Sunday, September 21, 2003		Dream Theme

Dreaming of eagles
Vinaya K. Manhas

EAGLE is a bird prey. It generally symbolises aggression and death. Although it is a royal bird, it is not considered to be a good omen in dreams.

As per Indian thought, seeing an eagle in your dreams is not a good omen. It means that your enemies are working against you. They may try to ruin your character. Such a dream warns you to be careful of one particular enemy. To see the eagle attack a small animal warns you of some major losses and serious problems. It means that you are being hunted and so you should tread very carefully. Should you see that that animal escapes then it is a good sign for it means that you shall manage to save yourself from your enemies. To see an eagle soaring high in the sky forecasts aims which you shall attempt to achieve to the best of your ability.

As per western thought, seeing an eagle perched on a high cliff or a tree means that fame and wealth shall come your way. You shall make your way up in society. To see the young ones of the bird predicts that you shall get good advice and guidance from high-ranking people. You also stand a chance of inheriting a good fortune. Killing an eagle foretells that you shall aim high and shall not let any obstacles obstruct your progress. Should the eagle be killed someone else, it means that all your fortune and position shall be wrested from you to favour another.

Psychoanalytically speaking, dreaming of eagles symbolises inspiration, strength and also aggression, cruelty and ruthlessness. It can denote similar characteristics in the person that the eagle personifies. It is a very intelligent and sharp-witted bird, thus it also denotes our ability to succeed by the use of our intellect. It is a bird of authority and power, thus it could also denote out desire to take control of our lives.

A girl of 17 dreamt twice about an eagle coming towards her, trying to attack her, but then suddenly it would pick up a rabbit and fly away. She would run after it to save the rabbit. Behind a bush she would hear some rustling sound. On separating the branches she would find the eagle lying dead over there and the mouth of the rabbit would be full of its blood. She would not understand how the rabbit could have killed the eagle. She would suddenly become afraid of the rabbit. The eagle and the rabbit do not, as would seem, personify humans but instead they personify her feelings and emotions. Being at an age when emotions override logic, the girl obviously does not seem much to be in control of her emotions and fears the repercussions of her acts to fulfil her desires. The eagle hunting the rabbit denotes her refusal to comply with societal norms, but the timid rabbit killing the eagle make her realise the power of social norms and family bonds. The dead eagle represents the social repercussions of her actions. Thus her fear of the society makes her keep her emotions under control.