Dream
Thursday, January 17, 2008 Sharing a dream experience here. Perhaps someone has some idea or insight upon it. I love dream symbolism but have found that dreams are unique to each person. I have never been able to open a book and find a resonant "interpretation". Here is my dream. I need to preface it with the explanation that I have always had a great fear of dogs. Curiously, my guiding star, Sirius, is considered the "Dog Star" and symbolic of the Egyptian God Anubis as well as the major feminine deity Isis. (Just a bit of lore there). Anyway, yes, always a fear of dogs and at least two major dog encounters in my life. I do not have a dog for a pet either.
Dream: I was confronted by what is to me personally a frightening dog (as one with conscious fear of dogs); a rottweiler. A large, black rottweiller. I was suddenly standing there, he had me targeted in his vision, and suddenly half my arm was in his mouth. I knew (without words) this was a male dog. Then just as suddenly, the dog turned into a male human, a great protector albeit, definitely powerful and frightening. He then disappeared. Again, another rottweiler appeared as if to attack. This one too turned into a male human. He was another protector to me. Both the dogs shapeshifted, both strong, and both were what seemed like close soul relations. Curiously, they each wanted to fight one another. While I remained terrified in a way due to my innate fears, I knew they would not harm me, but would definitely harm one another. I made the more aggressive of the two (the second dog) PROMISE not to harm the first dog or any other dogs for that matter. He held me closely in a giant hug and promised. I have no idea why they would be against one another as they were both rots and both almost identical. They were both extraordinarily protective of me, to the point they considered one another a threat I would need to be protected from. The strangest thing of this dream is the way in which it occurred. While there are many dreams that come and go, there are those that I call "real dreams" where I am awake through the experience. Usually when these types of dreams happen, they involve what look like people, but they are not on our earth or at least, I do not know them in this body. Somehow though, I do know them well, like a family that has always been my family but they live very far away. Anyway, these people or beings will usually impart some message. At other times when these "real dreams" (as I call them) occur, I will be shown something specific (time, date, name, event); in these instances, the specifics don't appear to be important for me but rather, for some other person.
Anyway, this was the dog dream. Because I have a known fear of dogs, (that particular kind of dog more so), and it was so vivid, I can't seem to connect it to anything. I would add that I do not recall feeling threatened in any way, nor anything ominous. I felt my usual fear of dogs but otherwise, was given the distinct impression I am under someone or something's watchful eye. I still don't really understand this one though.
Reader Comments (7)
Hi Sibyllae!
Thanks for sharing this dream.
I can never find a book that interprets my dreams for me, either. I think it's because dreams are so personal to each individual dreamer.
As you were describing this dream, I was reminded of how we all have aspects of male and female energy within us. For me, I feel more insync with my female energy, and it's my male energy that feels somewhat foreign to me. I've been gradually learning how to embrace my male energy.
Maybe you're moving into a balance of your energies. And the dog (which represents fear) is telling you that it's okay to embrace your male energy (being that it turned into a male figure). Male energy can be aggressive (which was being shown to you in your dream), but by "hugging you" he may have been showing you, that it won't ever harm you. Infact, it will even "protect" you, when you may need to be aggressive in certain situations in you life.
The reason for the two dogs (and the two male figures fighting with one another) could simply be representing the "struggle" of allowing yourself to embrace it.
Anyway....this is my interpretation. And thank you for inviting me to share my feelings. But remember, you are the only one who can be the TRUE interpretator.
Have a great evening, Sibyllae!
Hi Sibyllae! I love your site so much. It seems we're both drawn to the same type of art & photography - you have some very talented artists represented on your Favorites page. Beautiful & haunting. As for your dream, I have no clue as to the meaning. My own dreams seems to represent a mish-mash of the day's and/or week's events & themes, and I have anxiety & problem-solving dreams quite often. Like you, my dreams are usually vivid and complicated.
As for dogs, I used to have a visceral aversion to them and would never have dreamed of having one for a pet...until one day four years ago when a very special dog entered my life. You never know!
Hello Ron! I feel you are on to something here, it didn't occur to me until you said "Maybe you're moving into a balance of your energies..." This could be well true! I have been making many RADICAL changes, I guess all change amounts to changing one's own consciousness of things; but these also (for me) are involving physical support.. changing habits, ways of working. I have found it hard to do. We dont realize how attached we are to things until we either no longer have them, or no longer indulge in them (lol). For me I think the balance is about not being attached either way. I believe you are right in balancing energy; that is EXACTLY what I am doing but didn't realize it until you said it just like that. Thank you! LOVE - SIB
KAREN! YOU ARE A GODDESS! I LOVE YOUR BLOG. You are hilarious and fun and straight up. A total goddess. Thank you for stopping over. I have you also linked on my LINKS page by the way; I have had you in there for awhile but will add you to the main page here as well. HUGS HUGS HUGS. -- Stop by any time. I just think you are terrific and a really courageous lady. Love- SIB
Hi Sib! Thank you for sharing that profound dream with us. Strange dream and timing, in fact...For last night, I queried my Druid Animal Oracle deck about a friend and the following three cards were pulled: the hawk, the salmon and the dog.
In this deck at least, the dog symbolises something a little less visceral, wolf-like and untamed...and something resembling more of a faithful, loyal companion and friend. As you know, dogs are fiercely loyal to the one's they love and I guess, metaphorically, they have come to symbolise the polarity that may exist within one's own psyche. Perhaps your psyche is torn over the vulnerability of yourself or your concern for a loved one?
Also (interestingly enough), your dream story reminded me of something else...I finished reading Ian McEwan's "Black Dogs" not too long ago (very good/fast read if you are interested in another, albeit fictional account, of one lady's encounter with a similar couple of canines...). Your dream imagery reminded me of some of the imagery in this book. Fascinating.
Anyway, I'm not much of a dream interpreter, but I do hope you figure this out. Like you, I believe that dreams do hold a significant pool of insight for our resting psyches...
Namaste
Poseiden Muse! Thank you for the sharing of the cards and your insights and the FABU BOOK recommendation. More dogs seem to be arising in my world lately... there MUST be a message there for me that's more than what I have been surmising thus far, and I am glad for what everyone has shared here as it is like messages from the universe. Thank you so much for your encouragement. (I am getting that book too- I like this author!)
((( Sibyllae )))
Hello :) Hope you are well!!
What an interesting dream...many dream interpretations say that all the 'people' in our dreams are certain aspects of myself. But then, I think that dreams are very personal, and should be interpreted intuitively...
Much like my friend Poseidon's Muse :) "Dog" in the Medicine Cards (Card 18) has the message of "Loyalty"...and IS a protector. Dog also has to do with faithfulness, trustworthiness, need, love, and friendship.
The "biting the hand that feeds you" image is sort of interesting....as is the shapeshifting.
HUGS to you today...life has settled down for now and I hope to catch up with you soon. Love and Blessings!
grace! there's so many new things to consider. I am glad for the ideas because it is hard to see the different possibilities objectively. SO MUCH to reflect on here! Thank you so much! I am glad you are moving along though busy as all heck i bet! Stay in touch when you can ok. LOVE You! (All!)