Gate Symbolism: Welcome Sign to Your Future

gate symbolism garden future

Gate Symbolism

They keep things in, they shut things out; you can find them in just about any size and made from a range of materials.  So what exactly does it mean when you see a gate in a meditation or in a dream?

Chances are it might be a bit of a variation from time to time because there can be several different aspects to consider in order to get an accurate interpretations.  Ask yourself these questions about the gate you’re wondering about to arrive at your best analysis:


gate symbolism

A Message About Your Present, or Your Future

  1. What was the mood or feeling at the gate?  Lightness, hopefulness, positivity?  Heavy, sad, oppressive?
  2. Is it holding something in, or keeping something out?
  3. Was it possible to see through its bars, or was it constructed more solidly so you could not see beyond the gate?
  4. Were you able to open/close the gate or to pass through it?  Or was it locked or were you unable to open it for some other reason?
  5. How tall is the gate?
  6. What color is the gate?  What materials the gate is constructed of, and  are natural or man-made?
  7. Think of other aspects that pertain to the situation.  Is the gate hidden, overgrown with vines?  Is it in good condition or shabby?  Do you find it in a wide-open space?  Is it a pretty setting or something long-forgotten and dilapidated?
Your Answer in Writing

If you write a short paragraph using the answers to those questions it will undoubtedly shed some light on the symbolism of the gate you’ve encountered.  All these facets may pertain in a direct way to the events going on in your life – especially if you have focused on a particular topic for your meditation.   In general, gates represent natural passages or transitions from one part of our life to another.

Gate Symbolism: When Open

An open gate or being able to easily pass through a gate relates to your future, to heading into a new phase of life, toward a new challenge, or opportunity.

If you can see over the top, what lies on the other side?  Are you being kept separated from something for your own safety?  Perhaps you need to be aware of something before you opt to walk through.

Think of the gate as a pause between stages, a moment before a new phase begins. It is asking for you to observe and be thoughtful so that what you are walking into is a conscious and well-thought out choice.

Gate Symbolism: When Locked

A gate that is locked, blocked, too high/heavy,  or that you’re unable to go through shows that either you’re not ready for the next step, or it’s not ready for you.  There is something more you need to know, understand, or be aware of. Depending on the mood and other aspects of the questions you answered earlier, it can give you insight as to why that is.  It may be about overcoming some other aspect or challenge first in order to then be able to pass through, or it could be showing you that this “route” is no longer an option and you should look for another way.

Remember the scene from Notting Hill where they jump the gate to the garden?   It’s cute and romantic there, but if you do the same in the meditation or dream, it is probably a sign of trying to force or control a situation to your liking, rather than to go about the situation the best way.  It may also be indicative of your impatience.

gate in the garden symbol

Gates: A Symbolic Message

Possible “gate” messages:

  • This is the way to your new (job, relationship, home, etc.) opportunity – are you ready to go through?
  • Be aware of _________ and then you can go ahead when you are ready.
  • Your future looks _________________________.
  • Find a way to “unlock” this opportunity and it will become available (open) to you.
  • Clear away the debris and things blocking the gateway and the new opportunity will become available to you.
  • This is a beautiful new chance for you and your ________.  It’s up to you if you want to pursue (pass through) it.
  • Don’t look for short-cuts (by climbing over); find a better way to allow this transition or new phase to come to you.

Do you have a symbol that you would like interpreted?  Heather Oelschlager takes submissions for requests through Mandorla Academy. Send an email through the contact form and your symbol may be chosen for an upcoming article like this one!

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2 Responses

  1. Mary

    Heather – can this be true of doors as well? I had a dream where I was on the outside of a house looking into it. I could walk up onto the porch but did not go into the house. Thanks, Mary

    • hloelschlager

      Hi Mary! Yes, those same ideas can apply to doors as well, however, with doors – they’re a lot more complex. There are many additional things to consider – like what it is a door to, if it’s a door to or inside of a house (or to another place) for example. Then, the house has very specific meanings that would influence the meaning of the door…the same thing with your porch. So some of the gate symbolism applies to your dream certainly, but there is a whole lot more to it than just that. I’ll be writing about doors and houses and other things as I go along so it will start to make even more sense once I get to all of that.

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