Gates of Horn, Gates of Ivory
Gates of Horn,
Gates of Ivory
by Elikozoe
Sunt geminae Somni portae, quarum altera fertur
cornea, qua veris facilis datur exitus umbris;
altera candenti perfecta nitens elephanto,
sed falsa ad caelum mittunt insomnia Manes.
Two gates the silent house of Sleep adorn;
Of polish’d ivory this, that of transparent horn:
True visions thro’ transparent horn arise;
Thro’ polish’d ivory pass deluding lies.
from Virgil — The Æneid
translation by John Dryden (1631-1700)
There is something that I would like you to do. During the week, before you sleep, tell yourself, if you want to, that you will have a true dream that will come from the Gates of Horn. Now that is an ancient suggestion given by the Egyptians. The Gates of Horn.
I do not want to tell you what it means yet, simply to ask you to give yourselves the suggestion —those of you who want to— a true dream that will help harmonize the portions of your being. Now that is part of the suggestion. Ask for a true dream that comes from the Gates of Horn, that will help harmonize the portions of your being.
Now such dreams will help you recognize some of your beliefs and will charge your being with energy. The class is quickening. I am giving you assignments. Some of you will follow them, and some will not. But the means will be here for those of you to follow who want to badly enough —I should say, goodly enough— but those of you who are willing to take the time and the energy, those assignments that you have not as yet discussed in class are important.
Seth / Jane Roberts ESP Class, May 28, 1974
In Greek mythology, dreams were personified by the gods named Oneiroi. Depicted as black-winged demons, they were relatives of Hypnos, the god of sleep and lived on the farthest shores of the Ocean near the border of Hades (the Netherworld).
Dreams were sent to mortals from one of two gates one could find there: true dreams emerged from a gate made of horn, whereas false dreams threaded their way from a gate fashioned of ivory.
In Greek, “ivory” (ἐλέφας elephas) is pronounced similarly to “deceive” (ἐλεφαίροµαι, elephairomai), and “horn” (κέρας, keras) is close to “accomplish, fulfil” (κραίνω, krainou < creation).
Thus are the dreams from the gates of Horn traditionally those which bring accomplishment, whereas with those from the gates of Ivory come deception or non-realisation.
