Topic: Cockroach to Sparrow - Interpret my dream, please!

Like all of you I from time to time have a very interesting dream, one that I ponder for quite a while.

Two nights ago I had one that could come straight out of mythology. Perhaps its symbols are obvious, but I'd be curious to hear anybody's interpretation...

I am traveling with a woman, someone I am close with. A companion who helps me on my journey.

We are in a dilapidated shack, out by a rural highway somewhere in the middle of the country. It's nighttime. We are sitting at a table in the kitchen, looking at an old stove. The stove lurches forward about an inch. Alarmed, I get up and look behind the stove.

I am shocked and frightened to see what looks like a giant, winged cockroach. It's four inches long, with large, ugly and broken wings coming from its body. It seems like it's trying to escape the stove. I am afraid of it, and stand up on the chair, telling my companion to do the same, this cockroach looks dangerous.

I gather some courage and get back down on the ground to try to have a look. I look around the stove again and the cockroach notices me, looks right at me, even though it doesn't have discernable eyes. It is terrifying. I back away in horror, and it takes flight and comes right at me. I duck, as the horrid bugger grazes my face.

It's back on the ground, and I'm about ready to vacate the building. All of a sudden a house cat shows up. He is familiar to me and I have the impression he is here to protect me. In a single pounce he has the cockroach in his mouth.

I look down at the cat to see that the cockroach has become a small bird. I grab the bird out of the cats mouth and give that cat a bit of a kick. I hold the injured bird in my hand, and see that it's a sparrow. It takes flight and zips around the room. He comes up to my head and flutters about me. As much as the roach was horrid, the bird lovely. Big eyes and disney, though real looking. He tenderly nips at my nose and rests on my shoulder, rubbing up against my ear. It is such a strange sensation to be receiving this kind of affection from a wild bird, but it feels very real.

The bird goes to the ground and I can see that it's left leg is broken. It is dangles sideways on the floor, uselessly. Doubtless this is an injury from the cat.

The bird takes flight again and I follow it. I'm now in a new room, which resembles the house I grew up in. Brilliant sunlight is pouring through the windows. The sparrow lands on my shoulder and once again snuggles me. I open screen door and step outside. Without saying goodbye it takes off and disappears into the day.

The end.

I should note that when the bird first was flying about me I saw a sort of snapshot of it. Like a photo of the bird. I could see it very distinctly and knew it was a sparrow. I looked up sparrow on wikipedia, and indeed it is a sparrow. I'm positive that its a sparrow is important symbolism.

I certainly take this dream to be a good omen, and having rescued the sparrow from the cat it loved me and gave me its blessing. On wiki I learned that on one story sparrows draw the chariot of Aphrodite, so that ain't bad. smile

But what of the horrifying cockroach, the cat, and the transformation of the cockroach?

2 (edited by Sowelu 2007-08-13 19:36:13)

Re: Cockroach to Sparrow - Interpret my dream, please!

I've found this Native American animal symbolism helpful over the years, thought I'd share the resource. Here are two of your symbol's meanings, according to the site:

Cockroach's Wisdom Includes:

Speed to avoid harm
Understanding shadow
Moving through fear
Understanding disgust in others

http://www.geocities.com/~animalspirits/index25.html


Sparrow's Wisdom Includes:

Desire
Fertility
Manifesting new love in ones life
Understanding the aspects of race
Ability to use the power of song
All aspects of color

http://www.geocities.com/~animalspirits/index30.html


If it were my dream, I'd see a strong statement of the idea that our fears, when we decide to finally "sink our teeth into them", are not what we thought, and often transform us and open us to new levels of life and love. smile

"The most important decision you have to make is whether you live in a hostile or friendly universe."
~ Albert Einstein

The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes. ~Marcel Proust

The evolution of humanity is an evolution of the heart. The path is through the heart.

3 (edited by Antaeus 2007-08-14 18:10:37)

Re: Cockroach to Sparrow - Interpret my dream, please!

I have, "The Dreamers Dictionary," by Lady Stearn Robinson & Tom Gorbett.  It was an impulse purchase when buying another item. 
Sparrow.  These busy birds featured in your dream are harbingers of lean times ahead, unless you chased them away, in which case it signifies good business news.

Insects.  An obstacle dream. If you succeeded in killing them or otherwise getting rid of them, or if they didn't annoy you, it signifies that your difficulties will be easier to overcome than you anticipate. If the insects were identifiable, see also under seperate headings, bees, flies, etc.  Sorry, no cockroach in the text.

Cat.  A generally unfortunate omen indicating treachery and deceit among those you trust.  If you killed the cat, you will defeat the purpose of your detractors; if you chased it away, you may expect a sudden stroke of luck.  See also Animals.

Animals.  To see wild animals in your dream is generally a good omen pertaining to business, but the interpretation depends on their attitude; if they were calm, your affairs will prosper, but if they attacked you (or each other), you can expect some reverses.

The book only describes what it means if women as in several, were in your dream, or if the woman was pregnant.  If she was pregnant, you can expect an embarrassment of riches.  I suppose that is the British way of saying an exorbitant amount of riches.

Birds.  ... dead or injured birds are indication of coming worries...

I think that the important part is being rid of the cockroach.  All of the other symbols were perceived in a positive light.  So I would hazard to say that your difficulties will be easier to overcome than you anticipate.

Not long ago, I was arising from bed in the morning before being fully being awake, I don't remember whatever it was I was dreaming, but I was saying the words Prajapati and Prakriti.  Its probably not important, those words have come up in my studies.  Its just that I never get up before being fully awake, I know this because of the fact that I'm always reluctant to get up out of bed in the morning.

Good judgement comes from experience; experience comes from bad judgement.
----------------------------------------------------------
You have to believe in the impossible in order to become.

Re: Cockroach to Sparrow - Interpret my dream, please!

Much of this really resonates... I did chase the cat away, so stroke of luck!

The native american sparrow definition is very apt. The ability to use song and new love have long been symbolized by the sparrow for me, and I'm amazed to see it defined so.

A good dream, a good dream.

Thanks guys!

Re: Cockroach to Sparrow - Interpret my dream, please!

also, aren't cockraoches of the same family as beetles? maybe a reference to Kephra and the Sun at it's nadir?

I kind of read a reference to the fear and loathing of death/decomposition (dirty,disgusting roach) and how after recoiling from it the beastly protection instinct of "kill 'em before they reporoduce!"comes in the form of the cat (beast, bast, bastet). 

Once all "danger" is removed, however you see that the symbol of freedom (pleasant winged animal) has been hurt by the premature aggression of the fighting instinct. Or perhaps the tension and resolution of the fear and the fight are necessary precursors; perhaps those phases must be passed before you can realise the winged beast's import and assimilate it (ex-roach, now bird perching on you tenderly).

"...it's run down the curtain and joined the Choir Invisible!  This....is an Ex-Cockroach!"

Love is the law, love under will.
   
     Zejith Themis
      .:420-510:.
    FIAT IUSTITIA
    RUAT COELUM

Re: Cockroach to Sparrow - Interpret my dream, please!

ah, yes.. i'd also like to know if there's a common import to dreams of animals or other human entities being wounded at the leg or foot. Had a dream once where a person proposing to be a teacher had a bad open sore or wound on the ... i believe left, foot.

Love is the law, love under will.
   
     Zejith Themis
      .:420-510:.
    FIAT IUSTITIA
    RUAT COELUM

Re: Cockroach to Sparrow - Interpret my dream, please!

Once all "danger" is removed, however you see that the symbol of freedom (pleasant winged animal) has been hurt by the premature aggression of the fighting instinct. Or perhaps the tension and resolution of the fear and the fight are necessary precursors; perhaps those phases must be passed before you can realise the winged beast's import and assimilate it (ex-roach, now bird perching on you tenderly).

"...it's run down the curtain and joined the Choir Invisible!  This....is an Ex-Cockroach!"
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Yes, the required heat before crossing the limen into heated space.  The fear and fight accomplished this, and Mencius surmounted the obstacle due to his good character and will, manifesting refulgent splendor.  More adagio on my part? maybe? :-)

Ex nihil nihilo fit.

..." if the feature of your dream was physical injury, it is a warning that you are surrounded by hostile forces and you must proceed very carefully in order to expose and thwart them." 

The wound was not on you in your dream.

Good judgement comes from experience; experience comes from bad judgement.
----------------------------------------------------------
You have to believe in the impossible in order to become.

8 (edited by Nyarlathotep 2007-08-15 01:26:23)

Re: Cockroach to Sparrow - Interpret my dream, please!

Mencius wrote:the bird lovely. Big eyes and disney, though real looking. He tenderly nips at my nose and rests on my shoulder, rubbing up against my ear. It is such a strange sensation to be receiving this kind of affection from a wild bird, but it feels very real. "



Interesting, I had a dream that sort of parrellels yours in an interesting way. I was outside of a home somwhere in the midwest. I was standing in the daylight around some beautiful trees on a path/driveway on the north side beside this interesting house. I see a bird flying around and admire its beauty. I keeps diving nearer and nearer until in finally lands a few feet from me. It was a larger kind of white bird. All the sudden, the bird has changed into a sort of childlike humanoid, very "disney" looking in it's eyes like with your bird. She seemed very innocent and cheerful, and cute.. It was like, a childlike being that was an elemental or ET with shapeshifting ability as it is a multi-dimensional being of some kind with a definate intelligence (same with birds, they are magickal creatures just like all of them).  I walked closer to her and was amazed by the look of this being as it was noticing me and chuckled. I got closer to it to where I could touch her head and "pet" her. When I lifted my hand to do so while walking toward her she made a little bit of a squeek sound, like a shy jitter, and she flew away as a bird again. I felt a real affection with this bird like in your dream, and did'nt want to see it go. I was just humbled that it was in my presence, like it emited an intelligence that was..well whats the word, just a truly and genuinely friendly and intelligent being. It was like actually meeting another life form in this enchanted wood in the brilliant sunshine and trees.

Too bad I didnt record that dream, I remember it being one of those ones you really remember because of its significance.

Frater Migo

9

Re: Cockroach to Sparrow - Interpret my dream, please!

Also Id like to say that dreams are a very personal thing and dream interpretation books and things like this usually, for me anyway, are totally off. Its ok if they work for other people, but dont believe what any dream book tells you. For example, I love Carlos Casenedas book about Dreaming, but I dont really believe it. I feel that Carlos was a dreamer at one point (dreamer not meaning heads in the clouds, but a real dreamer of worlds). His earlier books reflect that deep symbolic and dreamy quality.  I personally like H.P. Lovecraft for symbology, and you can read his stories alchemically as he did map out certain archetypal territories of the dream worlds, though he may not have known this during his life or thought that peoope would see his work as collections of grimoires.  I have actually experience one creature and an old woman during by dreams one night. I hadnt been reading lovecraft that long, but a Grand Master of the Esoteric Order of Dagon, an esoteric Order that studies Lovecrafts work, Gematria, Alchemy etc etc, told me to read "dreams of the witch house" after he heard about this experience I had. it was dead on. The entities I experienced that night were of the same demenor, did the same things to me they do in the story, and other "coincidences". 

I feel dream interpretations should done by the interpretor and feel out where it takes you. One thing I know to be true. THe more you share you dreams and have others read them, the more true they will become and manifest into your physical encounters in space and time.

Re: Cockroach to Sparrow - Interpret my dream, please!

I just don't know what to say.  Mencius was taking some kind of risk in sharing a dream?  For my part, I'm really not into the art of dream interpretation.  I not only believe it is not an exact science, I don't even think dream interpretation approaches the outer periphery of the the perimeter of the quality of being an exact science.

I believe that the emotions, feelings, and thoughts of an individual are very important.  They probably have a great deal to do with defining what a person ultimately becomes, at the very least within himself.  We don't live in our own little worlds, we are always around other people each day.  People don't always remember everything you say, but they always remember how you made them feel. 

Thanks for the advice.  I will see if I can find the dream interpretation authority.  I think he will have to be transjective.  But still have the ability to utilize subjective and objective proof.  It's like, if you are transrational, it doesn't mean you are never prerational, you are simply conscious of the seperate states... in a rational way.

Twas Brilig and the slithy toves, that did gyre and gambol in the wabe....

Good judgement comes from experience; experience comes from bad judgement.
----------------------------------------------------------
You have to believe in the impossible in order to become.

Re: Cockroach to Sparrow - Interpret my dream, please!

Yikes, them's some big words, thar!

I think that dream symbols can be categorized as manifestations of archetypes.

Especially animals, of which tradition can attribute certain spiritual qualities to. Like the cockroach representing the shadow, fear, etc. The cat is a predator, in this case my guardian. The sparrow is the fear transformed into something of splendor, the result of my fear/shadow being neutralized.

And the fact that I saw the bird clearly labeled as "sparrow" is a clear indication that I am to get symbolic data from virtue of what sort of animal it is. It could have been a crow, fynch, or hawk... but it was very specifically a sparrow, and had a very affectionate attitude, seemingly because I saved its life.

Interesting that that cat protected me by getting the cockroach, but I had to save the sparrow from that cat. Also interesting that the sparrow was the same creature as the cockroach, but in a different form. The cat didn't know any difference, was going to eat the sparrow just the same.

Re: Cockroach to Sparrow - Interpret my dream, please!

I guess if I used Robert Moore, he has a book, "King, Lover, Magician, Warrior."  I would say you as the king archetype loosed the warrior, (cat) against shadow or death.  The magician archetype, (gupta vidya) recognized death as simply an aspect of life, and the lover archetype, realizing the interconnectedness of all things embraced the symbol which now has the form of a sparrow.  The king which is regenerative, generous, bestows blessing, had amicable parting with the sparrow.

Someone said Noumenal subordinates Archetypal.

Good judgement comes from experience; experience comes from bad judgement.
----------------------------------------------------------
You have to believe in the impossible in order to become.

13

Re: Cockroach to Sparrow - Interpret my dream, please!

I had a dream once about a spiritual humming bird that somhow broke its beak. It was like it existed between worlds, not wholey in one or the other. I woke up and turned on the tv and saw a show about a tribe in africa and their beliefs about a spiritual hummingbird who uses his beak to access the otherside. Hmmm. I cant sit here and say " this must mean that Im spiritually completely dirempt!" lol.  It was interesting though.  Your cat reminds me of the Cats of Ulthar in H.P. Lovecrafts Dream Quest of Unkown Kadath.  They are known to help and be kind to those who are kind and help them.

Re: Cockroach to Sparrow - Interpret my dream, please!

The cat represents your inner guardian, that which protects you against harm in all its forms. It's kind of like an auto-protect system, is highly instinctual and based upon prior lessons during this incarnation.  Just as you did in your dream, it's important not to let this aspect of yourself completely dictate your actions. On the contrary, you stood up to this side once you realized that what is was doing was cruel...once you realized that it no longer served your true purpose.
It's important to see things as they truly are, not as you wish, not with a candy-coated impression of "Everything is perfect", because to say that humanity is perfect, that society is perfect, that our relationships are perfect and that everyone and everything is perfect is at the least an ignorant view, and at the very worst, a deeply endangering viewpoint.
  The cockroach I see is a manifestation of a series of negative emotional states, all of which were put aside, yet not to rest; instead they simmered away, trapped within the stove you set about them so you could deal productively with life. It's interesting how the cat came and literally transformed this "creature" you had locked away; perhaps it is demonstrating to you the power of the intuitive, flexible and perceptive abilities that are at your disposal when you need assistance. And when that power has been released and incorporated into your schmorgasbord of problem-solving techniques, the power of the sparrow will be released...think of it like a totem, where upon each animals power aids and blends with the others to create a truly powerful collection of energies.

"Don't eat any wooden nickels."

Re: Cockroach to Sparrow - Interpret my dream, please!

Yeah, Mongoose, thanks!