Horses in dreams have universal and singular meanings. A dream of riding a horse is widely accepted as good luck. Dream interpretation or oneiromancy is a practice in ancient cultures such as in the Middle East, Egypt, China, India and Mesopotamia.
READ: Cult of the Fire God - Bronze Age Quest Adventure
See also:
European regions such as ancient Germania, Scandinavia, Greece and Rome believe in the power of dreams. Interpretation of a dream horse can vary depending on the dreamer's circumstances, past events and future desires.
Many factors influence the analysis. In the ancient world dreams can be omens, insight into diseases brought by disease demons, deific aid or advice. Dreams may appear at face value but often not. In dream interpretation it's important to look beyond the obvious.
See also:
For instance, the color black may relate to grief in the Western physical world. In the spiritual sense or dream a black horse portends prosperity, luck and health. If the horse is a stallion he's a sign of independence. A mare brings control over multiple aspects in life.
Horse colors affect the interpretation. White horses signify death, not always literally but in terms of major change such as crossing boundaries, moving or taking a new direction in life. An off-white horse may warn of corruption. Pure white horses relate to completion of cycles.
See also:
A brown horse connects to physical earthly rhythms or secular life. It's a sign of stability especially in the home, luck in domestic activities and rewards for current or past work. Brown horses can signify patience and good things coming at a steady pace.
A bay horse is lucky for commerce. The bay is a messenger of the gods and can bring an omen, prophecy, warning or advice. A dream of bay horses indicates harmony and progress. The bay horse can also signify an upcoming romance or new relationship development.
See also:
A red horse foresees or identifies conflicts which may cause trouble in the dreamer's life. The horse attempts to communicate these in the dream. A red horse stands for creation and destruction, blood of passion or war. A sick person who dreams of a red horse will get well.
A yellow horse brings blessings from the Sun and a reason for celebration. The yellow horse symbolizes abundance and fertility. However it can carry a warning of illness, especially nutritional deficiencies.
See also:
A spotted horse is strongly connected to the sky and cosmos. A horse of patchy colors is lucky for social interactions and team projects. A rearing horse can symbolize victory or warn of a threat from which the dreamer can be protected.
A dream of a pair of horse carriages foresees death, except for athletes for whom it is a sign of future triumph - except runners, for whom it means defeat. At one time wealthy women, who dream of crossing a city in a chariot will receive priesthood (priestess).
See also:
For poor girls, the same vision in a dream signals self-sacrifice. For slaves, this image heralds imminent freedom. A sick person who dreams of entering a city on horseback should be cured, but will die if he sees himself leaving the city on horseback.
In Germany at the end of the 19th century, a woman's dream of a horse means a lover will come to her. Dreams of horses are otherwise generally unfortunate among early Germans, particularly in East Prussia (est. 1773 CE), where a horse dream is a sure sign of death.
See also:
Hanns Kurth's dream dictionary interprets the horse in relation to psychic and erotic life. According to Kurth, riding a white horse is a sign of luck and success, while riding a black horse is a sign of fleeting success.
The horse has broad meanings, says Kurth. It signifies freedom if seen in a meadow. If a riderless saddled horse appears, it signifies social success. Difficulty riding a horse may relate to mastery of new skills or academic challenges.
See also:
Dreaming of a stormy horse whom the dreamer is able to ride indicates success after overcoming obstacles. In Mongolia, dreaming of a horse in general brings good luck. In her Prophéties de la nouvelle sibylle, Mlle A. Lelièvre speaks of a "truly prophetic dream".
She stands at the top of a tall tree, surrounded by fighting men. A black horse passes below her tree. She mounts and gallops away through the streets of Paris naked.
See also:
Her dream ends with a vision of ancient figures who are depicted in history as having spoken oracles. Oracles are associated with the horse, hippomancy and powers of divination. Among birds, hens and corvids are especially known for gifts of prophecy.
John W. Dunne, a British aeronautical engineer, says he dreamt of a mad horse racing down a familiar road the day before it happened. According to Richard Wiseman, the memory of an unconscious dream can be reactivated by an event which recalls it.
See also:
According to Wiseman, the memory of the dream then returns to the mind of the person who interprets it as prophetic. He cites the example of someone who sees the word "gallop", forgets it, then sees the word "horse" and remembers it.
Thus dream interpretation can import a variety of influences from psychological to physical and spiritual. Numbers of horses also have meaning. Many horses can mean friendship and support, or overwhelming life issues. Three horses are fortunate as they form a trinity.
See also:
Dreaming of a foal is a sign of beginnings and success, especially in matters of childbirth, family or self-care. The foal also warns against emotional or headstrong behavior. Dreaming of a young horse may arouse a streak of mischief in the dreamer.
An old horse means it's time to let go of something from the past. It also heralds achievement and experience. A horse moving toward the dreamer means help is coming. Moving away, it's a sign of encouragement and adventure.
See also:
Dreaming of horses in a nighttime setting represents intuitive action. Dawn and dusk are very lucky times in which, or of which to dream, as the horse is most strongly connected to divinity. Bad weather means the dreamer may have difficulty with commitments.
Fair weather in a dream isn't always fortuitous as it could warn of coming inclement weather. Enjoy the bounty of life and be ready for anything. Like cattle, horses can also give insight about a previous life or forgotten memories.
See also:
Overall, dreaming of horses is fortunate. Even negative circumstances can be overcome. The energy of the horse brings speed, skill, agility, travel or journeying, luck in love and money. The horse is the seventh sign of the Chinese zodiac.
Horse relates to the celestial body of the Sun, and the number seven. Hair and personal appearance, beauty or image are associated with the horse. Activities of dance and journeying relate to equines.
See also:
In German folklore, horses are in danger of being ridden all night by a Mare (no relation to mare horse), a smelly hairy malevolent spirit also responsible for nightmares. Red ribbons braided into the manes of horses protect them from evil magic.
See also: