Animals of Heavens
Integral Guide – the Dream Dog: Symbol, Nature and Implications
Animals of Heaven and Earth as Spirit's Vehicles
In the East there are traditions and stories of deities, as avatars incarnating to assist humankind at critical evolutionary stages. There are stories of sages incarnating as animals, such as deers for example in one story.
Vishnu, one of the Hindu trinity deities, incarnated in ages past as a turtle, a fish, etc. Gods and goddesses "ride" animal or animal like creatures as their vehicles to traverse the universe. There is the Makara of Eastern tradition, a half-terrestial and half-water creature who is considered the guardian of the directions and "portals" and is the vehicle of the goddess of river goddess Ganga and of Varuna the god and lord of water and it's vital-astral dream world. The Makara is depicted in various aquatic-terrestial forms, including one that is a dolphin. As you can see, the Makara can be one of the lucid dreamer's, the shaman's and the dream yogi's best friend.
In Native American Plains Indian tradition there is the White Buffalo Women, a spiritual being or goddess and Teacher, who appeared and taught the Sioux, and then disappeared turning in sequence into four different colored buffalos, before returning to her source. There are the animal spirits an there relationship to and infusing of their powers, guidance and qualities into the shaman or medicine man or medicine woman. (Irwin, 1996)
In the East there are traditions and stories of deities, as avatars incarnating to assist humankind at critical evolutionary stages. There are stories of sages incarnating as animals, such as deers for example in one story.
Vishnu, one of the Hindu trinity deities, incarnated in ages past as a turtle, a fish, etc. Gods and goddesses "ride" animal or animal like creatures as their vehicles to traverse the universe. There is the Makara of Eastern tradition, a half-terrestial and half-water creature who is considered the guardian of the directions and "portals" and is the vehicle of the goddess of river goddess Ganga and of Varuna the god and lord of water and it's vital-astral dream world. The Makara is depicted in various aquatic-terrestial forms, including one that is a dolphin. As you can see, the Makara can be one of the lucid dreamer's, the shaman's and the dream yogi's best friend.
In Native American Plains Indian tradition there is the White Buffalo Women, a spiritual being or goddess and Teacher, who appeared and taught the Sioux, and then disappeared turning in sequence into four different colored buffalos, before returning to her source. There are the animal spirits an there relationship to and infusing of their powers, guidance and qualities into the shaman or medicine man or medicine woman. (Irwin, 1996)
Hound of Heaven
In Hindu mythology Sarama, vehicle of the Lord of Heaven, Indra, is described as the heavenly mother of all dogs, including her two off-spring, who became heaven gate guard dogs of Yama, Lord of Dharma or Truth, who as Gate Keeper of Heaven is also the Lord of Death. In various sacred texts of India, Sarama – possibly meaning "to go", "quick", "the fleet one", or the "dawn" – is described in one text as the mother of all animals. Sarama was often depicted as a devic form, dog of the gods, and the one who assisted the Indra, the king of heaven, in seeking and finding heavenly cows, the Light, kidnapped by demons and hidden in a deep cave; thus, providing humans again with access to their heavenly milk, Light or grace.
"The Atharvaveda Samhita has another reference to Sarama, which talks about her dew-claws, suggesting her place as deity for all dogs. The Brahmana texts like Taittiriya Brahmana and Apastamba Shrauta Sutra narrate that Sarama, the "goddess in guise of a dog", was sent by Indra to roam in the mortal world, where she saw starving people. So Sarama created water to sustain food and led the water to flow in fields. She also found the divine cows, who provided milk to mankind.". (“Sarama,” 2017)
Dogs have had special spiritual significance in many traditions, as well as a role as guardian and companion to humans in the physical world. It is said that some shamans always have a dog to warn them of hostile subtle beings or demons traveling in their direction in the subtle worlds to harm or attack. Hell was guarded by Cerberus, the three-headed dog that guarded the gates to hell, according to the Greeks.
In Hinduism a form of Shiva, Bhairava, has as his "mount" a dog named Shvan. Bharirava manifests in eight forms and as those forms is the guardian of the eight directions.
There are also beliefs and stories of an Aumakua shape shifting in and out of animal forms, in the awake-physical world or in subtle form in the dream world.
"The Atharvaveda Samhita has another reference to Sarama, which talks about her dew-claws, suggesting her place as deity for all dogs. The Brahmana texts like Taittiriya Brahmana and Apastamba Shrauta Sutra narrate that Sarama, the "goddess in guise of a dog", was sent by Indra to roam in the mortal world, where she saw starving people. So Sarama created water to sustain food and led the water to flow in fields. She also found the divine cows, who provided milk to mankind.". (“Sarama,” 2017)
Dogs have had special spiritual significance in many traditions, as well as a role as guardian and companion to humans in the physical world. It is said that some shamans always have a dog to warn them of hostile subtle beings or demons traveling in their direction in the subtle worlds to harm or attack. Hell was guarded by Cerberus, the three-headed dog that guarded the gates to hell, according to the Greeks.
In Hinduism a form of Shiva, Bhairava, has as his "mount" a dog named Shvan. Bharirava manifests in eight forms and as those forms is the guardian of the eight directions.
There are also beliefs and stories of an Aumakua shape shifting in and out of animal forms, in the awake-physical world or in subtle form in the dream world.
In "dreaming" – entering the dream world in a subtle dream body, or through visions of those dream worlds – we can have a separate reality from the awake world, and its representations. In dreaming, or dream time we become true subtle beings, "dreamers" with those dream beings who exist in those inner worlds: nature and animal spirits; devas, who exist in all dream worlds of various kinds or types; personal-lineage human ancestors; spiritual-lineage ancestors; other various guardians; and of course, the various demons and who play tricks on us, and hamper our way in the Light.
Dog Dream Symbol Perspectives
Animal images or figures in dreams can be representations of a person's inner or outer life, past, present or future. They can represent aspects or qualities of oneself, or speak to our relationship to nature or its creatures. The nature and form of a dog in a dream can have personal meaning, universal symbolism and meaning, or be an objective dream reality of a canine's dream body. The dream dog reality or symbol can reflect one's position or role in life, one's current needs, aspirations, activities and purpose or dharma. (Overman. “Dogs as Guardians and Seekers in Dreams,” n.d.)
Literal, Symbolic or Real?
Some suggestive thoughts are shared below on dogs in dreams, but not to use rigidly. First, some thoughts on dogs as companions and their needs, drives and nature.
Canine Core Principles
Our relationship with a "companion" dog, in all roles of life, should be driven by the power of harmony – an actual soul contact and power behind physical nature and inner spirit. Our relationship becomes reciprocal, in devotion, love, protection and agency – acting together and supporting each other in waking life and dream life.
Temple Grandin and Catherine Johnson in Animals Make Us Human: Creating the Best Life for Animals says the three "core emotions" – or one could say needs or drives – of dogs: social contact; play to activate the seeking system; and doing interesting activity such as walking to initiate the seeking. (Grandin, Johnson, 2009). This is insightful in light of the origin, role and powers of the dog from Eastern tradition, as the dogs heavenly ancestor, "hound of heaven" being the seeker of Light, revealing hidden light in darkness, using "divine" scent, and the heavenly dogs offspring assisting in guarding heaven and it's gates.
Seeking is born in the dog, using principally that of scent and smell – both a need and drive to seek. Seeking with scent, sight and hearing satisfies the dogs curiosity for new or even novel experience. I am found that this drive, especially for certain dogs, occurs in both awake life and dream life. We see this ability to seek and to find heightened in the training of canines to discover people trapped in natural disasters such as snow avalanches and earth quakes, or in manmade disasters such as in the rubble of warI have discovered and learned that this curiosity drive can be tapped, and the drive to serve humankind guided and trained, both without, in the physical life, and within, in the dream life. We can develop a dream life relationship with our canine friends, and especially those with a special mission – and special temperament and skills.
For a "working dog" such as an assistance dog or a service dog, there is also a need and drive to please through service, and to "work." I have also observed that if a working dog, or dog born "in service," does not have enough time to work – and all work is a seeking – it becomes lethargic and even depressed. I learned over twelve years living, and "breathing" the same air, with a dog named Andy, who became one of my best friends, that he was eager to learn from me, as well as me learn from him. I was shown that he could be trained to be a greater dreamer and a dream companion.
Dog Dream Symbol Perspectives
Animal images or figures in dreams can be representations of a person's inner or outer life, past, present or future. They can represent aspects or qualities of oneself, or speak to our relationship to nature or its creatures. The nature and form of a dog in a dream can have personal meaning, universal symbolism and meaning, or be an objective dream reality of a canine's dream body. The dream dog reality or symbol can reflect one's position or role in life, one's current needs, aspirations, activities and purpose or dharma. (Overman. “Dogs as Guardians and Seekers in Dreams,” n.d.)
Literal, Symbolic or Real?
Some suggestive thoughts are shared below on dogs in dreams, but not to use rigidly. First, some thoughts on dogs as companions and their needs, drives and nature.
Canine Core Principles
Our relationship with a "companion" dog, in all roles of life, should be driven by the power of harmony – an actual soul contact and power behind physical nature and inner spirit. Our relationship becomes reciprocal, in devotion, love, protection and agency – acting together and supporting each other in waking life and dream life.
Temple Grandin and Catherine Johnson in Animals Make Us Human: Creating the Best Life for Animals says the three "core emotions" – or one could say needs or drives – of dogs: social contact; play to activate the seeking system; and doing interesting activity such as walking to initiate the seeking. (Grandin, Johnson, 2009). This is insightful in light of the origin, role and powers of the dog from Eastern tradition, as the dogs heavenly ancestor, "hound of heaven" being the seeker of Light, revealing hidden light in darkness, using "divine" scent, and the heavenly dogs offspring assisting in guarding heaven and it's gates.
Seeking is born in the dog, using principally that of scent and smell – both a need and drive to seek. Seeking with scent, sight and hearing satisfies the dogs curiosity for new or even novel experience. I am found that this drive, especially for certain dogs, occurs in both awake life and dream life. We see this ability to seek and to find heightened in the training of canines to discover people trapped in natural disasters such as snow avalanches and earth quakes, or in manmade disasters such as in the rubble of warI have discovered and learned that this curiosity drive can be tapped, and the drive to serve humankind guided and trained, both without, in the physical life, and within, in the dream life. We can develop a dream life relationship with our canine friends, and especially those with a special mission – and special temperament and skills.
For a "working dog" such as an assistance dog or a service dog, there is also a need and drive to please through service, and to "work." I have also observed that if a working dog, or dog born "in service," does not have enough time to work – and all work is a seeking – it becomes lethargic and even depressed. I learned over twelve years living, and "breathing" the same air, with a dog named Andy, who became one of my best friends, that he was eager to learn from me, as well as me learn from him. I was shown that he could be trained to be a greater dreamer and a dream companion.
A Dog Dream Figure May be Literal or Figurative, but Full of Meaning
– some suggestive meanings dependent upon your Position, Circumstances and Time Stage in Life.
Everyday Life
Devotion with affection, loyalty, happiness, protector, companionship, seeking love, extra-sensory, swiftness, etc.
Spiritual Life
Joy through spiritual devotion; nature's spiritual companionship; compassionate warning of death's coming; guardian of the "roads" and gates to heaven; etc.
Dream Yoga Life
Guardian of Truth; seeker of the hidden light in nature and the unconscious; protector of the yogi and yogini; etc.
Healers Work
Releaser of entrapped emotion and love through affectionate touch; contagious happiness; exciter of energy; soother of loneliness through presence, acceptance and engagement; etc. A healer who focuses working with "light" creates a triangle of healing light with the light of a "therapy" dog, oneself as healer and the inner light of the person in need.
Shaman's Life and Work
Companion in journeying; seeker and finder of lost or captured soul's or life force; a warning guardian, "shield" and defender from hostile beings of subtle upper worlds and underworlds, travel from the inner directions to attack the shaman. The work and duty of the canine both for the shaman and the yogi, or spiritual seeker, is to assist in guarding and warning with its subtle sensory powers, to protect with its strength and courage, and at times to "light the way" through seeking in traveling the inner or shadow worlds.
References:
Grandin, Temple and Johnson, Catherine. (2009). Animals Make Us Human: Creating the Best Life for Animals. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Boston/New York.
Devotion with affection, loyalty, happiness, protector, companionship, seeking love, extra-sensory, swiftness, etc.
Spiritual Life
Joy through spiritual devotion; nature's spiritual companionship; compassionate warning of death's coming; guardian of the "roads" and gates to heaven; etc.
Dream Yoga Life
Guardian of Truth; seeker of the hidden light in nature and the unconscious; protector of the yogi and yogini; etc.
Healers Work
Releaser of entrapped emotion and love through affectionate touch; contagious happiness; exciter of energy; soother of loneliness through presence, acceptance and engagement; etc. A healer who focuses working with "light" creates a triangle of healing light with the light of a "therapy" dog, oneself as healer and the inner light of the person in need.
Shaman's Life and Work
Companion in journeying; seeker and finder of lost or captured soul's or life force; a warning guardian, "shield" and defender from hostile beings of subtle upper worlds and underworlds, travel from the inner directions to attack the shaman. The work and duty of the canine both for the shaman and the yogi, or spiritual seeker, is to assist in guarding and warning with its subtle sensory powers, to protect with its strength and courage, and at times to "light the way" through seeking in traveling the inner or shadow worlds.
References:
Grandin, Temple and Johnson, Catherine. (2009). Animals Make Us Human: Creating the Best Life for Animals. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Boston/New York.
