Wow, lots of reading to do here! I am awaiting some new glasses (getting reading glasses for the first time), so I will post mine now and go back and read bits in chunks I think!
I've had lots of spirit guide dreams - mostly from my animal totem guides.
A few years ago, when I had finished up my 2nd year of university I was frustrated and depressed. I had no idea where my life was going, I barely knew who I was. So I took some time out to heal (which worked wonders!). One night, while enjoying my down time I had this dream:
I was walking through a big stadium, covered in water. There was a big swimming pool beside me (there is always water everywhere in my animal dreams!). I saw a seal in the swimming pool and at the end of the pool was a large elephant, chained to a piano. I walked up to the elephant and he was crying, he looked miserable. I asked him what was wrong and he said "I don't want to be here, I don't like playing the piano. I'm only doing this because everyone expects me too - they're all watching and won't let me be free".
Then the next thing I know I was in the swimming pool with the seal. It kept tickling me and I was trying to get out but it kept me in the pool.
I don't remember much more of it, like I said it was a few years ago, but this was my interpretation. When I woke up it was crystal clear and I knew instantly, I had to quit university!
The Elephant - represented me, chained to what I thought was my responsibilities. I didn't enjoy them, but I didn't know what to do to get away while everyone was watching me. The elephant wisdom can also represent using education opportunities - clearly he was not showing me that I was doing the right thing education wise!
The seal in the water - According to the references I use for totem wisdom, water is a creative element and represents the feminine imagination and intuition. When a seal appears in your life it is a signal to pay close attention to your imagination and insight both in the dreamtime and in the waking state. Much of what your imagining may have, and usually does, a strong basis in reality no matter how far fetched it appears.
I was being told to pay attention and stop playing that tune for everyone else! I quit uni a few weeks later and never looked back. Just after I made the decision, a taxi drove past me with advertising for an animal shelter on the back. I went to volunteer there. I'm now an animal behaviourist and have just been offered the job of my waking dreams!!!
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Another vivid totem dream I have had was when I was back in my home town with my then boyfriend (now husband) and was getting ready to leave and move interstate. I had the best dream, it was such an omen that I was doing the right thing.
I was at my mum's new house. She had just purchased it and I had only seen it once during a quick inspection. I was standing on the back verandah and it was all closed in. There was a crow hopping around near the door, with 4 other crows on the outside. I wanted to put the crow with the other crows, and went to open the door. Mum was panicing and begging me not to go near it because the other crows outside might come in and attack me. I ignored her and opened the door and let the crow be free and unite with its friends.
Then I noticed a cat walk out of the house and it was crying and had wet paws. I walked inside to find a litter of newborn kittens in a puddle in the shower, still in their sacs. I called out to my other half who came in and helped remove the kittens from their birth sacs, so gentley and gave them to the mother cat to lick. I gave him a big hug and thanked him for saving their lives.
A friend interpreted this one for me, she said that my Mum tried to stop me from moving the crow outside, because she was scared of me leaving interstate. She didn't want me opening that door and going through.
She thinks the kitten scene was an omen that my partner was the right one for me, that he was loving, kind and brought new life. I'd have to agree! We got married 4 months ago and I love living interstate, a whole world of opportunities has opened up for me, including happiness.
Another one of worthy mention was awakening from a dream. I could feel myself being placed back into my body and I was waving goodbye to someone. Someone that I felt to be a teacher or guide. He was taking me back to my physical body and I was just floating backward into myself, saying goodbye and that I would see him next time. The imagery was like a dream, but the sensation was more physical, waking. I don't normally 'see' things, I sense them. I can describe very acurate physical details, without actually seeing anything, so I assume I was in a slight dream state to have seen the person so clearly rather than just "know" what he looks like.
Looks like I added my own lengthy one!
Mel