Sorting objects may comment on needing to sort out a problem at hand. Sorting through things in the closet might mention that you are involved in sorting out the past and the attitudes and beliefs that have influenced you.
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.... Ten Thousand Dream Dictionary
2- We may have difficulty in sorting out what Is rational or irrational behaviour.
3- There is the move towards darkness. and then there is the abyss.
The dreamer should be careful and aware - of a downward spiritual spiral.... Ten Thousand Dream Dictionary
2. A need to address emotions or feelings otherwise ignored or taken lightly, likely in someone else.
3. An aspect of life needs attention.
4. Desires will be addressed. ... New American Dream Dictionary
1- I’o dream of one’s financial capital would imply a need to conserve resources. Dreaming of a country’s capital city indicates we should look at our attitude to the wider issues in that country or our conncction with that city. We may also need to consider how we deal with large groups of people, particularly those whose customs and accepted behaviour is unknown.
2- To dream of capital letters could indicate that we need to pay more attention to important issues in our lives. There is a matter which needs sorting out.
3- Spiritually, capital is the result of past actions.... Ten Thousand Dream Dictionary
The qualities of the various animals need to be assimilated and integrated in order to progress; there are two potentials of further development.
If a half-animal, half-human is seen it shows that the dreamer’s basic instincts are beginning to be recognized and humanized.... Dream Meanings of Versatile
A Guide to Dreams and Sleep Experiences
The few exceptions are usually very clear. Example: ‘My mother-in-law died of cancer. I had watched the whole progression of her illness, and was very upset by her death. Shortly after she died the relatives gathered and began to sort through her belongings to share them out. That was the climax of my upset and distress, and I didn’t want any part of this sorting and taking her things. That night I dreamt I was in a room with all the relatives. They were sorting her things, and I felt my waking distress. Then my mother-in-law came into the room. She was very real and seemed happy. She said for me not to be upset as she didn’t at all mind her relatives taking her things. When I woke from the dream all the anxiety and upset had disappeared. It never returned (told to author dunng a talk given to the Housewives Register in Ilfracombe).
Although in any collection of dreams such clearcut problem solving is fairly rare, nevertheless the basic function in dreams appears to be problem solving.
The proof of this lies in research done in dream withdrawal. As explained in the entry science, sleep and dreams, subjects are woken up as they begin to dream, therefore denying them dreams. This quickly leads to disorientation and breakdown of normal functioning, showing that a lot of problem solving occurs in dreams, even though it may not be as obvious as in the example. This feature of dreaming can be enhanced to a marked degree by processing dreams and arriving at insights into the information they contain. This enables old problems to be cleared up and new information and attitudes to be brought into use more quickly. Through such active work one becomes aware of the self, which Carl Jung describes as a centre, but which we might think of as a synthesis of all our experience and being. Gaining insight and allowing the self entrance into our waking affairs, as M L. Von Franz says in Man and His Symbols, gradually produces a wider and more mature personality’ which emerges, and by degrees becomes effective and even visible to others’.
The function of dreams may well be described as an effort on the part of our life process to support, augment and help mature waking consciousness.
A study of dreams suggests that the creative forces which are behind the growth of our body are also inextricably connected with psychological development. In fact, when the process of physical growth stops, the psychological growth continues.
If this is thwarted in any way, it leads to frustration, physical tension and psychosomatic and eventually physical illness.
The integration of experience.
which dreams are always attempting, if successful cannot help but lead to personal growth. But it is often frozen by the individual avoiding the growing pains’, or the discomfon of breaking through old concepts and beliefs.
Where there is any attempt on the pan of our conscious personality to co-operate with this, the creative aspect of dreaming emerges. In fact anything we are deeply involved in, challenged by or attempting, we will dream about in a creative way. Not only have communities like the American Indians used dreams in this manner—to find better hunting, solve community problems, find a sense of personal life direction— but scientists, writers, designers and thousands of lay people have found very real information in dreams After all, through dreams we have personal use of the greatest computer ever produced in the history of the world—the human brain.
1- In Genesis 41, the story of Pharaoh’s dream is told—the seven fat cows and the seven thin cows. This dream was creative in that, with Joseph’s interpretation, it resolved a national problem where famine followed years of plenty. It may very well be an example of gathered information on the history of Egypt being in the mind of Pharaoh, and the dream putting it together in a problem solving way. See dream process as computer.
2- William Blake dreamt his dead brother showed him a new way of engraving copper. Blake used the method successfully.
3- Otto Leowi dreamt of how to prove that nervous impulses were chemical rather than electncal. This led to his Nobel prize.
4- Friedrich Kekule tned for years to define the structure of benzene. He dreamt of a snake with its tail in its mouth, and woke to realise this explained the molecular formation of the benzene ring. He was so impressed he urged colleagues, ‘Gentlemen, leam to dream.’
5- Hilprecht had an amazing dream of the connection between two pieces of agate which enabled him to translate an ancient Babylonian inscription.
6- Elias Howe faced the problem of how to produce an effective sewing machine.
The major difficulty was the needle. He dreamt of natives shaking spears with holes in their points. This led to the invention of the Singer sewing machine.
7- Robert Louis Stevenson claims to have dreamt the plot of many of his stories.
8- Albert Einstein said that during adolescence he dreamt he was riding a sledge. It went faster and faster until it reached the speed of light.
The stars began to change into amazing patterns and colours, dazzling and beautiful. His meditation on that dream throughout the years led to the theory of relativity.
To approach our dreams in order to discover their creativity, first decide what problematic or creative aspect of your life needs ‘dream power’. Define what you have already leamt or know about the problem. Write it down, and from this clarify what it is you want more insight into.
If this breaks down into several issues, choose one at a time. Think about the issue and pursue it as much as you can while awake. Read about it, ask people’s opinions, gather information. This is all data for the dream process.
If the question still needs further insight, before going to sleep imagine you are putting the question to your internal store of wisdom, computer, power centre, or whatever image feels right.
For some people an old being who is neither exclusively man nor woman is a working image.
In the morning note down whatever dream you remember. It does not matter if the dream does not appear to deal with the question; Elias Howe’s native spears were an outlandish image, but nevertheless contained the information he needed. Investigate the dream using the techniques given in the entry dream processing. Some problems take time to define, so use the process until there is a resolution.
If it is a major problem, it may take a year or so; after all, some resolutions need restructuring of the personality, because the problem cannot disappear while we still have the same attitudes and fears. See secret of the universe dreams; dream processing. ... A Guide to Dreams and Sleep Experiences
The ‘debris’ left behind after such a breakdown needs sorting through to discover what needs to be retained and what discarded.... Dream Meanings of Versatile
To dream that you are moving furniture, indicates that you are going out of your way to please others. Also, you may be changing your ways and trying to reevaluate your relationships/attitudes.
To see old or worn furniture in your dream, symbolizes outdated attitudes, former relationships, and/or old ways of thinking.
To dream about a big pile of furniture, suggests that you need to face your feelings about someone in your life.
If you were surrounded by furniture, and trying to find your way out of it, it suggests you are having some trouble sorting through your various relationships - friendships, family, romances - and figuring out how they all fit together in your life.... My Dream Interpretation
To dream of being hot indicates warm or perhaps passionate feelings.
To be conscious of the fact that our surroundings are hot indicates that we are loved and cared for.
2- Occasionally, extreme emotion can be interpreted as a physical feeling so anger, jealousy or other such feelings can be experienced as heat. Experiencing something as hot which should be cold e.g. ice indicates that we are perhaps having difficulty and experiencing confusion in sorting out our feelings.
3- Spiritual passion is a deeply held feeling. It can be experienced as in a dream as heat.... Ten Thousand Dream Dictionary
If your house is clean and in order, then you are on track and healthy.
If you house is in disrepair and cluttered, then you’ve got some sorting out to do, people to forgive and amends to make. See Home.... Strangest Dream Explanations
A cupboard or room full of junk would suggest we need to take action to clear ourselves of hang-ups and difficulties.... Dream Meanings of Versatile
If you are not in an intimate relationship, then you may be preparing yourself for one, fantasizing about an ideal, or sorting through the challenges that are in your way of having one.... Strangest Dream Explanations
Giant my comrade versus monsters, me and friend and constellations
Severe stitches from mouth all the way down my body and leg
Looking for microphone in a dream
Peacock flying in a dark night sky
Peacock flying in a dark night
I lost my boyfriend on a cruise ship
Giving betel leave and green chilli
To dream of my boyfriend sister i have not met them bit heard about them