Orphan
Being an orphan, Orphaned child, Orphanage
Dreaming that you're an orphan can be startling, especially if your parents are alive and well. Such dreams are rarely about them. More often they come when you're making big decisions on your own, or feel that the people you'd usually lean on are busy, distant or out of reach. Many beloved stories, from Oliver Twist to Anne of Green Gables, follow orphans who find courage and a family of their own choosing, and your dream may share that spirit. Caring for an orphaned child or animal shows a strong urge to protect someone vulnerable.
Dream variations
- Being an orphan as an adultYou're making choices without anyone to check them with. Find one person whose advice you trust and use them as a sounding board.
- An orphanageYou're wondering where you belong. Count the people who would show up for you on a bad day; the list may be longer than you think.
- Taking in an orphanYou have more care to give than you've been using. Be the one who turns up every week, not just once.
- Finding long-lost relativesYou're searching for roots or a sense of connection. A family story or an old friend may give you what you're missing.
Related symbols
- AdoptionAdoption means choosing to belong to each other, and that's often what these dreams are…
- LonelinessFeeling lonely in a dream can sting long after you open your eyes.
- FamilyFew things feel as familiar in a dream as a gathering of the people you grew up with.
- Being left behindYour friends pile into a car and drive off laughing, or the whole group moves on while…
More in People
Symbol of the day
TicketA ticket is a small piece of paper that says you're allowed in, or allowed to go.
Read more →Dream interpretations are for entertainment.