The Magpie

The Seer:
In becoming adept at interpreting dream symbols, as many of you are who regularly use the Dream Dictionary, it occasionally happens that I may have two answers when asked about a specific dream symbol’s meaning. Here’s why this is the case and what to do about it:

Let’s use the example of the magpie. The dream dictionary will tell you it means ‘thriving on another’s success’. That answer is correct. But I could tell you that it means a fence sitter / someone who refuses to take sides. That answer is also correct.

This is an art piece called ‘The Magpie’ that is right next to my bed and it’s the first thing I see when I wake up. For me the magpie symbolizes someone who is fence sitting / avoiding taking responsibility for choosing one thing over another because of wishing to stay on good terms with both. For the rest of the population, the symbol of the magpie means taking credit for success that was achieved by another, or exploiting the hard-won rewards of another.

Thus, sometimes there is a uniquely personal interpretation of an unusual symbol in your environment, or in your dreams, and otherwise the universal dream symbols apply. When such a uniquely personal association with a specific symbol arises in your life, use its interpretation for your dream. But if you’re helping someone else to understand their dream, use the universally applicable dream symbols in the dream dictionary.

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