In general, the position of Mercury has a strong influence on dreams – its placement may also indicate the tone and nature of dream experiences. For example, Mercury in Scorpio can bring dreams set in nighttime scenes.
The Sun represents day, while the Moon represents night.
The nighttime itself is divided into three parts: Rahu, Saturn, and Ketu each rule a different portion of the night. Rahu governs the period from sunset to midnight, Saturn governs the midnight hours, and Ketu governs the hours before dawn.
Because of this, the planets that most strongly influence nightmares are Rahu, Ketu, Saturn, and the Moon.
Therefore, if these planets cast aspects upon the 12th house in the natal chart, they can cause disturbing dreams or nightmares. However, Ketu does not necessarily bring nightmares; it can also bestow spiritual or mystical dreams.
The sign of the Moon can likewise affect the nature of dreams.
For example, a Moon in Cancer may bring dreams about the childhood home – as well as everything described earlier in the context of dreams by zodiac signs.
Additionally, a planet located in the 12th house can also influence dream imagery: Venus in the 12th house may bring dreams of food or relationships. Chiron in the 12th may bring nightmares. Rahu in the 12th – dreams of astral entities. Mars in the 12th – dreams of physical violence. Saturn in the 12th – dreams of responsibility, stagnation, and heaviness. Sun in the 12th – indicates rare dream activity or difficulty remembering dreams, since the Sun governs the daytime.
A stellium (three or more planets) in the 12th house may point to various sleep disturbances.
It is also important to pay attention to which planets cast aspects on the Moon, Mercury, the 12th house, and the ruler of the 12th house.
Sometimes planetary transits can trigger dreams of certain types when they pass through the 12th house or another house that aspects it.
For instance, when Mars transits the 12th house, this period may bring dreams of aggression or violence.
The D30 Trishamsha chart is a divisional chart that reveals misfortunes and hardships.
Examining the 12th house in this chart can help identify difficulties or afflictions that affect the native – even during the state of dreaming – and can shed light on the nature of their dreams and nightmares.
Spiritual dreams or dreams involving spiritual beings are associated with the influence of Mercury, Jupiter, and Ketu upon the Moon or the 12th house.
Additionally, the 9th and 12th houses in the D20 Vishamsha chart (the divisional chart representing the spiritual path in one’s life) can be analyzed to understand the nature of the spiritual dreams the native may experience.
Intuition as a Filter – Antar Nimitta
While nimitta most often serves as an external tool for receiving messages from the Universe, intuition is an inner instrument that helps us filter what we experience in reality.
Intuition is an inner voice, an instant feeling that arises before logic.
In practice, to interpret a nimitta correctly, one must rely on intuition; otherwise, the process remains purely technical – almost like checking the meaning of a word in a dictionary.
Intuition can be developed through meditation and mantra practice.
Types of Intuition
Emotional Intuition – the “gut feeling,” an immediate sense of right or wrong.