What applies to a church may apply equally to a temple or a circle of stones or any other sacred place.
(1) A church may symbolize the self, the totally integrated psyche, with all its elements organized as a harmonious whole centred on whatever, in terms of your individual personality and ‘destiny5.
constitutes the supreme value of truth. (For self)
The image may therefore be taken as a sign that your unconscious is urging you to ‘centre” yourself, to put an end to the fragmentation which results in your going off in opposite directions; to ‘pull yourself together” in the almost literal sense of unifying all the currently conflicting parts of you into a creative and fulfilling collaboration or commingling.
Other buildings - a house, or just a room - may represent your psyche. The fact that your dream presents the psyche in the image of a church means that you are being invited to perceive the self as something sacred - that is, something of supreme value and perhaps in some way transcendent.
(2) The church may symbolize, not the total psyche, but some most valuable (‘sacred”) part of it which holds the meaning of your life - the key to your true destiny.
(3) In primitive times a sacred place was regarded as the birthplace of the tribe’s original - divine - ancestor(s). In the same way, your dream image of a sacred place may be a reminder that you are not a worthless creature living a meaningless life; that vour self is a divine reality’, something of supreme value and to be taken with the utmost seriousness; that you are not only to love yourself but also to revere yourself.
(4) The church - or what is going on inside it, or how you in the dream are reacting - may represent your feelings about religion or about some institutionalized form of religion.
(5) For church crypt see Cave, Cellar.
(6) Is there someone in the church - a priest or (other) holy person, or someone you love dearly and respect deeply (father or elder brother, for instance)? If so, the figure may represent the self, the part of you that transcends the ego (for self).
See Also: Wise Old Man/ Woman.
[1]Dreaming about being in a church is more common than most people realize. Each week I get several requests to add church to the dictionary. This may be so due to the fact that most of us went to church as children. From a very early age we had to go to church and were taught that there was a God. This was important in our life and to our families. Dreaming about churches, cathedrals, synagogues, or any other place of worship may represent our childhood associations with religion. At times, the dream may be a muddled childhood memory.
The church could represent a need for greater spirituality in the dreamer’s life. It may express religious beliefs, everyday occurrences, issues of safety, security and strength through community and religious expression. None of us can escape the age-old questions, “Who am I?” and, “What is the meaning of life?”. Coping with our own physical mortality is a very big deal. Both our conscious, and unconscious minds are continually working and bringing issues of relevance and concern into our awareness. Think about the details of your dream and make an attempt to honestly understand its meaning.
[2]For a Christian person, seeing a church in a dream signifies a house of worship, religion, knowledge, devotion, work, ascetic detachment, fear of wrongdoing, penance, lamentation and it could mean crying.
A church in a dream also could mean distress, trouble, slander, innovation, injustice, a business club, a meeting house, bingo, wine, alcoholic consumption, communion, weddings or a wife. In a dream, a church also can represent its parish, diocese, ministry, clergyman or a chaplain.
If one sees a church turned into a synagogue, or a synagogue turned into a church in a dream, it means mistrust, an argument, or a scheme for tax evasion. Seeing oneself in a synagogue in a dream means that one may become a Jew.
If one’s house turns into a church in a dream, it means that he will bring its business to his house, or it may mean a fight with one’s boss. Seeing a church in a dream also denotes a cemetery, confession, a prostitute, a music house or a place of confinement. Ifa woman sees herself attending a wedding or a funeral service at a church in a dream, it may mean the same in wakefulness.
[3]Symbol: The church may represent many things: “a woman clothed in the sun,” the “bride of Christ,” “Noah’s ark,” “the ship,” “the vineyard,” “the net,” “the City of Heaven,” and more.
Vision: Walking into a church: do you have to make amends to someone? Watching a church cave in: you have lost your faith in God. Looking at a church: you will be kept from “going down die wrong padi” or doing die wrong tiling. Praying in Church: you will receive help from above, or a very important wish will be realized.
Depth Psychology: Dreaming about a church can be a sign that you are already emotionally mature or that maturity is still missing. It often indicates strong faith and, sometimes, your connection to others.
The altar either expresses your spiritual strength or is a sign to make “higher spiritual aspirations” a greater part of your life.
See Also: Altar.
[4](See Also: Altar, Bells, Holy Ground, Monastery, Priest/ Priestess, Sanctuary, Temple)
Sanctuary, safety, privacy.
A place within which secrets remain concealed except to the Divine.
If you entered the church and sat down, this shows a personal need for seclusion or security. Alternatively, perhaps you feel as if someone has betrayed a trust, and seek alternative sources in which to place your faith (See Also: Religions).
Your health. We often hear the aphorism that the “Wy is the temple of the soul.” In what condition do you find your temple} If the church appears run-down, get some rest and take better care of yourself.
Seeking the sacred powers or a desire to give that portion of your life more attention. It may also mark the beginning of a spiritual ideology unfolding, especially if the church is of a specific tradition with which you feel affinity.
[5]Churches put us in contact with our inner harmony, since as it is known, they are places of seclusion and meditation. To dream that you find yourself in an empty, solitary church suggest a need for solitude and introspection.
If the church is large and full of people, the dream encourages you to trust more in others, in what society offers you.
The dream is very positive if the protagonist becomes aware of his potential and decides to seek new projects to change his future. The purpose of the architecture of sacred buildings is to symbolize the unity of the soul with God. In psychological terms, these buildings represent the human mind at its peak. (See Also: ABBEY)
Praying in a church promises joy.
[6]You are dreaming of connecting to your spiritual nature in a more conventional way. Churches, temples, and mosques are the center of spiritual life for any community. Just like a house in a dream, any building can be interpreted as representing one’s current sense of self. In this way, any place of worship ultimately points to your relationship with spirituality and religion. Because this element of life can be particularly controversial, it is very important that you make a clear distinction between the universal meaning of church as connecting to matters of spirituality and whatever personal feelings you harbor about organized religion.
[7]Religious feeling or beliefs, including moral code, or our feelings about organised religion. Each of us has a sense of our relationship with the forces of life within us, and the world outside us.
A church may depict this sense and what we do with it; our sense of what is holy or fundamental to all life, and therefore eternal, such as the urge to exist; the cycles of life and growth; reproduction and interdependence.
See Also: Christ, archetypes; religion and dreams.
[8]If you are standing in the churchyard, looking at the church, this is a symbol of great times to come.
Dreaming of being alone in an empty church, however, indicates rough times ahead that will nonetheless be resolved.
A church full of people singing or praying, or observing a wedding or christening, is an omen of happiness and spiritual progress.
Dreaming of a funeral, however, means the death of a longtime dream.
See “Altar”.
[9]dreaming of a church is a good luck omen and especially so if you dream of the outside of the building, which shows luck in love and marriage.
The inside of a church shows that you will have a few small problems that could turn out to be a blessing in disguise. Of course, you must study the dream as a whole, for other activities may change the interpretation so that the church itself has no meaning other then that of location.
[10]The church or chapel indicates to the devout a fulfillment of hopes yet unattained.
If the church is far away in the dream locale, disappointment is in store.
To be entering the church, thoughts of marriage vows and wedded unanimity are portended.
A church is also a symbol of a woman, often meaning the mother or protector.
[11]As with a cathedral it is a lucky omen if your dream featured the outside of the building; however, if the interior was involved, it signifies some impending troubles, but don’t get depressed—they are likely to turn out to be small blessings in disguise.
A dream of a churchyard is a promise of better things to come.
[12]May represent an outer appearance of spirituality rather than an attunement within your own inner temple. Jesus never had a church, but taught among the people. Also, a worshipful consciousness within the self; a need to awaken awareness in acknowledgment of a Higher Power.
[13]To dream of building one, divine love; to enter one, honorable conduct, benevolence; to talk in one or see it desecrated, lying, envy and sin; to go to church in mourning denotes a wedding; to go in white denotes a funeral (Gypsy).
[14]A dream of a church often represents something sacred to the dreamer or symbolizes that the dreamer’s prayers, or prayers by others are being answered. It may also represent a deep inner need for spiritual nourishment or atonement.
[15]To dream of seeing a church in the distance, denotes disappointment in pleasures long anticipated.
To enter one wrapt in gloom, you will participate in a funeral. Dull prospects of better times are portended.
[16]Wherever christian gather to worship, inside or outside the traditional church building; one’s body is their spiritual “temple” where their spirit dwells until their demise
[17]Dreams of a church symbolize your relationship with spirituality, religious attitudes and beliefs. Consider the feeling tone.
See Also: Cathedral, Temple, Ceremony.
[18]It is bad luck to dream of being in a church, whether or not there is a service in progress.
It is a sign that you will encounter some distressing times.
[19]As in Chapel, Cathedral.
A debate about the meaning of life. Contemplation is asked of you. According to Freud, it is a symbol for woman.
[20]You are going to receive some bad news.
If you are inside the church, you are going to become very- depressed and very pessimistic.
[21]To dream of a church can symbolize a person’s religious activities or beliefs about Christianity, Heb. 12:23
[22]To dream about a church represents a need to be appreciated by those you love. Also see “Steeple”
[23]To see a church from a distance predicts a happy solution of a problem that has oppressed you.
[24]See Also: religious buildings below, in spiritual imagery in the introduction.
[25]Established Spiritual Beliefs, fixed/controlled spiritual ideas.
[26]See Also: religious buildings in buildings
[27]To dream of a church is portentous of evil. If you are in a church during divine service. you will be engaged in a lawsuit, or some quarrel which will go verv near to ruin you. If you are in love, your sweetheart is unfaithful, and prefers another; if you ex-. pect a place, it forebodes disappointment; if you are in trade, you will never thrive in your present situation.
[28]lucky numbers: 15-17-22-27-41-49
aisle, in a: difficulties and misfortune wil beset you.
altar: aspire to a spirituality fundamental to al life.
anthem in, hearing an: your prayers are being answered on your wel -planned work.
blasphemy in a, committing: use violent protest rather than practical action.
building, a: are loved by God, love him back.
several: happiness is buried too deep beneath your material ambition.
built, being: wil surmount difficulties while remaining true to your innermost thoughts.
catechism, preaching from the: distinction of your future position.
reading, a, manual: activities in a lucrative position.
receiving oral instruction: you can accept strictures behind advancement.
caving in: have deep feeling of regret that you have lost faith in God.
choir, singing in the: a surprise visit of an old friend reveals lover’s disloyalty.
hearing a: a lack of tolerance for one another leads to gloom.
Christening, attending your child’s: wil achieve hopes and desires.
friend’s, a: contentment with new life.
godparent, being a: be decisive in taking advantage of favorable opportunity.
communion, going to: wil receive many blessings.
children: guidance wil be received through your third eye.
crucifix, praying to a: you wil receive high honors.
hanging a: wil be involved in troubles you wil blame on others.
deacon, a: your actions wil be severely criticized.
decorated, fully: wil receive an inheritance of spiritual nourishment if you atone.
during mass, in: your approach is tentative for fear of refusal.
entering a: your making amends wil be received with kindness.
hearing a dispute in: conflict between daily life and spiritual values.
heresy, being accused of: wil assert yourself and gain stature in community affairs.
Holy Communion: wil make a friend who wil stand by you for life.
Judgment Day, at: are resigned to pay for your sins and be credited for your conduct.
parish, of a: there are no clouds in your future.
praying in: wil be kept from the wrong path if you cooperate with the family.
priest in, being with a: harbor guilt and shame for breaking important rules.
Sabbath, observing the: wil participate in the ritual.
reveling in the: wil mock the very truth of your life.
sacrilege, committing a: wil suffer much misery.
salvation, institution, joining a: a rude awakening for your family.
Savior, praying to the: desires wil be granted in the future.
granting wishes: spiritual healing has been earned, prayers are answered.
seated in: wil change habits, with the strength of spiritual forces.
talking in: friends are envious of your relationship with the forces of life.
vicar of a, talking to the: people wil cause anguish.
yard, being in: a sense of what is fundamental to al life and death.
others in a: cycles of life and growth, reproduction and interdependence.
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