[AaronDavid]

Hello, I have been struggling to interpret a dream I had a few days ago. I could use some help. It was just a scene in which I was watching. It was a forest with all gold and autumn colors, the trees had white trunks (aspen?) and there was a yellowish/gold haze. In the middle of the scene there were tables/altars in a row lined up perfectly stretching off into the distance. Floating above each altar was a square 'window' that seemed to be looking into a different world (almost like a television). Next to the 'window' at the altar closest to me was a prehistoric Venus figurine. There were similar size figurines on each table, but I couldn't see what they were. Walking along the path next to the altars were figures in black/grey robes all walking away from me. Although these figures may sound a little disheartening, they were not. The overall emotion I had was one of peace, welcome and calm.
I am a deeply spiritual and religious person, an ordained deacon, but have been struggling with some faith issues. I awoke after this dream feeling like I had just peered into something special/prophetic. I have an idea of what it means, but I would like some unbiased opinions. Many thanks.
Aaron

[Athanor]

Hi Aaron,

It’s possible that the clearly autumnal scene is partly meant to emphasize the cyclical flow of everything, including how we view the world and our beliefs overall.

Perhaps there is also a hint that a part of your life and understanding is coming to a close. It has been very valuable (the golden, warm colors) and this will remain as a bedrock as you may have to move through a more wintry period of some doubts and questions regarding your faith.

But the idea of the clearly cyclical points to the fact that spring will arrive and a new beginning is possible, built on the old structures within.

The forest in general would tend to represent your unconscious mind which has personal as well as non-personal depths.

Aspens are trees whose leaves noticeably flutter and rustle in the wind, perhaps suggesting that the “wind of the spirit” and of change are being emphasized by the image.

The fact that the altars appear in the “middle” of the scene points to your central, core potential as a person overall. This idea is of course “sacred”, and is also found in the image of the altars themselves.

The square shape of the “windows” picks up this theme since something square and related to the number four (four sides) often symbolizes the idea of innate potentials that can be realized in an effective three-dimensional, outer way.

A window suggests light, seeing something outside, clarity and understanding about some issue.

The Venus figurine on the altar closest to you may be suggesting the nature of what needs to be seen more clearly and understood, that is, the Feminine inside yourself and as manifested outside.

Apparently it is being put forth by the dream that the Feminine is also sacred (i.e. part of the altar).

It’s possible that each of the other figurines is female and therefore each altar/window represents a different aspect of the Feminine that may have to be understood in some way over time.

Sometimes, organized religion can tend to exclude too much a genuine sense of the Feminine, so the dream may be suggesting that exploring it may in fact be helpful in dealing positively with your faith issues as opposed to perhaps maintaining a division between the “material” (the Feminine) and the “spiritual” (the Masculine).

As Herman Melville wrote: “Doubts of all things earthly, and intuitions of some things heavenly; this combination makes neither believer nor infidel, but makes a man who regards them both with equal eye”.

Multiplicity in dreams (e.g. there are many tables and many windows in your dream) usually suggests a current lack of cohesion and understanding about an issue which the dreamer is dealing with. The goal is almost always to reach “unity” of understanding, and this is related once more to the idea of the “sacred”.

Marion Woodman has outlined some aspects of the Feminine as follows:


1) Presence in the moment, the here and now; for example, paying complete attention to a person that you’re dealing with and not letting your mind drift to other matters.

Presence in the moment includes not dwelling on yesterday or tomorrow.

Also, avoid the “if only” attitude of mind, e.g. “If only I had done such-and-such, all would be well now”.

2) Awareness of the body; for example, muscle tension, or the pure joy of complete relaxation.

3) Apprehension of beauty through the senses, having strong emotions about this, valuing this aspect of the here and now.

4) Receptivity. Being non-critical. Listening to someone, accepting them completely. A feeling of resonance and of genuine relationship.

5) Separation from the mother’s body, being one’s own person.

6) The “process”, the “journey” being more important than “reaching the goal”.

7) The acceptance of paradoxes as well as the non-causal, e.g. a person dreams of a white horse and the next day, a white horse escapes from a circus and runs by on the street

(To get at the meaning of such meaningful coincidences, also known as “synchronistic” events, a person should gather associations as with a dream to see the themes and connections involved, e.g. spontaneous memories, thoughts and feelings about each image should be written down and then sifted through to find meaningful interconnections.

You might like Robert Hopcke’s book about these types of happenings called “There Are No Accidents”)

8 Accepting all of life, it's ups and downs, limitations and restrictions.

9) Taking time for daily reflection and meditation.

You probably are in touch with the Feminine to some degree but the dream might be hinting that more work may be needed in this area.

And of course the Venus figurine may include other ideas than the “Feminine”, so you could try seeing what comes spontaneously to mind when focusing on this image in the dream.

The figures in their black/grey robes might symbolize the contemplative approach needed at this time, and they may apparently be encouraging you to explore each aspect of the important issue, whatever it may actually be (walking away from you beside the tables, i.e. perhaps wanting you to follow them along the path) in order to reach a valuable level of understanding. This idea seems to be supported by the positive feelings that are associated with the figures.

To learn how to look into your own dreams using a reliable method, you might like to start with a book by analyst Robert Johnson called “Inner Work”.

I hope that these ideas will be helpful in exploring this very important dream in more depth.

[ElizVanZee]

A scene in which you are simply watching can suggest a situation in which you need to be vigilant and watch out. A forest can often refer to a situation in which one ‘cannot see the forest for the trees’, implying that all the attention is upon what is directly before you and the greater picture cannot be seen. The trees themselves would refer to knowledge, especially spiritual knowledge. The fall colouring can imply a situation that has much emotional appeal in which there may be a failing. The white trunks of the Aspen suggest a form of knowledge that reflects innocence but also some ignorance. As the Aspen is known for its easily shaken leaves, it can suggest some nervousness about leaving this form of knowledge which in the case of the Aspen is well rooted. The yellowish/gold haze implies that what seems like feelings reflecting God’s(gold)are simply human rationalization (yellowish)and are creating ‘a blind’ which prevents you from seeing things clearly. [This is the function of the ego working for Satan.]

The focus of attention is the principle of obtaining emotional satisfaction (tables) but should instead be seen as the principle on which God is worshiped.(alters) In your mind you might see both principles as being in order (in a row) and working in God’s direction. (a vertical placement)

Higher consciousness/intelligence appears to support the idea of looking into a different world (Floating above each altar was a square 'window')which can imply looking into or checking out different planes of existence; grounds of reasoning not designed by God specifically for humans to live on. The television-like impression would suggest a looking into something that reflects conscious fantasy/imagination.

The Venus figurine could simply be regarded as representing feminine nature and thus also emotional nature. Venus, however, is also known as ‘the goddess of Love’. When seen as a figurine or statuette on an alter, she most likely personifies the female aspect of God. Such a figurine on the altar strongly suggests idol worship, thus suggesting that when the feminine nature of God is the subject of worship, one is promoting idolatry. The prehistoric figurines could imply an idea pertaining to a feminine god which should have died out with the dinosaurs. Because the other figurines cannot be clearly seen, one could assume each was a Venus, in which case the idea of a feminine god would not be identified as a positive idea. (more than one or 3) If they were of other images, it might be assumed that when the feminine becomes an object of worship, other forms of idolatry follow from it.

The figures in black/grey robes would represent a psychological aspect of yourself. The robes often refer to a function or way of behaving that is spiritual in nature. When following a path associated with this type of worship, you could see yourself emotionally functioning in a very negative, unenlightened manner (black robes) and could also see your behaviour as reflecting spiritual uncertainty. (grey) As these figures are walking away from you, you may need to distance yourself from such a way of functioning and also from the people they would represent in a physical level interpretation.

[missyt78]

Hi there

My response seems a little lame lol compaired to the detail of those who have posted before me But i will give you my first opinion of your dream. Which came to me prior to reading the last few sentances about your "faith issues".

I felt that the detail in the forest and the golden colours signified those issues which you hold close to your heart, those beleifs which you valued in all their aspect, you knew them inside and out, every detail. you do not question these beleifs.

I felt that the alters were significant in terms of your spiritual journey and you were possiably about to begin onto a new path of enlightenment and spiritual development.

Each window i feel signifies the two way process of viewing yourself, both in the physical and spiritual planes looking inside and outside for answers, to rationalise and acknowledge the ways in which you are growing. Allowing you to question both yourself and those who you encounter on your journey, also those who giving an element of clarity in your new development when you are challenged by those less aware or beleiving. You have a clear vision

I feel the people in robes are those who will guide you along in your journey, both in physical and in spirit.

The venus figure, i think she suggests there is an element of love, wheather that is of the physical or spiritual plane. You welcome and feel the need to pursue this love, to grow it more within your heart.

Like i said earlier, i did not read the end of your post when i felt these areas within me, but i do think that with your questioning or issues and your status of being a deacon it makes me feel that it is a significan factor in your dream, and in my interperatation of it.

Blessings and light as you travell forward on your journey.

Nikki. x