APPLE
Spiritually the apple is the fruit of temptation, yet it is also a magical fruit containing the seeds of knowledge and awareness. An apple suggests a new beginning and a freshness of approach. In many traditions it is the fruit of immortality. Apple blossom is a Chinese symbol of peace and beauty. Eating an apple symbolizes the wish to take in information or knowledge. This has an obvious connection with Eve’s temptation of Adam. As with many natural symbols, the phrases we use in the everyday can give rise to dream images. Thus to be giving someone an apple can suggest showing appreciation, whereas to pick up a rotten apple can signify meeting someone who is not good for us. Apples on a purely mundane level can signify fruitfulness, fertility, love and temptation. Sometimes in dreams they can suggest a particular time of year. It is mainly by association that the apple has come to represent the feminine principle and sometimes the maternal breast. It is more likely to have this meaning in a man’s dream than in a woman’s. As a symbol of carnal knowledge it represents fertility. The entries for Food and Fruit may give further clarification.
APPOINTMENT
Time is a man-made concept so, from a spiritual perspective, when we dream of having to keep an appointment we need to make use of time in the most spiritually effective way. There may be an issue to do with our self-discipline. We can perhaps give ourselves a gift or a reward for good work. There is something that has to be accomplished within a certain time limit. Often the person we have the appointment with may be important. Dreaming of going to an appointment indicates we need to have an aim or a goal. The dream is bringing to our notice something our inner self feels we need to deal with. Missing an appointment suggests we are not paying enough attention to detail. You might like to consult the entries for People and Time.
APPRENTICE
An apprentice is technically assigned to a worker in order to learn a trade or profession. In spiritual terms, we all learn by example and, should an apprentice appear in dreams, we need only discover what it is that we should be learning. Life is a learning process and an apprentice suggests that a commitment has been given to enable us to learn more – to put our knowledge to good use and ultimately to pass on our own knowledge. To be learning as an apprentice suggests that we need more information in our working life. To be teaching an apprentice can suggest that we feel a promotion is appropriate. Previously apprenticeships were more valid for men than for women, so to an extent the interpretation for a man or a woman will differ according to their age group. An older man might dream of his own apprenticeship whereas an older woman may feel that someone around her is lacking skill. Today’s apprentices will not necessarily perceive a division in labour.
APRON
An apron can represent a badge of office and, as in Freemasonry, this suggests craftsmanship; in ancient China it was part of sacrificial regalia. It also has the symbolism of dividing the body into the upper, nobler part and the lower, baser instincts. If you are wearing the apron this may indicate the need for skill. If worn by someone else the part of you that is represented by the dream person may need protecting. The apron can represent family ties, constraints or outmoded ideas. It depends on the gender of the dreamer and the content of the dream whether this image is negative or positive. In a woman’s dream it might signify her nurturing side. In a man’s dream it is more likely to represent his relationship with his mother. You may like to consult the entries for Body, Family and People for clarification.
AQUARIUM – see FISH
ARCH
Since the arch can suggest the yoni, the feminine receptive principle, this image usually suggests that we are experiencing a form of spiritual initiation. We are being born again, given a fresh start. The arch marks a turning point; if we pass through we have passed a test. If we do not then our circumstances must remain the same. We may be being protected by authority. When we dream of arches or doorways we are often moving into a different environment or way of life. We have to go through some form of initiation or acceptance ritual in order to succeed. In a man’s dream, passing through an arch suggests that he is learning to use his intuitive side more successfully, whereas in a woman’s dream it is more likely to signify that she is becoming aware of her own heritage and mystery.
ARCHANGEL – see ANGEL AND SPIRITUAL IMAGERY IN THE INTRODUCTION
ARENA
Today sport is often used as an energy release, so we are more likely to dream of a sports arena or football pitch rather than an ancient arena. Spiritually an arena suggests a ritualized form of combat and sometimes sacrifice, but can also suggest the need for space in which to expand or enjoy group activities. We are developing a new focus of attention or an area of conflict. This conflict may need to be brought out into the open for due consideration.
Dreaming of being in an arena, either as a player or as a spectator, highlights the fact that we may need to make the decision to move into a specifically created environment, one which gives more room for self expression and creativity or theatricality.
You might like to look at the entries for Competition, Games and Rite/Ritual.
ARGUE/ARGUMENTS
Two aspects of an argument are worth noting from a spiritual perspective. You are trying to resolve some internal conflict or unsettled issue which may not yet have come to conscious knowledge. If you are arguing with only one person the conflict is likely to be between two polarities of thought in you; with more than one person the issue is probably one connected with a wider, more global belief or concept. When challenged it is often difficult to state our case properly. Dreaming of an argument can help us to vocalize coherently in ordinary life. Dream scenarios often mimic everyday problems, so the atmosphere during a dream argument can give us clues about our passion or real feelings over an issue. To be having an argument with someone with whom you normally have a good relationship suggests you are unsure of your motivation in actions you are taking. Arguments with members of the opposite sex suggest that some adjustment needs to be made in the way you approach relationships. Men may need to understand their own aggression whereas women may need to be less emotional. Certainly something is out of balance.
Consult the entry for Conflict.
ARMED FORCES
Any armed force is a disciplined group made up of many elements. It is this bringing together of the correct balance of factors which gives us a spiritual interpretation – a strong force, usually for good, a coherent whole with a joint purpose. To be in the armed forces in dreams signifies belonging to a trained team; to be facing an army highlights our doubts about or refusal to accept a carefully thought out plan of action.While this may be for the greater good, in itself it may be dangerous. By its association with the sea, the navy in dreams signifies a more disciplined response to emotional matters, whereas the air force suggests the need for a targeted response to intellectual and philosophical matters. The idea of fighting for a common cause suggests developing qualities which we would not necessarily foster in isolation. As organizations that accept all types of people and develops their potential, the armed forces are not just fighting units but are, in theory, agents for change. In today’s climate where everything is less regimented, a man dreaming of an army (or being a member of the armed forces) is likely to be about self discipline, whereas a woman’s dream is more about the aspect of belonging to a group of like minded people.
Consult the entries for Conflict, Sailor, Tank, Uniform and War for
further clarity.
ARMOUR
Armour, particularly the old style suit of armour, signifies chivalry, protection and the need to protect or be protected. We may be protecting ourselves from something we feel is threatening us. Our way of protecting ourselves may, however, be outdated and inappropriate in the present circumstances. In today’s climate of terror, to be wearing body armour suggests trying to protect ourselves against the wrongdoing and aggressive actions of others or against our own fears. We need to be aware of emotional and intellectual rigidity in either ourselves or others around us. If we are wearing armour we may be overprotecting ourselves, whereas if others are in armour we may be overly aware of their defence mechanisms.
ARMS
Arms are significant as a symbol of surrender, wisdom or action. One arm upraised denotes commitment but sometimes also suggests vengeance. Two arms raised sideways signify supplication; raised forwards suggest welcome. Arms – in the sense of weapons – are used to protect and defend. In olden times there were quite a series of rituals and stages of initiation with the Page becoming the Knight and making the transition from the arms bearer to the user of weapons. Dreams can mirror these initiatory rituals. It is worth noting the significance of the placing of the arms. If they are placed across the chest we are defending ourselves. If we are held in or by someone else’s arms it suggests a need for security. A coat of arms or other such insignia suggests a form of recognition. Also consult the entries for Body, Sword and Weapons.
ARMY – see ARMED FORCES
ARRESTED
There are times when spiritually we are aware we are not acting according to our own beliefs. There is a need for a higher authority and we need to be stopped from coming to harm or creating problems. That higher authority is often the moral or spiritual aspect of ourselves. When in everyday life we are unsure of our motives in an action we are contemplating, dreaming of being arrested suggests we should stop and carefully consider our behaviour before we act. When we dream of being arrested, there may be a lack of integrity or good judgement. To dream of arresting someone else would indicate our instinctive disapproval of certain actions.
ARROW
Arrows as weapons suggest power, energy and expertise. As a means of pointing the way we should go, they will often hint at the next steps we need to take in personal development. Communications that we make could be damaging to other people.We could either hurt or be hurt by directness. Arrows indicating direction can suggest the quickest and easiest route. If we dream of shooting arrows we are aware of the consequences of actions, either our own or other people’s, that cannot be recalled or revoked. Interestingly enough, arrows can also symbolize words in dreams. The arrow often suggests masculine power in a woman’s dream while it is more suggestive of drive and ambition in a man’s dream.
You might like to consult the entries for Barb, Bolt, Direction, Shot/shooting and Weapons for further clarity.
ARTIST
We tend to personalize our ideas of the Creator, or the Guiding Principle, and this often manifests as the artist in dreams. In the sense that an artist or creative person interprets a divine picture or idea as best he/she can, in dreams an artist represents the interpretive side of ourselves. We need to make use of our desire or ability to be creative in our own right – often not necessarily by painting pictures. We may also be linking with that part of ourselves that records events for posterity, literally leaving our mark on life. The artist in a dream makes us recognize the artist or creative ability in us. We are aware of the aspect of ourselves that is in contact with, and can interpret, the irrational, creative side of the unconscious.
Consult the entries for Broom/Brush, Paint/Painting and Picture or other creative tools as appropriate.
ASCENDING/ASCENSION
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. We are becoming conscious of being able to exercise control over passion or sexual pleasure. The transition from expressing our energy through sex to expressing it in self-awareness is often shown as ascending. 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 fresh perspective to being human. If we are climbing stairs, or going up in an elevator or lift, we are making a movement towards waking or becoming more aware; we are making an escape from anxiety or being down to earth and are freeing ourselves from physical constraints.
ASCETIC
There is an attempt to find the spiritual in our lives and also a development of the will to be ‘pure’. In a dream, to meet an ascetic or holy man is to meet our higher self and to recognize the part of ourselves that is continually seeking unity with the Divine. Psychologically we are searching for purity in ourselves or in others. Equally we may be afraid of that purity within ourselves and need to come to terms with it. As an archetype Jung frequently mentions his Wise Old Man who was present when he needed guidance. There is some conflict with natural drives. There may be an avoidance of sex or contact through fear or the need for restraint. We may be looking for simplicity.
Consult the entries for Hermit, Monk and Mystic for further information.
ASHES
Ashes represent purification and death and symbolically the perishable
human body and mortality. A memory or a learnt wisdom needs to be retained in order for us to use information. After an event or person has gone or disappeared from our lives we may dream of a fire that has burned out, leaving ashes. Ashes in a dream often indicate penitence and sorrow.We are aware that we have been overanxious and stupid within a situation and that there is little left to be done. That situation has outlived its usefulness. The ashes are what remains of our experience, which will enable us to make the best of a situation.
ASK – see QUESTION
ASP – see SNAKE IN ANIMALS
ASSAULT – see ATTACK
ASTRONAUT
Any figure that is not ‘of this world’ alerts us to the possibilities of other dimensions of being, spiritually lifting us away from the mundane into other areas of consciousness. In that an astronaut moves among the stars but cannot do so without some sort of protective covering, we are alerted to the discipline and skill needed when working within spiritual and psychic realms. From a mundane perspective we perhaps need to recognize that before moving into the unknown we need skill and protection.
ASYLUM/ASYLUM SEEKER
To be seeking asylum suggests the recognition that we need a sacred space. In the old-fashioned sense an asylum was an institution, so it may be that we are seeking safety in structure and proscribed boundaries. An enclosed space where we have to abide by rules imposed by others can give a sense of safety and security. Seeking asylum where one is not living in danger from our peers and compatriots suggests we are conscious that our thoughts and beliefs are not in tune with others. This may reflect a working situation. When an asylum seeker appears in dreams it is probable that we are neglecting part of our persona and putting it at risk.
ATLAS – see MAP
ATOM BOMB
We have become aware of the uncontrollable forces of life and the unconscious. There is a fear of irrationality and of power that could be used wrongly. An atom bomb is a deliberately engineered explosion designed to be destructive. We may feel that someone else may destroy and nullify our carefully constructed life. Where anxiety regarding the external world is experienced, we need to be aware that the end of a particular way of life is imminent in an especially dramatic fashion. Often there is a sense of an explosion of destructive energy before everything must be rebuilt.
Consult the entries for Apocalypse, Bomb and Nuclear Explosion for further clarification.
ATTACK
There is a spiritual or psychic threat. We often become aware on very subtle levels of threats or challenges to our beliefs and ideals and these can manifest as warnings of, or actual, attacks. If we are the attacker we need to defend ourselves by positive self expression – we are making attempts to destroy some urge or feeling in ourselves or others. Being attacked in a dream indicates a fear of being under threat from external events or internal emotions. Unknown impulses or ideas force us into taking a defensive attitude. If we are being attacked by animals we are turning our own aggression and/or sexuality inwards; we have fear of our own natural urges. In a woman’s dream, being attacked will often be to do with her feelings of vulnerability. In a man’s dream, being attacked perhaps highlights his poor self-image. In both men’s and women’s dreams, playing the part of the attacker suggests frustration and lack of control.
You might also like to consult the entry for Wound.
ATTRACTION – see SEX/SEXUAL IMAGES
AUDIENCE
Spiritually, an audience tends to be either the multiple parts of our personality, all of which are answerable to the Higher Self, or represents the external world to whom we are accountable in a spiritual sense. We need to be considering an aspect of our lives carefully, particularly one that takes place in public and needs expression. We are the creators of our own play and an audience may also represent the various parts of our own personality that we have created. If we are standing in front of, or broadcasting to, an audience, we are probably having to deal with important issues in our lives. We need to reach a wider audience. If we are in the audience, we are witnessing an emotion or process of change in ourselves. To dream of listening to a broadcast means we should be listening to the message that other people are trying to get across.
Also consult the entry for Theatre.
AUDITION – see EXAM/BEING EXAMINED AND TEST
AUNT – see FAMILY
AURA
The aura is an energy field, perceived clairvoyantly as bands of colour, which surrounds the physical body. It is an expression of the Self.When we become conscious of an aura in dreams, we are becoming more aware of others spirituality. The aura is a representation of the power we hold within, the force field of our essential energy with which we attract and ward people off. Because in dreams we are more sensitive, we become more conscious of such subtle emanations. To perceive an aura in a dream indicates how powerful we consider ourselves, or others, to be. Also consult Spiritual Imagery in the Introduction for further information.
AUSTRALIA – see PLACES
AUTHORITY FIGURES (SUCH AS TEACHERS, DOCTORS ETC.) – see
INDIVIDUAL ENTRIES AND ALSO AUTHORITY FIGURES IN PEOPLE.
AUTOGRAPH – see SIGNATURE
AUTOPSY – see OPERATION
AUTUMN
Symbolically autumn signifies a time of introspection when we can gain benefit from previous actions. We have the advantage of experience and maturity. Psychologically by recognizing the cycles of growth and decay that occur in our own lives, we learn that some of these can be brought to fruition without harm. We are being made conscious of the sense of something coming to an end.We recognize that the good in a situation can be ‘brought in’ and made use of, but the rest must be given up.
Consult the entries for Harvest, Spring, Summer, Seasons and Winter for additional clarification.
AVALANCHE
The power of our own nature and emotions that have frozen could overwhelm us and stop our spiritual progress. Psychologically we need to regain control of forces outside ourselves. We are in a position that puts us in some kind of danger, most likely from old ideas and attitudes which have become ‘frozen’ by continuous use. If we witness an avalanche in our dreams we are experiencing a destructive force. If we are in the middle of an avalanche we are being overwhelmed by circumstances.
AXE
The axe represents power, thunder, conquest of error and sacrifice. As a symbol it is seen in most religions usually representing divine, supernatural power. From a psychological perspective, an axe, particularly a double-headed one, represents feminine supremacy and intuitive power, often in the role of the huntress. When we dream of an axe we need to differentiate between whether it is being used against us or if we are using it. If it is used against us we feel we are being threatened by someone’s greater power. To dream of using an axe indicates that we need to become aware of the destructive forces within us.
AZTEC – see INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
