Few weeks ago the dreamer awoke from a rather interesting experience. Entering the dream, slowly a vision took over. Was looking forward and there were two very large lions laying directly in front of my view. I was directly behind them, only a few feet away. There was a large male lion and a large female lioness. Both looking forward, almost at the edge of a cliff, overlooking an amazing and beautiful savanna. Giant and vast landscape, somewhat dark as if sunrise or sunset.. Shortly after observing these lions, a very vivid, bright, purple and blue energy swirls and dots started swirling, coming out of the lions and began swirling around there heads and around there bodies. Quite an amazing and colourful site. After they swirled around the lions for a bit, the energy gracefully swirled forward, and my vision was pulled forward with the purple and blue energy. Right passed the lions, my vision started 'flying' and swirling with the energy over the landscape. Do not recall having any sort of physical body, almost as if the dreamer was one with this energy..Floating and moving through the sky, eventually swirled lower to the ground and after the open plains, came to a jungle like environment.. We continued through the jungle, into more of a forest, and soon, there were less and less trees..Eventually we came to a paved road. The energy continue to swirl and sparkle forward over the road right in front of my vision. Soon a few houses appeared, and then an entire neighborhood started appearing, very much resembling the suburbs. We passed one house and i looked to my right at the mailbox as we passed. To my surprise there were two lions (male and female) on the mail box, like little statues..thought this was interesting..we continued to follow this road, and soon noticed extremely bright lights pointed up towards the sky in the distance. Few moments later we arrived at the lights...almost as if it was a huge amusement park (but with no visible rides)...There was a giant castle/palace like structure in the distance with many bright lights shining up towards it, illuminating the castle very heavily. As we continued towards the castles, i noticed what appeared to be people, with animal costumes on (ones you would see at a place like disney world, or like a mascot outfit). Again there were two of them dressed up as lions, dancing around. Then we finally made it to the castle/palace entrance and we swirled in a small door on the side of palace. Once inside, we entered what appeared to be a 'movie' theatre..the dreamer swirled up to a person, which was myself in physical form, watching this movie. ...the dreamer then focused and looked up at what was playing on the screen in the theatre...to my surprise it was a camera angle slightly behind two large lions, looking out over the open plains...the same exact spot and scenery and lions where the dreamer had just come from...
To dream that you are energetic, symbolizes growth, activity, expansion and insight. You need to channel your energy in a positive way.
To dream that your vision is obstructed, indicates that you are about to make an error in judgment. There is something that you are not seeing clearly.
To see visions in your dream, indicate that your mind is free from any restraint and free to wander without any inhibitions. Such dreams are said to have a different feel. Some of these vision dreams may be described as epic dreams.
Dreaming that your vision is obstructed means that you are having difficulties and errors in judgment. Seeing strange visions in your dream indicates misfortune and illness.
This is a complex symbol, derived at once from that of the house and
that of the enclosure or walled city. Walled cities figure in mediaeval art as a
symbol of the transcendent soul and of the heavenly Jerusalem. Generally speaking, the castle is located on the top of a mountain or hill, which suggests an
additional and important meaning derived from the symbolism of level. Its shape,
form and colour, its dark and light shades, all play an important part in defining
the symbolic meaning of the castle as a whole, which, in the broadest sense, is an
embattled, spiritual power, ever on the watch. The ‘black castle’ has been interpreted as the alchemists’ lair, as well as a rain cloud poised above a mountain-top
(50). Its significance as the Mansion of the Beyond, or as the entrance to the
Other World, would seem obvious enough. In a great many legends, the Castle of
Darkness, inhabited by a ‘Black Knight’, is symbolic of the abode of Pluto; this
is confirmed by Theseus’ mythic journey into hell. Charon has his abode in a
similar castle which is inaccessible to living men (the ‘castle of no return’ of
folktales). In the legendary heaven of Nordic tradition, the same meaning is to be
found. Melwas, the abducter of Guinevere, dwells in a castle surrounded by a
deep moat, the only means of access being two bridges difficult to negotiate.
According to Krappe, it is very possible that the underlying symbolism of all
mediaeval tales and legends about a castle owned by a ‘wicked knight’ who holds
captive all who approach his domain may well be that of the sinister castle of the
Lord of the Underworld (35). On the other hand, the ‘Castle of Light’ is the
‘redemption’-aspect of this same image. Piobb explains that the sudden appearance of a castle in the path of a wanderer is like the sudden awareness of a spiritual
pattern. ‘Before this fascinating vision, all fatigue disappears. One has the clear
impression that treasure lies within. The splendid temple is the achieving of the
inconceivable, the materialization of the unexpected’ (48). The castle, in sum,
together with the treasure (that is, the eternal essence of spiritual wealth), the
damsel (that is, the anima in the Jungian sense) and the purified knight, make up
a synthesis expressive of the will to salvation.
To see a castle in your dream, signifies reward, honor, recognition, and praise for your achievements. You are destined to a position of power, wealth, and prestige. Alternatively, the dream indicates your desire to escape from life's daily problems.
To dream that you live in a castle, represents your extreme need for security and protection to the point where you may be isolating yourself from others. Perhaps the dream parallels a waking situation where it has put you on the defensive.
To dream of being in a castle, you will be possessed of sufficient wealth to make life as you wish. You have prospects of being a great traveler, enjoying contact with people of many nations.
To see an old and vine-covered castle, you are likely to become romantic in your tastes, and care should be taken that you do not contract an undesirable marriage or engagement. Business is depressed after this dream.
To dream that you are leaving a castle, you will be robbed of your possessions, or lose your lover or some dear one by death.
Seeing a castle in your dream means reward, honor, recognition, and praise for your achievements. It foretells that your future will be a happy one, surrounded by the love of your children, generosity of neighbors, and comfort of friends. You are destined to a position of power, wealth, and prestige. Dreaming that you live in a castle means your need for security and protection to the point where you may be isolating yourself from others.
A castle in a dream may be symbolic of the "cavern of the heart." It represents the home of the human spirit (yours) and the natural self. Dreams with castles in them may come from deeper levels of the unconscious, or the collective unconscious. They may represent spiritual transcendence and the mysterious and intangible force that seems to quietly, but firmly, direct our lives. A castle in a dream may also represent feelings of security, protection, isolation or remoteness. You may have a castle dream when you have realised a desire or accomplished a goal. Darkened castles may be symbolic of unconscious or unfocused desires, at times, black castles represent our failures and white, or lighted castles, symbolise achievement and awareness. If you dream that a castle is under siege, you may desire more freedom. If a castle is being destroyed, you may be worried about future dangers.
In Cabbalistic symbolism, the sacred palace, or the ‘inner palace’, is
located at the junction of the six Directions of Space which, together with this
centre, form a septenary. It is, consequently, a symbol of the occult Centre—of
the ‘unmoved mover’ (28). It is also known as the ‘silver palace’, the ‘silver
thread’ being the hidden bond which joins man to his Origin and to his End (28).
This concept of the Centre embraces the heart and the mind; hence, in legends and
folktales, the palace of the old king contains secret chambers (representing the
unconscious) which hold treasure (or spiritual truths). Loeffler suggests that
palaces made of glass or of mirrors, and also those which suddenly appear as if by
magic, are specially symbolic of the ancestral memories of mankind—of the
basic, primitive awareness of the Golden Age (38).
To see a palace in your dream, symbolizes wealth and prominence. You are ready to utilize your full potential.
If you are living in a palace, then it signifies that success is right within your reach.
To live in a palace is a good omen. You will be elevated to a state of wealth and
dignity.
Wandering through a palace and noting its grandeur, signifies that your prospects are growing brighter and you will assume new dignity.
To see and hear fine ladies and men dancing and conversing, denotes that you will engage in profitable and pleasing associations.
For a young woman of moderate means to dream that she is a participant in the entertainment, and of equal social standing with others, is a sign of her advancement through marriage, or the generosity of relatives.
This is often a very deceitful and misleading dream to the young woman of humble circumstances; as it is generally induced in such cases by the unhealthy day dreams of her idle, empty brain. She should strive after this dream, to live by honest work, and restrain deceitful ambition by observing the fireside counsels of mother, and friends.
Seeing a palace in your dream, symbolizes prominence and wealth. You are ready to utilize your full potential. Dreaming that you are the owner of a palace means that success is right within your reach.
To see a road in your dream, refers to your sense of direction and how you are pursuing your goals. If the road is winding, curvy, or bumpy in your dream, then it suggests that you will encounter many obstacles and setbacks toward achieving your goals. You may be met with unexpected difficulties. If the road is dark, then it reflects the controversial or more frightening choices which you have made or are making.
If the road is smooth and bordered by trees or flowers, then it denotes a steady progress and steady climb up the social ladder. If the road is straight and narrow, then it means that your path to success is going as planned.
To see an unknown road in your dream, represents a path that has not been ventured. You are setting a new precedence for something.
To dream that a threatening creature is on a road, parallels a hostile situation/person you are encountering in your waking life. It is an obstacle that you need to overcome, no matter how intimidating the situation or person may appear.
Traveling over a rough, unknown road in a dream, signifies new undertakings, which will bring little else than grief and loss of time.
If the road is bordered with trees and flowers, there will be some pleasant and unexpected fortune for you. If friends accompany you, you will be successful in building an ideal home, with happy children and faithful wife, or husband.
To lose the road, foretells that you will make a mistake in deciding some question of trade, and suffer loss in consequence.
Seeing a road in your dream indicates your sense of direction and pursuit of your goals. Seeing a winding, curvy, or bumpy road in your dream, suggests that you will experience many obstacles and setbacks in achieving your goals. You may be met with unexpected difficulties. If the road is dark, then it reflects the darker or more frightening choices which you have made or are making. Seeing a smooth road bordered by green trees and flowers indicates a steady progress and steady climb up the social ladder. If the road is straight and narrow, then it means that your path to success is going according as planned. Seeing an unknown road in your dream means that you new project will cause more grief than it is worth and a waste of time. Dreaming that a threatening creature is on a road, parallels a hostile situation/person you are encountering in your waking life. It is an obstacle that you need to overcome, no matter how intimidating the situation or person may appear.
It usually symbolises the journey that we take to achieve our goals. The road in the dream represents a road in your life. It could be the road to your heart, spirit, or mind. Consider the kind of road that you are on and try to see how it relates to your daily realities. If the road is straight, well marked and lit, it may be reinforcement to you that you are moving in the right directions. If there are many obstacles and the road is very hard, consider your options.
The lion corresponds principally to gold or the ‘subterranean sun’, and
to the sun itself, and hence it is found as a symbol of sun-gods such as Mithras.
In Egypt, it used to be believed that the lion presided over the annual floods of the
Nile, because they coincided with the entry of the sun into the zodiacal sign of
Leo during the dog-days. The lion-skin is a solar attribute (8). The equation of the
sun and the lion, borne out by primitive and astrobiological cultures, persisted into the Middle Ages and found its way into Chris`tian symbolism (14), although
the significance of the lion is enriched by a variety of secondary symbolisms. In
alchemy, it corresponds to the ‘fixed’ element—to sulphur. When counter-balanced by three other animals, it represents earth (although elsewhere it has been
said that it stands for ‘philosophical fire’) (57), while gold is given the name of
‘lion of metals’; the red-coloured lion is more strictly applicable to the latter (56).
But, apart from these considerations, which lie more in the province of the theory
of correspondences than in symbology proper, the lion, the ‘king of beasts’,
symbolizes the earthly opponent of the eagle in the sky and the ‘natural lord and
master’—or the possessor of strength and of the masculine principle. As Frobenius
notes, the motif of the solar lion which tears out the throat of the lunar bull is
repeated interminably in Asiatic and African ornamentation (22). According to
Schneider, the lion pertains to the Element of earth and the winged lion to the
Element of fire. Both are symbolic of continual struggle, solar light, morning, regal
dignity and victory. As a symbol of the Evangelists, the lion came to be associated
with St. Mark in particular. Naturally, other meanings may be derived from the
location or the context in which the lion appears. The young lion corresponds to
the rising sun, the old or infirm lion to the setting sun. The lion victorious represents the exaltation of virility; the lion tamed carries, on the symbolic plane, the
obvious significance which it has in real life (50). For Jung, the lion, in its wild
state, is broadly speaking an index of latent passions; it may also take the form of
a sign indicating the danger of being devoured by the unconscious (32). But this
latter sense goes beyond lion-symbolism as such, being related to the general
symbolism of devouring (which in turn is related to the symbolism of time). The
wild lioness is a symbol of the Magna Mater (35).
To see a lion in your dream, symbolizes great strength, courage, aggression and power. You will overcome some of your emotional difficulties. As king of the jungle, the lion also represents dignity, royalty, leadership, pride and domination. You have much influence over others. You also need to exercise some restraint in your own personal and social life.
To dream that you are attacked by a lion, suggests that a force may be driving you to self-destruction. You need overcome these challenges and obstacles.
To see a black lion in your dream, represents a negative force. You are using your position of power for evil.
To dream of a lion, signifies that a great force is driving you.If you subdue the lion, you will be victorious in any engagement.
If it overpowers you, then you will be open to the successful attacks of enemies.
To see caged lions, denotes that your success depends upon your ability to cope with opposition.
To see a man controlling a lion in its cage, or out denotes success in business and great mental power. You will be favorably regarded by women.
To see young lions, denotes new enterprises, which will bring success if properly attended.
For a young woman to dream of young lions, denotes new and fascinating lovers.
For a woman to dream that she sees Daniel in the lions' den, signifies that by her intellectual qualifications and personal magnetism she will win fortune and lovers to her highest desire.
To hear the roar of a lion, signifies unexpected advancement and preferment with women.
To see a lion's head over you, showing his teeth by snarls, you are threatened with defeat in your upward rise to power.
To see a lion's skin, denotes a rise to fortune and happiness.
To ride one, denotes courage and persistency in surmounting difficulties.
To dream you are defending your children from a lion with a pen-knife, foretells enemies will threaten to overpower you, and will well nigh succeed if you allow any artfulness to persuade you for a moment from duty and business obligations.
This dream indicates greatness, elevation and honour. You will become very
important among men. You will become very powerful and happy.
Seeing a lion in your dream, symbolizes great strength, aggression and power. You will overcome your emotions and/or difficulties. As king of the jungle, the lion also represents royalty, leadership, pride and dominion. You have much influence over others. You may also need to exercise restraint in your own personal and social life. Dreaming that you are attacked by a lion indicates that you have many obstacles to overcome. You must resist the force that is driving you to self-destruction.
Lion Meanings and Thoughts on Lion Symbolism
The symbolic meaning of lions, as one might imagine, primarily deals with strength.
The fact that it is a nocturnal creature means that the lion is a symbol of authority and command over subconscious thought (as night is an ancient symbol of the subconscious - or dream states).
It’s interesting that the lion is considered by many ancient cultures to be a solar animal symbol, however it is primarily a nocturnal creature, conducting its hunting activity mostly at night. Further, the lioness is considered a lunar animal.
This serves as a symbolic message of balance and sound judgment. In that the lion shares the world of both night and day, the lion bears a message of prudence to us. In other words, the lion asks us to not overdo in certain areas of our lives. Rather, keep an even mind and an overall balance in our life activities.
Other than a symbol for strength, other symbolic attributes of the lion include:
Courage
Power
Royalty
Dignity
Authority
Dominion
Justice
Wisdom
Ferocity
In Egypt, the lion represented the ferocious heat of the sun and was seen in the likeness of Sekhmet who is the Egyptian goddess known as the Eye of Ra. She is the power that protects the good and annihilates the wicked.
In ancient Greece, lions were identified with Dionysus, Phoebus, Cybele, and Artemis because myth indicates lions drew the chariots for these gods and goddesses. Here, the symbolic meaning of lions revolved around protections and they were viewed as guardians of the dead as well as guardians of palaces, doorways, shrines and thrones. They were also ultimate protectors of hearth and home.
In Hinduism, the lion is an avatar (embodiment or personification) of Vishnu.
In Buddhism the Buddha sits upon the lion as a throne of consistency, strength and wisdom.
In alchemy, the symbolic meaning of lions is associated with the highly idealistic and prized attributes of gold.
The symbolic meaning of lions in England is shonw in heraldic art where it is a common emblem of English sovereigns because of these lion-like traits:
leadership
strength
royalty
courage
honor
As a zodiac symbol - those with the sign of Leo likely possess some lion's personality traits such as:
Intuition
Self-confidence
Fiery
Territorial
Controlling
Passionate
Generosity
Loyalty
Those born under the sun sign Leo are fiercely independent, confident and in control.
They are creative and influential forces and have the internal power to make positive (or negative) changes in their lives and the lives of others around them.
They are very loyal people, and will defend friend and family honor to the death. My friend Göran Jönsson has perfectly captured the strength and ferocity the Leo represents in his zodiac pendant shown left.
Lions as dream symbols indicate we may feel as though we are being preyed upon, or we are in a position to defend ourselves. Dreaming of lions may also be a sign of our need to get in touch with our emotions, and tame them if necessary.
In esoteric studies, the lion makes its appearance in the Tarot where it is illustrated in the Strength card of the Major Arcana.
When we observe the lion in nature, we detect an easy strength and a natural dignity. The lion is born powerful, and power comes naturally to it. There is no false bravado as the lion has no need of it.
When the lion comes to us it is a sign for us to step into our natural birthright of power. Each of us is born powerful and divine. The lion reminds us of this.
Other messages the lion shares with us:
Hold your head high – even in times of conflict – conduct yourself with dignity
Stand tall, remember your birthright of power
Perhaps it’s time to show your authority (not in a dominating way) but lead others with a loving heart
It may be time to defend something that is dear to your heart – defend it fiercely if you must.
Have courage, have faith.
As with all signs and symbols, the symbolic meaning of lions should be special and personal to each of you. This only provides you with a brief summary of the various symbolic meanings available. Ultimately it is you who determines your own unique and symbolic relationship with the lion.
The lion represents wisdom and power. It brings to you the abilities of heart-centered leadership.
Leadership, truth, nobility and power balance the playful and calm serenity of Lion. He will teach how to strengthen your spirit and resolve. A quiet demeanor is balanced with a fierceness especially when family is concerned. He shows that rest is needed before continuing. Are you misappropriating your time and energy? Listen to the actions of Lion for he will show if it is time to relax and destress your mind, body and spirit. Respect, grace, stealth, focus, knowledge - Lion medicine is about timing or your personal power. Increased community responsibilities and cooperation, cunningness, fearlessness and expert timing are lessons that Lion teaches. Lion aids in recognizing and understanding your own noble and regal attitudes. Are you taking on the characteristics of a male lion or a lioness?