RAIN... Rain... rain...

Rain is nourishment for the earth and is known as the water of life. Rain takes many forms and can be anything from a gentle sprinkling and light watering of the earth, up to a torrid downpour and possible flooding; life giving on one hand and potentially death dealing on the other. Rain is a very serious affair, especially wherever water is scarce and/or crops are growing.

A wonderful, (surviving) example of this seriousness is the world famous Native American rain dances, created to induce rain. To many city dwellers (or non-farmers) rain is seen as more of an annoyance than anything else. As you can guess, the meaning of the symbol (overall) changes depending on the scarcity and/or need of water/rainfall.

Rain drops can symbolize heaven's tears and the accompanying LIGHTENING can be seen as heaven's anger (for example, thunderbolts were the favored weapon of Zeus, etc.). Rain is a symbol for tears, sorrow, anger, cleansing, renewal, forgiveness and more -- usually on a heavenly, worldly or very large sort of personal scale. This is not a visual symbol for small sorrows or everyday events.

Slang terms/phrases: "Don't rain on my parade" (rain as a spoiler of a big event), "Save it for a rainy day" (save something good to brighten up a gloomy day), "rain out" (a postponement or cancellation of an outdoor event because of rain) which leads straight to "rain check" (a promise for remittance at a later date, usually because product or time ran out) and "It's raining cats and dogs" (a very HEAVY downpour).

It would probably be a good bet that most of these phrases came from the group of people who see rain as more of an annoyance factor than a life/death matter. The sound of rain, is considered extremely relaxing.

Rain in a Dream

To be out in a clear shower of rain, denotes that pleasure will be enjoyed with the zest of youth, and prosperity will come to you. If the rain descends from murky clouds, you will feel alarmed over the graveness of your undertakings. To see and hear rain approaching, and you escape being wet, you will succeed in your plans, and your designs will mature rapidly.

To be sitting in the house and see through the window a downpour of rain, denotes that you will possess fortune, and passionate love will be requited. To hear the patter of rain on the roof, denotes a realization of domestic bliss and joy. Fortune will come in a small way. To dream that your house is leaking during a rain, if the water is clear, foretells that illicit pleasure will come to you rather unexpectedly; but if filthy or muddy, you may expect the reverse, and also exposure.

To find yourself regretting some duty unperformed while listening to the rain, denotes that you will seek pleasure at the expense of another's sense of propriety and justice. To see it rain on others, foretells that you will exclude friends from your confidence. For a young woman to dream of getting her clothes wet and soiled while out in a rain, denotes that she will entertain some person indiscreetly, and will suffer the suspicions of friends for the unwise yielding to foolish enjoyments. To see it raining on farm stock, foretells disappointment in business, and unpleasantness in social circles. Stormy rains are always unfortunate.

Rain in literature

Ernest Hemingway’s “Cat in the Rain”, a tale of an American couple, illuminates much deeper meanings to the readers. In “Cat in the Rain”, he uses imagery and his subtle skill to convey to the readers the very truth of family relationship. While reading the story, the readers come to understand the symbols used in the text.

This short story contains a great number of symbols. In a symbolic reading, the opening paragraph describes the crisis that exists in the marriage of the couple.  We see the water from the very beginning: “It was raining. The rain dripped from the palm trees. Water stood in pools on the gravel paths. The sea broke in a long line in the rain.” The water is a symbol of fertility. The land can become fruitful by water. However, she does not become wet, which means that nothing can grow from her sterile womb. The water never touches her: “Do not get wet”. Thus, Hemingway is portraying an attitude towards marriage and the conflict in the family life.