End Of World Apocalypse

Certainties that the world was ending have been experienced by humans since the beginnings of their history. It is still a theme that frequently appears in dreams and in the way many people live their life today. Many sects have predicted precise dates for the end of the world. All of them so far have been victims of their own fears and hopes. Looked at from the point of view that dream images represent our own life and feelings in some way, the end of the world, and the fears that go with it, depict the powerful and threatening inner and outer changes that accompany major transitions.

Apocalypse

Apocalyptic dreams can indicate that you have realised that the world you knew is so riddled with destructive and anti life feelings and thoughts you dream of seeing its logical conclusion – its death. Such dreams show you are going through radical inner changes and are seeking a different, life oriented way.

The transition from childhood to adolescence for instance is the end of the world that existed for the whole lifetime of the individual up until that point. Such points of transition occur several times in the life of anyone who dares to grow and adapt. Menopause for women, the leaving home of children, the loss of a job, retirement, can all be represented by the end of the world – or a world.Social changes also bring enormous stress and the ending of a way of life to many individuals. Supposing an individual had grown up in a welfare system and had, as many do, spent their entire life being supported by social welfare, never working. If the social welfare finished, it would be the end of the world for that individual.So inward and exterior changes can produce the feeling or dream of our world ending.

This can usually be met and passed through, although it does require a sort of death, a letting go of old traits and responses built in connection with the old way of life. This can produce anxiety. A new personality, one suited to present needs or situation can gradually emerge – be born – if we can pass through the anxiety and meet the experiences of the new world we are living in.

Several religions lived with the conviction that unless certain rites were performed with zeal, the end of the world would occur. The end was only delayed by the efforts of the devout. Peoples living in the uncertainty of seasonal changes and unreliable harvests, may have expressed their deep fears and hopes through such rituals and beliefs. Underlying such beliefs was the frequent idea that the gods or God had frequently destroyed the world in the past, to cleanse it of error. Such destructions had always been followed with a new world. Therefore rebirth always followed destruction. In the New Testament Peter reports Christ as saying – The day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and the works that are upon it will be burned up’ (2 Peter 3.10) The parable of the separation of the goats and the sheep, the wheat from the tares, also suggests an ending and a time of change or judgement.

Considering that the early Christians were sure the end of the world was to happen in their own times, we can be certain it does not refer to the actual physical world, or that perhaps it depicts a constant fear that lives in humans concerning death or social insecurity. Research carried out by Ostow and Mortimer into the dreams and fantasies of schizophrenics suggests that the apocalyptic theme is common to the illness, and is almost exactly a reflection of the theme found in some religious teachings.

That people still frequently dream this theme show it is still a significant issue. Strangely enough, sometimes the dreams are not threatening, or there is a great deal of beauty involved. These are examples of the religious theme that at the end of the world there will be resurrection and a wonderful new life. Ostow and Mortimer see these as a hope that radical healing or change can come from an external and perhaps miraculous source, rather than from personal growth. These dreams are obviously not about anxiety, but show a feeling of wonder and pleasure at the dramatic changes. In both cases God, or a power other than that of the dreamer is included in the dream. We can see this as a realisation of the dreamers that the changes are beneficent, and arise from activities wider than the individual influence of the individual. See: First example under alien, and the example below.

Example: It was the end of the world. I was at work when we received the first signs; my computer suddenly showed beautiful pictures – but in the usual computer colour – all green. I said, ‘Oh God, if only we had colour!’ and immediately the pictures started flowing through the screen in beautiful breathtaking colours. I could hardly bear to leave their beauty. Then I was climbing down a steep hill. Arriving at the foot I found rippling sparkling water. I stopped and looked around and found everything incredibly beautiful – the green fields and the pebbles in the water, the soft fresh air; then I looked up and the sky was a glorious picture, the sun so warm and the clouds fluffy and soft and pretty. I felt at peace and so happy, and thanked God with all my heart for giving us so much beauty. Mrs. R. E.

In trying to make sense of end of the world dreams at a personal level, this account from a man in his fifties helps to clarify what happens in connection with such dreams.

Example: About three years ago I experienced a number of dreams about catastrophic events such as earthquakes and the destruction of cities. In such dreams I was trying to find my way through the dangers. For instance in one dream I was walking up a hill in rocky country. Looking to my right I could see that a huge river of earth and boulders was flowing. I realised it was due to earthquakes and earth changes, and although I didn’t feel frightened, I did feel I must keep an eye on what was happening. During that period I also went through a powerful death experience. I wanted to die. It wasn’t that I felt suicidal, but the sources of satisfaction and pleasure in my life had dried up, leaving me feeling there was little to live for. This led to a real inner awareness of dying, and I realised this was really what religion was referring to in talking about dying and being reborn. It was difficult at the time to know exactly what this was about in terms of my normal life, but through the passage of time I have a clearer view of it, although it is still emerging. So I can be fairly sure that the changes and the sense of dying arose out of my having reached my middle fifties. At that time my children had all left home, and my sexual relationship with my wife was almost non-existent. I had never realised it before, but those two things had given me most of my satisfaction in life, my reason for living. Without them I felt empty of any motive to live as I couldn’t find things that were anywhere near as fulfilling. Around that time too, after I had actually felt a real sense of having died, I managed to make some big changes in my life. I moved with my wife from a house we had lived in for 17 years. In leaving it I also stepped out of roles that had provided me with a livelihood, social contact, and feelings of social value. This was difficult to do as I had a lot of dependent feelings about the house and the income involved.

The change was sometimes very painful, but overall the changes led me to feel more independent than I had ever been previously. In essence I would say I have gradually learned not to be so dependent on others – my wife and children – for my own feeling of well-being. And although the dreams and the death experience happened nearly three years ago, I believe I am still going through the process. I had thought at the time of the death that the birth would follow quickly. This doesn’t seem to be part of my own experience. It is a long process. So if someone who was going through such a process asked me how to meet it, I would say that you have to learn some measure of trust in ones own capability to emerge as a new person. Or one must have a view of life as being more than ones small concerns and inclinations, and that one is learning to integrate what is MORE than oneself. Nigel A.

Example: I looked to my right through the doors of the large room and saw strange alien type creatures. I felt a bit anxious. They were like skinless creatures. Now I was walking out of the town. It felt like the end of the world, or the end of society. I was walking through lots of churches standing on a hillside, surrounded by grass. They were of all types, strongly built but empty now. I walked past a married couple who were walking up the hill too. As I passed I heard them say something about a shepherd. Looking up the hill I saw the sheep, then The Shepherd. A beautiful aura of many colours surrounded The Shepherd. I looked and felt joy and exuberance rise in me, and I ran to the couple saying it was THE SHEPHERD. Peter M.

Peter’s dream represent the coat of many colours in the Bible story.

Useful questions and hints:

What is it that is ending in my life, or that I fear is ending?

Do the events of the dream give me further insights into what I feel or fear?

What events or relationship situations in my life suggest radical change?

See ApocalypseTechniques for Exploring your DreamsAssociations Working WithSecrets of Power Dreaming

Comments

-Marta 2016-05-29 0:18:18

I knew the world was about to end. I gathered some items i don’t recall. There were a group of people and we all were planning the escape.
I saw all the different types of scenarios and took pictures of them. Combining them all i could make a big picture of the seasons, from spring to winter. The brighter and sharper picture i got was the winter, with big mountains covered in snow. They were all beatiful.
I felt anxious as i was preparing for leaving but there was some kind of astonishment looking at the landscapes. They were gorgeous!
In real life i am feeling i am about to face life changings but i don’t know what it is yet.

    -Anna - Tony's Assistant 2016-06-01 11:52:32

    Dear Marta – Your dream may reflect that you have reached a turning point in your life as far as your perception of inner change is concerned.
    In the context of your dream I see your intention to escape merely as a symbol for emerging from the restrictions of fears, habits or beliefs.
    While gaining awareness of “the bigger picture” you are able to accept that moving through the inner seasons – the cycles of death and rebirth – is part of Life and now you can see the beauty of IT: the astonishment of how Life is expressed in every stage of your life.
    That is a wonderful change of perception!
    “The brighter and sharper picture I got was the winter, with big mountains covered in snow” reminds me of Hexagram 2, Line 1 of the I Ching; “The results of past action now accumulates – the reaping of what was sown. Be cautious. A wintry season approaches. Be prepared for it. Things must die before being re-formed.”
    See http://dreamhawk.com/i-ching/hexagram-two/
    See also http://dreamhawk.com/dream-encyclopedia/the-archetype-of-rebirth-or-resurrection/
    Anna 🙂

      -Marta 2016-06-02 23:58:42

      Thank you very much for your support and kindness.
      After reading those articles i have no doubt of being through a death and rebirth time. I have a slight memory of dreaming of a cave some weeks ago. Also for the past two days i dreamt of getting pregnant which i think implies a birth ahead. Last night i was heading to a dark place in which i think there was a cemetery. Then i would be at the beach arround many people dressed in black. As i walked towards the ocean, these people blocked my passage. I think this might have happened because i still have some fears still inside. Like death itself, we mostly fear the idea of how we die, not death. In fact, this is an issue that has poped up several times during the last days and makes me feel this kind of sadness.

        -Anna - Tony's Assistant 2016-06-05 8:14:19

        Dear Marta – You are welcome! It may help you too when you “practice dying”. I once had a dream in which I was running away from people who tried to shoot me; they scared the shit out of me!!
        The next day I used http://dreamhawk.com/dream-encyclopedia/secrets-power-dreaming/ and while walking on the beach I visualised walking into their bullets over and over again. When I returned to the pool (we were on holiday then) I felt so wonderfully open and once again I realised that my active imagination can serve as a wonderful means as well.
        BUT it is a process and so be patient and kind with yourself and do allow yourself any feeling without judging it; be it fear or sadness, just name it and be with it.
        Getting pregnant may be another wonderful step towards birthing a new part of you.
        I very much enjoyed reading http://www.elizabethlesser.org/broken-open/.
        Perhaps it will inspire you too?
        Do you write down your dreams in a dream journal; http://dreamhawk.com/dream-encyclopedia/dream-diary/?
        Feel free to continue to post your dreams if you feel you need another helping hand in exploring it.
        Anna 🙂

          -Marta 2016-06-07 10:47:20

          Thank you Anna 🙂
          I keep a journal for a few years now.
          I spent the last days thinking about the ‘open life’ article. I just regret for the times i couldn’t make it to be that way…
          Tonight i dreamt i was in the middle of a beehive. I knew it was dangerous but i wasn’t scared and knew the bees wouldn’t hurt me. They were on my side 🙂 i thought of honey in spite i didn’t see it. The rest of the dream i was on the move with my brother and friends but have little memories. As i wake up i feel glad for the beehive and honey in my dreams.
          I enjoyed your reading sugestion. I’ll check in the bookstore as soon as things improve here. It reminds me of a quote i read a few months ago that say that ‘the wound is the place where the light enters you’.
          Best regards :)u

-Ayana Tillery 2015-08-07 22:10:23

Last night I had the dream of the world ending slowly. It was of water coming from the left and a raging fire from the right. The first thing that came to mind was praying for God to take my 3 year old sister to heaven (She has miled Autism). I prayed as much as I could. Then there was someone I just had to see. It was a boy that I was talking to on instagram and he is so nice. He lived in Australia and moved to Canada. I asked my mom if she could do everything in her power to get me to Canada just so we could finally meet each other. The. It was to late, the water reached my family and I. While I was being swept away my last thought was “Maybe I will see him were ever I go”. I hope you can find an answer to what this means!

-talia jade 2015-07-15 14:38:21

I had a dream that a toxic gas of some form wiped out the world besides a certain few who were able to escape. They created this whole new way of living in massive machine that constantly moved looking for somewhere viable to live. After an ulceration the ship I was on all got kicked out of the group bur found a tribe that had survived the toxins and they then captured us, took care of us for a while until they tried eating us, we escaped and then I woke up. Just wondering what this could mean, any help would be great, thanks.

-Courtney Lynn 2013-11-04 3:09:39

Lately I’ve been having some very strong and vivid dreams that I know are very important, yet I have been having a difficult time analyzing them. Here is one from the other night:

It is the beginning of the end of the world. Something has happened to the sun and the world has become mostly dark. People are confused and hungry as the climate starts to get very cold. Humanity desperately tries to save itself before society completely spirals out of control by attempting to adapt to the quick and drastic change; it is early enough in the crisis that there is still order and communication and thus an opportunity to save ourselves. I learn the my father has been recruited to try to solve this crisis. He is an engineer and people with his skills are very valuable. I am proud of him.
It has gotten very cold and there is snow. People are afraid of the dark and carry lights with them, especially when near the ocean or walking on water. If you are walking on water without light, the fear is that dark creatures from underneath that glow will rise to the surface to get you. I take my chances and run across water without a light and make it safely across, yet it is scary to do this

I’m not sure what the walking on water stuff is about, in my dream there is nothing religious, other worldly or even special about it, we just did it. Reflecting on this dream i found it interesting that in my dream world humanity was able to survive the death of the sun, something we could not do if it happened for real

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