Dream Meaning of Ostrich

In the old dream lore of Turkey and the wider Islamic world, the ostrich is a double-edged symbol. On one hand it stands for blessing, prosperity, marriage and long life; on the other it can point to a deaf or stubborn person, to wealth acquired by questionable means, and to the pain caused by false friends. The meaning shifts with what you do with the bird.

Seeing an Ostrich

If you simply see one, it is usually read as good fortune. Many interpreters say it points to husband and wife, to a comfortable life, and to hidden riches that will come to you. Some say it indicates a jealous woman, while the classical commentator Mejlisi saw it as a sign of someone who withdraws from society. In a more cautious reading, it may also represent a person who does not listen to reason.

Finding, Buying or Owning an Ostrich

To find, buy, or possess an ostrich is a very favourable sign for your love life. The old interpreter Kirmani said that such a dream means you will marry a generous woman or come into the company of a beautiful servant girl. If the ostrich is female, the dream points to a virtuous and religious wife; if it is male, it points to a charitable man. Receiving a female ostrich as a gift, or catching one, is likewise a promise of marriage.

Riding an Ostrich

Riding an ostrich is more troubling. Traditional sources warn that it means you will get hold of unlawful or tainted money, or that you will set out for a desert place with a caravan. If you ride the bird and it flies up into the air and then lands, you will take a journey and come back safe and sound. But if it keeps flying and never lands, the journey may be one from which you do not return.

Carrying an Ostrich on Your Back

Loading the ostrich onto your back or carrying it has two opposite readings. One says that your good fortune will come to you without you having to chase it; your luck will arrive at your doorstep. The other warns that you are about to make a mistake, perhaps an error in judgment that could harm your reputation. The contrast is typical of this symbol: the same act can be a blessing or a warning.

Ostrich Wings and Eggs

The ostrich's body parts are read separately. If you dream that you have ostrich wings, you will obtain worldly goods from a man of influence. To come across an ostrich egg, or to watch the bird lay an egg, means you will meet a woman who will play a part in your life. Some sources liken pulling ostrich feathers like prayer beads to gaining a wife or partner. Feeding an ostrich is also said to symbolise coming into possession of a woman.

An Ostrich in Your House

Having an ostrich in your home is a sign of long life. If you receive an ostrich from a statesman or a very rich person, it may mean you will be appointed to a position of authority, such as a judge, or receive a government post. This is one of the most positive variants of the dream.

An Ostrich Biting or Killing It

If the ostrich bites you, beware of people who harbour ill will toward you. They envy your achievements and will try to make your affairs fail. To kill an ostrich, however, is a victory: you will overcome a powerful or important person who has been standing in your way.

As with any dream, the ostrich asks you to look at your own circumstances. It can promise quiet prosperity and a happy household, yet it also reminds you to guard your heart against insincere friends and to be careful about how you earn your money.