Motif family
Dream, Vision, and Altered Perception
Dreams, visions, and altered states as sources of sacred knowledge, prophecy, or revelation. Includes prophetic dreams, the dream-reality boundary, opened perception, and the idea that ordinary consciousness conceals a deeper reality.
46 traditions
373 occurrences
360 mapped motifs
11 sub-families
- ainu
- akan
- amazonian
- andamanese
- arctic inuit
- arthurian
- australian aboriginal
- biblical
- buddhist
- celtic irish
- celtic welsh
- christian apocrypha
- comparative
- confucian
- daoist
- egyptian
- estonian
- filipino
- finnish karelian
- germanic
- greek
- greek roman
- guiana amerindian
- hawaiian
- hindu
- indigenous australian
- inuit
- islamic
- islamicate folklore
- jewish christian
- jewish pseudepigrapha
- malagasy
- melanesian
- mesopotamian
- nahua maya inca
- native american great lakes
- native american northeast woodlands
- native american northwest coast
- native american plains
- native american southeast
- native american southwest
- navajo
- norse
- persian
- roman
- sufi
Conserved neighbors: sacred knowledge · theophany · descent · prophecy divination
Sub-families · the next landing down
Prophetic Dreams and Dream Messages
15 motifs
- deceptive divine dream sent to a ruler 2 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- death dream sent to doomed sleeper 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- deceptive dream sent by a god 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- deceptive dream sent from a deity 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Divine command transmitted through dream apparition 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- divinely sent consolatory dream-message 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Dream messenger announces death 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- ominous dream foretelling royal death 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- Personified dream figures foretell conquest and strategy 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- prophetic dream of enemy downfall and rescue 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- prophetic dream verified by later fulfillment 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- prophetic or warning dream before conflict 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- Prophetic sleep and dream before battle 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- protective saint warns ruler in dream 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- sufi
- revelatory dream altering courage 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
Dream Visitors and Vision Revelations
14 motifs
- divine instruction by vision 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- norse
- dream apparition announces death 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- dream appearance of the dead or absent speaker 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- daoist
- Dream epiphany of protective goddess 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- dream identity crossing human and animal forms 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- daoist
- Dream imagery of animals foreshadowing or associated with violent consumption 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- norse
- Dream or apparition in the form of a loved one 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- dream revealing or intensifying forbidden love 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- dream reveals the hidden corpse 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- sufi
- dream revelation of a hidden captive being 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- daoist
- fear-bringing dream figure 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- inner beast revealed in sleep 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- murdered dead reveals hidden truth in dream 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- Recognized hall tableau from a prior vision 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic welsh
Apparitions and Supernatural Visionary Beings
13 motifs
- death-or-misfortune apparition 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- norse
- Departed spirits return to warn the living 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek roman
- encounter with apparitions 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- Ghost of dead father appears to son 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- marvelous chariot apparition with distorted animal and red figures 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- nocturnal spirit causing dreams and apparitions 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek roman
- ominous arrival bringing woe to a watcher 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- ominous bird apparition 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- ominous vision of a blood-bathed host 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- prophetic apparition warning travelers 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- prophetic night apparition directs conflict 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- prophetic sea-being whose approach brings dread 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek roman
- Vanishing prophetic woman after transaction 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek roman
Battle and Conflict Portents
21 motifs
- ominous portents before battle 4 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- auspicious omens before battle 2 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- battle foretold by druids 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- battlefield carrion birds foretold 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- city overwhelmed by the sea as omen of defeat 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- cosmic portents during heroic combat 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- divine warning before battle 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- dying hero foretells the war-band's ruin 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- forewarned combat injury 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- ill omens before battle 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- Omens before combat 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- omens before conflict 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- ominous portents before confrontation 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- ominous token foretelling hero's destruction 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- ominous transformation of the doomed-looking opponent 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- prophecy-like taunt of city fall and hero flight 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- retainers’ foreboding before lord’s combat 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- scout observes ominous signs before the arrival of an army 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- Supernatural foreknowledge of battlefield death 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- Supernatural-scale sign accompanies heroic deed 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- victory confirmed by celestial signs 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
Animal, Bodily, and Environmental Omens
14 motifs
- Divine sign of temporary silence 2 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- animal alarm before strangers arrive 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- finnish karelian
- bird of prey drops sign at altar 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- bird omens of wealth, disease, and fire 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- ainu
- landscape and birds as warning voices 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- finnish karelian
- omens announce danger 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- ominous animal and bloodshed at a feast 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- Ominous bodily sign before disaster 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- ominous bodily sign before separation 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- ominous natural stillness before danger 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- ominous serpent carried by a bird 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- ominous sign before discovery of loss 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- ominous supernatural sound before calamity 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- norse
- red sky as sign of supernatural death 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- comparative
Celestial and Cosmic Signs
13 motifs
- Blood-like atmospheric omen or marvel 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Buddha’s appearance marked by cosmic signs 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- celestial omens prompting royal action 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- celestial sign at the death of a powerful doctor 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- indigenous australian
- Cosmic omens confirming spiritual destiny 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- Cosmic signs at the death of a holy person 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- sufi
- Divine approval by lightning sign 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek roman
- Miraculous sign in the heavens 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Moon as guide and comforter 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- Moon as witness to future absence 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- sufi
- night as pregnant with future events 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- sufi
- night procession with stars 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek roman
- Universal stilling and suspension at a decisive moment 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
Dream Interpretation, Divination, and Omen Responses
14 motifs
- Punishment for withholding a dream 2 occurrences · 1 traditions
- ainu
- attempt to evade prophetic disclosure by changing the murder weapon 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- Consulting diviners before an undertaking 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek roman
- disease corrupts divinatory signs 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- failure to read signs of crisis 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- guide interprets visionary procession 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic welsh
- ominous choice among supernatural signs 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- ominous dream with internal interpretation 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Oracular restraint and required recantation 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- prayer answered by ambiguous divine sign 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Prayer for confirming omens from two places 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- prophetic dream of danger with corrective interpretation 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- Rejected ominous dream 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- finnish karelian
- true and false dreams distinguished by gates 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
Illusion, Daydream, and Mistaken Reality
10 motifs
- Art as enchantment, illusion, and moral danger 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- daydream ending in self-caused loss 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamicate folklore
- Deceptive image mistaken for reality 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- deceptive power of illusion 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- idle poor man invests inheritance and daydreams over fragile goods 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamicate folklore
- Mirage as deceptive water appearance 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- misheard natural sound as cosmic disaster 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- shadow or illusion mistaken for reality 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Sleeping victim perceives attacker as in a dream 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- true magical event mistaken for dream or madness 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamicate folklore
Sleep, Trance, Music, and Liminal States
6 motifs
- divine or supernatural sleep dwelling in a dark liminal place 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- dream-like paralysis in battle 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- Enchanted music that brings sleep and relief 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- mysterious music from an unseen hidden place 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- prolonged dream vision followed by awakening 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic welsh
- ritual frenzy overcoming a sacred singer 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
Prophetic Revelations and Presentiments
6 motifs
- false promise of imminent victory preceding suffering 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Founding attempt interrupted by ominous revelation 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- foretelling fulfilled in old age 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- partial knowledge of fate concealed from a hero 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- prophetic speaking horse warns of hero's doom 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Saintly presentiment of approaching death 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- sufi
Not yet placed in a sub-family
226 motifs, showing the 60 most attested
- Ominous dream foretelling death 3 occurrences · 2 traditions
- hindu
- native american plains
- dream-composed songs 3 occurrences · 1 traditions
- native american great lakes
- dream-composed song 2 occurrences · 1 traditions
- native american great lakes
- Ambivalent fire omen on a royal maiden 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- Angelic dream annunciation 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- christian apocrypha
- angelic dream reassurance 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- christian apocrypha
- Angelic revelation vision on a mountain 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- animal allegory of collective history 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- jewish pseudepigrapha
- animal and banner transformations in dreams 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- confucian
- animal attackers as ominous images of human attack 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- norse
- Animal-coded peoples in visionary history 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- jewish pseudepigrapha
- animal dream of conflict and lineage succession 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- jewish pseudepigrapha
- animal sign and vision connected to ceremonial song origin 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- native american southwest
- Animal vision confirming ritual identity 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- native american plains
- Apparition visible to an outsider but not to the household 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- germanic
- Appearance as warning before sickness 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- native american northwest coast
- astral dream announcing future elevation 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- auspicious omen contrasted with grief 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- Beloved first encountered in a dream 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic welsh
- Blood-colored dew or drops as ominous natural image 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- blood rain over battlefield 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- book required to preserve a complex dream 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic welsh
- Bowing before hidden kin linked to remembered dreams 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- jewish christian
- Celestial weight as dream-symbol of a person 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- mesopotamian
- city overwhelmed by water as an omen of defeat 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- claimed heavenly dreams and visions as a source of authority 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- arctic inuit
- Commissioned dream apparition 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- companion arrival announced by dream omen 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- mesopotamian
- concealed horned host revealed by looking through a threshold 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- germanic
- Conflict over an illusory image 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Constellations as navigational guides 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- cosmic and earthly portents at a sacred death 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- christian apocrypha
- cosmic omens confirming a spiritual destiny 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- cosmic-scale signs accompany army gathering 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- cursed tree and vision as disputed signs 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- cyclical moon witnesses human absence 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- sufi
- Danger revealed by sudden light 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- akan
- dead person's spirit reports death to sleeping kin 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hawaiian
- death-anticipating dream of a child 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- native american northwest coast
- death-dream or doom-dream 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- norse
- death of a great doctor marked by celestial and thunder signs 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- australian aboriginal
- death of a great doctor signaled by falling star and thunder 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- indigenous australian
- death revealed through a divinely sent dream or vision 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- deceptive divine dream directing a king 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- deceptive divine dream-message 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- deceptive dream portent naming a new home 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- deceptive mirage as false water 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- distant crisis signs in drink vessels 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- egyptian
- divine animal revealed in dream and used for divination 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- daoist
- Divine dream apparition bearing reassurance 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Divine dream sent to a human leader 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Divine dream visitation authorizing action 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- Divine dream with ambiguous numbered gift 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- confucian
- Divine status marked by a star sign 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- comparative
- Divine unveiling of mortal sight 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- doubled symbolic dream as confirmation of future events 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- jewish christian
- Dream accusation and enforced speechlessness 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- estonian
- Dream animal or fetch reveals a concealed identity 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- norse
- Dream animals interpreted as auspicious births 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- confucian
- Dream announces a rescue opportunity 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- estonian
Each motif link opens its evidence page: every tagged passage with its quote, and a path into the book where the passage lives.