Dreaming of keys in Santería: meaning

Within this tradition

Elegguá is the guardian of the crossroads and the messenger between people and orishas. He is often depicted as a child or an old man, playful and unpredictable, and his colours are red and black. In many homes an Elegguá stands behind the front door: a stone or cement head with cowrie-shell eyes, guarding the house. According to a well-known saying Elegguá holds the keys to all roads: he can open them, but also close them.

Because he can turn fate, he is honoured first and thanked last. A well-known patakí tells how Olofi, the creator, fell ill, and how only the young Elegguá could heal him. In gratitude he received the right always to be honoured first.

Along those lines a dream about a key, a door or a crossroads is often read in Santería readings as a question about paths. Receiving a key or a door opening, as a path opening. A door that stays shut, as a path that is (still) closed, or as the question of whether you are overlooking something. A child or old man in red and black at a crossroads strongly recalls Elegguá.

Losing keys can be about the feeling of having no access to an opportunity. Here too: whoever finds a dream weighs heavily discusses it with a padrino or madrina.

Common variations