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a dagger pointing at your heart, or being used to kill you;
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being laid on an altar for sacrifice;
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sweating profusely in a heated hut or tent - for purging body and psyche of accumulated impurities and for generating spiritual ‘heat5 or energy;
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circumcision - to turn you into an adult, or to put you among God’s chosen ones;
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being given a new name — to mark your new status, to show you are no longer the person you were. What docs the new name mean or suggest to you?
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being tattooed - for the same purpose as (5) above. Does the tattoo suggest anything to you?
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going into a state of ecstasy - signifying a new level of consciousness;
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some esoteric teaching given you by a priest or holy person - new directions for your life. NB This feature, on its own, might count as a pseudo-initiation: substitution of ideas for actual experience.
If any of these items occur in a dream, it may be that you are being called upon to leave your present stage of life / stage of personal development / set of attitudes, beliefs, values and goals for a new one. Who or what is doing the calling? God? Your unconscious? The name is less important than the fact. [1]
In ancient times, initiation rituals were very common. They were used as a dramatized representation of the structure of the psyche or life. [2]
To dream that we are being given such an honour means we can receive acclaim for something that we have done, for our ability to make the transition from the lesser to the greater. [3]
To be dreaming of such a ceremony indicates that we can be pleased with ourselves and what we have achieved, that we have literally inaugurated a different way of being, and can now move forward into the future. [4]
See also: Graduation, Fire. [5]
The dreamer may be evolving to a new level spiritually. Such a dream can also indicate that one is moving into a new career or advancing in status in some other area. [6]
An initiation or inauguration ceremony in a spiritual sense can mark a new beginning, the taking of new spirituality, perhaps cosmic responsibility. [7]
going through an: evolving to a new spiritual level with aid from adepts.
leading an: sound friendship based on loyalty and honor.
participating in a: a new career is opening up for you. [12]