Sunday, August 19, 2001		Dream theme

Dreaming of journey
Vinaya Katoch Manhas

— Issac Walton

TRAVELLING by any modeor going on a journey is a common dream theme. While considering this symbol one has to consider several sub-symbols such as the condition of the vehicle in which you are travelling, the crowd, surroundings, the terrain, etc. While in some dreams one is aware of one’s destination, in other dreams one is unaware as to where the journey shall end.

In Indian theology, a lot of stress has been laid on this symbol. As per the Rancher Kath, travelling via a boat or a ship and successfully reaching your port portends gain in wealth and success. Should a person see himself riding a female camel or buffalo towards the southern direction then the person will fall ill. Should the person journey to foreign lands in his dream it does not augur well for him as it foretells lots of disappointments. Simply travelling through water is prognostic of gains and success all around.

As per the Swarn Kamala, to dream of travel in a chariot, which is pulled by monkeys, deer or sheep shall bring forth a lot of agony. Should a man, on the contrary, dream of his chariot being pulled by a lion, horse, bull or elephant he shall end up being a king. Should the road on which he is travelling be bad and broken then the person shall gain in his endeavours but after a lot of effort. Should the person dream that he is going on a journey to a religious place he shall gain in respect and position.

In western thought, the dream of a journey adopts a dual meaning. It can signify both profit and disappointments, depending on whether the trip is pleasing and successful or whether accidents and disagreeable events take place during the journey. To see your friends cheerful while embarking on a journey signifies delightful change and good companions. If you see them depart looking gloomy and sad, it will be a long time before you ever see those friends again.

Should you dream that you have reached a far-off destination sooner than you expected then you may be sure of accomplishing some work you have undertaken sooner than expected.

Psychologically, the travel theme is important although it forms only a part of a fuller dream. The dream of a journey has to do with the way we carry out our everyday lives, and how we move forward. Any sense of having completed a journey indicates the successful achievement of our aims.

Collisions represent arguments and conflicts that are often caused by our own aggressiveness. To have completed a journey which proves very difficult portrays difficulties and setbacks in our recent past. To take a turn indicates a major decision taken on our part to change the direction in which we have been thinking. Railway stations, bus stands and petrol stations are either destinations or places where we halt and wait to decide in which direction we shall travel next. (To be concluded)