The Dream Book of Self-Knowledge

Machine

with automatic operation or unattended: symbolizes a person's automatic behavior, actions, feelings and thoughts; a similar image encourages the dreamer to abandon ordinary human life "on autopilot"*⁴⁴ (see Attentiveness archetype).
we can recognize the metaphorical image of human activity in the number of mechanical parts, their movements and function (e.g. pistons and the cylinders moving in them – sexual intercourse; chains and gears – relationships).
disassembling a machine into parts: symbolizes the dreamer's bold attempt to reveal the essence, motives, relationships or even life "on autopilot" all functions that are symbolized by the disassembled machine.
out-of-order, broken: symbolizes the harmful relationships or unhealthy processes within one's psyche.
repairing: this image represents the dreamer's attempt to strengthen relationships and sometimes even the processes within his own psyche.
mechanisms: symbolize relationships or processes within the psyche; for smooth spiritual development it is therefore good if the dreamer understands the various mechanisms and is able to control them or repair them if they break down.
construction: see Construction machines.
in building roads: very important help on the path through life, but bearing the question: "Where will the road lead?"
a machine cranking a rope (e.g. cableway): karma*²⁶ is putting into motion one of the dreamer's sexual or emotional relationships; the force of the cable represents the symbol's power over the dreamer's consciousness and the length shows the duration of the relationship.
agricultural: see Harrow (farming machine); see Plow.
steam-powered: see Steam.
dangerous machines: as threatening aspects of the mind they are separated from the dreamer's consciousness by dream covers, a door or other obstacles until they have weakened in the dreamer's consciousness to the point that he can safely open it; similar dangers often express a subconscious memory of prenatal development and the birth process (see Basic Perinatal Matrix archetype).
a machine with a chain and gearwheel: the individual links of the chain and interlocking cogs symbolize the fates of individual people, fates that fit precisely into each other and create an imaginary form of the karmic cycle of rebirth*⁷⁵.
lubing a machine, motor, machinery: the attempt at easier progress through life; sometimes also a symbol of karma that puts into motion one of the dreamer's sexual or emotional relationships.
sewing: the constantly repeating motion of the needle expresses the unrelenting desire for sexual intercourse (the eternal principle of intercourse) and the constantly spinning gears symbolize the continuous cycle of rebirth.
Hammer: see Pulley, hoist.
typewriter: see Typewriter.
apparatus: see Apparatus.
electric shaver: see Shaving, barber.
ice cream machine: synonymous with a certain spiritual technique that induces spiritual awareness.
time machine: clash of the past or future with the present: an unusual experience since the dreamer can bring a vital element from his own past to his current life, or recognize in future events the impact of past actions and current thinking; the time machine is not a mythical technical means, but becomes a reality for the dreamer on the level of the unconscious through which he can consciously travel through time; it is then possible to view extended periods of time and even travel through centuries, though this cannot be done for the sake of curiosity, which prevents the dreamer from taking "the next" trip, but through the desire to know the essence of existence and the transience of the human body to which people tragically cling; it is very tempting to board such a "time machine" in a lucid dream, though from the perspective of spiritual development it is an obvious step backwards.