In my dream last night, my partner (Mic DePew) and I were on a road trip. We decided to take a rest stop at a stadium that was holding a football game. We showed up during half time and noticed that the field was opening up into a giant pool. Everybody in the stands had cheese puffs that they were throwing into the pool. Once there was a good sized pile floating in the center, two overweight men began to swim/jump in and out of the cheese puffs like a couple of dolphins. The fans in the stands were going nuts.
The figure of the dolphin can be seen in many allegories and
emblems, sometimes duplicated. When the two dolphins—or even figures representing an indeterminate fish—are pointing in the same direction, the duplication
may be obeying the dictates of the law of bilateral symmetry for merely ornamental reasons, or it may be a simple symbol of equipoise. But the inverted arrangement, that is, with one dolphin pointing upwards and the other downwards,
always symbolizes the dual cosmic streams of involution and evolution; this is
what the 17th-century Spanish writer Saavedra Fajardo meant by ‘Either up or
down’. The dolphin by itself is an allegory of salvation, inspired in the ancient
legends which show it as the friend of man. Its figure is associated with that of the
anchor (another symbol of salvation), with pagan, erotic deities and with other
symbols (20). The ancients also held that the dolphin was the swiftest of marine
animals, and hence, when, among the emblems of Francesco Colonna, it is shown
twined round an anchor, it comes to signify arrested speed, that is, prudence.
To dream of a dolphin, indicates your liability to come under a new government. It is not a very good dream.
Seeing a dolphin in your dream, symbolizes spiritual guidance, your intellect, mental attributes and emotional trust. Utilize your mind to its capacity and you will move upward in life. Alternatively, it suggests that a line of communication has been established between the conscious and unconscious aspects of yourself. Dolphins represent your willingness and ability to explore and navigate through your emotions. Dreaming that you are riding a dolphin, represents your optimism and social altruism.
Dolphins represent friendliness, communal living, rescue, communication, and affection. They are water dwelling mammals and in our dreams they represent our willingness and ability to navigate through emotions. They represent positive messages from our unconscious minds. Dolphins could also represent a positive connection between our consciousness and to those parts of the psyche that is a mystery and largely unconscious.
Dolphin Totem Meanings and Symbolism
This page on the dolphin meaning comes in response to an overwhelming series of impressions I've gotten from the dolphin. They're everywhere!
From earrings, to movies. Wallpaper to conversations. Dolphins keep swimming in my awareness at every turn. That means it's time to swim along!
Considered the "king of fish" by many ancient cultures, dolphin meaning is closely associated with kingly qualities. Not the dominating kind. Observe the dolphin for any length of time and you know if dolphins ruled the world they would be gracious in their reign.
And that is the core theme to dolphin meanings. Grace.
A quick-list of symbolic dolphin meaning includes:
Playfulness
Transcendence
Gentleness
Harmony
Intelligence
Contentment
Friendship
Community
Resurrection
Generosity
Power
Christian symbolism conveys the dolphin as an aspect of Christ. Dolphins seen in Christian art are symbolic of resurrection. Some artists utilize the protective, stabilizing, compassionate demeanor of the dolphin as a message of wellbeing to the pure of heart. Some artistic renditions speak of dolphins transporting the spirits of the faithful to Christ's side upon leaving their physical bodies.
This dolphin meaning is mimicked in ancient Greece where legend tells us the dolphin was responsible for carrying the souls of the dead to the Islands of the Blessed.
Also in Greece, the dolphin is a compatriot of both the god Apollo (sun) and the goddess Aphrodite (moon). Both lunar symbolism and solar symbolism are represented in the dolphin.
Sun Dolphin meanings: Active, Life, Vibrant, Health, Renewal, Intelligence
Moon Dolphin meaning: Hidden power, Intuition, Dreams, Conception, Feminine
This is a key understanding because the dolphin meaning is connected with themes of duality. It has to do with the dolphin being both fish and mammal. It is both of the water, and an air breather. Ergo, dolphin symbolism talks to us about "being in two worlds at once." Indeed, the dolphin is a great conveyor of the concept of yin and yang.
Along with the divine Apollo sun and Aphrodite moon associations, other deities associated with the dolphin include:
Poseidon (Greek), Neptune (Roman)
Themes of kingship, rulership, authority, strength, dominion, freedom, intelligence, compassion and fatherly protection over the entire kingdom (sea).
Eros (Greek), Cupid (Roman)
These gods contribute dolphin meaning of: Love, friendliness, playfulness, sensuality, desire, exploration, curiosity, attraction and joy.
Dionysus (Greek), Bacchus (Roman)
These deities underscore the dolphins ability to uplift, and carries themes of joviality, freedom, wildness, abandon, creative self-expression.
Greek myth indicates Dionysus was known to turn himself into a dolphin and transported the shrine at Delphi where the cult of dolphin worshippers convened.
The term delphi is noteworthy as the Greek word for dolphin is delphis and its derivative, delphys means womb. This incorporates more lunar and feminine attributes to the dolphin scene.
In Celtic animal symbolism, the dolphin as a highly honored creature as it was seen as the protector of sacred wells and sacred water. The dolphin, to the Celtic mind, is the watcher of the waters, and the guardians of all things water-associated.
Pirate lore also hails the dolphin as a symbol of protection. Indeed, legend admits dolphin sightings were often exaggerated into incredibly fantasies of mermaids. Sailors often understood the spirit of mermaids lived in the heart of the dolphin, and ancient stories of the sea refer to dolphins metamorphosing into beautify sea maidens (and mermaids) if seen under just the right conditions.
Whether this is true or not remains to be confirmed. What is true is countless tales of dolphins interacting with humans in friendly, even protective ways. This colors the dolphin meaning in hues of compassion, caring, community and generous spirit in reaching out to connect with another species.
The dolphin teaches about breathing, which connects us with life and the vital energies. By changing one's breathing pattern, it is possible to be free of past emotional issues and establish links with other beings and other worlds, since breath connects us with the Great Spirit and its entire creation. People with dolphin energy can act as mediators between the people and the inhabitants of the dream world or the divine power. The dolphin teaches one to overcome obstacles easily and joyfully by changing one's rhythm and, thus, one's energy pattern. Free yourself from all burdens through conscious breathing.
Life breath and communication is the essence of the dolphin. The dolphin will also help you with interpreting your dreams.
Open new creative dimensions, curiosity, trust playfulness, breath and water needed for life, teaches how to be free, maneuverability, wisdom, harmony with surroundings, needs balancing, shows proper use of sounds and prayers, communication abilities, teaches trust and shows the power of rhythm and emotions may need some fresh air to release tensions, newness and joy. Are you calling to bring forth your wants and desires? Are you voicing and expressing your creative self? What are your words, thoughts and actions creating? Dolphin reminds us to balance work and play and let loose of tensions.
To see a pool of water in your dream, indicates that you need to acknowledge and understand your feelings. It is time to dive in and deal with those emotions. Alternatively, a pool indicates your desire to be cleansed. You need to wash away the past.
To dream that you are playing or shooting pool, represents your competitive nature. You need to learn to win or lose gracefully. Alternatively, shooting pool means that you need to concentrate harder on a problem in your waking life.
Seeing a pool of water in your dream indicates that you will find much happiness and pleasure in love and marriage. Your social life will keep you busy. Dreaming that you are shooting pool means that it is time to make new companionships.
To see cheese in your dream, symbolizes gains and profits. Alternatively, the dream may be a metaphor for something that is "cheesy" or lame. Or it could be saying that you need to smile more.
To dream of eating cheese, denotes great disappointments and sorrow.
No good of any nature can be hoped for. Cheese is generally a bad dream.
Seeing cheese in your dream, symbolizes gains and profits.
To see an opening in your dream, signifies a strong influence and powerful inspiration entering your life. You are feeling uplifted, confident and happy.
To dream that you are opening something, suggests that you are unleashing your potential. It represents new opportunities, insight, and self-discovery.
Seeing an opening in your dream means a new influence or new-found inspiration entering your life. Dreaming that you are opening something, suggests that you are unleashing your potential. It may also mean new opportunities.
To see men in your dream, represent an authoritative figure or a father figure. If you are a woman and dream that you are in a room full of men, then it highlights the masculine aspect of yourself. The dream forces you to acknowledge your authoritative and aggressive side. Consider also how the men are dressed as this will provide a clue as to what area in your life you need to assert more power.
To dream that you are at the center of something, represents your belief that everything revolves around you. The dream may also be a metaphor that you are in the middle of some situation that you cannot get out of. If you are off centered, then it indicates that something in your life is out of balance.
To dream that you are floating on air, indicates satisfaction, contentment and acceptance of some situation. You are letting go of your problems and rising above obstacles. You are experiencing new-found freedom and gaining a new perspective on things. Nothing seems overwhelming or too difficult to handle. Alternatively, floating in your dream suggests that you are wandering through life aimlessly with no goals. You are just going with the flow.
To dream that you are floating in water, suggests that you have a handle on your emotions.
To dream that you are floating, but are afraid to move, suggests that you are questioning your own abilities. You are experiencing doubts in yourself.
To dream of floating, denotes that you will victoriously overcome obstacles which are seemingly overwhelming you. If the water is muddy your victories will not be gratifying.
Floating in water can be symbolic of floating on top of your emotions and being in harmony with the unconscious. It an also represent overcoming obstacles. Floating through the air has the same symbolism as flying. In fact, when people dream of flying, they usually dream of floating in the air, rather than moving forward purposefully. Floating usually represents your current feelings of peacefulness and general freedom. On a more negative note, floating could also be symbolic of your aloofness, lack of connection or a need to become more grounded.
To see a pile of something in your dream, signifies some overwhelming burden or excess in your life. In particular, to see a pile of papers in your dream, represents your overwhelming responsibilities and stresses that you are having to cope with. You are not effectively dealing with the issues at hand.
In particular, to see a pile of debris or trash in your dream, represents the rejected or unwanted aspects of yourself. To see a pile of wood in your dream, symbolizes your overwhelming passion.