability and suppressed anger.

Lungs In Chinese medicine the lungs represent grief. They are also involved in decision-making. Spiritually, the lungs are the seat of righteousness, and the source of thoughts concerning the Self. Mouth The mouth represents the devouring, demanding part of ourselves. It can also stand for the receptive side.

The circumstances of the dream may give a clue to the correct interpretation. Sometimes the mouth can svmbolisc the feminine side of our nature. Nose The nose in dreams can stand for curiosity, and also for intuition.

Penis Dreaming of a penis either one’s own or someone else’s usually highlights the attitude to penetrative sex.

Skin Skin in a dream stands for our persona or the facade we create for others. Hard, tough skin shows we have crcatcd a tough exterior, and are trying to protect ourselves.

Stomach -see Abdomen in this section Teeth Popularly, teeth are supposed to stand for aggressive sexuality although more properly they signify the growth process towards sexual maturity. Teeth falling or coming out easily indicates we arc aware of going through some form of transition, similar to that from childhood to maturity, or from maturity to old age and helplessness.

If one is anxious about teeth dropping out il suggests there is a fear of getting old and undesirable, or an anxiety about maturing. In a woman’s dream, if the teeth are swallowed this can signify pregnancy.

Throat Dreaming of the throat denotes awareness of our vulnerability and also of the need for self-expression.

Thumb Dreaming of a thumb suggests awareness of how powerful we are.

The thumb pointing upwards represents beneficial energy, poiting downwards is negative. This latter was used as the death signal for Roman gladiators. Tongue The tongue in dreams often signifies our ability to know- when to speak and when to remain silent. It may also be to do with our own understanding of information that we wish to pass on to other people. We may have deeply felt beliefs we wish to share. Another explanation that is much more basic is that of the symbolism of the serpent and the phallus, and hence sexuality. Urine Urine in a dream often indicates our feelings about emotional control. We may either yield to emotion or bottle it up. How we deal with urine often also tells us a great deal about our own sexuality.

Vagina Most often, dreams of the vagina are to do with one’s self image. In a woman’s dream, il highlights her receptivity. In a man’s dream it suggests his need to be penetrative, both mentally and physically. Womb The womb represents a return to the beginning. We all have need of basic security and shelter, and perhaps to do away with responsibility. Dreams of the womb can signify our need to satisfy those requirements. On a slightly more esoteric level the womb represents our connection with the Great Mother or Mother Earth (see Introduction). Dreams of returning to the womb suggest our need to reconnect with the passive, more yielding side of our nature. We may need a period of self-healing and recuperation.... body dream meaning

Cleansing and innocence, attraction, and openness. Symbol of virginity and innocence.

A desire to go through life undefiled.

The color white in a dream points to purity—the dreamer is either living a pure life or is longing for it. One is seeking cleansing, and probably is already cleansed in a certain sense, simply by having a dream about the color white. But it could also suggest exaggerated cleanliness, an addiction to washing and cleaning, etc.

On the other hand, white can also be an expression of fear, such as the white whale in Moby Dick and the great white shark. Here the reference is to a blinding white color. Ghosts, like those appearing as mice during delusional episodes (delirium tremens), are always white.

The archetype of the wise man is usually clad in white (the guru, and also the physician). White is also the fundamental symbol for the animus; it addresses the male intellect and also male aggression (when white is experienced as blinding and gleaming).

The union of Red and white is that of contradiction: it is the symbol of the mystical marriage and Tantric sexuality (white semen and red menstrual blood). Here is where innocence meets the physical body and where heaven meets hell. Red and white are the colors of alchemy as well as the colors in the coats-of-arms of England and Switzerland.

Mabinogion, the ancient Welsh epic poem, refers to the white dogs of the underworld, except they have red noses and red eyes.

According to Freud, white always points to the feminine.... white dream meaning

also see Religious Imagery

1- Dreaming of mythical goddesses connects us with our archetypal images of femininity (see Archetypes). In a woman’s dream a goddess will clarify the connection through the unconscious that exists between all women and female creatures.

It is the sense of mystery, of a shared secret, which is such an intangible force within the woman’s psyche. In the waking state it is that which enables women to crcate a sisterhood or network among themselves in order to bring about a common aim.

To dream about goddesses therefore is to accept our right to initiation into this group. In a man’s dream the goddess figure signifies all that a man fears in the concept of female power. It usually also gives an insight into his earliest view of femininity through his experience of his mother.

2- There are many goddess figures in all cultures. There are those perceived as being destructive such as Kali, Bast and Lilith. and also beneficent ones such as Athena and Hermia.

The beneficent ones which women most closely relate to are given here: Aphrodite, goddess of love and beauty, moves women to be both creative and procreativc. She governs a woman’s enjoyment of love and beauty. Artemis, who is the goddess of the moon, personifies the independent feminine spirit whose ultimate goal is achievement. She is often pictured as the hunter. Athena is goddess of wisdom and strategy. She is logical and self-assured and is ruled by her mental faculties rather than her emotions. Demeter, the maternal archetype and goddess and fertility, highlights a woman’s drive to provide physical and spiritual support for her children. Hera, the goddess of marriage, denotes the woman who has her essential goal of finding a husband and being married as paramount and anv other role as secondary.

Hestia. goddess of the hearth, manifests the patient woman who finds steadiness in seclusion. She emits a sense of wholeness. Persephone, who is ultimately queen of the underworld but only- through having rejected her status as Demeter’s daughter, gives expression to woman’s tendency towards a need to please and be needed bv others. Her submissive behaviour and passivity must change to an ability to take responsibility for who she is.

3- Spiritually; women are able to make intuitive links with the essential aspects of her own personality. She then achieves a greater understanding of her own make up, and is able to use all facets of her being within her normal everyday life.... goddess / goddesses dream meaning

also see Hill

1- Traditionally, any mound appearing in a dream is supposed to link back to our very early childhood needs and the comfort that mother’s breast brought.

2- Emotionally, man’s need for comfort and sustenance continues throughout his life. At the same time, he needs to come to terms with his dependence on the feminine. Often to dream of mounds helps him to understand this.

3- The mound symbolises the Earth Mother or the entrance to the Underworld.... mound dream meaning

(see Animals)

Vicious, snapping words spoken in haste; treachery or hypocrisy without thought to the consequences.

Falsehood, insincerity, and deception (as in crying “crocodile tears”).

As the guardian of the gate to the underworld, the crocodile also represents an obstacle to the threshold of the subconscious.... crocodile dream meaning

Ancient meaning: Eternal life and the vital power of blood. Vampires used blood as their source of rejuvenation and, in a sense, reincarnation. Among ancient Greeks, the underworld was filled with souls who craved life’s blood in the hopes of finding this renewal. On the dream plane, such symbolism can equate to finding ways to make the results of your efforts more durable and abiding.

Someone or something figuratively sucking the life away from you a little at a time. This person or situation may be very appealing on the surface, but definitely has an agenda that isn’t in your best interests.... vampire dream meaning

(see Animals)

Native American: The feminine power of water. Also gracefulness and playfulness.

Forgetfulness or lacking closure. Otters are known to take one or two bites from their food, then leave the rest behind when distracted by something else.

(see Bird, Feathers, Flying, Wings)

Wisdom.

The ability to traverse the figurative darkness in your life.

As a companion and messenger to the Greek goddess Athena, an owl may presage new artistic abilities or the development of a warrior’s spirit.

A type of death dream. In Greece» dreaming of an owl foretold of death, the Vedic god of the dead sometimes sent owls as messengers, and the Celts associated owls with the god of the underworld.

Native Americans call owls the “night eagle,’” and consider them a symbol of silent observation with potentially deceitful motivations.

In Hopi tradition, the gift of an owl feather bestows truthfulness on the receiver. By accepting such a token in a dream, you accept yourself.

The ability to see what others are trying to hide from you, as the owl’s golden yellow eyes pierce the night.

Moving silently, or remaining silent in a situation. Owls are considered silent fliers.

Snow owls in particular are able hunters, representing the instinct to know where your sustenance lies, and how to effectively reach it.... otter dream meaning

Dreams of descending are about you coming down to earth, becoming grounded, embracing your humanity, your three-dimensional needs, wants, and desires.

If it feels that you’ve descended into the underworld, see Goddess-Persephone or Depressed.... descend dream meaning

A dream of a Goddess is prophetic, powerful, and filled with wonderful insights relating to the divine feminine, the maiden, maid, crone and sacred sisterhood. Dreams of a Goddess represents your desire to connect with a higher aspect of yourself, your greatest potential. You are evoking divine assistance or a higher view into your life. Each Goddess archetype will evoke within you a distinct power and energy.

The following are primary dream symbols in relation to the seven primary Greek and Roman Goddesses and the gifts they offer you if you are fortunate enough to be visited by them in the dreamtime: Aphrodite/Venus: Goddess of love, sensuality, beauty, sexuality and freedom. She is the muse of creativity and inspiration. Symbols: Scallop shell, sweet fruit, nectar, dolphin, gold coins, swan, and myrrh. Artemis/Diana: Goddess of the hunt, wildlife, and independence. She is a humanitarian and caretaker of those less fortunate. Symbols: Bow and arrow, bear, hound, moon, stag Athena/Minerva: Goddess of wisdom, discernment, competition, success and leadership. Symbols: Olive tree, owl, shield, lightening bolt, loom, Parthenon Demeter/Ceres: Goddess of harvest and fertility. She is the mother and nurturer of children. Symbols: Cornucopia, poppy, sickle, wheat Hera/Juno: Goddess of marriage; primarily identified with the role of wife and partnership. She is know for being the woman behind the man. Symbols: Peacock, throne of gold and ivory, cuckoo, temple, two gold rings, wind Hesia/Vesta: Goddess of the hearth and home. She makes a house a home and her qualities include domesticity, introversion, meditation, mindfulness and nest maker. Symbols: Flaming hearth, globe, altar, vest, locked box, shelter Persephone: Goddess of death, the underworld, renewal, and transformation. Symbols: Pomegranate seeds, narcissus flower, gates, chariot, two faces, spring... goddess dream meaning

We are searching for spiritual awareness. Ascension is an altered state of consciousness which can occur as a result of meditation and spiritual practices. Ascension frequently follows the experience of a descent into the underworld. In dreams it is seen as acceptable and real and is often accompanied by symbols of paradise.... ascending / ascension dream meaning

The badger is both well loved and much maligned. It signifies a hierarchical family structure and, because of its nocturnal habits, the basic wisdom belonging to the underworld.... badger dream meaning

Often representative of our self-expression, on a more esoteric level the jaw suggests the opening to the underworld.... jaw dream meaning

Symbolizes fertility; it was the fruit offered to persephone to tempt her to remain as queen of the underworld.... the pomegranate dream meaning

We may be standing on the threshold of a new spiritual awareness. We need to be particularly alert as to what changes are occurring. At this time we are often aware of a personal guiding force known as the guardian of the threshold.

The guardian of the threshold to the underworld (a different entity) is often seen in dreams as a dog. Consult the entries for ceremony, edge, freemason, initiation and rite / ritual for further information.... threshold dream meaning

(1) If your brother or sister appears in a dream you have to decide whether the dream is saying something about your actual brother or sister and your relationship with him or her, or whether vour brother or sister stands in the dream symbolically for something else - some part of yourself.

If the former is the case, it may be obvious to you: recent encounters with your brother or sister, or some piece of news about him or her may be recognized as prompting the dream. Always be on the look-out, though, for those dreams where a brother or sister plavs a symbolic role. The dream source may choose its materials - its images - from your recent external experiences, but what those dream images represent is nearly always some part of yourself. So please read on.

(2) In early childhood a brother or sister is a natural object of jealousy and hatred. In the eyes of a small child the mother may seem to be favouring his or her sibling. When a second child is bom, the firstborn is especially likely to develop hostile feelings towards the new’ rival for mother’s attention and affection. Sometimes w’e carrv such jealous grievances (at an unconscious level) into adult life, w’here they continue to affect our behaviour and attitudes.

It is then imperative that w’e sort them out, face up to them, acknowledge them for w’hat they are, and so liberate ourselves from their damaging influence (see (3) below, second paragraph, on projections).

(3) An elder brother or sister (brother for a male dreamer, sister for a female dreamer) may represent your ‘other self (‘alter ego’), that side of your personality that has so far been neglected and undeveloped. Jung called it ‘the Shadow’’. We start adult life w’ith a self-image that is usually some sort of compromise between what w’e w’ant to be or do and w’hat parents or society at large seems to require of us.

If this self-image corresponds to our actual abilities, all may be well for a while; but a time mav come w hen wre need to give attention to other facets of our (potential) self. These other facets - our Shadow- - will show- themselves to us in dreams; and one form they take in dreams is that of an elder brother or sister.

People often project their shadow- on to a sibling of the same sex as themselves; and if it is not projected, it may express itself in all kinds of aw kward and embarrassing ways - astonishing rudeness, for example, or other antisocial behaviour. The contrast between your conscious ego and your alter ego mav be as startling as that between Jekvll and Hyde. Don’t be alarmed, though: remember alw-ays that your unconscious is vour ally - vour best friend - and even the most frightening or appalling things that reveal themselves in dreams as parts of vour unconscious are frightening or appalling, first, because of their unfamiliaritv and / or secondly, because, having been neglected and locked away in the dark, they tend to behave like a neglected child and mav become mutinous (on this phenomenon, see Demon). Pay proper attention and proper respect to them, and their threatening features will disappear; they will prove themselves valuable supplements to vour personal equipment for coping with life and achieving full satisfaction and wholeness. Introduce them into your consciousness, identify them and their needs, and give them a controlled and appropriate part to play in your waking life.

Incidentally, one test you can apply to check whether you have a neglected shadow-self is to ask yourself if there is some characteristic that you particularly dislike in other people (particularly your partner): a domineering tendency’, perhaps, or an over-liberal attitude, or whatever.

If there is (and of course you need a lot of honesty’ to admit this), then that characteristic is likely to belong to your shadow-self. We tend to project on to other people the dark, ‘nasty5 things that live in our own unconscious.

If something is going wrong in our life, we tend to put the blame on to other people, the government, or our parents; we look for some scapegoat to carry the blame. The blame, how ever, is ours, because we have not put our own house in order: we have not paid due attention to the demands of our unconscious and have not allowed our ‘other self proper scope for expression in our life.

(4) When a female dreams of a brother, or a male dreams of a sister, the brother / sister may represent w’hat Jung called the ‘soul-image’, w’hich is the masculine side of a woman’s personality (her animus) or the feminine side of a man’s personality (his anima). There would seem to be very basic differences between man and woman arising out of different biological functions (as well as less basic differences that owe their existence to social conditioning). There are w’hat have traditionally been called feminine qualities and capacities (such as gentleness, a caring disposition, creativeness, cooperativencss and relatedness, intuition) and, similarly, what have been called masculine qualities (such as aggressiveness and competitiveness, rationality’, and a tendency to analyse and look for differences). However, it is widclv accepted nowadays among psychotherapists that the male psyche also contains feminine qualities and the female psyche also contains masculine qualities, albeit often dormant and neglected, or repressed.

If you arc a man, do you admire the ‘masculine’ tv pc of woman? If vou do, vou may be in need of redressing the balance in vour psyche: vour feminine side

has possibly swamped your masculinity, and you now need to promote the latter. In your case, the anima will be rather masculine. This is just one instance of a general rule: the animus / anima will have the opposite characteristics to the conscious self-image.

Either male or female dreamers may find themselves in a dream in an heroic relationship to an anima / animus figure. A man may, in a dream, rescue a damsel in distress; a woman may waken a dead prince with a kiss. These should be seen as invitations to incorporate your anima / animus into vour conscious functioning, to rescue it from oblivion and neglect: to make Cinderella or the Frog-Prince your partner in life. Personal wholeness cannot be achieved without this.

See also Cinderella, Frog, section (3), Marriage.

(5) A sister in a man’s dream or a brother in a woman’s dream may take the dreamer into some frightening abyss, to the bottom of the sea, or into a dark forest. This may represent the man’s anima or the woman’s animus leading the ego into the unconscious, to discover, for example, the deep emotional causes of a psychosomatic illness; the repressed rage that lies at the bottom of a chronic boredom; or the fount of energy or wisdom that can furnish a more fully satisfying existence. Literary and mythological representations of this can be found in the examples of Beatrice, who led Dante safely into hell and out again, and Ariadne, whose thread enabled Theseus to find his way out of the Cretan labyrinth after slaying the Minotaur. Both hell and labyrinths are symbols of the unconscious.

See also Labyrinth, Monster, Underworld.

(6) Sometimes the anima / animus figure in a dream may appear in some way hostile or threatening. For example, in a man’s dream the anima may take the form of an enchantress, a femme fatale, seducing men into a lake or ocean. The watery depths may be seen as symbolizing the depths of the unconscious. The meaning of such a dream may be that the dreamer needs to explore his other - unconscious - self, despite (or, more accurately, because of) its frightening and threatening aspect. Water, however, is a symbol of the feminine, too. The meaning of the dream, therefore, might be that die dreamer is too heavily fixated on his mother and needs to liberate himself by asserting his masculinity and independence; in extreme cases the man might be in danger of being “possessed’ or ‘swallowed up’ by the feminine within his psyche. Such a dream may be, however, not a warning, but an invitation: the unconscious may be urging the man to get on better terms - equal terms - with the feminine side of his psyche. Give your anima / animus equality, and it will cease from its mutinous attempts to take over the whole of your psyche.

In the case of a woman, a dream may contain a male seducer: some Pied Piper animus figure. Again, the dreamer will have to decide whether such a dream is a warning or an invitation: a warning against being carried away by her masculinity (perhaps she has not resolved her early father fixation), or an invitation to discover and utilize her neglected masculinity. Commonsense and, above all, honesty should guide her to the correct understanding of the dream; and in any case, bear in mind what was said above about giving equality to the anima / animus.

(7) The unconscious compensates the conscious mind. It contains those qualities and capacities which the conscious mind lacks. In this sense it is the opposite of the conscious mind; hence its otherness, its alien appearance.

It follows, therefore, that the image that represents anima or animus in a dream may be the opposite of the psychological type to which the dreamer belongs. For example, if you are a woman of the intellectual type (i.e. if thinking is your strong point at the conscious level), your animus may be represented in dreams as a sentimental type (a romantic Don Juan, for instance).

If you are a sentimental woman (moved at the conscious level mainly by feelings - including moral feelings), your animus may show itself as a bearded professor or other intellectual figure.

If you are an intuitive woman (an artist, for instance), your animus mav take a muscular he-man form in dreams (the sensational type, functioning most strongly at the sensory level).

(8) If brother and sister appear together in a dream, this may symbolize either the tension of opposites, or the union of opposites. The opposites are the conscious and the unconscious contents of the psyche. Their union and interfusion are the means by which the self- the true self that is already within you but waits to be unfolded - is realized.

The appearance of this symbol will usually be an auspicious sign, meaning that, despite all appearances to the contrary, there is within you a latent and attainable order and harmony. But of course you - the conscious ego - must make that latent order real by paying loving attention to the needs of your unconscious opposite (like the prince who wakes the sleeping beauty with an embrace).... brother / sister dream meaning

(1) The Satan of Jewish-Christian-Islamic tradition was originally a homed fertility god, a personification of the fertilizing power of Nature. In psychological terms, a fertilizing agent is something within the psyche that can inaugurate a new phase in the individual’s development.

(2) The evil connotations of the devil figure may reflea the dreamer’s fear of those repressed contents of the unconscious that are, in fact, the very forces that - if mobilized and utilized - could bestow new and fuller life. What we repress is invariably something that had great value for us but on some occasion in the past gave rise to guilt-feelings or a fear of punishment.

It is our fears that invest the unconscious with the fearsome characteristics of a dark underworld inhabited by evil monsters. In reality, the unconscious contains all the energy and wisdom we need for healing and wholeness.

It might be said that our fundamental human task is the conversion of the devil within ourselves, that is, converting negatively charged (dissident, destructive) psychic forces into positively charged (life enhancing and unifying) powers. Bur you won’t convert the devil with brute force, only with love. The negatively charged psychic forces are the ones you neglect and despise or fear. They become positively charged when you acknowledge them and integrate them into vour conscious life.

If we do not recognize the ‘devil’ within ourselves, we shall project him on to others and thereby give more scope for hatred and destruction (the real devil!) in the world.

See also Evil.

(3) In certain contexts - if, for example, he has horns or is sexually involved with naked women - the devil may be a sexual symbol.

If sexuality is represented in such a guise in a woman’s dream, it is possibly because she has a fear of sexual relations. In a man’s dream the indication might be that he has a guilt-ridden attitude towards his own sexuality (which Freud might trace back to anxiety’ arising out of the normal male infant’s erotic feelings for his mother).... devil dream meaning

Anything underground may symbolize the unconscious.

See also Underworld. Anything emerging from (the) underground - reptiles or rodents, for instance - may represent (repressed, troublesome) emotion.... underground dream meaning

Graves often represent the end of the line, the end or “death” of something, rather than literal death. They also suggest grave issues that require depth of thought and contemplation before making a decision. Because of their underworld connotations, graves can indicate the realm of the unconscious. (See also Burial, Coffin, Crypt, Dead / Death, Hearse).... grave dream meaning

Some dream interpreters believe that jaws signify the gates to the underworld. Jaws in a dream can also indicate a bad meal, spiritual indigestion, or a bad mix of food that produces an old-fashioned “nightmare.”... jaws dream meaning

To dream of pomegranates traditionally signifies good health and longevity. Alternatively, they are tied to the myth of Persephone who is said to have become trapped in the underworld (a common symbol of the unconscious) due to her consumption of a pomegranate seed.... pomegranate dream meaning

Similar to ‘dog’, but a wilder version. The jackal is a cunning scavenger and as a result is sometimes associated with death. It can also see in the dark and the ancient Egyptians believed the jackal to be a pathfinder in the underworld—i.e. the unconscious—leading the dead to the other world or enlightenment. Be aware too of the ‘Jackal and Hyde’ phenomenon that exists inside all of us.... jackal dream meaning

Transformation. Pluto, Roman god of the underworld, is the planet of profound change, of starting deep within and moving toward the surface. Pluto is the archetype of primordial energy, the universal life force which impels all evolution and transformation. It is about spiritual, intellectual or emotional death and rebirth, the transformation that comes from letting go of that which is unessential so that you can get to the core of things.... pluto dream meaning

Serpents are ancient symbols, often associated with goddesses of fertility. Because they live in the ground, serpents may represent the healing, nurturing earth; they can also symbolize knowledge. In some cultures in southern Asia, serpents symbolize primordial spiritual power. Alternatively, they may be emblems of the mysterious dangers of the underworld.

The Christian tradition incorporated the latter meaning into its mythology, making snakes an embodiment of evil, particularly the evil of temptation (e.g., the snake in the Garden of Eden). For this reason, in Western cultures especially, snakes are images for people who are sneaky and deceptive.

The cliché, “they behave like a snake in the grass,” captures this derogatory reference.... snake dream meaning

Along with cats and dogs, the horse is one of the most common animal themes in dreams, particularly amongst women. Like dogs, horses are domesticated animals, and so they represent urges and drives in yourself that you have learned to harness or direct. The big difference is that the horse can carry us. Tame, working or domesticated horses in dreams therefore suggest energy and the sort of enthusiasm or feelings of well-being that can help to ‘carry’ you through the day. According to Freud, horses are also symbols of the sexual drive, and the physical energy and life processes that ‘carry’ us around.

The astrological sign of Sagittarius is depicted by a half man-half horse hybrid, so a dream of horses or horses that are half human may be referring to someone born under that sign. In myths and fairy tales, horses often speak and talking horses in dreams may represent the voice of your unconscious—a message from your inner self. In Greek myth, horses were associated with Hades and the underworld but ancient dreamlore suggests that to dream of horses indicates that you will receive news from a distance. To dream of a horse being shod is thought to be extremely lucky because of the association with the horseshoe, a well-known symbol of luck.

See also ANIMALS.... horse dream meaning

You may have a dream in which the image of a god, such as the warrior lord Mars or a goddess such as Aphrodite, the goddess of love, appears. The characteristics of gods and goddesses that populate the world’s religions are in many ways similar; this is because they are archetypal figures that embody universal human emotions and characteristics, such as love, hate, anger, justice, jealousy or other potent energies. This should be borne in mind when you try to interpret your dream.

If you become a deity in your dream, the message is even more potent and perhaps you do feel god like in waking life or are aware that you are being given the opportunity to reach your fullest potential; bear in mind though that such a dream also warns against the dangers of egotism or overreaching yourself in some way.

If a woman dreams of mythical gods, it may help her to understand those aspects of her own personality that are generally considered to be more masculine.

If a man dreams of mythical gods, he is linking with his own sense of masculinity. The powerful need that exists within us all for approval and love can often be recognized in the mythical gods. For example, Adonis represents health and self-love, Apollo represents sunny optimism and Chiron healing.

Jehovah in the guise of a vengeful God alerts you to the negative side of power. Mars as the god of war suggests the drive to succeed and win, whilst Zeus is the father figure in both its positive and negative form.

If a woman dreams of mythical goddesses, this will connect her to the archetypal images of femininity and sisterhood with other women.

If a man dreams of mythical goddesses, this signifies all that a man fears about female power. There are goddess figures that are perceived as destructive such as Kali, Bast and Lilith but also beneficial ones such as Athena, the goddess of wisdom and strategy or Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty. Artemis is the goddess of the moon and female intuition and independence. Demeter is the maternal archetype and Hera represents the woman whose goal in life is marriage. Hestia is a symbol of loneliness and patience, whilst Persephone, Queen of the Underworld, expresses the need of some women to please others and be needed by them; her behavior must turn from passive and submissive into an ability to take responsibility for own life.

You may dream of Hindu deities such as Brahma, who is the source of the cosmos, Vishnu its protector and Shiva, who is both the destroyer and protector of life. Together with the Devil, their appearance in a dream expresses confusion but also great creativity and liberation.

If other figures from ancient myth and legend feature in your dream, refer to the ARCHETYPES and SURREALISM AND FANTASY. You may also like to do your own research on dream images inspired by ancient myths, gods and goddesses to see if you can discover their role in your dream and how their universal archetypal energy relates to you.... god / goddess dream meaning

Spiritually and in dreams, the tree is a symbol of the Tree of Life; an ancient idea common to many cultures and mythologies. Often regarded as an all-nourishing, all-giving Mother, many myths speak of the Tree of Life or World Tree as involved in the creation of the universe.

Britain was once covered by mighty oak, lime and pine forests, and reverence for trees is a major feature within Celtic religion, reflecting a link between the upper and lower worlds. Druids had their teaching center in the midst of oak groves, and the words for wood and wisdom are similar (Welsh gwydd and gwyddon). The Celtic Tree of Life is one of the most popular and enduring motifs of Celtic art, found both on Northumbrian and Celtic crosses and on illuminated manuscripts. It is also portrayed variously as the Golden Bough, vine, or mistletoe. The ancient Celts envisioned the cosmos in the form of a great tree, whose roots were deep in the earth and whose branches stretched to the heavens.

The Celtic Tree of Life is therefore a symbol of balance between these worlds; the unification of above and below; a symbol of balance and harmony. Its branches and roots form a map of the cosmos wherein all things are interwoven and connected; it dwells in three worlds—a link between heaven, earth and the underworld. In dreams the appearance of the Tree of Life or any kind of tree can therefore be a powerful symbol of harmony, success, integration and fulfillment.

These can be achieved in waking life when there is a union between the material and the spiritual, and the feminine and masculine aspects of your personality.... the tree of life dream meaning