Interpreting my dream

I completed a 21-day spiritual fast a week ago. It was one of the hardest things I have done intentionally and in my meditation practice. It was a fruitful time of great rest for my body and spirit. It was an invitation to settle.

As I ended the fast, I sat in meditation. Tears flooded down my cheeks. I was grieving the end of this phase of feeling fully alive and determined, and yet completely at ease. I went to sleep enveloped in joy at having completed what I set out to do and a melancholy that it was over.

The Dream

In the morning, I found myself at a beach. Surrounded by cliffs, I saw myself standing at the edge of beautiful green and turquoise waters. And in the waters, I saw a figure presenting as a woman with long hair. I had a sense that it was either me or my mother. I was mesmerized. Before I could understand what was going on, I saw the figure being surrounded by hundreds of crows. They were in the water. As I witnessed this scene, the "I" who was watching this scene was afraid and felt compelled to run away. The crows were scary.

As "I" was about to turn away, I remembered that crows often symbolize ancestors. I grew up putting out a plate of food during shraddh, the fortnight during which Hindus make offerings to ancestors who have passed for their liberation. The belief is that as the ancestors get liberated, we, as their descendants live happier lives in the present. Remembering this eased "my" fears and I remained on the beach.

The figure in the water remained swimming and floating close to the shore and the crows began swimming deeper into the water, moving away. As they went in deeper, the crows turned into penguins and they began to disappear. Simultaneously, the view began to zoom out as if "I" was on a drone that was going higher and higher into the sky. Till the figure in the water, and the crow-penguins remained in essence as their form faded from sight.

I awakened from my sleep and sat at my altar. Deep peace oozed from my being.

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The interpretation

I used my knowledge of Tantric symbolism from Hinduism and Buddhism, albeit limited, to understand this vivid dream.

My dream can be seen as a powerful message of transformation, healing, and connection to ancestral wisdom. The pristine turquoise waters represent a space of purity and clarity, offering both emotional and spiritual healing. The turquoise-green reminds me of Green Tara, the goddess with 21 emanations of compassion. The figure, whether my mother or myself, reflects the merging of identities—the blending of personal and ancestral lineage, hinting at the fluid nature of self. This figure in the water embodies the feminine energy of nurturing, wisdom, and compassion that I am being called to embrace.

The crows surrounding the figure symbolize ancestral energies, initially evoking fear but soon transforming into guides. The fear could be my initial realization of this intergenerational burden. These crows remind me of the karmic ties and wisdom passed down through generations. Approaching them indicates my readiness to confront and honor these connections, allowing for deeper healing. As the crows leave the figure behind and swim into the ocean, their transformation into penguins suggests the evolution of ancestral burdens or fears into something more playful, resilient, and adaptable. This shift symbolizes the movement from heavier, more grounded energies (crows) to lightness and fluidity (penguins), mirroring my journey of transformation.

The zooming out over the vast waters indicates a shift in perspective, inviting me to see the bigger picture—one that transcends individual identity and connects me with something far greater. It’s an invitation to witness the ebb and flow of life with openness, holding space for both my ancestors' wisdom and my own personal growth. In this, the dream encourages me to embrace my lineage while also allowing myself to evolve into a more liberated, joyful expression of my being.

My dream points to the fluid, transformative nature of self and the interplay of personal and ancestral energies. It encourages me to honor the past while welcoming the playful, adaptable potential of the future.

I am loved, supported and nourished by my ancestors.