Scavengers: Animals such as vultures, crows, & rats

[flyingsquirrel]

Vultures, crows, oppossums, rats and ants...all are creatures that eat the dead. These creatures serve a vital role and in ancient cultures, they symbolize rendering decay harmless by devouring it. The scavenger is recycling the life that was lost. This is a nesscessary and healthy process. If a vulture or crow appears in your dream, doing what it is supposed to do, then something that is harmful or wasteful is being recycled into something useful and harmless. The appearance of such animals may indicate a need for you to cleanse yourself of what is toxic to you.

[unclesirbobbyrobson]

Hi Flying squirrel

well I am not sure I agree with you at all. Of course symbols can mean lots of things but maybe this is an extreme position. Scavengers are much more likely to be associated with selfishness and deceitfulness. I recently read someones dream that involved lots of coyotes. the day before she had been very annoyed at someone she had met in a chat room. This woman was saying horrible things about her boyfriends child. That she should dump the child and its mother. Its this selfishness that triggered the dream that night.

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The dream mind is entirely different to the waking mind. The waking mind uses ordinary language to express its thoughts and feelings. The dream mind will play out its emotions and also weave together symbols to express its meaning. The waking mind simply says "I hope my boyfriend does not react to what I said last night by leaving me" whilst the dream mind will simply give you a list of symbols(maybe it would use a chemical spillage to symbolise the fear that someone may react). Try using my own dream dictionary at the following page to help you understand the various dream dictionary meanings.

http://www.geocities.com/hairybobby2000/dreamessay.html DREAM DICTIONARY
http://www.geocities.com/hairybobby2...ssayhowto.html How to use dreams symbols

[flyingsquirrel]

To say that scavengers always represent selfishness is narrow and incorrect...I'm an nature lover, and a believer that animals can teach us lessons. I was aware of the fact that I am dreaming when I dream and know exactly what is being represented as the information given to me as to what I am experiencing in the dream is given me while I dream it. Usually, scavengers are there (just as they were percieved in ancient cultures, especially in the Americas) they get rid of dangerous decay by eating it and recycle it ( see Ted Andrews study of animal totems ). I have though, forgotten its negative aspect, while for me personally, the negative symbolism of scavengers do not represent selfishness, but on occassion, have represented an inability to control anger. Once I was experiencing a great deal of anger in a dream from anger in real life, crows surrounded me and said, "Watch! Control your anger. If you act out in anger, you will only hurt yourself." Lo and behold, after some research, I found my dream experience had been a common one. People who are more understanding of real animal behavior and their roles are more likely to assign different symbolism. People disconnected from the natural world will see such animals in a negative context.

[flyingsquirrel]

I forgot to mention as well that in my dream experience, crows have represented war. In ancient times, the gods / goddesses of war were associated with crows, as they would eat the dead of war.

Vultures - MUT egyptian wife of Egyptian god Ammon was symbolized by a vulture...in my dreams they announce spirtual transformation, getting rid for what is dead for what is alive

[flyingsquirrel]

Here's an example:
Not everyone is so disconnected from Nature that they can't possibly see anything postive in its scavengers...

http://www.linsdomain.com/totems/pages/vulture.htm

http://www.linsdomain.com/totems/pictures/vulture.jpg


VULTURE



Death and Rebirth; New Vision

The Vulture is the symbol of death and rebirth,
the mother symbol,
and represents purification.
For those with this totem,
you will be noticed more for what you do than
how you appear.

Vulture or Condor
teaches us how to soar above our limitations.

Linked to the Griffin.

[unclesirbobbyrobson]

"People who are more understanding of real animal behavior and their roles are more likely to assign different symbolism. People disconnected from the natural world will see such animals in a negative context."

Yes I would pretty much agree with that. Dream symbols do have many meanings and they can be very personal to the dreamer.

I also agree with this "I was aware of the fact that I am dreaming when I dream and know exactly what is being represented as the information given to me as to what I am experiencing in the dream is given me while I dream it"

I do not disagree with what you are saying. But in a sense I still think I am right. Thats because there are probably far mor people who are disconnected from animals than there are those who are like yourself.

You also mention crows being associated with the dead of war because they eat them. I am not sure thats true today. In days gone by this was probably true because war was part of the human experience. In the same way greek and roman gods were opften very symbolic. But personally I have no idea what the names are of roman and greek gods and so they are really not likely to act as dream symbols.

In many cases it is more accurate to say that a dream has no real message. Dreams do mean something but when understood they simply represent thoughts that you are already aware of. The dreams symbolise your own views but in pictures and images. It could be that the snake in your dream represents the fear that some problem will strike again(a fear that your boss will pick on you). Each symbol represents day to day emotions and fears and the way they interact can also provide additional clues as to what real life situations are being played out in your mind. Understanding such dreams will not usually tell you anything you already know. But it is interesting to know how your mind works.

Try the following webpages as they help show you how to analyse dreams.

http://www.geocities.com/hairybobby2...howtopost.html
http://www.geocities.com/hairybobby2...ssayhowto.html
http://www.geocities.com/hairybobby2000/dreamessay.html

This webpage shows you some example dreams

http://www.geocities.com/hairybobby2...ookpolice.html