Will-o'-the-wisp
Ghost lights, Marsh lights, Hinkypunk
A will-o'-the-wisp is a pale light that bobs over a bog at night and seems to beckon you closer, then slips away whenever you follow. In a dream it's about temptation and false leads: a goal, a person or an idea that glows brightly but keeps moving out of reach. It can also show curiosity strong enough to pull you off your usual path. Your feelings tell you which. If following the light felt thrilling, you're craving adventure. If you felt tricked, an offer in waking life may need a closer look.
Dream variations
- Following the light into a marshYou're chasing something that keeps moving the finish line. Ask yourself when you last got any closer, and be honest about the answer.
- Refusing to follow the lightYour good sense is stronger than the pull of a shiny offer. Stick with the path you can see.
- Several lights dancing togetherYou're being pulled in several directions at once. Pick the one that still shines in daylight.
- The light leading you homeNot every glimmer is a trick. This time your instinct knows the way, so follow the hunch and keep an eye on the path.
Related symbols
- SwampStill water, hanging moss and the croak of hidden frogs make a swamp feel heavy and…
- Getting lostWandering through strange streets or endless corridors echoes uncertainty in waking life.
- LanternBefore streetlights, a lantern was how people found their way home after dark, its flame…
- FireflyLittle lights blinking on and off over a summer lawn have a way of making grown-ups feel…
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.