Mother

Basic meaning: Older, wiser, more experienced part of feminine self aspect; the unconscious; intuition; natural and instinctive life; your relationship with your mother.

(1) A dream about your mother may be telling you something about your relationship with your mother. Mother-attachment may be so strong that the development of your own individuality has been prevented. Inner independence of mother is the first great step towards realizing your true self.

(2) In a mansdream, mother may symbolize the feminine side of his psyche.

(3) Mother may symbolize the unconscious; intuitive self; natural instinctive life; the source of nourishment and growth for the psyche.

Father

Basic meaning: Wiser, more mature masculine aspect of self; straightforward representation of your father.

(1) For men, father may be a conscience figure. If this is the case, bear in mind that your father's prohibitions and commands will probably represent either conventional moral options which may have no relevance to your true nature or "destiny", or irrational fears and feelings of guilt that began to take shape in you in earlychildhood.

(2) For a woman, father may figure in a dream as one who generates affection.

(3) The presence of your father may be a straightforward representation of him, or of the way you see/remember him (which may owe more to your subjective distortions than to what your father actually is or was). In any case, the reason for your father appearing in the dream will be shown by the part he plays in the dream story.

(4) If your father features in the dream as a protector, it may be that you need to "grow up" and rely on your own resources. After all, life can hurt you only if you let it, only if you identify with your emotional self instead of with that deep layer of yourself that is immune to life's pains and perils.

(5) Father may be an animus figure (see Glossary of Jungian Termnology), representing a womans(unconscious) masculine qualities. In this case, the dream may be suggesting that she should cultivate this countrasexual side of her nature.

(6) Frequent appearances by eithet parent, or both, in dreams may be a sign that you have not thrown off an infantile over-dependence on them. Jung cites a young man's dreamin which the mansfather appeared as a drunken driver, smashing his car into a wall. This is the exact opposite of the real father, who was a most respectable person, rightly - but too too much - respected by the son. What the unconscious was doing through the dream was dethroning the father in order to enable the son to achieve a proper sense of himself as a person in his own right, with his own unique destiny and values.

Reference: Eric Ackroyd

May symbolize something of value with regard to your personal development. Silver has associations with the moon, and may therefore symbolize the feminine; intuition; or the unconscious.

Basic Meaning: A boat often symbolizes an aspect of the feminine, a reference to the unconscious.

(1) Because of their connections with water, boats may symbolize (some aspect of) the feminine, either with a plainly sexual reference or with reference to the unconscious (in the case of a male dreamer, the reference may be specifically to the anima), (See Anima/Animus or with reference to mother or Great Mother.

(2) Leaving one's own shores for a foreign country may symbolize entry into the unconscious insofar as the latter is unknown and frightening - alien, in fact.

(3) If the boat is crossing a narrow stretch of water, it may symbolize some type of transition: for example, moving from one phase of life to another, or making a new start and a clean break from the past.

(4) If in the dream you miss the boat, the meaning would seem to be obvious: you have failed to take advantage of an opportunity that has offered itself - perhaps an opportunity to open new vistas in your life.

Eric Ackroyd

Example in a Dream

You are in a boat drifting far from shore with sharks swimming all around you.

Possible meaning for a male: The boat would be an anima symbol representing the feminine aspects of the male psyche {compassion, tolerance, patience, ready to forgive}. Drifting far from shore would mean you are drifting away from these unifying feminine aspects. The sharks may represent those other internal aspects that want to assail you {in order to force you back to shore} or other people or circumstances in your waking life that are causing you to drift away from the natural feminine tendencies.

Possible meaning for a female: For a woman the meaning may have the same interpretation, you are drifting away from those essential feminine aspects. But it may also symbolize that you are moving away from those negative aspects {sharks} that can prevent you from an understanding of a higher self {the Great Mother}. It also may be a reference to your actual mother, an unconscious need or desire to move away from her destructive {sharks} attitudes. the meaning may have the same

The feminine part of yourself. We all have qualities that are masculine and feminine. The feminine aspect represents the positive, creative, emotional self. In mythology cats are associated with the "Goddess". This is a reference to new growth in your life. If you are into Wicca, or have read stories recently of witches, a black cat could represent your higher self. Black cats also represent bad luck. Have you had unfavorable things happening in your life?

Also: If the cat is aggressive, then it suggests that you are having problems with the feminine aspect of yourself.

Dreaming that a cat is biting you, symbolizes the devouring female.

Seeing a black cat in your dream indicates a lack of confidence in your intuitive self.

Cats have both positive and negative connotations. You need to consider all of the details in the dream in order to obtain accurate interpretation. The cat can be a symbol of sexuality, femininity, prosperity and power. A cat is also an independent animal, and in your dream you may be associating yourself or someone else with these characteristics. Usually the dream is telling you about yourself and not others. Historically black cats have been symbols of evil and bad luck. If you are a cat lover and have one as a pet, the symbolism may not apply to your dream. Old, superstition-based dream interpretations say that a cat is a bad omen and that you can expect deceit from those that you trust

Original aspects that within the psyche pertain to masculine behaviour {see anima/animus}. Temptations, and the consequences. Patriarchal thinking, masculine over feminine. Imbalance.

Right/left symbolizes consciousness/unconsciousness. Movement from left to right may signify an increase of conscious awareness. May also represent intellect/intuition or thought/feeling; masculine/feminine; activity and assertiveness/passivity and receptiveness. In mythology left symbolizes the path to adventure, the road of danger and trials. The hero/heroine always takes the left hand path to accomplish desired results.

(1) By virtue of its sexual associations, dancing may represent a coming together - courtship - of the masculine (animus) and feminine (anima) side of one's nature. See anima - animus HERE

(2) Joining a dance probably means relating cooperatively with the other person or group. What does that person or group symbolize? It may be some part of you: your hidden self, with its mulitude of emotions, instinctive impulses, ideas, ideals, beliefs/prejudices, attitudes, ambitions, etc.

(3) Perhaps it is the "dance of life". Participating/not participating in the dance would then mean relating harmoniously with Nature (or your unconscious)/being out of step with it. (Dancing clumsily may signify that you are "out of step".)

(4) If the dance is a frenzied solo performance, it may represent some kind of "possession", indicating that some psychic element (unconscious)is threatening to take you over. If this is the case, you need to identify the causes of any compulsive behaviour you observe in yourself; and then to come to terms with it - which will usually mean either making space in your life for some hitherto repressed part of you; or getting rid of (repressed) guilt-feelings; or both.

Dancing may be a sexual symbol, representing sexual intercourse.

Reference: Eric Ackroyd

(1) The eagle may be an animus figure

(2) Eagles live in high places and have been associated in primitive societies with the Sun God. An eagle may therefore appear in a dream as a messenger from a helpful source in your unconscious. Does it 'say" anything to you? If so, take it seriously and act accordingly. (Sun mat symbolize your true self.)

(3) An eagle has strong wings and may, therefore, symbolize something within you that can lift you - perhaps out of depression, towards the "light".

(4) The sun may be a symbol of consciousness, and so the eagle may signify a need to extend your conscious awareness. Perhaps you need to get better acquainted with the contents of your unconscious and integrate them into your conscious active life.

(5) Eagles have sometimes been associated with fertility. Psychologically speaking, fertility means bringing to life latent (hidden - undeveloped) powers in the psyche.

(6) Is the eagle paired in some way with a snake - holding a snake in its talons, for example? In mythology, eagle and snake represent the conflict of opposites. In psychological terms the opposites may be the conscious/unconscious; thought/instinct; spiritual/animal; masculine/feminine. The dream may be pointing out an area of inner conflict that needs your conscious intention. If so, bear in mind that a lasting resolution of conflict is never achieved by denying the right of one of the conflicting parties. Some balance of forces in the psyche is called for, so that every psychic component gets its proper share of attention and expression without threatening the rights of other components.

Eagle and lion (or some other animal) may have the same symbolism.

Reference: Eric Ackroyd

If the child in your dream is you as a child, the significance of the dream may have to do with a childhood experience.

The child may be a symbol of your true self, That which is essentially you and which you are capable of unfolding. The fact that your real self is represented by a child suggests that your true self is a a beautiful unspoilt product of Nature; that is worthy of unreserved love; and that it needs the nourishment of your love if it is to grow.

The child may represent the transcendent nature of the self; it is much more than just your conscious ego or your present image of yourself; it holds together the opposites that are within you, "head" and "heart", extroversion and introversion, masculine and feminine.

The child may represent a new beginning, a new development in your psyche - a new attitude to life, a new set of values, a new reconciliation of previously conflicting forces.

There is in all of us a child - our emotional self - that often needs reassurance, to be told that all is well and there is no cause for fear, or anger, or guilt, and that love makes all things good and dissolves all pain. At the same time the child sometimes needs to be chided and corrected if it is eventually to - as it should - grow up.

A symbol of the feminine characteristics of your psyche. A basket full of fruit may represent well-being. An empty basket may represent personal feelings of emptiness. It may also represent things you are holding onto.

Integration of neglected {feminine} aspect of the Self. What part {feminine aspect} of you has been neglected and now wants to be known to you consciously?

Storing place for unneeded or unwanted aspects of yourself. Your unconscious. Your feminine qualities often hidden away and not used.

Feminine qualities of the psyche. Qualities in yourself that you project onto other people. An older sister {for a female dreamer} may represent your "other self" {alter ego}, that side yourself that is neglected or undeveloped .

Helpful part of self; organization; identify priorities. Sub-ordinate feminine aspect.

A dress is clothing and it may symbolize your ego or persona. It may indicate the feelings you have toward yourself, especially a relationship to the image you present to the world. A dress would be an article of female clothing, so it may represent your feminine aspect.

A symbol for the feminine/animus. may represent some personal characteristic -

intellectual superficial cleverness, rashness.

A symbol of your self; wholeness, the inner self (spiritual). It could symbolize half of the whole self, with the other half being your feminine side. In a woman's dream it may represent her animus or her father.

your true self. abstaining fro many of life's social duties and requirements. The pure feminine self.

Merging of masculine and feminine energies to create a balance. May also symbolize a desire for perfection. Look at your love relationships for answers.

(1) Water may symbolize emotions or psychic energy. It is therefore important to notice whether the water is free flowing or stagnant {or frozen}, clean or foul. If it represents your emotions then apply accordingly.

(2} water is a common symbol for fertility, growth, creative potential {especially is it takes the form of a reservoir or still lake}, new life, or healing.

(3) It is also a symbol for the unconscious. Deep water, oceans, seas, large lakes often symbolize the collective unconscious. Smaller bodies of water may symbolize the personal unconscious.

(4) It is a feminine symbol, representing either your own femininity {whether you are a male or female}, or your mother. It is therefore important to note your reaction to the water in your dream. Are you afraid of water in real life? This may mean you are afraid of women {if you are a man}, of your mother, or of your unconscious {hidden aspects that can be emotionally disturbing when brought to consciousness}.

Reference: Eric Ackroyd

To be at the edge of a cliff is to be where earth meets both sea and sky. Sky is a symbol of consciousness/masculinity; sea is the unconscious/femininity.

(1) What is symbolized may be a critical point in your life, a time for decision.

(2) The decision may be one concerning the polarity of male and female, the masculine and feminine components of your psyche. If you are a woman, it may be that a decision has to be made concerning the conflicting worlds of career and domesticity. (Sky would then symbolize masculine assertiveness and active participation in the world; sea, feminine attributes such as motherhood and nurturing.)

(3) The cliff edge may be the "end of the road", signifying that you have come as far as you can in a particular endeavor of lifestyle, and that something radically new is called for. Perhaps this new approach to living means entering into a close relationship with Nature (represented by the sea or sky) or bringing together the conscious and unconscious parts of your psyche.

It may be a question of whether you can find within yourself enough strength and faith to step out into the unknown future; or throw yourself off the cliff - that is, withdraw from life's challenge.

(4) The horizon may be the significant thing in the dream. This may mean you are being challenged to take a bigger view of things, to see life and/or yourself on a grander scale, in order to find a new and more satisfying motivation for your life.

Reference: Eric Ackroyd