Just when I thought life couldn't get any more challenging, my cat went missing last night.
I finally got to sleep around midnight, but it was a fitful rest. Every sound I heard rocketed me awake. I was hyper-aware to every sigh and hush of wind in the trees, or rain on the window.
When I finally dreamed, it was the same dream over and over again...
Boudika came crawling out of the bushes, hurt but alive, and came to cry at the window.
At 4 am, I woke fully and just stared out the window, listening, watching for any sign of movement. At 6, I couldn't take it any more. I went out and wandered the streets, calling for her. A few blocks away, a cat darted across my path that looked exactly like her. But I don't think it was her. This cat was skittish and its tail was dragging on the ground. Boudika is always so loving and happy to see me. Her tail stands straight up when I'm around.
At 7 I returned home, emotionally exhausted and physically drained.
I fell back asleep and dreamt that we were still living in this shithole, but it was a little nicer. Dan had bought a new refrigerator and some kitchen appliances. He had also started to hang some things on the wall, so it felt much more homey. We had company - family. I know there were members from both sides, but the only one I remember was my grandma. She was completely blind and I had to guide her around the kitchen into the living room so she could sit down. In the dream we were looking for Boudika around the yard and the immediate neighborhood, but she was nowhere to be found.
I feel like my life is falling apart and I don't know how to save it.
To dream that you are missing something, denotes a sense of being out of control and being disorganized.
Dreaming that you are missing something indicates a sense of being out of control and being disorganized.
Since it consists of an aperture, the window expresses the ideas of
penetration, of possibility and of distance, and because it is square in shape, its
implications are rational and terrestrial. It is also symbolic of consciousness (32),
especially when it is located at the top of a tower, by analogy with the head of the
human figure. Divided windows carry a secondary significance, which may at
times even be the predominant sense, deriving from the number of openings or lights and from the inter-relationships between the relevant number-symbolism
and the general symbolism of the window (Plate XXXI).
To see windows in your dreams, is an augury of fateful culmination to bright hopes. You will see your fairest wish go down in despair. Fruitless endeavors will be your portion.
To see closed windows is a representation of desertion. If they are broken, you will be hounded by miserable suspicions of disloyalty from those you love.
To sit in a window, denotes that you will be the victim of folly. To enter a house through a window, denotes that you will be found out while using dishonorable means to consummate a seemingly honorable purpose.
To escape by one, indicates that you will fall into a trouble whose toils will hold you unmercifully close.
To look through a window when passing and strange objects appear, foretells that you will fail in your chosen avocation and lose the respect for which you risked health and contentment.
To see a window in your dream, signifies bright hopes, vast possibilities and insight. If the window of a house is dark, then it indicates a loss to your perception or vitality.
To dream that you are looking out the window, signifies your outlook on life, your consciousness and your point of view. It also refers to your intuition and awareness. You may be reflecting on a decision. Or you need to go out into the larger world and experience life. If you are looking in the window, then it indicates that you are doing some soul searching and looking within yourself. It is time for some introspection. To see another face in the window in your dream, suggests that you are feeling emotionally distant and physically detached. Also consider the emotion depicted on the face.
To see shut windows in your dream, signify desertion and abandonment.
To see a shattered and broken window in your dream, represents your distorted view and skewed outlook on life. It is also refers to a state of vulnerability.
To dream that you are fixing or replacing a broken window, indicates that you are reassessing your view and outlook on life. You are gaining a new perspective on things.
To see a tinted window in your dream, represents your need for privacy. You are keeping some aspects of yourself hidden. You also want to remain ambiguous.
To dream that you are washing windows, suggest that you need some clarity in some matter. Something is not clear.
Seeing windows in your dream means bright hopes, vast possibilities and insight. Dreaming that you are looking out the window means your outlook on life, your consciousness, point of view, awareness, and intuition. You may be reflecting on a decision and seeking guidance. If you are looking in the window, then it indicates that you are doing some soul searching and looking within yourself. Seeing shut windows in your dream means desertion and abandonment. Seeing shattered and broken windows indicates misery and disloyalty. Seeing a tinted window in your dream, represents you need for privacy and your ways of getting it. You are keeping aspects of yourself hidden or that you want to remain ambiguous.
A window is a rich dream symbol. Its accurate interpretation can lead to awareness and a better understanding of a personal outlook on life. If you are looking through the window, pay close attention to what you are looking at. Is it a beautiful landscape or a scene dealing with an experience or a situation from your past? Looking through a window and seeing a beautiful landscape may represent your desire for greater satisfaction and more peace in your life. If you are seeing something familiar, you may be able to perceive the situation in a new way and gain some insight. Some say that a window may represent a time frame. A closed window suggests an inability to effectively communicate, and an opened widow may represent desire for new adventure in life. Windows in our houses allow us to see the world on the outside, the windows in our dreams may encourage us to better see the world within ourselves, as well as the world outside.
The Egyptians associated the cat with the moon, and it was sacred to the
goddesses Isis and Bast, the latter being the guardian of marriage (57). A secondary symbolism is derived from its colour; the black cat is associated with darkness and death.
To see a cat in your dream, symbolizes an independent spirit, feminine sexuality, creativity, and power. It also represents misfortune and bad luck. The dream symbol has different significance depending on whether you are a cat lover or not. The cat could indicate that someone is being deceitful or treacherous toward you. If the cat is aggressive, then it suggests that you are having problems with the feminine aspect of yourself. If you are afraid of the cat in your dream, then it suggests that you are fearful of the feminine. The dream may be a metaphor for "cattiness" or someone who is "catty" and malicious. If you see a cat with no tail, then it signifies a loss of independence and lack of autonomy.
To dream that a cat is biting you, symbolizes the devouring female. Perhaps you are taking and taking without giving. You may be expressing some fear or frustration especially when something is not going as planned.
To dream that a cat is scratching you, suggests that you are feeling threatened.
To see a black cat in your dream, indicates that you are experiencing some fear in using your psychic abilities and believing in your intuition. You may erroneously associate the black cat with evil, destruction, and bad luck. In particular, if the black cat is biting, clawing or attacking you, then the dream means that you must acknowledge what your intuition is trying to tell you. You can no longer ignore it. Do not be afraid to face the situation. If you see a white cat, then it denotes difficult times.
To dream that a cat killed a spider, suggests that you are expressing your femininity in a seductive and cunning manner rather than in an overtly and almost destructive way.
This is a bad dream. This indicates treachery and fraud. Killing a cat indicates
discovery of enemies.
Seeing a cat in your dream means much misfortune, treachery, and bad luck. However, for the cat lover, cats means an independent spirit, feminine sexuality, creativity, and power. If the cat is aggressive, then it suggests that you are having problems with the feminine aspect of yourself. If you see a cat with no tail, then it means a lost of independence and lack of autonomy. Dreaming that a cat is biting you, symbolizes the devouring female. Perhaps you are taking and taking without giving. You may be expressing some fear or frustration especially when something is not going as planned.. Seeing a black cat in your dream indicates that you are experiencing some fear in using your psychic abilities and believing in your intuition. You may erroneously associate the black cat with evil, destruction, and bad luck. If you see a white cat, then it means difficult times. Dreaming that a cat killed a spider, suggests that you are expressing your femininity in a seductive and cunning manner rather than in an overtly and almost destructive way.
Cats have both positive and negative connotations. You need to consider all of the details in the dream in order to obtain accurate interpretation. The cat can be a symbol of sexuality, femininity, prosperity and power. A cat is also an independent animal, and in your dream you may be associating yourself or someone else with these characteristics. Usually the dream is telling you about yourself and not others. Historically black cats have been symbols of evil and bad luck. If you are a cat lover and have one as a pet, the symbolism may not apply to your dream. Old, superstition-based dream interpretations say that a cat is a bad omen and that you can expect deceit from those that you trust
Cat Symbolism
As an ancient symbolic Celtic animal, the cat represents the guardian of the Otherworld (or Underworld, depending which texts you read from various regions). Stoic, silent and mysterious, cats fit the bill of Otherworld guardians quite well. They keep the secrets of the Otherworld eternally to themselves, as they gaze with guile upon a world that does not see or understand the depth of their knowledge. However, black cats in Celtic lore were considered evil, and were sacrificed.
In Western tradition, black cats have been associated with witchcraft. This is due to black being associated with supposed perils of the night, and the cat is associated with transformation just as the veil of night shifts our perception of reality.
However, in Ancient Rome the cat was sacred to Diana, the moon goddess. Here the cat was also considered a guardian of homes and a symbol of domestic goodness.
In Muslim lore, the cat is honored for saving Mohammad from an attack by a fierce snake. Here it is believed the “M” marking on the forehead of many tabby cats is the mark of the prophet (”M” for Mohammad).
In Norse legend the cat is depicted drawing the chariot of their fertility goddess, Freyja, and therefore the cat is thought of as a blessing upon newborns and a good omen for those increasing their family ranks.
In ancient Egypt cats were sacred and were even depicted on the head of their lunar goddess, Bastet which was worshipped by the ancient Egyptians. In her honor, cats were even mummified along with mice for them to eat.
Here's a quick-list for cat animal symbolism:
Astute
Clever
Secretive
Mysterious
Intelligent
Intuitive
Supernatural
Watchfulness
Selective
Independent
Cats themselves are quite resourceful and tend to give us messages of change, flexibility of adaptability. Often, when a cat makes an uncommon appearance in our lives it is a message for us to shake up our habitual routines and make some fresh changes in our lives, as well as be more flexible in our thinking.
Cats can also be quite aloof, and this too is often a message for us to distance ourselves from people or situations. Sometimes the best cure for a problem is to step away from it - the cat inherently realizes this, and we would be wise to recognize this need as well.
Lastly, the cat animal symbolism is about mystery. Unfortunately, its unpredictability has given the cat a bad name in some areas of folk lore, specifically witchcraft. When, in actuality, this is an asset that can be harnessed by us humans.
Sometimes displaying very strange behavior and antics, you can never really pin a cat down. Simply put, the cat animal symbolism is synonymous with creativity and psychic power because of its sometimes unorthodox & “mysterious” behavior. This is also reflected in the Tarot deck as we see the cat in the Queen of Wands card.
The good news is, this mystery is a message to us that we have the power over illusion. Cat animal symbolism reminds us to not fall prey to false beliefs, to not be a fool out of ignorance and derive understanding from our own internal wisdom. The cat beckons us to realize that when we turn within to our own hearts, minds and souls, and trust in ourselves we will always be shown the truth of matters.
The cat is the bearer of secrets. It knows all the old secrets that have been forgotten a long time ago. It moves freely through space and time. Since it maintains silence most of the time, it is difficult to learn the things that it knows. Seeing a cat (or any feline) in your dreams is a hint that there may be secrets within you or others of which you do not know. If the power of the cat is strong in a person, that person will have a very particular kind of perceptiveness. By using reflection, he will recognize the true selves of others along with his own identity. He will also discover the daily ritual of self-deception.
Magic, independence, clever, unpredictable, balance of energies and actions in life, mysteries will unfold in life if a cat has come around. Cat shows how to clarify perceptions which allows new ideas to manifest, encourages mental and emotional agility, aids in being resourceful and stealthy tactics, teaches courage and confidence. Do you need to be more independent? Are you using your resources the best of your ability? Is it time to start a new project? Cat will show how to continue the process of opening your intuition for soul growth.
All things that flow and grow were regarded in early religions as a symbol
of life: fire represented the vital craving for nourishment, water was chosen for its
fertilizing powers, plants because of their verdure in spring-time. Now, all—or
very nearly all—symbols of life are also symbolic of death. Media vita in morte
sumus, observed the mediaeval monk, to which modern science has replied La vie
c’est la mort (Claude Bernard). Thus, fire is the destroyer, while water in its
various forms signifies dissolution, as suggested in the Psalms. In legend and
folklore, the Origin of life—or the source of the renewal of the life forces—takes
the form of caves and caverns where wondrous torrents and springs well up (38).
To see a kitten in your dream, represents a transitional phase toward independence. Alternatively, the dream symbolizes innocence and purity.
For a woman to dream of a beautiful fat, white kitten, omens artful deception will be practised upon her, which will almost ensnare her to destruction, but her good sense and judgment will prevail in warding off unfortunate complications. If the kittens are soiled, or colored and lean, she will be victimized into glaring indiscretions.
To dream of kittens, denotes abominable small troubles and vexations will pursue and work you loss, unless you kill the kitten, and then you will overcome these worries.
To see snakes kill kittens, you have enemies who in seeking to injure you will work harm to themselves.
Seeing a white kitten in your dream means deceit and trouble. Seeing non-white or soiled kittens, indicates trouble ahead for you.
To dream of seeing only the tail of a beast, unusual annoyance is indicated where pleasures seemed assured.
To cut off the tail of an animal, denotes that you will suffer misfortune by your own carelessness.
To dream that you have the tail of a beast grown on you, denotes that your evil ways will cause you untold distress, and strange events will cause you perplexity.
To see only the tail of an animal in your dream, signifies annoyances and complications in a situation where pleasure was expected. If the tail is wagging, then it symbolizes excitement, thrills, and joy. If the tail is between the legs, then it represents fear and humiliation. Alternatively, the dream represents balance. Or it may be a pun on "being tailed" as in being followed or chased.
To dream that you have grown a tail, represents an aspect of the past that still lingers with you.
Seeing only the tail of an animal in your dream means annoyances and complications in situations where pleasure was surely to be expected. Dreaming that you have grown a tail of an animal, forewarns that your evil and manipulative ways will catch up with you, giving you much distress and trouble. Dreaming that you cut of the tail of an animal, symbolizes that you will suffer misfortune as a result of you careless ways.
To see a kitchen in your dream, signifies your need for warmth, spiritual nourishment and healing. It may also be symbolic of the nurturing mother or the way that you are for your loved ones. Alternatively the kitchen, represents a transformation. Or perhaps the dream could be telling you that if "you can't stand the heat, then you need to get out of the kitchen". You need to abort your plans.
To dream of a kitchen, denotes you will be forced to meet emergencies which will depress your spirits. For a woman to dream that her kitchen is clear. and orderly, foretells she will become the mistress of interesting fortunes.
Seeing a kitchen in your dream means your need for spiritual nourishment. It also forewarns that you will be met with some depressing news.
Houses in dreams generally represent the dreamer. The kitchen is the heart of the house. For most families, the kitchen is a place of warmth and nourishment (emotional as well as physical). Examine the conditions of your dream kitchen and you may become aware of some emotional needs and feelings toward yourself and others.
To remember something in your dream, indicates that you have learned something significant from your past mistakes or previous experiences. The dream may also serve as a reminder of something important that is occurring in your waking life. You are so worried that you will forget something that the preoccupation has made its way into your dream.
To see the side of something in your dream, suggests that you are not approaching the problem directly.
To dream that your sides hurt, suggest that what may seem like a lighthearted situation can turn out to be harmful.
To see your own family in your dream, represents security, warmth and love. It could also symbolize bitterness, jealousy, or rivalry, depending on your relationship with your family. Alternatively, it could mean that you are overly dependent on your family, especially if the family members are in your recurring dreams .Consider also the significance of a particular family member or the relationship you have with them.
To dream of one's family as harmonious and happy, is significant of health and easy circumstances; but if there is sickness or contentions, it forebodes gloom and disappointment.
Seeing your own family in high spirits in your dream, symbolizes harmony and happiness. Seeing them gloomy, foretells of disappointment and sadness.
The first people in your life with whom you have any social interaction are the members of your family. Therefore, a dream about a family member can represent any waking life social situation. For example, if you are arguing with your mother or father in a dream, you may be having a problem with another authority figure, such as an employer, in your waking life. If you dream that an older sibling is teaching you how to do something, you may be hoping that you will receive assistance with something from someone else in your waking life.
A family can also represent security and community.
The meaning of a dream about family will largely depend upon your personal experiences with your own family members.