In the Chinese zodiac, every year corresponds to both an animal and an elemental energy. There are twelve animals (rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, boar) and five elements (water, wood, fire, earth and metal). This year on January 23, 2012, we entered the year of the Water Dragon.
Astrological influences on dreams
As a dreamer, I have been trained by indigenous elders to observe how the solar, lunar and planetary cycles affect my dream state. For example, many of us are aware of how a full moon can influence our dreams. In general, dreaming tends to be enhanced around the full moon, and full moon dreams tend to be more vivid and intense.
In addition, the position of the moon in the zodiac can also influence the dream state. For example, I have noticed that my most intense sexual dreams occur when the moon is in Scorpio. Sex and reproductive energy are both ruled by Scorpio, as well as mysteries, secrets, the occult and death.
In many indigenous calendar systems, including those of the Maya, the Mexica and the Hopi, this year of 2012 is prophesized to be very powerful and transformative. As we move into 2012, and experience the influence of the Water Dragon, I have already begun to notice how dragon energy is appearing in people’s dreams.
Energetic Manifestation of the Water Dragon
According to Asian tradition, dragons symbolized power, good fortune and creativity. In his recent Chinese Astrology forecast, Taoist master Liu Ming described that the energy of this Water Dragon year will feel like a tidal wave. The year will have the powerful qualities of the dragon, but with a watery twist.
I am curious about how the Water Dragon will manifest energetically in dreams, as well in waking life. I have already observed that the dragon energy can manifest in dreams without an actual dragon appearing in the dream itself.
For example, a few nights before the Chinese New Year I had this dream:
I am with my friends Heidi and Marcela. We are walking on a hilly path that looks like the landscape of Maui.
Unexpectedly, the path turns into a slide and we start descending downhill quickly. But then, we are moving like a rollercoaster, up and down, faster and faster. It feels both exhilarating and intense
Suddenly, the path dumps us into the ocean. We are now underwater, in a long clear glass tube. I can see fish and huge sea creatures on either side of me, but we are moving too fast to identify anything. I think I see a shark, but everything is blurry.
Abruptly, we are catapulted out of the tube and land back on shore. “What a fun and wild ride!” I think to myself.
About a week after having this dream, I met with my friend Heidi who had attended the Chinese Astrology forecast for the year of the Water Dragon with Liu Ming.
When Heidi described to me the energy of this year, I immediately thought of my dream. The energy in the dream was big, fast, intense, watery, exciting— all qualities of a water dragon year. The energy in the dream moved in wave-like undulations, just as if we had been riding on an invisible dragon.
Heidi, Marcela and I started a non-profit organization five years ago called Circle of Ancestors. As a non-profit we have grown very slowly over the years. However, if this dream is correct, 2012 may be a very expansive year for our organization!
Emotional Manifestations of the Water Dragon
This past week, I have observed another characteristic of the Water Dragon energy that has manifested in people’s dream states. On Sunday night, my partner had an intense dream in which she woke up sobbing. The dream is too personal to relate here, but what struck me was the raw emotion of grief that was released through her dream.
A few days later I was meeting with my dream buddy Erin. As we shared our dreams, I mentioned my partner’s dream experience. Synchronistically, Erin shared that a few days ago she also had a powerful dream in which she woke up crying. She wept as well as the wrote the dream down.
That same day, I got home and received an email from a student of mine telling me about last night’s dream. She wrote: “I had a crazy vivid dream about Oscar Grant.* I was crying so hard in the dream and woke up crying.”
These three emotionally intense dreams all happened within days of each other. From a perspective of indigenous science, three is an important number when gathering spiritual data. When a pattern, message, or symbol repeats three times, this is called triangulation.
As someone who hears a lot of people’s dreams, I can say that dreams that wake people up crying are infrequent, and it is even more unusual that it would happen to three people that I know in one week.
In indigenous science, we are trained to observe and interpret the language of the universe. “All the universe is intelligent and alive,” says my mentor Dr. Apela Colorado. Dreams carry messages from the universe and common themes in dreams are important to observe.
My interpretation of these three dreams is that they relate to the energy of the Water Dragon. The emotional intensity of these dreams reminds me of the intensity of the water dragon, the “big tidal wave of energy.”
Also, water often symbolizes emotions. Sadness and grief, which release the body’s own water in the form of tears, are the most watery of the emotions.
So, as we move boldly into this big Water Dragon year of 2012, I suggest that we all notice how this particular cosmic energy is influencing our dreams.
Take note of dream themes of water, floods, tidal waves, or dreams which seem emotionally or energetically big and intense.
As the year unfolds, we will most likely observe many more Water Dragon themes in the dream collective.
How is the Water Dragon manifesting in your dreams?
How does the energy of the Water Dragon change as we progress through the cycles and seasons of this year?
I had this dream last night about a green/yellow water dragon with a long skinny neck a plume on his head and a fat body in a small lake with almost black water, it seemed that there were dead fish in this lake.. i was in this lake with a bunch of people i guess i knew, we saw the dragon and everyone freaked out, one man started panicing and i had to swim back to the far shore where we all came from in the fire mans hold while whispering reassuring words in his ear.
i then saw a black rhino in the shallow water of the lake to the left side of the far shore. the dragon was in the middle I was facinated by the dragon and swam back out to him and he trusted me i felt an odd presense of comfort.i wont go into great detail about in between the next section of this dream, as it is still a little foggy.
so i was headed back towards the lake through a wooded area, in one little patch lying in a spot with long grass he was on the left side off the path, was the black rhino, i then went back to where i came from, again a little foggy. then i returned with a boy of about 11 or 12 and he was going to do some fishing while i suntanned on the shore of the lake. while we were walking i noticed the rhino was gone. further down the tree lined path were 4 dark colored dark haired men lying in a clearing. so we backtracked and went into a freshly made path where i then realized they were wroking since i saw throughout the path freshly cut tree stumps appx. 7 inches wide and about 3 -4 inches above the ground. then again i saw some men sitting taking their lunch. we continued to the beach on the lake. I once again saw the dragon. He swam to me and we spoke to one another. I told him i was sunbathing. he then came out of the water and took me down a path that led to the original one and further in was a small flat roofed cabin. in this cabin we went into the back room of the house and after talking to and holding each other he nuzzled my neck. then a little foggy on the happenings but we were still in the same room sitting together and i said i wanted to make love to him. he said he couldnt penetrate me but we still had foreplay. then shortly after that he penetrated me and we then made love. We heard a noise and hid in a small closet but the realized the person (the room was a laundry room i realized at that point), and went into another smaller room that was apparently where the person whom i thought in the dream was my grandmother (died about 4 years ago, we were very close) when she came into the laundry room the dragon stepped out… then i came out the dragon transformed into a man and my grandma said the power of my love transformed him. i woke up then. i have been looking for meanings but there are so many it is very confusing. can you please help me interpret this dream.
Lynn,
That is a very, very powerful dream. Thanks for sharing. It sounds like the water dragon may be a powerful ally of yours. If you’d like to go deeper into this dream I am available for individual dream consultations, either by phone, email or Skype.
Dreams have many dimensions & layers of interpretation. My feeling is that this is a healing dream for you (perhaps about sexuality, relationships to male energy, ancestors).
If it were my dream, the dream could also be about coming into your power. Often dreams of making love to someone or something can symbolize union/integration with that energy.
I would suggest that you journal and write all your associations with the water dragon and any other key elements of this dream (the black rhino).
You might also want to re-enter the dream in meditation. If you worked with me, that is something I could help guide you with.
Good luck and thanks for sharing!
Atava
Last night it rained a lot and I had a intense and vivid dream. I was in a cabin in the middle of the ocean and the waves started getting bigger and bigger. Eventually a giant dragon like figure started to swim at us from a tidal wave. I want to defend myself but I all had was a water gun. (silly I know) Eventually the dragon came really close and I got a good look at him as he took my friend along. Although I don’t believe in spiritual energy or anything like that I’ve never been moved by a dream as much as I did last night.
Enju,
Thanks for sharing your dream. It is so rich in the symbolism I was writing about: the water dragon, a tidal wave. Also, the vivid & intense energy you described also fits the water dragon theme.
If it were my dream, it might symbolize big energy & movement in my life, perhaps around my deep emotional life (represented by the ocean.) You might want to think about the friend who appeared in your dream & what they symbolize to you. That might give you some clues about which areas in your life might be transformed by the water dragon energy.
Do you know your Chinese astrology sign?
Since this was a powerful dream for you, you may want to take some time to write about it, meditate on it, talk about it with a close friend. I find that big dreams like this take time to unfold in their meaning.
Good luck!
Atava
Your article really interested me because earlier tonight i had a dream about dragons too. It affected me so much that i tried to search for the dream interpretation of it, when i came across your website.
Can you give me some insight into my dream’s meaning?
My 2 blue dragons dream:
Just before the appearance of the dragons i have an intimate dream of two beautiful naked women in a field caressing each other like lovers. Then the scene changes and i see two huge pale blue chinese dragons. They were massive and their bodies were long and serpentine. Upon closer inspection i saw that their bodies were made from water. I felt afraid and tried to run away from them as i felt a gigantic sense of power coming from them like a tsunami, and i was afraid they would hurt or crush me with their bodies made of water. I run away from them and try to hide but one of them eventually finds me. I felt fear as it brought it’s great head closer to mine and then i woke up.
Jayne,
Thanks for sharing your water dragon dreams. They keep on coming as the year progresses!
On a most simple level of interpretation, your dream could be tapping into the powerful energy of this year. If it were my dream I would examine my relationship to power, emotions, sexuality, and the divine feminine. For a more personal interpretation, I think you would benefit from some individual dream work on this dream, which is something I am available to do by phone or Skype.
Blessed Dreaming!
Atava
Last night I had a dream I was in a very rural place, probably china, near water and mountains. I was one of the people who lived in the town. Daily we had to go into the waters and swim to look for and guide the water dragons that lived in the waters. It was said that several dragons lived in the waters as much as 7. I had seen one that was blue and greenish. I was not very sure of what the exact situation or story was, but it seems as though the water dragons were not free and were contained between the mountain and the lake, and there was some unfulfilled purpose to all of this. When it was one of my times to swim I encountered one under water and its face changed and blossomed into different colors that I did not expect, red and white. We did not fear each other but I was in shock and amazement, it went along its way peacefully. This is all I can remember, it is my first dream with water dragons. It was amazing, and I am thankful.
Joshua,
Thank you for sharing your powerful dream! It is exciting to me to hear the water dragon dreams that keep emerging as the year progresses. I think we all have something to learn from these powerful symbols of this year.
You might want to read some of the water dragon dreams that have been posted, as there are some common themes and symbolism. In this way, each dream can add a piece to the puzzle.
Blessed dreaming,
Atava
About a week ago I dreamed of seeing a water dragon named Gamboni swimming in what looked like the SF Bay. It was night. As I watched the dragon, I noticed something much larger emerging from the water…it was a giant green blob monster that ate the dragon!
I googled gamboni in the morning, looking for clues on the unusual name and found it is a kind of mushroom. Wikipedia says there is not a specific gamboni mushroom, although there are several other sites that claim there is…
But when I poked further into Wikipedia, I found the gambosa mushroom, which is also called St. George’s mushroom. In the legend, St. George battles and kills a water dragon. I found the synchronicity very interesting!
I dreamt of a dragon last night, the dream was so vivid, like I had lived throughout it. In my dream it was the time to select the country’s new ruler, the king, and the person who would be entrusted with the dragon’s gifts would be the new king. My brother and the current King’s son fought for the throne, but I was merely a medicine man ( I am actually a girl ). The dragon appeared, mighty blue, floating in the skies and everyone was afraid, but somehow I remember clearly I wasn’t at all afraid, I felt warmth and I loved the feeling, the dragon released its egg and it flew to me. Somehow I felt the urge to hide the egg, and pretend that I knew nothing about it. People scouted for the gift (egg), and finally found out that I was the one with the egg. I hid it in a place where no one could find it except me. Somehow I felt that I hid the egg inside myself. I don’t know how. When I woke up I felt amazing. I had this great energy within me, and somehow I don’t know why but I chose a blue dress to wear today. I’m also born on the year of the dragon. I have always loved the dragon, and Its the first time that I had a dream about it. I feel so happy & lucky. I just had to find out the meaning of this dream.
Marsha,
Thanks for sharing your beautiful and powerful dragon dream. I hope this article help you gain some more insight into the meaning. In my experience, big dreams like this reveal their meaning over time. I’d suggest that you take time to revisit the dream images during meditation, or find a way to work creatively with the dream (drawing the images, making a collage, etc.)
The egg is also a powerful symbol and I find it quite striking that in the dream you hid the egg inside of yourself.
Good luck digesting the power and medicine of this dream!
Atava
what do you think is the meaning behind this dream? the egg was more like magically concealed
In my dream I entered a cave, as I walked inside I saw a dragon lying, the dragon felt my presence, lifted up his head then stared at me, we stared at one another for a while then the dragon moved to the other side of the wall, I saw a sack full of diamonds and diamonds coming out from the wall, it’s like the dragon was hiding it at first, and then I just left because I was just curious to see what’s inside the cave and why was there a dragon inside. The dragon didn’t scared me and was never attracted to the diamonds. I only stared. What does this dream mean?
I dreamt I was a white dragon that could turn into a young boy. And yet I was also the man friend of that dragon, riding him across the skies, away from jagged mountain peaks. We were being chased by another dragon, larger, steel gray, who would kill us rather than allow us to escape. We flew above mountains, then low between the crags and boulders, then South over a massively wide waterfall which marking the edge of the Northern lands. Downward, we careened within a tall young forest so dense there was no floor on which to land. From there, exhausted, we came upon a smoking field of lava, landing on one semicooling spot, where we ubruptly sank beneath into a hidden world where the sky above was aflame, and a people who were once part of the kingdom of dragon-people had lost their dragons. Hiding from their kin, they created a land of their own beneath the lava. The other dragon followed us there and searched among the caverns. We climbed up into a stairwell in the ceiling to hide. The people distracted it when it was about to find us, protecting us because we were bringing dragons back to them, and because we were also an innocent young boy, and a brave virtuous man
Hmm. Upon reread, although it did not feel anything like that at the time, it reads like a rehash of Eragon. Hopefully just my emotional life framed in something I recognized.
dear,
last nite i saw a dream, i was continously smimming inside the swimming pool and was happy.
what does it indicates from an astro view.
thanks
Bickel,
A dream like that could have many astrological influences. When I have a dream and I wonder about the astrology, I look at my ephemeris and see what is going on in the stars. Water can relate to any water sign (Pisces, Cancer, Scorpio) as well as the planet Neptune.
I had dream last night of a camilion colored water dragon it looked identical to a photo I now seen on this Sight Somewhere .it was huge swimming In the waves along A beach. There was. A couple having sex on it as it swam along a ran besides it chasing it. I wanted to be the one with the girl atop it. I felt honored to be a witness to such rare beauty although I felt jealous and let down at being an observer. The pic of the Japan creature is an exact image of the one in my dream but mine was bigger way bigger and rainbow scaled. Any. Insight?
Danny,
This is a big dream with a lot of symbolism. If it were my dream I would learn more about the dragon image from Japan. You also might want to do some dream re-entry or free writing to get more information about each symbol or character in the dream.
Without knowing more about you, I can’t give more specific insight, but it is certainly a dream to work with. You might want to share it with a friend or find a professional dream worker. I do this work as does the rest of the Dream Tribe team.
Good luck!
Atava
I discovered this web page of yours, and I was interested in sharing my dream as well.
For some odd reason, my brother and i were being chased by serial killers. we were on a mission to be the heroes, and slay them. As soon as we defeated them. Just then, my brother and I were looking for a place to rest. We walked through a lake house, and on the boardwalk, my brother pointed out a creature emerging from the lake. It was a black water dragon, I was appalled and terrified because of how huge the creature was. It seem so evil, but harmless. I laid eyes on it for awhile, and watched the creature emerge and submerge into the water. I’ve noticed this creature always looked back at me for every moment it had submerged the water. Until now, I always seem to wonder what this dream means.
Amber,
I hope reading all the information on water dragons as well as the other water dragon dreams sheds some insight on your own dream! Your dream is also very powerful and I hope the meaning continues to unfold for you.
I had last night a dream about an long black dragon in the water. There was a game in a pool, it was a dark water. Pool looked like a maze. Race was about catching a black dragon . I finally had the long black dragon captured.
What does it mean? Thanks!
I had a dream last night that I was in outer space with my mom and brother. This is odd because my brother does not talk to neither me or my mother and hasnt in years. But we are connected in this dream by this experience. We seem to be apart of a large group of people visiting outer space but each with their own small little childs idea of a rocket ship. I float in space enjoying my thrilling experience and as a group we descend upon the moon. As I am sitting on deep river shore I am no longer in a suit but street clothing. I am watching the clear water and a water dragon appears. It is foreign and a little scary but doesnt really look threatening. However I think to myself that i hope it doesnt eat anyone. It playfully goes up and down the bank and I pick up the phone and call my boyfriend. I am elated and full of such love for him and everything / everyone. I am thankful for being there. Then I wake up.
((In reality He is the father of two of my kids and we dated for 5 years and split up for 3. Just this past December 23, 2012 we, for first time in 3 years, made our relationship official again. December 23 is our sons 3 year birthday.))
INTERPRETATION PLEASE! 🙂
Also this seems ALWAYS significant to me ….my birthday is APRIL 23, my daughters is JANUARY 23, and my sons is DECEMBER 23. I feel like this is something special but I dont know why.
Last night I dreamt of very clear turquoise ocean. I saw something moving at a distance in the water. It was a water dragon, I got close and played with him for a little bit in the water.
About a month ago I had a dream that had three dragons in it. I never had a dream like this before. I have never dreamed about dragons before either. The first dragon was a large tan dragon that was in a large exhibition space of a museum. Only its head and neck were in the space. His body was behind a wall. At first I thought it was an exhibit. It seems asleep. Then it lifted its head and swung it out into the open area. I had my dog with me and was afraid at first that it might eat it. The next thought was it would not be there in the museum if it was dangerous.
I couldn’t help but admire how beautiful he was. I started talking to him, telling him how we humans like to touch things. I told him human children would be touching him and crawling all over him, if he let them. He lowered his head to me and let me touch his head and neck.
Then we were outside in the country. My dog and I were running and playing on a grass path that led down to a large pond. The brown dragon followed behind. He did not speak. I was chatting the entire time.
In the pond was another dragon. He was blue, gray and black. I was then in the water with him. I studied him and after a while asked if I could touch him. He came to me. Then the brown dragon spoke and told me the water dragon had a head injury and I should heal it. I put my hands on the water dragon and healed his head. The water dragon started swimming around the area. I noticed he liked eating sea weed. I suggested he go to the west coast in the warm waters to rest and take a look at the underwater sea weed forests there. He finally spoke to me and said he wasn’t interested as the water was too clear and too many people might see him. Then he swam away.
Then I was located in the yard of a huge house. There were people everywhere of all ages and sex. Many children were there too. A man with silver hair and pale skin was walking near me. There were two men in the area were watching at him. One asked why the silver haired man was showing himself. The other man replied it was because I was there.
He seemed full of affection and warmed me with his regard. Then he transformed into a silver dragon with wings. He was spectacular. Then he changed into a cricket. There was a string with a tag tied to him. I got the impression that he was being held there in that form. I went to pick him up in his cricket form. I spoke gently him. I tried to give comfort and compassion to him. He started to transform into a dragon again. The string with the tag was left behind and was now attached to a key. It looked like a house key.
He became a man again. He took my hand and led me out onto the grass. I was filled with love. Then I woke up. I have never had such a colorful, eventful dream like this before. The detail was incredible.
Hi….uhm i dono if the water dragon is my spirit animal..
But i do get a lot of dreams where i am flying over the ocean and then as i look down into the water i shape shift into something and then dive into water. I don’t recall what animal i than change into but i know i am fast in my dreams. Sometimes i fly in the sky and sometimes it feels like flying under water.. May or may not be water dragon. But even if i am not sleeping i see dragons almost everywhere. I told my one friend about this and i thought i was going crazy. Indeed she told me i was. Still i am not convinced
i dreamed of a little green dragon for a feast in a chinese Restaurant. i was about to take some soup, when i scoop it up, it was a green dragon, it has a long slender body, the dragon looks like the one where they let the dragon dance in chinese new year, the curvy one? i saw its foot has a big claw of a bird. the bowl becomes a small tank. but we were still in the chinese restaurant. i also had a thought about, how do we eat this, and no wonder they’d become extinct due to medicine since maybe in ancient time, they made Dragon for medicine, and such ( also, because that’s what my real thoughts feeling ). i called up my family, and he checked it up due to being curious and in awe . i don’t wanna go in details about it anymore. but i am only curious about the green dragon soup. in my mind at that time. all i thought about was “no wonder they’d gone extinct. i am a chinese decent by the way. we do some chinese traditional stuff sometimes. but in our generation we don’t practice them anymore since i am not from china originally but my dad and my mom’s dad which is my grandpa. my chinese zodiac is Rat.
and i don’t believe in horoscope anymore due to changing beliefs and religion, cause i used to be really good in them, and just by looking at some people, their names, and birthday and even read cards really well since i was 15. but never again.
i don’t know if my dream has anything to do with being curious and researching about dinosaurs lately, which is dragons, and found out many things about it, but this kind of dragon never crossed my mind the chinese one where they let them dance on new year. maybe unconsciously i was thinking about it. and how badly i want to have one in our generation. i am a animal lover by the way. i tried looking up for a dream meaning, but it seems that their is none similar to my dream. also i had another scenario dream after that, where i had a beautiful wand that looks really magical, with many game features on it, and that can produced bubbles. and after the dragon dream, i really feel good somehow, its my first time dreaming about a dragon. ( by the way, it was a chinese green dragon soup literally) i love Lynn Thomas dream by the way. maybe at first i am curious to know what my dream means if it means lucky, cause after i woke up, i suddenly feel good. but upon writing this all down… i soon realized that maybe i was just thinking too much out of it unconsciously? (not sure though) or maybe i am there is still a part of me still curious to get rid of a habit even it if was 9 years ago that i had turn my back on it. that’s why i am here researching about my dream.
by the way, i was not planning on eating it… but i remember being hungry at first, but when i saw the dragon. all of a sudden my feelings had changed to being curious and excited about the green dragon. it was a family gathering party. (which lately we just had)
sorry! no edit button, i meant which we just recently just had.
Ive been dreaming about a 3 black small dragon fighting in the sky. One of them fall and i caught it. Holding its head and its sharp feet. His breathing fire and wants to set free but his awfully in pain. What is the meaning of my mysterious dream?
Kind sir please dont interpret dreams ig you dont really understand, most of your interpretations are wrong. Not meaning to be judgemental but please dont lead the people to the wrong understandings. If you are learning from books mostly its because of that. Find the master of dreams and the master of hakikat maybe u would eventually understand
I dreamt of a off pink tanish dragon giving birth in water that was wavy and flowing strongly while people were trying to swim to safety. There was no beach or a place to get out other that a water roller coaster in which 3 girls were thrown out into the water and a boarding dock where the dragon was seen at. The baby was a pinkish color.