FLYING

The next stage though was to extend my height, and this took enor­mous effort of will and body. I made active swimming mo­tions and climbed, but only held altitude with great and con­stant concentration. With further practice still, this clumsy mode of flying was left behind as I leamt to use pure motiva­tion or will to lift me into the air and carry me easily and gracefully wherever I wished. At this stage my flying was swift, mobile and without struggle’ (Jason V).

The example illustrates how much will, effort and learning can be involved in flying in dreams. This aspect of flying connects with the gaining of independence and the expression of one’s poten­tial. We are all born into a certain paradigm or ‘reality’. At one time, part of the ‘reality’ for most Britons was that anyone without a white skin was a heathen or savage. At other times the reality’ has been that anything heavier than air could not fly. Meteors did not exist because theory discounted them. And so on.

To break free of such paradigms and from the gravity’ or hold our parental and social authority has on us to find a measure of emotional and intellectual freedom, takes the son of will, effort and learning depicted.

Flying expresses also the dealing with our internal influ­ences which hold us down, such as self doubt, anxiety, de­pression.

Example: ‘I was flying. I felt nervous at first that I would fall down, but not afraid. I soon became confident and felt very happy and wanted the sensation to continue. I was lying over a building, could have been a small church, crematorium or graveyard but did not feel afraid or upset. When I woke I lay in bed and tried very hard to keep the feelings with me and, for reasons unknown, I do not wish to forget it’ (Mrs SM). In flying, Mrs SM is finding a way to look at death—the graveyard—which gives her a different viewpoint, a different feeling reaction to it, and she doesn’t want to lose that pre­cious newly learnt view. In their maturing process some peo- pie learn to see their thoughts and emotions as things they expenence rather than things they are, and this brings the sort of new viewpoint seen in the example.

Example: ‘I was in a building with a group of people. I was being chased and suddenly flew up in the air to escape my pursuers’ (Michael O). Learning independence, and the abil­ity to make decisions despite what others feel, may be done by ignoring our own feelings. This may be achieved by always keeping busy; never having quiet moments alone; filling empty periods with entertainment or company; smoking, drinking alcohol, taking sedatives or tranquillisers; ngid posi­tive thinking. Then, as Michael does in his dream, we fly from issues we are pursued by instead of resolving them. This may lead us to the extremes of being either rigidly materialistic, or as rigidly ethereal. In either case we lose contact with every­day human issues, and may begin to have the escape-type flying dream, or an out of body experience.

Example: 41 knew I could fly. I picked up one of the young women I felt love for and flew with her.’ Laughingly I felt like superman, and flew easily’ (Simon W). Flying alone occurs most frequently, showing the independent aspect of flying. But because it often involves our positive feelings of pleasure, flying may depict our sexuality, as above, especially aspects of it expressing freedom from social norms and restraints.

Example: ‘I was floating atop a tree near houses and a rising walkway. I was saying to people around the tree that I had found something wonderful. Reaching out my hand I told them they could join me if they accepted this possibility in themselves. Some thought it was a publicity campaign, but were enjoying the spectacle.

A few reached out and were im­mediately with me, until there were about six of us, men and women. We joined hands, experiencing a most amazing sense of well-being. Then we slowly and effortlessly flew to a great height, leaving a trail of coloured smoke which could be seen for miles. It was to demonstrate the triumph of the human spirit. We then descended and were going somewhere else to show others’ (Margareta H). Transcendence is also depicted by flying.

The tree is Margareta’s personal life. She is at the growing tip, transcending, leaving behind her past. Being high in flight, on a hill or mountain also represents the action of seeing our life as a whole, having a sense of our overall direc­tion and destiny, our essential self. This frequently gives rise to the drive to give of one’s best to others, as Margareta does in leaving behind a sign—the spire of colour.

Some researchers believe flying dreams often precede lucid dreams.

See lucid dreams; out of body experience.

See also Hill; mountain. Idioms: fly by night, flying high; send flying.

It is a dream from which you leave with optimism and renewed strength, with a stimulating sensation of liberty. It also indicated the need to discover, to invent, and to do new things. This type of image foretells success, the completion of objections and overcoming difficulties, and encourages the dreamer to action (it is the time to fly by one’s self). However, you should not forget the Greek myth from Icarus; he who tried to go too high, his ambition brought him to a fatal destination. Further, if the protagonist is a young woman, it announces the break from relations in her couple.

In antiquity, if a person dreamt of flying, it was considered that he had entered into the sphere of the immortal gods. The Native Americans, the Babylonians, the Hindus, the Tibetan Buddhists, and many other peoples believed that the world had the ability to abandon the physical body during sleep. During these astral voyages, the psychic body could fly to other dimensions, communicate with people of a certain spiritual belief or learn of the souls that once were angels and divinities. Some scientists believe that these voyages are factual and that there exists the possibility to verify them empirically.

Flying

analysis of a dream

Montse dreamed: “I discovered with astonishment that I could fly. I just had

Montse dreamed: “I discovered with astonishment that I could fly. I just had to move three steps ahead and push myself a little forward; I didn’t even have to swing my arms. The wind marked my direction and I was able to feel the incredible sensation, I felt happy, free, powerful... Around me there were no birds, nor sounds; I was on my own in the immensity of the blue sky, flying over a sea in calm blue, yet brighter. Suddenly, I saw a group of dolphins jumping joyfully over silver waves. I awoke smiling, with a very pleasant sensation.”

Dreaming that you are flying is associated with liberty, the desire to elevate yourself from the earthly bindings and conquer the heaviness of reality.

It is a dream of evolution, which reveals you need to freely express yourself, to create... Montse, by profession a designer, had this dream a few days before completing a design for an important magazine, very artistic and vanguardist, renowned with many awards... A few days before she had felt very pressured and tired; however, her dream calmed her and revealed her creative capacity and her strength of expression. Dolphins are a symbol of intelligence that s related to clarity and purity of thought. The face that there were jumping through the water (entering and leaving) indicated the level of connection Montse had established between her conscious and subconscious.

Dreams of flights also match an interest in spiritual evolution. Curiously, through this period, Montse had given some tries in this direction, with courses on growth and personal overcoming, in which she learned much about herself.

If one sees himself flying lying on his back, then it means comfort. Flying for other than a traveller meansjoblessness. Flying from one roof into another in a dream means changing from a man of dignity into a man who has no moral standards. In a dream, a roof also represents a woman or a wife. In this sense, flying between two roofs could mean having a mistress beside one’s wife.

If a woman sees herself flying from her house into the house of a man she knows in the dream, it means that she will marry him. Flying from a known abode into a distant and unknown abode in a dream means death.

If a prisoner sees himself flying in a dream, it means that he will be released fromjail. Flying with wings in a dream also means travels, and flying without wings means changes in one’s status or conditions.

If a foreigner sees himself flying in a dream, it means that he will return to his homeland, or it could mean that he travels excessively. Ifone who has pride and exaggerated hopes sees himself flying in a dream, then his dream represents mere hallucination. Ifone sees himselfin a dream flying in a race with someone else, and ifhe wins the race, it means that he will conquer his opponent and rise above him in station. Flying over a mountain in a dream means power and sovereignty.

If one who qualifies for leadership sees himself flying in a dream, it means that he will attain a leadership position.

If he falls over something in the dream, it means that he will own or control whatever he falls into. Ifone does not qualify for leadership and sees himself flying in a dream, it represents pitfalls in his religious performances, or it could mean falling sick.

If one does attain his intended destination in the dream, then his dream connotes a successful journey.

If one flies in his dream and disappears beyond sight, it means his death.

If one flies from his own house into an unknown house in the dream, the latter house represents his grave. Flying in a dream also represent a sickness that could lead a person near his death before he could recover from it.

If one flies from a low elevation into a higher one and without wings in his dream, it means fulfillment of his aspirations. Ifone soars in the air like a pigeon in a dream and sees people below him, whereby he can benefit or harm whomever he wants, it means that he will preside over people and reach a rank of honor and dignity.

If one becomes tired during his flight between tow cities or places and finds himself incapable of benefiting or harming anyone, and ifhe seeks nothing from his flight but is still happy about flying in the dream, it means that he is trying to find money for his personal needs or business. Ifone sees himselfflying from one land into another in a dream, it means that he will attain honor, power, comfort and satisfaction.

If one sees himself flying horizontally in the dream, it means that his wife will straighten her act and without much effort on his part. Ifone sees himselfflying vertically with his head up and his feet pointing to the ground in the dream, it means that he will receive benefits.

The more he rises, the greater are his benefits.

If rich people or craftsmen see that dream, it represents a leadership position they could occupy.

If a foreigner sees that in a dream, it means that he will return to his mother land, or it could mean that he will never return to his homeland again. Flying with wings in a dream means benefits in general. Soaring high in the air and without wings in a dream means fears and hardships. Flying over people’s homes and over the streets in a dream means difficulties and disturbances. Flying near a flock of birds in a dream means associating, living or working with unknown people.

If an evil person sees that, it means a bad omen, and for a fisherman it means sufferings or death. Flying in the air at a low altitude in a dream means taking a short trip.

If one sees himself flying at will and ceasing to fly at will in a dream, it means easing of his burdens and expectation of great benefits to come his way. Seeing oneself in a dream flying upside-down means evil happening. Ifa sick person sees himselfflying in the air in a dream, it means that he will die from his illness. Ifone sees himself laying over his bed and flying with it in a dream, it means a severe illness or an ailment that will strike at his legs. Enjoying flying between the sky and the earth in a dream means having exaggerated hopes. Flying in a dream also means seeking a destructive knowledge, or pursuing an evil idea, or associating with villainous and notorious people, or it could mean being in a hurry, or that one takes lightly a serious project, then fails to accomplish it because of his angry character. Flying in a dream also denotes extreme happiness, or it could mean superstition. Ifone flies from a bad place into a good place such as a farm or a mosque in his dream, it means benefits and growth.

(Also see Air, Wadi)