Initiation rites help a person to make the transition from one stage / status to a higher, more advanced one - for example, from childhood to adulthood, or from a Svorldly5 work-and-family orientated existence to an ‘otherworldly5 God-centred life. Their symbolism is always that of death and resurrection (or rebirth), represented by such features as the following:
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a dagger pointing at your heart, or being used to kill you;
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being laid on an altar for sacrifice;
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sweating profusely in a heated hut or tent - for purging body and psyche of accumulated impurities and for generating spiritual ‘heat5 or energy;
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circumcision - to turn you into an adult, or to put you among God’s chosen ones;
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being given a new name — to mark your new status, to show you are no longer the person you were. What docs the new name mean or suggest to you?
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being tattooed - for the same purpose as (5) above. Does the tattoo suggest anything to you?
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going into a state of ecstasy - signifying a new level of consciousness;
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some esoteric teaching given you by a priest or holy person - new directions for your life. NB This feature, on its own, might count as a pseudo-initiation: substitution of ideas for actual experience.
If any of these items occur in a dream, it may be that you are being called upon to leave your present stage of life / stage of personal development / set of attitudes, beliefs, values and goals for a new one. Who or what is doing the calling? God? Your unconscious? The name is less important than the fact.
[1]These dreams often represent the transition from one psychological stage to a higher one. For example, the passage from childhood to adolescence, from youth to middle age, or from middle age to old age. On the other hand, initiation hides the dreamer’s desires to change her earthly aspirations to more spiritual ones.
In ancient times, initiation rituals were very common. They were used as a dramatized representation of the structure of the psyche or life.
[2]Material aspects: We have many opportunities to make new beginnings, and initiation – in that it indicates a change of status – is one such symbol. This may be important to us in terms of either personal growth or within the work situation.
To dream that we are being given such an honour means we can receive acclaim for something that we have done, for our ability to make the transition from the lesser to the greater.
[3]Psychological / emotional perspective: Often a ceremony is necessary to mark the fact that we have succeeded in one thing and can now move on, putting that knowledge to the test in the outside world.
To be dreaming of such a ceremony indicates that we can be pleased with ourselves and what we have achieved, that we have literally inaugurated a different way of being, and can now move forward into the future.
[4]Dreams of an initiation symbolize that you are at the beginning of a new chapter in your life. Your dream is giving you the message to see the challenges that you’ve been facing as part of your initiation process, preparing you for the next level of your evolution.
See Also: Graduation, Fire.
[5]A dream about an initiation ceremony can mean that a change is taking place in the dreamer’s life.
The dreamer may be evolving to a new level spiritually. Such a dream can also indicate that one is moving into a new career or advancing in status in some other area.
[6]Initiation is a rite of passage ceremony marking entrance or acceptance into a group or society.
An initiation or inauguration ceremony in a spiritual sense can mark a new beginning, the taking of new spirituality, perhaps cosmic responsibility.
[7]Gives gender-specific: Rites of passage often require a formal acknowledgement and this may well be reflected in dreams. By tradition, initiation for men is more overt and physical, whilst for women it is more intuitive.
[8]Happy social times are forecast in a dream featuring an initiation ceremony.
[9]You have reached a plateau; graduation. Awakening to new level of awareness.
[10]See Also: Religious Imagery
[11]lucky numbers: 03-40-46-48-49-50
going through an: evolving to a new spiritual level with aid from adepts.
leading an: sound friendship based on loyalty and honor.
participating in a: a new career is opening up for you.
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