Sunday, March 17 , 2002		Dream Theme

Dreaming of eagles
Vinaya Katoch Manhas

Thou wast not born for death, immortal bird;

No hungry generations tread thee down;

The voice I hear this passing night has heard

In ancient days, by emperor and clown.

— Keats

EAGLE is the king of birds and is defined by its majesty, speed, power and sharp eyes. It is both a symbol of fear, when seen as a hunter, and a symbol of respect and awe. The eagle is also seen as a symbol of royalty because it is considered to be a favourite game bird as well as pet of kings.

In the Indian context, the eagle is also a religious symbol as it is considered to be the vahan of Lord Vishnu. If you dream of an eagle flying high in the sky it means that your fate shall improve. You shall gain wealth, respect and status. But should you see an eagle sitting on a high building then it means that you shall gain by moving to foreign lands. To see an eagle feeding on a carcass is not good sign as it spells misfortune. To see it hunt foretells your victory over your enemies. If you see a huge eagle chasing you then you are warned to beware of strong opposition and enemies.

As per western thought, to see an eagle soaring above you means that you have lofty ambitions which you struggle to realise and which you shall ultimately realise. To see an eagle perched on distant heights denotes that you shall acquire fame, wealth and high positions. To see young eagles in their eyrie signifies associations with people of high standing. To dream of killing an eagle portends that you will not allow any obstacles to interfere with the success of the ventures you undertake. To ride on the back of an eagle denotes that you will make a long voyage to distant lands in your search of knowledge and wealth, which you shall ultimately gain.

Psychologically speaking, in dreams eagle is a symbol of inspiration and strength. It also indicates our need to expand the horizons of our knowledge in order to extricate ourselves from old ideas and attitudes. As a bird of prey, the eagle is capable of making use of all the opportunities available to it. As the eagle is also considered to be an intelligent bird, it denotes our ability to use our intellect to succeed. It means that we are capable of taking control of our own lives. It could also be a signal to us to broaden our perspectives while viewing different people and situations.

A 32-year-old woman would often dream of turning into an eagle and flying in the sky where she could see the whole world upside down. She would keep rising higher till she reached outer space. Then darkness would descend and she would fall deep asleep. This dream is an indication of the woman’s desire to overcome worldly ambitions.

The lady had a religious bent of mind. In talk sessions it was found that marriage and family life did not appeal to her and she wanted to break free from these ties. Actually the reason for such a desire did not have anything to do with spirituality, although that was the most obvious interpretation. It had more to do with a desire to be independent to achieve a particular status in life.