Western Group of Temple Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh India

Source: Shutterstock/NG Shutterbug Photographer

A God-fearing person at heart, Aadi was struck with fear when images of a calf in the priest's chair in the temple appeared in his dream. It was his core fear of wrongdoing in the face of his faith that helped Aadi discover and then take responsibility for his actions and his guilt.

The Dream

"I am a very spiritual person. Last night I dreamed a calf was sitting on the seat of the priest in temple and ringing the bell to call people in. When I tried to enter the temple, I started to fly and so I was not able to reach the calf. When I looked down, I saw the calf lying on the ground. I didn’t know if she was dead or sleeping, and the legs of the calf are so very long."

The Discussion

I started by asking, “How did you feel in the dream? How did it feel seeing a calf sitting in the seat of the priest and ringing the bell?”

Aadi explained, “I don’t know the place I saw in my dream. When I saw the calf, I was nervous, but when I saw it lying on the ground with very long legs, I definitely felt scared.”

Continuing on, I inquired, “You say you started to fly and so you weren't able to enter the temple. Were you frustrated or upset that you couldn't enter the temple?”

Aadi responded, “No. I don’t think I felt frustration. It was more a natural thing and normal that I started flying when I wanted to get close to the calf. I did somehow get inside the temple, because I did see the calf sitting on the priest’s chair.”

Finally, I asked, “Do you remember your thoughts at not being able to tell if the calf was alive or dead? How about the long legs? How did that feel? What were you thinking?”

Aadi said, “I was upset when I saw the calf with long legs and scared when I woke up.”

I offered, “Now that we talked about your feelings in this dream, let’s see what the symbols mean to you. What comes to your mind about calves?”

Aadi explained, “In our religion a cow is holy and like our mother, but when I saw one in my dream, I was very upset.”

I asked, “Is there a recent situation that made you feel frightened or upset? For example, are you nervous or frightened about starting a new job? A new relationship? A test of some kind?”

Aadi answered, “Yes, I am a student. I’m also nervous sometimes about my job. On the day before I had this dream, I had a fight with my girlfriend. We have had a relationship for the last five years, but that day our friendship was broken.”

I wondered aloud, “So, you tried to get close to the calf but couldn’t. Is it possible you were ‘trying to get close’ to your female friend? But as you say, the friendship is broken?”

Aadi clarified, “I am definitely feeling upset about the argument and the ending of our relationship. In fact, the calf lying on the earth looking dead is a good description of how I feel about the relationship ending.”

I offered, "A nightmare could be expressing feelings you are not expressing when you’re awake. If you push your feelings down during the day, at night they can bounce back up like a ball out of water, creating the intense negative emotions of a nightmare.

“Your current situation as you describe it sounds like you might need to go through these emotions, just as you tried to go through the door into the temple. The dream gives you a place to express your painful feelings. What do you think about the long legs? Do you feel they can help you run away faster, similar to flying away?”

Aadi laughed, “Yes. That fits for me.”

In response, I added, “It’s normal to want to hurry away from painful feelings, but there’s no other way than to go through them. You have your faith! Your faith can help you, too.”

At this moment, Aadi revealed a deeper layer to his dream, admitting, “I think you are absolutely right. I realize also from this discussion that I felt afraid in the dream because I sinned and was thinking that God is upset with me.”

I asked, “Just so I understand fully, in what way did you sin?”

He answered, “I like someone else, and I had promised my girlfriend that I would marry her one day. I was flirting with another girl but after a few days, I felt guilty. This is the situation that brought on this dream, definitely.”

What We Can Learn

I offered hope for Aadi to learn from his dream and maybe even go a little easier on himself. “Perhaps this dream allows you to consider why you found yourself flirting with another woman instead of discussing the relationship with your girlfriend. In other words, staying present with your girlfriend inside the relationship, as opposed to ‘flying away.’ You might be able to work further with this dream to help you arrive at the source of your feelings, the deeper meaning of the symbols, and the significance of your actions.”

Perhaps what we can learn from Aadi’s case is that a quick look at a dream can reveal how we are dissatisfied or disappointed in our own actions, but the same dream invites a deeper exploration of our true motives and the deepest feelings behind our actions.