Sunday, November 4, 2001		Dream theme

Dreaming of elephants
Vinaya Katoch Manhas

THE elephant is a royal animal but can destroy everything in its way if it gets angry. This dual personality is reflected even in its symbolic interpretation in dreams.

In the Indian context, we find its mention in the Swapna Kamlakar. As per this text while we consider colour black in dreams a bad omen, seeing a black elephant is not bad. To see an elephant stolen from you foretells that your fellow men shall quarrel with you and go against you. You shall even face loss of wealth. As per the Ratnachur Katha to see yourself ride an elephant means that Goddess Lakshmi will bless you and you will thus gain wealth. As per the Vrahdhyatra merely seeing an elephant in your dream is very lucky.

To see a female elephant portends good times ahead. To ride it means promotions and rise in status. To drink the milk of an elephant prophesises advancement in position. Seeing a white elephant is also thought to be very lucky. White is the colour of the elephant of Lord Indra. To see a well-adorned and decorated elephant brings good friends in your life.

As per western thought, to dream of riding an elephant denotes that you shall possess wealth and gain honours, which shall bring you respect and status in society. You shall be successful and ahead of others in business or profession, as the case may be, and shall also rule at the home front. Seeing a herd of elephants denotes tremendous prosperity. One elephant means that whatever you gain shall be permanent. Should you dream of feeding an elephant, it means that you shall gain respect in your community due to your kindness towards those in need, or those lower to you in status.

Psychologically speaking, seeing an elephant in your dream means that you have patience, long memory, strength and fidelity. In the more esoteric sense it signifies radiant and glowing wisdom. It is also the symbol of the earthly aspect of the self. If you see someone as an elephant, it means you associate these qualities with him or her.

A 57-year-old man often dreamt of a herd of trumpeting elephants charging towards him. He climbs up a tree. All elephants run away from under the tree, not realising that he is sitting on it. One mother elephant and her baby see him and stand next to the tree trying to prevent the other elephants from harming the tree. When all other elephants have passed by, she nurses her baby and then joins the herd.

In this dream, the attack by the herd of elephants portends oncoming problems and troubles. The mother elephant protecting him and nursing the baby is the personification of his own mother who had the habit of always shielding and protecting him, even if he was in the wrong. This dream means that the man still wanted that protectiveness and dependency.