Australian Symbols

Based on the research and writings of Donni Haakensen - Oracle of the Dreamtime

Dream & Encounter Guide: Aussie Symbols

Ant – Planning for the future, need to prepare on some level. Work, community endeavours, specialization.

Bat – Issues of resentment and loyalty, especially how you deal with anger. Can also refer to enlightenment as bat emerges from cave into world. Take notice of senses, particularly ‘gut feeling’ or intuition.

Bee – Universally related to work and preparing for the future (unlike Fly.) Sweetness in life is emphasized. J Native bees do not sting like introduced bees.

Butterfly – Universal symbol of transformation. Indicates finding answers, exploring mystery of life, spiritual symbol. Having courage to take on something that seems hugely impossible – with results. Having faith in Self against all odds.

Crab – Protection – you are safe (what do you perceive as a threat in your life?) Regeneration or renewal in your life. Also indicates karmic forces at play.

Crocodile – Issues of fear versus respect. Are you holding onto resentment, or exaggerating your feelings? How you deal with perceived problems may be an issue.

Crow – Trickery – are you tricking yourself or others in some way? Things backfiring. What you need is already within your grasp.

Dingo – Issues of independence versus needing others. Discerning balance between relying on others and fending for self. Need for acceptance or unconditional love in some aspect of your life.

Dolphin – Intense loyalty. Friendships and life mates – issues. Standing true to Self against society’s or another’s pressure to conform. The child within, freedom, childish delight and pleasure. Balancing personal ethics versus others’ differing beliefs, yet remaining loyal.

Eagle – need to learn forgiveness; issues of resentment; ego issues. Higher perspective, broader vision or scope. Manifesting goals – dream it, achieve it.

Emu – Protection. Social relationships, self-esteem, competition. Issues of betrayal and having self-confidence. Sense of trying, but not able to (as Emu cannot fly – she is the fastest runner!)

Echidna – issues of give and take, what is yours and what is mine. Things that prickle away in your mind. Irritations (remember Echidna eats those ants!)

Eucalyptus – see Gum Tree

Fly – Living in the NOW with no sense of the future. Need to balance out present wishes and future needs. How am I being selfish and inconsiderate? What represents the nuisance factor in my life, that Fly symbolizes? What do I wish would "buzz off"?

Frog – sense of humour. The emotions. Learning new skills. Issues around pride and self-accomplishment. Frog is also related to rain, lightning, thunder and storms (the wet season in the Northern Territory), so if these appear in your dream or encounter, family issues will be predominant, especially relating to mother and siblings.

Galah – pink colour from wounds in battle. Where do you carry your hurts? How can your transform past injuries into something you can be proud of? Also, as a parrot, galah can represent the comic or jester, as well as the ability to mimic what is in the environment.

Gum Tree – highlights strong sense of empathy and compassion for others. Part of the Southern Cross, represents an eternal home, or sense of belonging.

Gymea Lily – overwhelming responsibilities, self-sacrifice by choice and circumstance. Rewards in long run but challenge is to persevere in face of opposition. Look at end results rather than the ‘craziness’ of the now.

Kangaroo – nurturing, the mother. Consideration. Issues of cruel versus kind, or of service to others. Natural intelligence, able to use this for benefit. Kangaroo and Wombat together, themes around competition and friendship.

	Koala – secrets. What you give of Self to others, and what you keep back or withhold. Fear of not having enough. Do you need some cuddles?
	Kookaburra – laughing with joy, success. Promotion. Work responsibilities highlighted in a positive way, increased responsibility and recognition. Well-deserved, good tidings, positive symbol!
	Lightning – generally regarded as a warning if a close encounter. Change of life path, not following destiny so need ‘pushing’ back to true path. Warnings will guide you (ie it is challenging and testing symbol.)
Lizard – Issues of courage and generating this feeling within yourself through your own actions. Lizard can drop his tail, his courage is proven yet something must be sacrificed. What are you ‘losing’ in your life to achieve greater good? Most lizards in the Dreaming are very powerful and must deal with issues of anger, resentment, and not being acknowledged for their contribution to society in some way. Feelings of ‘not being heard’ to proving self beyond the abilities and skills of others (excelling) is some way. Look at the role Lizard plays in your dream as representing one of your coping mechanisms in your life
	Magpies – inspiration, bringing light to a dark situation. Hope, collective effort, finding solutions to dilemmas.

Moon – Patterns of a short-term nature. Changes, emotions. Seduction, illusions. Creativity. Can indicate seductive energies.

Owl – Protection. Womens’ business. Strong energies of mystery and mysticism, spiritual energies. Look at how you protect and care for yourself, and what you see as a threat as safety issues on some level a current in your life. Owl in a dream set at night can auger mysterious and spiritual experiences. If wind features, then curiosity will be affected by ‘learning the hard way’ from being blind to certain aspects of your situation.

Pine Tree – Grieving for something long gone. Eternal hope for the future and its return. Sense of loneliness and isolation. Indicates a need to let go and move on.

Platypus – extended family, groups, organizations one belongs to. Eclectic approach – divergent streams/approaches/ways converging into one holistic balance. Symbol might ask you to delve into origins and genealogy somehow.

Rainbow Lorikeet – deformed girl wishes to fly free of her disabilities, this bird is her ‘dream come true.’ As a dream symbol, can represent the fulfillment of dreams and plans in a creative way. Also highlights social issues, and dealing with perceived liabilities. Beauty and creativity.

Seal - victimhood (attack, made to perform) transforming to encouragement and development; a swing in events. Also, dealing with emotions and need for approval and acceptance.

Snake – destiny, path in life. Change. Very spiritual symbol can represent something vitally important for you. You create your own reality in present situation – can you take personal responsibility? Creativity.

Spider – energies of entrapment, fascination, plots or dynamics of a situation. Sexual energies can be highlighted, especially issues around how you make yourself ‘attractive’ to the world, or how you create a self-image of how you wish to be perceived.

Starfish – sense of justice being tested, perhaps calling for you to act against your personal ethics or morality to restore balance.

Sturt’s Desert Pea – very spiritual and testing symbol. Intuition highlighted with consequences if ignored. Look closely and act upon messages received, in both dreams and waking life.

Sun – Patterns in life, as seen from ‘the bigger picture’ – i.e. longstanding issues or routines. Sense of a long time. Love issues, an eternal chase. Bringing to life or fruition, an awakening. Female energies.

Turtle – creative arts. Needs of others versus self-directed goals. Need for protection (hard shell) – you are safe. Movement, travel, new environments, breaking rules.

Waratah – dealing with feelings of panic, loss or grief; or may be fears regarding facing these issues. Allowing feelings to act before conscious mind can reason. Deep loyalty. If leaves feature, they are referred to in Dreamings from the days of volcanoes, as they have heat-resistant properties. May refer to ‘being in the hotseat’ or a need to get moving!

Wattle – courage. May bring up issues around competition between siblings, resentment, family stuff. Empathy, strength of character being tested on some level.

Whale – Issues around betrayal and trusting others. Resentment. Something small turns massive.

Wombat – home environment. Arguments. Feeling of belonging, issues of social competition.