He was traveling in Hawaii. A native stopped him, let him know that his presence was creating a massive activation for all the islands. That a part of his consciousness was very closely linked with the original people to inhabit the islands 2,000 years ago. She gave him a mental map of key places to activate and jump start. Many places around Hawaii have been dormant and the natives used to be able to access things that they no longer can, or at least thats what she told him. He flew and visited each of the places she had highlighted and some she did not. He would land and walk around, take in the beauty and venture to wherever he was led. It was very simple, how he turned on the land, true and virtuous. He flew to a volcano. Walked around the base of it... went into an old thatched structure and checked in with some of the Kanaka Maoli people who lived there. As if saying a long awaited hello to them. He finds an opening into the mountain. He goes deep inside. The ground falls way and he is hovering, flying when necessary. Where the ground was, a bottomless void emerges. A phosphorescent holographic snake materializes in the void. Shades of reds and blues, a halo of pulsing energy around it. It shapes itself in a serious of figure eights. Mesmerizing and deeply beautiful. He takes it in and then floats on. A dragon of the same quality emerges. Feathery breathing tendrils line the halo of the dragon, swaying in his presence. He floats on, finding ground again and leaves the mountain. He enters another thatched structure. This one has been abandoned for quite some time. He studies the belongings the people left behind and begins to know their history. An eagle, 60ft tall at least, flies above. The wind of its wings blows the roof off and it lands on one of the support beams that remains. It pears in and stares at him holding on with its huge talons and giving some flaps with its wings, displaying its mighty strength. Challenging and initiating and creating a massive turbulence with its wings. He stands firm and stares back.
To see or dream about Hawaii, symbolizes relaxation and leisure. You are trying to escape from your daily problems.
Seeing or dreaming about Hawaii in your dream, symbolizes relaxation and leisure. You are trying to escape from your daily problems.
To dream that you are on the ground, represents your foundation and support system. It is also the boundary between your conscious and unconscious. You may be getting closer in confronting and acknowledging your unconscious thoughts. The dream may be a pun on being well-grounded and down to earth or that you have been grounded. Perhaps you are feeling restricted in some aspects of your life.
Dreaming that you are on the ground, represents your foundation and support system. It is also the boundary between your conscious and unconscious. You may be getting closer in confronting and acknowledging your unconscious thoughts. The dream may be a pun on being well-grounded and down to earth. It may also be a pun on being grounded. Perhaps you are feeling restricted in some aspects of your life.
To see people you know in your dream, signifies qualities and feelings of them that you desire for yourself. If these people are from your past, then the dream refers to your shadow and other unacknowledged aspects of yourself. It may represent a waking situation that is bringing out similar feelings from your past relationships.
To see people you don't know in your dream, denotes hidden aspects of yourself that you need to confront or acknowledge.
Seeing people you know in your dream means qualities and feelings of those people that you desire for yourself. Seeing people you don't know in your dream indicates hidden aspects of yourself that you need to confront. Seeing people from your past in your dream, refers to your shadow and other unacknowledged aspects of yourself. It can represent a waking situation that is bringing out similar feelings as your past relationships.
To dream of a certain place in your dream, is telling of your inner state of mind. Consider the feel, the appearance, and the coloring of the place. Also consider your own personal feelings and memories with that particular place.
In the more general sense, wings symbolize spirituality, imagination,
thought. The Greeks portrayed love and victory as winged figures, and some
deities, such as Athena, Artemis and Aphrodite were at first—though not later—
also depicted with wings. According to Plato, wings are a symbol of intelligence,
which is why some fabulous animals are winged, depicting the sublimation of
those symbolic qualities usually ascribed to each animal. Pelops’ horses, and
Pegasus, as well as Ceres’ snakes, have this attribute. Wings are also found on
certain objects such as heroes’ helmets, the caduceus and the thunderbolt in the
cult of Jupiter (8). It follows that the form and nature of the wings express the
spiritual qualities of the symbol. Thus, the wings of night-animals express a
perverted imagination, and Icarus’ wax wings stand for functional insufficiency
(15). In Christian symbolism it is said that wings are simply the light of the sun
of justice, which always illuminates the mind of the righteous. Since wings also
signify mobility, this meaning combines with that of enlightenment to express the
possibility of ‘progress in enlightenment’ or spiritual evolution (46). In alchemy,
wings are always associated with the higher, active, male principle; animals with out wings are related to the passive female principle (33). It should also be
recalled that, since the foot is regarded as a symbol of the soul (15), the wings on
the heels of some deities, especially Mercury, stand for the power of spiritual
elevation comparable in essence with cosmic evolution. Jules Duhem, in his
thesis on the history of flight, remarks that, in Tibet, ‘Buddhist saints travel
through the air wearing a special kind of shoes known as “light feet” ‘(3).
To dream that you have wings, foretells that you will experience grave fears for the safety of some one gone on a long journey away from you.
To see the wings of fowls or birds, denotes that you will finally overcome adversity and rise to wealthy degrees and honor.
To dream that you have wings, suggest new found freedom. You are on the right track and are soaring to success without limitations. Alternatively, the dream means that you are trying to escape from a difficult situation.
To dream that you have the wings of an angel, indicate your sweet, angelic quality. Or you may be in need of some protection from life's stresses and problems.
To see the wings of birds in your dream, indicates your desire for a freer way of life.
Dreaming that you have wings indicates your sweet, angelic quality. You may be in need of some protection from life's stresses and problems. Or you may be trying to escape from a difficult situation. Seeing the wings of birds indicates that you have overcome your struggle to attain wealth and honor.
Wings are associated with flying, which in turn is associated with freedom and the heavenly domain. Dreaming about wings suggests that you may have a desire to be angelic, have a need for angelic protection, or want to transcend any current difficulties and problems. Consider the mood of your dream and what type of wings you were seeing. Superstition based dream interpretation books say that if you hear gentle flopping of wings you will hear good news. However, loud and powerful flapping of wings is said to be a warning against illegal or immoral activities, specifically those in which money is involved.
Wings are associated with flying, which in turn is associated with freedom and the heavenly domain. Dreaming about wings suggests that you may have a desire to be angelic, have a need for angelic protection, or want to transcend any current difficulties and problems. Consider the mood of your dream and what type of wings you were seeing. Superstition based dream interpretation books say that if you hear gentle flopping of wings you will hear good news. However, loud and powerful flapping of wings is said to be a warning against illegal or immoral activities, specifically those in which money is involved.
This page on the meaning of wings was born out of a class I taught last summer about extracting meaning from dreams.
Some of my students described dreams in which they sprouted their own wings and flew. Others recounted dreams they had of lions with wings. One dreamer even saw a pig with wings (yes, Marcus, pigs really do fly!).
Although the symbolic meaning of wings in dreams is certainly a relevant point to explore, it's not the only bone of contention in our reach for deeper digging.
Consider, mythology gives us oodles of winged beasts in the form of hybrids:
Meaning of Wings on Horses:
Known as pterippi (pteros in Greek means "winged" and hippos means horse). Pegasus is a pterippus, and a magnificent one at that. The symbolic meaning of the horse is pretty intense with themes of power and mobility. The horse alone also carries archetypal themes of unifying grounded stability (four feet on the ground) with higher ideals (from speed and mobility). This theme really comes to life when we add wings to the horse. The pterippus, or winged horse, is a symbol of aspiring to the greatest heights of accomplishment. These beasts embody the concept of harnessing magic in the material plane. That's right, altering the physical matter via nonphysical methods. These kinds of feats are accomplished by swallowing whole the reality of our physical presence and balancing that with our (mostly) nonphysical nature/essence.
That's heavy. To help grasp those implications, Pegasus offers great analogy because of the dichotomy it offers. Grounded by the stability of its body, yet in flight by the ephemeral power of its wings. High and low (mind and body). Pegasus (white in color) stands for clarity of mind, and how clean mental focus combined with stable footing can transform our lives in magical ways. There's scads more about Pegasus to chat about, but this page is on the meaning of wings, not Pegasus. You can learn more about Peggy here on Wiki.
You can also learn more about the enchanting symbolism of the horse here.
Symbolic Meaning of Wings on Lions:
In alchemy, the lion is symbolic of gold - a spiritual quality that is lusciously luminescent and gloriously rich in value. Bling of the heart. Alchemical texts and artwork will depict a lion when a specific magical/spiritual goal is to be achieved.
Conversely, winged eagles in alchemical texts are symbolic of the beginning of a process. Alchemical eagles are symbolic of youth, initiation and the unbridled exuberance felt when launching in a new direction.
So, when we see winged lions (a mix of eagles and lions), it's a message of combination - a juxtaposition between beginnings and endings, fact and potential, the seeker and the accomplished.
Griffins are considered a version of winged lions. They're typically viewed as guardians of sacred places. They're most often seen at the entrances of tombs, protecting the ancient souls of the deceased. I love how this symbolism plays right into the hands of the alchemical lion and eagle. Griffins guarding transitioned souls are at once honoring what has passed and protecting what is yet to be (in the form of evolved spirit - from death to rebirth). Cool, no?
See symbolic meaning of lions here, and more about lions on my blog here.
See symbolic meaning of eagle here.
And, I've written more about Griffins from a Celtic perspective here (last animal sign on page).
Meaning of Wings on Serpents and Dragons:
I'm completely biased about this topic. I love snakes, and most things typically classified as "creepy" or "crawly." So when I encounter party-pooper perspectives of (evil, death, sin, and other nonsense) I throw it right out the window and venture back to a more reasonable perspectives on these magnificent creatures.
For example, I suspect one of the many origins of the winged serpent comes from ancient Egyptian observations of the cobra. The hooded cobra, specifically. When the hood is spread open, it looks a lot like wings. And just like the meaning of wings on the horse and lion, on serpents (cobras) we're also dealing with a theme of duality. The Uraeus (Egyptian cobra associated with the sun god Ra and often seen on headdresses of kings and gods) is symbolic of sovereign rule and the power to take and give life. Life and death is about as polar opposite as it gets.
The winged snake evolved into dragons over time and through nomadic legends into other countries. It shares a lot of the same symbolism of the snake. Power, life, rulership, dominion and a kind of magic that is to be respected (mostly because of its mysterious nature).
Winged serpents and dragons are a paradox. At once a slithery ilk, with bellies pressed lovingly against the soft, yielding Earth - yet with wings, they are creatures of the limitless skies. Like winged horses, this speaks to us of being grounded, while having unhindered imaginations. Feet on the ground, head in the clouds.
See more on symbolism of snakes here.
And, I've written more on symbolism of dragons here and here (dragon totems)
Of course, mythological creatures aren't the only source of wing meanings.
Winged Humans:
Angels, of course. They are divine liaisons. They are messengers with the ability to move freely from the realm of earth-bound matter to the unlimited heavens. They're depicted with human attributes, and so we reason they have human interest at heart. They are gifted with magic and flight, they are creatures of the divine. They live betwixt worlds (indeed, Greeks thought angels were responsible for moving constellations and planets). More duality.
You can learn more about the symbolic meaning of angels here on my blog.
Gargoyles are fabled to be humans who have succumbed to base behaviors (greed, lust and other unsavory aspects of human nature)....like an antithesis to angels, I suppose. But, their wings are symbolic of the ability to overcome these crippling facets of personality. Essentially, gargoyles are the spokespersons (err, or spokes-creatures) for human potential. We've all got wings and inherent ability to glide above and beyond primitive, substandard tendencies. Gargoyles remind us that our conditions cannot determine our divinity.
Symbolic Meaning of Wings in Dreams:
If you're dreaming of wings, it's a clear sign of a desire to rise above a challenge. Dreaming of wings on animals may be a message to overcome base or animalistic qualities. It may also indicate the inner self's desire to escape from undesirable (primitive) living conditions.
Dreaming of wings by themselves may indicate it's time to work on your inner landscape, a prompting to fly into the realms of spirituality. It may also indicate for a spring cleaning of the mind (sweep away rubbish thoughts) and gain clarity in thought about a certain situation that's been troubling.
Dreaming of wings on people (i.e., angels) is a distinct message from the divine. The presence of angels in dreams are a call to pay attention to your environment and glean more information from it. Messages abound, "wake up" and pay attention.
To see land in your dream, represents your need to be more grounded or down to earth. You are looking for a strong foundation and some stability. Alternatively, the dream may be a metaphor for something that you have "landed" as in a job, a part in a play, etc.
To see rocky or barren land, denotes failure in your undertakings.
To dream of land, when it appears fertile, omens good; but if sterile and rocky, failure and dispondency is prognosticated.
To see land from the ocean, denotes that vast avenues of prosperity and happiness will disclose themselves to you.
Seeing land in your dream, represents nurturance and you need to be grounded. You are seeking for a strong foundation and some sort of stability. Seeing rocky or barren land indicates failure in your undertakings.
To see Asian-style structures in your dream, refers to feelings that are foreign to you, particularly if you are not of Asian descent.
Seeing Asian-style structures in your dream, represents feelings that are foreign to you, particularly if you are not of Asian descent.
The different meanings which have been attached to the symbolism of the mountain stem not so much from any inherent multiplicity as from the
various implications of each of its component elements: its height, verticality,
mass and shape. Deriving from the first idea (height) are interpretations such as
that of Teillard, who equates the mountain with inner ‘loftiness’ of spirit (56),
that is, transposing the notion of ascent to the realm of the spirit. In alchemy, on
the other hand, the reference is nearly always to the hollow mountain, the hollow
being a cavern which is the ‘philosophers’ oven’. The vertical axis of the mountain drawn from its peak down to its base links it with the world-axis, and,
anatomically, with the spinal column. Because of its grandiose proportions, the
mountain came to symbolize, for the Chinese, the greatness and generosity of the
Emperor; it is the fourth of the twelve imperial emblems (5). But the profoundest
symbolism is one that imparts a sacred character by uniting the concept of mass,
as an expression of being, with the idea of verticality. As in the case of the cross
or the Cosmic Tree, the location of this mountain is at the ‘Centre’ of the world.
This same profound significance is common to almost all traditions: suffice it to
recall mount Meru of the Hindus, the Haraberezaiti of the Iranians, Tabor of the
Israelites, Himingbjör of the Germanic peoples, to mention only a few. Furthermore, the temple-mountains such as Borobudur, the Mesopotamian ziggurats or
the pre-Columbian teocallis are all built after the pattern of this symbol. Seen
from above, the mountain grows gradually wider, and in this respect it corresponds to the inverted tree whose roots grow up towards heaven while its foliage
points downwards, thereby expressing multiplicity, the universe in expansion,
involution and materialization. This is why Eliade says that ‘the peak of the
cosmic mountain is not only the highest point on earth, it is also the earth’s navel,
the point where creation had its beginning’—the root (18). The mystic sense of
the peak also comes from the fact that it is the point of contact between heaven
and earth, or the centre through which the world-axis passes, binding the three
levels together. It is, incidentally, also the focal point of Inversion—the point of
intersection of the immense St. Andrew’s cross, which expresses the relationship
between the different worlds. Other sacred mountains are Sumeru of the UralAltaic peoples (17) and Caf in Moslem mythology—a huge mountain the base of which is formed by a single emerald called Sakhrat (8). Mount Meru is said to be
of gold and located at the North Pole (8), thus underlining the idea of the Centre
and, in particular, linking it with the Pole Star—the ‘hole’ through which all things
temporal and spatial must pass in order to divest themselves of their worldly
characteristics. This polar mountain is also to be found in other symbolic traditions, always bearing the same symbolism of the world-axis (25); its mythic
characteristics were, in all probability, based upon the fixed position of the Pole
Star. It is also called the ‘white mountain’, in which case it embraces both the
basic mountain-symbolism with all the implications outlined above and that of
the colour white (intelligence and purity). This was the predominating characteristic of Mount Olympus (49), the supreme, celestial mountain which Schneider
sees as corresponding to Jupiter and equivalent to the principle of the number
one. There is another mountain, relevant to the symbolism of the number two,
and that is the mountain of Mars and Janus—that is, as the Gemini; basically,
they represent two different aspects of the same mountain, but blending together
the symbolism of the ‘two worlds’ of Atma and Buddhi, or the two essential,
rhythmic aspects of manifest creation—light and darkness, life and death, immortality and mortality. This mountain has two peaks, in order to give visual expression to its dual or ambivalent meaning. It occurs constantly in traditional, megalithic culture, particularly in the form of a landscape, illustrating yet again the
Protean myth of the Gemini, which bursts out in so many different forms in
primitive thought and art. This mountain is also a form of mandorla consisting of
the intersection of the circle of the heavens with that of the earth, and this
mandorla is, as it were, the crucible of life, containing the opposite poles of life
(good and bad, love and hate, fidelity and treachery, affirmation and negation, the
numbers 2 and 11—both equal to one plus one—and finally construction and
destruction). Incidentally, the animals which correspond to this all-embracing
significance of the mandorla are the whale and the shark (51). In Hindu legend, the
castle of Indra was built on this mountain; whereas in Roman legend it was the
castle of Mars, and the home of the thunderbolt, the two-headed eagle and the
Gemini. It has been called the ‘mountain of stone’ and is at once the abode of the
living (the exterior of the mountain) and of the dead (the hollow interior) (50).
Krappe has borne this out with the observation that ‘The interior of a mountain
has frequently been taken as the location of the Land of the Dead: the derivation
of the Celtic and Irish fairy-hills, and of the legend, widespread in Asia and
Europe, of a demiurge or hero asleep inside a mountain, one day to emerge and
renew all things sublunar’ (35). This myth has obvious connexions with the myth
of Entanglement—of the castle inextricably entangled in a wood and also with the story of the ‘Sleeping Beauty’. All such myths are concerned with the mystery of
a disappearance between appearance and reappearance. Schneider lists the following trades and professions as being associated with Mars: those of the king,
physician, warrior and miner, as well as the martyr (51). In Western tradition, the
mountain-symbol appears in the legend of the Grail, as Montsalvat (the ‘mountain of salvation’ or ‘of health’)—just as much a ‘polar mountain’ as it is a ‘sacred
island’, according to Guénon; but always it is inaccessible or difficult to find (like
the ‘centre’ of the labyrinth) (28). In general, the mountain, the hill and the
mountain-top are all associated with the idea of meditation, spiritual elevation
and the communion of the blessed. In mediaeval emblems, the symbolism of the
‘mountain of salvation’ is further defined by a complementary figure surmounting it, such as the fleur-de-lis, the star, the lunar crescent, the cross, steps, the
crown, the circle, the triangle, or the number three. The letter Z sometimes occurs,
standing for Zion; similarly, an R is short for Regeneratio (4). Some of these
symbols have lent themselves to a poetic treatment that is well worth examination. From the moment when the mountain, so to speak, divests itself of its
terrestrial and material character and becomes the image of an idea, the more
numerous the component elements pertaining to this idea, the greater will be its
clarity and force. Hence, mount Meru of India is considered to have the shape of
a pure, seven-sided pyramid (corresponding to the seven planetary spheres, the
seven essential virtues and the seven Directions of space) and each face has one of
the colours of the rainbow. Seen as a whole, the mountain is a shining white, by
which token it may be equated with the ‘polar mountain’ and the all-embracing
image of totality (also symbolized by the pyramid-symbol), tending towards
Oneness (symbolized by the peak)—to avail ourselves of the concepts of Nicholas of Cusa.
For a young woman to dream of crossing a mountain in company with her cousin and dead brother, who was smiling, denotes she will have a distinctive change in her life for the better, but there are warnings against allurements and deceitfulness of friends. If she becomes exhausted and refuses to go further, she will be slightly disappointed in not gaining quite so exalted a position as was hoped for by her.
If you ascend a mountain in your dreams, and the way is pleasant and verdant, you will rise swiftly to wealth and prominence. If the mountain is rugged, and you fail to reach the top, you may expect reverses in your life, and should strive to overcome all weakness in your nature. To awaken when you are at a dangerous point in ascending, denotes that you will find affairs taking a flattering turn when they appear gloomy.
Seeing mountains in your dream means many major obstacles and challenges that you have to overcome. If you are on top of the mountain, then it means that you have achieved and realized your goals. Alternatively, mountains indicates a higher realm of consciousness, knowledge, and spiritual truth. Dreaming that you are climbing a mountain means your determination and ambition. Dreaming that you fall off a mountain, suggests that you are in a hurry to succeed without thoroughly thinking about your path to success. It also means that you have a tendency to give up or escape from demanding situations.
Climbing a real mountain is not always fun but it usually challenging and rewarding. Some say that the mountain may represent spirituality while others suggest mental development and self-awareness. The most literal interpretation of climbing a mountain is that it represents attainment of goals. If you are ascending a mountain you may be are working hard and trying to accomplish your goals, whether they are spiritual, emotional, or material.