Dreaming of the sun or moon
Lucky in KoreaWestern readers often see the sun as energy, clarity and success, and the moon as intuition, emotion or hidden feelings.
Some of the grandest dreams in Korean tradition involve the sky. Taking the sun or moon into your arms, or swallowing it, is read as a sign of great success or the birth of an important person. A sun rising over the horizon means a fresh start. A sunset or an eclipse suggests that a situation is winding down or losing strength.
Sun or moon dreams, scene by scene
- The sun or moon falls into your armsGood sign
Major success, or a remarkable child.
- You watch the sun riseGood sign
A new beginning with bright prospects.
- A full moon lights your pathGood sign
Calm guidance and wishes coming true.
- The sun sets or an eclipse darkens the skyTake care
A situation is fading. Prepare for change.
The Korean story behind sun or moon dreams
In Korean folk belief, the sun and moon carried a deep sense of power and order. A well-known folktale tells of a brother and sister who escape a tiger by climbing a rope to heaven, where they become the sun and the moon. Families have also long made wishes to the full moon, especially on Daeboreum, the first full moon of the lunar year, and at Chuseok, the autumn harvest holiday. Kings were often compared to the sun, the single light that rules the sky. With these associations, holding the great lights of heaven in a dream came to suggest a destiny far larger than ordinary life.
Could a sun or moon dream be a taemong?
A sun or moon taemong is said to announce a child destined for an outstanding life.
Sun or moon dream: what people do next
People who dream of the sun or moon often treat it as a reason to aim higher on an important goal. Couples hoping for a child may quietly hold onto it as a taemong. Some make a wish at the next full moon. If the dream showed a sunset, it can be a calm cue to wrap up something that has run its course.
Good to know
Old histories and legends often describe the mothers of kings and heroes dreaming of the sun or moon before their births.