Animals in Dreams

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Animals are a common dream motif and they represent the basic, animal life-force in us. These forces are often called "instincts" and thought of as "base" in our society, but they are essential parts of ourselves, remember that the "base" parts of yourself are your foundation, and they contain ancient knowledge that can often help us find solutions to our deilemmas that no amount of itellect can achieve!

In dreams we may witness activities of animals, we may attempt to fight, kill, capture, eat, or otherwise subdue and animal. We might be chased by an animal. Or we might dream of trapped animals. Baby animals of any sort represent the immature aspect of the animals described below, representing the dreamer's inability to mature past the point of the basic urge the animal represents. Deformations of animals mean that you find something about the "animal" aspect of yourself to be repugnant (probably because you are afraid society finds it unacceptable.)

Below are some of the most common animals encountered in dreams:

Bears are a symbol of motherhood, cozy warm safe cave-wombs, or if the bear is overbearing, could represent smothering.

Birds are your imagination, flights of fancy, and the ability of your spirit to soar, so of course a bird in a cage in a dream a sign that you feel this part of yourself is stifled. The color of the bird is often significant. Domestic, flightless birds such as chickens and turkeys may represent that this part of yourself is being used for less-than-lofty purposes, however, a rooster often represents just what you might think: pride, cockiness, even lust. Crows represent death and the mysteries of the beyond; Owl brings a cry in the night that is both a warning from your subconscious, and a signal to guide you through the dark night of your soul (since owl can see in the dark.) Ducks represent the ability to float successfully on the water of the emotions surrounding you and not sink, or to "let it roll off your back." Geese on the other hand are a symbol of the soul, for they can fly in the air (mind/intellect) walk on land (material concerns/the body) and in the water (the sea of emotion.) Doves represent the Higher Self.

Bulls represent sexual passion, but usually in the context of being out of control, usually due to blind rage, and in some way potentially dangerous. for Buffalo, see Cattle below

ButterfliesThe soul and transformation. The colorof the butterfly may be significant.

Cats are the elegant yet mysterious, subtle and elusive aspects of ourselves. Pay attention to whether the cat in your dream seems admirable to you, or seems threatening; this is how you feel about this part of yourself.

Cattle represent givers of nourishment and other material comforts.

Dogs can have a twofold meaning. Sometimes they represent good friends who will never abandon you, no matter what. On the other hand, they can also represent a problem that dogs your footsteps and keeps returning no matter how often you solve it. Either way, they are something that doesn't go away! The color of the dog may be significant.

Elephants represent the Earth that bears all, and your own personal World, as well, your higher and most powerful Self.

Frogs are parts of you that are able to transform successfully from tadpoles, breathing the water of emotion and childhood, to an air/intellect breathing person who can live successfully on land/in the world of practical concerns. Dreaming of frogs represents this period of transformation. (Remember though that frogs _will_ die if they stay away from water/emotion/their spirits for too long!) Also see Toads and Reptiles below.

Horses are the energy for change and self-empowerment at your disposal. Whether you are in control of the horse or not is important! An unbridled horse that nevertheless goes your way or is otherwise helpful is a sign that you have successfully yielded to your own higher power to attain all that you dream of in life. A winged horse represents imagination and creativity; on the other hand a horse in harness or otherwise enslaved means that you are using these aspects of yourself for less than noble purposes. The color of the horse may be significant.

Insects and Vermin are something that's "bugging" you. Dreaming of an infestation of lice or other insects on your own body may mean that your subconscious is aware that you have contacted and infection or disease. (It may also mean you have been "infected" by an unwanted pregnancy!) Clouds of gnats or other insects are a sign of disturbed nerves. Insects found under a rock or other object represent problems that you are aware of on a subconscious level but have been trying to cover up or deny to yourself.

Lions are the powerful fire of passion that has the potential to devour us if we do not deal with it properly. In dream you might struggle with the lion, or flee from it, it is always optimum, however, if you can win it's friendship.

Monkeys represent childish or infantile behavior and an inability to mature.

Monsters and Dragons represent fears that seem so huge and remote that we don't realize they are really coming from inside ourselves. We might struggle with the monster, or flee from it, but I always tell children that if they become aware that they are dreaming of a monster, to offer it a cookie. The monster is merely some part of yourself that you have rejected and it has responded with childish hurt, anger and rebellion, if you can make a friend of it you might obtain a powerful ally in your life. Dragons especially represent repressed wisdom (repressed because it seems threatining to the world at large.)

Mice are symbols of short-sightedness and obsessive concern with petty little cares, settling for the crumbs of life, wanting more but being afraid to come out into the light and go for what you really dream.

Pigs, Boars, and Swine represent ignorance, boorishness, and selfishness, "pig-headedness".

Prehistoric Animals are "monsters" from the distant past, that are much bigger than we were when we were children, and which seem cold and dangerous to us. Also see the section on reptiles below.

Rabbits and Hares represent your intuition, because of the timid and elusive nature of both, as well as their ability to make great "leaps"!

Rats can represent disease, or merely some kind of sneaking suspicion that someone is taking advantage of you ("smell a rat") or otherwise deceiving you in a selfish way.

Reptiles are the cold, unemotional aspects of the human instincts, spinal reflexes, a plain desire to survive without really knowing why. Lack of caring or of connected relationships to friends or family.

Sheep mean just what you think they mean!

Snakes however, do not. They are a very complex symbol with many twists and sinuous turns. You have probably heard it said that they represent sex, but this is a gross oversimplification. People often dream of snakes when they are denying their own rightful sexuality in some way, usually by thinking of it as "bad." Snakes represent the transformative powers of sexual energy , which is why the snake symbol is often interchangeable with lightning, which also represents transformation and change and personal power. A snake's ability to shed it's skin and renew itself is a symbol of this transformation. The release of the closely related kundalini life-force and ancient memory energy is also sometimes described as the unwinding of a coiled snake. Snakes' sensuously winding and knotted bodies represent the many intertwined ramifications of wisdom, and the symbol for infinity.

Toads represent whatever the dreamer considers to be ugly and repugnant and potentially poisonous in life.

Unicorns are and always have been symbols of spirit, purity, innocence, and the power of grace.

Wild Animals are parts of yourself that you consider to be dangerous, because in spite of society's insistence, you can't seem to keep them under control. Once you become more familiar with these aspects of yourself, though they will always remain "wild," they will seem in dreams to be less threatening to you and might even, on occasion, be helpful or provide guidance.

Wolves are a particular type of wild animal that I and I guess eveyrone lately finds fascinating. They once represented great, devouring fears to all human beings, but lately there seems to be a paradigm shift going on and now they represent the wisdom of the wild and the one who knows how to keep us all in touch with eachother in the darkness. A wolf howl in a dream is still a sign of danger, but now it is a friendly warning, a sign that there are forces with you that are ready to fight with you, rather than a threat that the wolf itself is about to come after you.

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