I realized as I'm writing this that horses have really been showing up in my dreaming a lot lately. I suppose I see them often, wandering around the streets here munching on grass and whatnot, but I know that horses mean much more in dream space.
The dream was simple. I was riding a brown and beautiful horse. It was much taller than usual, either that or my depth perception was off. I gained lucidity just sitting on top of it, reigns in hand. I feel like I was in a procession of other people on horses going somewhere rather slowly.
I wanted to move a little faster, so I squeezed my legs together, and my horse sped up a little bit. It tried to go off the trail we were following, and I took the reins and steered it back to the trail. I was reminded of this metaphor in a book on meditation I read, that the mind is like a horse. One must sit on top of the mind, and through meditation, steer the wild horse back onto the right trail. I thought, yes, it's not so difficult is it. The mindhorse is responsive.
Then I woke up.
The symbolism of the horse is extremely complex, and beyond a
certain point not very clearly defined. Eliade finds it an animal associated with
burial-rites in chthonian cults (17), whereas Mertens Stienon considers it an
ancient symbol of the cyclic movement of the world of phenomena; hence the
horses, which Neptune with his trident lashes up out of the waves, symbolize the
cosmic forces that surge out of the Akasha—the blind forces of primigenial chaos
(39). Applying this latter concept to the biopsychological plane, Diel concludes
that the horse stands for intense desires and instincts, in accordance with the
general symbolism of the steed-and the vehicle (15). The horse plays an important part in a great number of ancient rites. The ancient Rhodians used to make an
annual sacrifice to the sun of a four-horse quadriga, which they would hurl into
the sea (21). The animal was also dedicated to Mars, and the sudden appearance
of a horse was thought to be an omen of war (8). In Germany and England, to
dream of a white horse was thought to be an omen of death (35). It is very
interesting to note that the great myth and symbol of the Gemini, illustrated in
pairs or twins, in two-headed beasts or in anthropomorphic figures with four
eyes and four arms, etc., appears, too, in horse-symbolism, especially in the form
of a pair of horses, one white and one black, representing life and death. The
Indian Asvins—the probable source of Castor and Pollux—would depict themselves as horsemen. In mediaeval illustrations of the Zodiac, the sign for the
Gemini is sometimes portrayed in this way, as for example in the Zodiac of Notre
Dame de Paris (39). Considering that the horse pertains to the natural, unconscious, instinctive zone, it is not surprising that, in Antiquity, it should often have
been endowed with certain powers of divination (8). In fable and legend, horses,
being clairvoyant, are often assigned the task of giving a timely warning to their
masters, as in the Grimms’ fable, for example. Jung came to wonder if the horse
might not be a symbol for the mother, and he does not hesitate to assert that it
expresses the magic side of Man, ‘the mother within us’, that is, intuitive understanding. On the other hand, he recognizes that the horse is a symbol pertaining
to Man’s baser forces, and also to water, which explains why the horse is associated with Pluto and Neptune (56). Deriving from the magical nature of the horse,
is the belief that the horse-shoe brings luck. On account of his fleetness, the horse
can also signify the wind and sea-foam, as well as fire and light. In the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (I, 1), the horse is actually a symbol of the cosmos
(31) (Plate XVIII).
To see a horse in your dream, symbolizes strength, power, endurance, virility and sexual prowess. It also represents a strong, physical energy. You need to tame the wild forces within. The dream may also be a pun that you are "horsing around". Alternatively, to see a horse in your dream, indicate that you need to be less arrogant and "get off your high horse".
To see a black or dark horse in your dream, signifies mystery, wildness, and the unknown. You are taking a chance or a gamble at some unknown situation. It may even refer to occult forces. If the horse is white, then it signifies purity, prosperity and good fortunes. To dream that you are being chased by a white horse, may be a pun on chaste. Perhaps you are having difficulties dealing with issues of intimacy and sexuality.
To see a dead horse in your dream, indicates that something in your life that initially offered you strength is now gone. This may refer to a relationship or situation. Consider the phrase "beating a dead horse" to indicate that you may have maximized the usefulness of a certain circumstance.
To see a herd of wild horses in your dream, signifies a sense of freedom and lack of responsibilities and duties. Perhaps it may also indicate your uncontrolled emotions. If you are riding a wild horse, then it represents unrestrained sexual desires.
To dream that you are riding a horse, suggests that you are in a high position or position of power. Alternatively, it indicates that you will achieve success through underhanded means. You lack integrity. If you are riding a horse that is out of control, then it means that you are being carried away by your passions.
To see an armored or medieval horse in your dream, refers to your fierceness, aggression, power and/or rigidity. You may too confrontational. Alternatively, you may be trying to protect yourself from unconscious material or sexual desires that is emerging.
To dream that you are bathing a horse, represents a renewal of strength and vigor. You are experiencing a burst of energy in some aspect of your life.
If you dream of seeing or riding a white horse, the indications are favorable for prosperity and pleasurable commingling with congenial friends and fair women. If the white horse is soiled and lean, your confidence will be betrayed by a jealous friend or a woman. If the horse is black, you will be successful in your fortune, but you will practice deception, and will be guilty of assignations. To a woman, this dream denotes that her husband is unfaithful.
To dream of dark horses, signifies prosperous conditions, but a large amount of discontent. Fleeting pleasures usually follow this dream.
To see yourself riding a fine bay horse, denotes a rise in fortune and gratification of passion. For a woman, it foretells a yielding to importunate advances. She will enjoy material things.
To ride or see passing horses, denotes ease and comfort.
To ride a runaway horse, your interests will be injured by the folly of a friend or employer.
To see a horse running away with others, denotes that you will hear of the illness of friends.
To see fine stallions, is a sign of success and high living, and undue passion will master you.
To see brood mares, denotes congeniality and absence of jealousy between the married and sweethearts.
To ride a horse to ford a stream, you will soon experience some good fortune and will enjoy rich pleasures. If the stream is unsettled or murky, anticipated joys will be somewhat disappointing.
To swim on a horse's back through a clear and beautiful stream of water, your conception of passionate bliss will be swiftly realized. To a business man, this dream portends great gain.
To see a wounded horse, foretells the trouble of friends.
To dream of a dead horse, signifies disappointments of various kinds.
To dream of riding a horse that bucks, denotes that your desires will be difficult of consummation. To dream that he throws you, you will have a strong rival, and your business will suffer slightly through competition.
To dream that a horse kicks you, you will be repulsed by one you love.
Your fortune will be embarrassed by ill health.
To dream of catching a horse to bridle and saddle, or harness it, you will see a great improvement in business of all kinds, and people of all callings will prosper. If you fail to catch it, fortune will play you false.
To see spotted horses, foretells that various enterprises will bring you profit.
To dream of having a horse shod, your success is assured.
For a woman, this dream omens a good and faithful husband.
To dream that you shoe a horse, denotes that you will endeavor to and perhaps make doubtful property your own.
To dream of race horses, denotes that you will be surfeited with fast living, but to the farmer this dream denotes prosperity.
To dream that you ride a horse in a race, you will be prosperous and enjoy life.
To dream of killing a horse, you will injure your friends through selfishness.
To mount a horse bareback, you will gain wealth and ease by hard struggles.
To ride bareback in company with men, you will have honest people to aid you, and your success will be merited. If in company with women, your desires will be loose, and your prosperity will not be so abundant as might be if women did not fill your heart.
To curry a horse, your business interests will not be neglected for frivolous pleasures.
To dream of trimming a horse's mane, or tail, denotes that you will be a good financier or farmer. Literary people will be painstaking in their work and others will look after their interest with solicitude.
To dream of horses, you will amass wealth and enjoy life to its fullest extent.
To see horses pulling vehicles, denotes wealth with some incumbrance, and love will find obstacles.
If you are riding up a hill and the horse falls but you gain the top, you will win fortune, though you will have to struggle against enemies and jealousy. If both the horse and you get to the top, your rise will be phenomenal, but substantial.
For a young girl to dream that she rides a black horse,
denotes that she should be dealt with by wise authority.
Some wishes will be gratified at an unexpected time.
Black in horses, signifies postponements in anticipations.
To see a horse with a tender foot, denotes that some unexpected unpleasantness will insinuate itself into your otherwise propitious state.
If you attempt to fit a broken shoe which is too small for the horse's foot, you will be charged with making fraudulent deals with unsuspecting parties.
To ride a horse down hill, your affairs will undoubtedly disappoint you. For a young woman to dream that a friend rides behind her on a horse, denotes that she will be foremost in the favors of many prominent and successful men. If she was frightened, she is likely to stir up jealous sensations. If after she alights from the horse it turns into a pig, she will carelessly pass by honorable offers of marriage, preferring freedom until her chances of a desirable marriage are lost. If afterward she sees the pig sliding gracefully along the telegraph wire, she will by intriguing advance her position,
For a young woman to dream that she is riding a white horse up and down hill, often looking back and seeing some one on a black horse, pursuing her, denotes she will have a mixed season of success and sorow,{sic} but through it all a relentless enemy is working to overshadow her with gloom and disappointment.
To see a horse in human flesh, descending on a hammock through the air, and as it nears your house is metamorphosed into a man, and he approaches your door and throws something at you which seems to be rubber but turns into great bees, denotes miscarriage of hopes and useless endeavors to regain lost valuables. To see animals in human flesh, signifies great advancement to the dreamer, and new friends will be made by modest wearing of well-earned honors. If the human flesh appears diseased or freckled, the miscarriage of well-laid plans is denoted.
Seeing a horse in your dream, represents a strong, physical energy. You need to tame the wild forces. The dream may imply that you have been horsing around. Or perhaps you need to be less arrogant and "get off your high horse". Seeing a black or dark horse in your dream means mystery, wildness, and the unknown. You may be taking a chance or gamble at some unknown area. It may even represents occult forces. If the horse is white, then it means purity, prosperity and good fortunes. Dreaming that you are being chased by a white horse, may be a pun on chaste. Perhaps you are having difficulties dealing with issues of intimacy and sexuality. Seeing a dead horse in your dream indicates that something in your life that initially offered you strength is now gone. This may refer to a relationship or situation. Seeing a herd of wild horses in your dream means a sense of freedom and lack of responsibilities/duties. Perhaps it may also indicated your uncontrolled emotions. Dreaming that you are riding a horse indicates that you will achieve success through underhanded means. You lack integrity. If you are riding a horse that is out of control means that you are being carried away by your passions. Seeing an armored or medieval horse in your dream, refers to your fierceness, aggression, power and/or rigidity. You may be seen as too confrontational. Alternatively, you may be trying to protect yourself from unconscious material or sexual desires that is emerging. Dreaming that you are bathing a horse, represents a renewal of strength and vigor. You are experiencing a burst of energy in some aspect of your life.
The horse is a noble and powerful animal. As a dream symbol it can represent a wide range of positive thoughts and ideas about self or others. Depending on the details of the dream, horses can symbolize freedom, power, and sexual energy. At times, they can also be considered messengers, relaying information from the unconscious to the conscious, from the spiritual to the physical. If you are horseback riding it suggests that you are self-assured and feel a sense of control in your daily life. Old dream interpretation books say that the colour of the horse is also significant. (Remember that this is based on superstition.) Black horses are said to point out delays; white horses reinforce the positive and trans-formative aspects of life; grey horses may point to the difficulties in the dreamers current situation; piebald horses are symbolic of confusion; brown horses are associated with mental pursuits; tan horses are said to be symbolic of love and sex.
Symbol meanings of the Horse date back to prehistory, and the first civilized, written acknowledgement of the Horse comes in the third millennium BC where historians uncovered slate tablets in Elam (present day Iraq and Iran) which reference this noble, wild beast.
Due to its natural companionship with man in both work and art, the Horse easily wins a special seat in history, ranking high marks of honor, reverence and symbolism.
Serving man in war, mobility, productivity, agriculture, development of all kinds, the Horse is by far one of the largest contributor to the enhancement of civilization.
With such recognition and accomplishments, a vast and diverse trail of symbol meanings is sure to follow the Horse’s rich history with humankind.
A summary of prevalent symbol meanings for the horse:
Power
Grace
Beauty
Nobility
Strength
Freedom
The Horse symbol meanings of power are widespread through most cultures, and it is linked as an emblem of life-force. Many cultures assign the attributes of the four elements to the Horse: Earth, Fire, Air, and Water.
As a Celtic symbol,the Horse was associated with war. With war, comes attributes of victory, conquer, longevity as well as procurement of territory and other spoils that come with triumph in battle.
All of these heady aspects of valor were associated with the Horse in Celt animal symbolism. In fact, so much so, the Celts hailed the Horse as the beast belonging to the sun god, and assigned it a place with the goddess Epona (see Celtic Gods & Goddesses for more information on Epona).
The Greco-Romans also associated the Horse with the spoils of war and attributed it to symbolism such as power, victory, honor, domination and virility. In Greco-Roman myth the Horse is said to be created by Poseidon (Neptune) and is devoted to Hades (Pluto) and Ares (Mars). Romans also believed the Horse to be a symbol of the continuity of life, and would sacrifice a horse to the god Mars every October, keeping its tail through the winter as a sign of fertility and rebirth.
The horse shows both earthly strength and unearthly powers. It is regarded highly throughout the world and connected with the magical powers of shamans. With the help of the horse's speed, a person can cover long distances in a relatively short period of time. The horse has also made transportation of goods a lot easier. It is, therefore, the first and foremost totem animal of civilization. The power of an engine to this day is measured in horsepower. Riding a horse conveys a sense of freedom. It teaches that power cannot be attained by force, but rather that it is given to him who is willing to accept responsibility in a respectful manner. Just as the horse carries its rider on its back, the rider carries responsibility for everything around him. The power of the horse is the wisdom to remember all the steps in one's life and learn from them. This includes experiences from a previous life. Real power is strength used with wisdom. This requires love, compassion, and the willingness to share one's achievements and insights with others. It is important not to let our ego deny us access to this power.
The horse will teach you how to communicate with other realms as well as this one. It is the message carrier.
This creature represents the joy of living and brings with it the ability to see beauty in everything.
Travel, power, spiritual and physical stamina, freedom, persuasiveness, increase clairvoyance, awareness of cooperation and communication abilities, time to move on if you feel stuck, teaches how to go in new directions with freedom and the power to face life and overcoming obstacles with grace. Your journey will take you in new directions. Horse teaches the power to allow and awaken your freedom in movement and will clarify the path in which to take. Do you need to break from current confinements and restrictions? Pay attention to what the individual breed is saying to you.
To dream that you are on a trail, signifies your progress in life. Consider the difficulty and condition of the trail. The dream may also be a metaphor that you are "trailing behind" on some task, some competition or some endeavor.
To see or spin a top in your dream, represents idleness. You are not going anywhere in life and are wasting your time away on frivolous pleasures.
To dream that you are on top, signifies your goals, aspirations and ideals. You are seeking higher understanding and knowledge.
Seeing or spin a top in your dream, represents idleness. You are wasting your time away on frivolous pleasures. Dreaming that you are on top means your aspirations and ideals. You are seeking higher understanding and knowledge.
Taking medication is always indicative of an attempt to restore one's health. Your unconscious mind may be encouraging you to take measures to insure your health and happiness. Consider all of the details of your dream and decide if the medication taken was helpful or hurtful. Try to connect these thoughts to your situations in daily life.
A broad term embracing a number of techniques for achieving various altered states of awareness, with some of these altered states resulting in the ecstatic qualities of so-called “peak experience;” most meditative techniques are ways of learning to still the agitation of the mind so that more subtle and valuable aspects of self and reality may be perceived; some techniques involve concentration, in which attention is focused on a particular object and restrained from wandering, while others involve giving one’s total attention to whatever spontaneously happens, with no attempt to control or focus attention.
To see a steer in your dream, refers to sexual contact or masculine energy. The steer may also be symbolic of several deities and gods. Or it may also be a pun on "steering" in the right direction.
Seeing a steer in your dream indicates a need for sexual contact or masculine energy. The steer may also be symbolic of several deities and gods. This symbol may also be a pun on "steering" in the right direction.
To dream that you are running about wild, foretells that you will sustain a serious fall or accident.
To see others doing so, denotes unfavorable prospects will cause you worry and excitement.
To see something wild in your dream, represents the uninhibited and animalistic aspect of your personality. In dreams, you feel freer to behave in a way that you normally would not in your waking life.
Dreaming of books indicates calmness. You will advance toward your goals at a slow and steady pace. Books also symbolize knowledge, intellect, information and wisdom. Consider the type of book. It may represent a significant calling into a specific field of work. Dreaming of dusty books indicates forgotten knowledge or previous "chapters" of your life. Dreaming of children's books, memories and a collection of personal memories from your own childhood. It may also suggest your desire to escape from reality and retreat into some fantasy world. Dreaming of a satanic book, symbolizes your one-sided way of thinking and looking at things. You are trying to denounce any responsibility in your actions and are putting forth a little effort as possible.
Reins enter into the symbolism of the chariot and of horses. Since the
chariot is symbolic of the body and horses signify the forces of life, the reins
bespeak the relationship between the soul and the body—the nerves and willpower. To cut the reins is equivalent, symbolically, to dying (38).
To see reins in your dream, indicate that you are being restrained or inhibited from expressing yourself. You are censoring yourself. Alternatively it symbolizes control. The dream may be a pun on "reign" and thus represent your power over others.