The last article in this series examined how the animals that appear in our dreams sometimes function as symbols of the Self, Carl Jung’s term for the core of the psyche. The animals listed included snakes, owls, ducks, geese, swans, frogs, turtles, whales, dolphins, porpoises, fish, bugs and bees. To that list we could also add the following: lions, tigers, and bears (for they are the “rulers” of their animal communities like the Self is meant to be the “ruler” of the psyche); bison (because they symbolize wisdom and nourishment); eagles and hawks (because of their keen eyesight and over-arching perspective); and elephants (because of their intelligence, memory, and long life). In this article, we turn our attention to the ways in which animals can also serve as symbols of our instinctual life.
The following paragraphs examine some of the more common animals encountered in the dreams of North Americans. Primary focus is given to the archetypal (cross-cultural) meanings attached to these animals. It is important to keep this level of symbolism in mind as you work with your dreams. However, you will also want to explore your personal associations to the dream figures (animal or otherwise), for sometimes these associations will take priority over the archetypal perspective. The interpretation of any dream figure also varies with the specific events taking place in the dream, as well as the life context of the dreamer at the time of the dream. Finally, as you work with the animal figures in your dreams, try to remain true to the actual social and ecological nature of the animal being considered. For example, the dream-maker is more likely to use a wolverine to symbolize aggression than, say, a koala bear.
A man dreams: “I am leading a thin, tired horse out of the rain and into a barn.” Horses are often used as symbols of the body and one’s physical health. Like the horse, this man needs to nourish and rest his body. If you dream of a horse that is sick, diseased, or injured in some way, give some examination to your own physical health. Are you over-stressed or asking too much of your body? Are you listening and responding to its needs and innate wisdom? Horses can also symbolize your life energy and instinctual drives (the psyche as a whole). To dream of taming and riding a horse can symbolize the process of developing greater control over your instincts/passions, such as your sexual impulses, eating or drinking behaviors, aggression, or competitiveness. The symbolism of the horse can also be applied to events from your outer life. If you are kicked by a horse or bucked off of a horse that does not normally behave in this way, life may be conveying you the message that you are not listening to your body and deeper psyche. You might ask yourself if your ego is serving the needs of the body and the Self, or is it, rather, using the body to serve itself?
A young man dreamed, “I see an older man in a large concrete drainage pipe. He is trying to step on and kick some small animals. They look like cats to me, but he claims they were rats.” Because wild rats have a history of spreading diseases to humans (e.g., the Black Death of the 1300’s) and of contaminating food supplies with their droppings, they often symbolize a destructive energy or attitude within the psyche or one’s outer life. Cats, on the other hand, are symbols of the instinctual feminine. They can symbolize our feelings, but also the maternal instincts of nurturance, self-protection, and protection of offspring. Cats are excellent hunters and admirable fighters, and often retain a certain wildness and independence despite their domestication. Having ready access to the instinctual wisdom of a cat can be a great asset. If you dream of losing your cat, or of a cat being harmed, it may be helpful to contemplate how you can reconnect with and protect your relationship to your feminine instincts. (In the above dream, a harmful shadow figure is trying to interfere with the dreamer’s relationship with his inner feminine by tricking him into thinking it is something evil.)
A young woman dreams: “I am in a maze with Lucy, my dog. We are having a very hard time finding our way out.” It is said that “dogs are mans’ best friend.” Evidently this saying applies in the land of the unconscious as well. Because their hearing and sense of smell are much more refined than that of humans, dogs often serve as guides to the unconscious and the spirit world in dreams and myths. For example, among pre-Hispanic Mexicans it was believed that a dog guides its master’s spirit to the land of the dead following his/her death. To dream of being on a journey with a dog suggests the good fortune of a helpful ally as you negotiate life’s challenges. Ultimately, the dog symbolizes your instincts–your ability to hear the voice of your intuition and “sniff out” trouble, food, etc. As a watchdog, it can also be your assistant in learning how to protect yourself (“bear your teeth” so to speak) and set appropriate boundaries in your relationships. In this dream, the young woman has the assistance of her instincts on her life journey. Unfortunately, (and this shows how personal associations to dream figures can be crucial) her actual dog was quite skittish–afraid of people, and men in particular. The same was basically true of the dreamer, and so her life was a frustrating puzzle at the time of the dream.
A wild “cousin” of the dog, the wolf shares some of the dog’s positive attributes, such as a deep instinctual knowledge of the natural world. As a pack animal, the wolf can also be a symbol of loyalty, cooperation, and teamwork. Because of its wisdom and a healthy balancing of independence with interdependence, the “spirit of the wolf” can be a helpful guide on life’s journey. Unlike dogs, however, the wolf is also represented in a very negative light in a variety of myths and fairy tales (Little Red Riding Hood being just one example). In our dreams, the wolf can sometimes symbolize a dangerously destructive force. It has been associated with war, chaos, gluttony and the blind, unchecked desire to devour, consume, and acquire. Although it is somewhat unpopular to speak negatively of wolves in this day and age, the psyche is not “politically correct,” and recognizes a duality in the symbolism of the wolf.
A woman dreams: “I see a fox running away from me. As he runs he looks back at me, and I see that he has the face of my husband.” Foxes and coyotes are known for their cleverness and cunning, their swiftness of thought and action. These can be positive attributes when used in the service of the Self. They can also be negative when used for egocentric purposes. Both animals can be symbols of the trickster as well. They can bestow the gift of being able to see humor in difficult situations. (In the above dream, the psyche was letting the dreamer know that her husband was up to no good. In fact, he’d been spending time with another “vixen.”)
A young boy dreamed: “I see a black widow spider coming towards me. I step on it, but others come marching behind it.” Spiders are sometimes used as symbols of the Self, especially when we hold a negative attitude towards the Self. We may see it as an annoyance or pest, for example. However, they can also represent a regressive force within the psyche, as they do in this dream. They can symbolize attitudes or behaviors that keep us from maturing and from developing our abilities and gifts. Fear, laziness, and addictive behaviors are examples. In this dream the spiders symbolized the boy’s fears. He needed to battle his fearfulness of life in order to grow.
.....Copyright © Andy Drymalski, Ed.D. Excerpts may be used provided full and clear credit is given author with link to original article.
Could you help me with a dream I am struggling to understand. I was on a large boat, a ferry. I was walking across it when from my left side I saw a large bear come out of a forest, grab a woman and take her back into the forest. I shouted and pushed my female friend, forwards and into a small locker, she hadn’t seen the bear. I said something about the danger of the bear and a woman banged on the door asking for help but was attacked by the bear straight away. The bears class came through the wood of the door.
Then it was later and I dared to come out and I asked the sea captain what had happened and he said that Tobias’s (my 13yr old grandson) photos on his phone showed he had not survived.
Hi Emma,
I wonder if the dream may relate to a process of initiation you are going through. Age 13 would be a time of initiation for a young boy who symbolizes a part of yourself. The bear is the ruler of the forest much as the Self is the ruler of the psyche. If the bear abducts a woman (or two women) this may represent a forced journey into the unconscious. Terrifying as this may be, it may be a necessary initiation to acquaint you with the power of the psyche and help you develop a deeper relationship with the wisdom of your inner instinctual self.
Is there any chance of getting somekind of list of the archetypical meaning of the animals? Im actually writing a childrens book where Im going to have different animals in the background symbolizing different subtile things happening in the story. But its hard to find the meaning of each animal, each websites have different meanings.
Hi, Sebastian,
I know of no such book. Although certain types of animals may tend to symbolize certain things, there is no set meaning that would apply in every situation, especially in dreams or literature. So much depends upon the context and the dreamer’s own associations to the animal. That being said, you might find a book on animal spirit guides or animal symbolism from a Native American perspective a fruitful starting point. They do a pretty good job of tapping into the unique and archetypal character of many animals. Good luck.
Andy
There Is a book: The Archetypal Symbolism of Animals by Barbara Hannah
Thanks for this information, Beatrice. I’ll pass it along to my other readers.
Andy
Hi and thanks fro your insightful blog.
I dreamed about a huge brown bear. I was actually inside a multiple-story building and it was near a (some kind of) river, and huge animals were living there. The rout from outside the building to the river was on a slope, and i saw this huge brown bear running very fast from down there to come to the building, but I saw that the building was protected by tall glass walls, so the big bear hit the glass walls and was taken aback to where he was. I saw the bear a few times doing this, and of course I was feeling somehow safe to know that the bear cannot come inside where I was. I somehow liked the bear, and it was not an aggressive, attacking one, but really powerful and enormously huge. I wonder what it means for me…
Hi,
The bear would most likely symbolize a part of nature–part of your own inner, psychological nature–that is trying to break through the wall of your conscious awareness. As the king of the forest, he may symbolize the Self, or ruling center of the psyche. The Self has something to tell you but your wall (worldview, conscious goals or perspective) acts as a boundary preventing contact. You say he is friendly, so why not take the risk of dialogueing with him in your spontaneous imagination and ask him what he wants to tell you. Good luck.
Andy
Hi,
It was very interesting blog.
I dreamt about an angry dog. Kind of wild dog which was small yet very dangerous. He ran towards me and attacked on my hand. I tried to protect with my hand he bite on my hand. He had big nails.
Can you help me to tell what my dream was trying to say.
I have been reading Jung. It was the first time that while dreaming I was able to collect such details.
Thanks.
Hi Malav,
I’m not sure what the dream was trying to tell you. My initial thoughts are that the dog symbolizes some aspect of your animal nature. One wonders why the dog was so aggressive towards you. It is as if your inner instinctual nature doesn’t like some attitude it sees in your ego, or perhaps some course of action you are planning to take. Imagine dialogueing with the dog. Ask it what it wants to tell you.
Thank you for writing.
Andy
Hello could you help interpret my dream.
My partner and I were in a tent at night when we saw the face of a bear pressing itself into the tent. Our door was unzipped. My partner tried to run but she was struck by the bear and came back into the tent. I jumped forward to protect her from the bear that was now clawing it’s way into the tent. And right before I woke up it lunges at me.
Hi Teo,
I don’t know your situation so anything I say regarding the dream images is entirely speculative. That being said, the bear is often a symbol of the Self, or personality core. So the fact that it is taking aggressive action towards you and your partner is concerning. It would seem to suggest that it does not like some attitude, intention or behavior of yours. The fact that your partner is also in the tent and attacked when she tries to escape might suggest that the relationship, or what she symbolizes within you, is part of the issue. It could be an attitude or goal you both share that goes against your inner ruling authority, symbolized by the bear.
I hope this is of some help. Thank you for writing.
Andy
I would love to reference some of these examples for a presentation if possible? I would reference your site and name if allowed. This is excellent !
Hi Jennifer,
Yes, be my guest.
Andy
I dreamed of a creature (kitten/lion cub/rabbit?) hopping about with a shrunken head (which is why it was too hard to identify). It dashed through the grassy scrub and into a dark burrow.
Hi Rayan,
The dream could be saying that it takes a smaller head to go into the unconscious, symbolized by the burrow. The animals may represent instinctual intuitions. Your intuitive self can help you navigate the unconscious, but not if you have a big head. A big head could mean arrogance, or possibly a too rational/intellectual attitude that chokes out and disparages intuition and instinct.
I hope these thoughts are of some help to you.
Thank you for writing.
Andy
Hello, Andy!
I’m Dimitar and I’m interested in dreams since 2010, just as an additional hobby. I’m reading about dreams and I like Jung’s theories. I had a dream for which I can’t find any explanation. There are no many details but that I remember is how while I’m sleeping bunch of bats came in the room, through the window, and stick on the ceiling and after that, I woke up, in the middle of the night. In the dream, I felt scared and unsafe probably because this is the generally accepted meaning for the bats. At the morning I kept that feeling which was so weird and unusual for me. I have tried to find an archetype related to the Jung’s theories but unsuccessful. After that, I did some research about the bats and I saw that they are unique creatures and that made me even more confused about my dream. I don’t know how accepted them, as my own opinion for them or that what actually is. I don’t know how to read the meaning of it and how to understand it.
Hi Dimitar,
Bats can symbolize a number of things. On the one hand, they are creatures that can “see” and hunt in the dark due to their unique radar vision. Thus, they can symbolize the ability to see into the unconscious. In this capacity they can represent an ally in terms of seeing into oneself or seeing beyond the surface of things. They would represent this ability or potential ability within yourself.
As you mention in your comment, they can also symbolize a nefarious force. For instance, they can symbolize negative or destructive ideas, often of a collective nature. Thus, we sometimes hear the saying that so-and-so has “bats in the belfry.”
As if still in the dream, you may want to dialogue with the bats and ask them what it is they have to tell you, or why they have come to “hang out” in your room. This may give you a better sense for their meaning and message in this dream.
Good luck.
Andy
Thank you for your quick respond, Andy! Now I have more material to think for. I really appreciate it!
Best wishes and hope you and everyone around you is okay!
Hi.
I don’t often remember my dreams, but this one was quite strong.
On my left there was a straight river, and I noticed that the water was muddy in appearance because there were two dolphins swimming at a somewhat fast speed, and as they came out of the water, the glistening “mud” was thickly covering them/their features. I then noticed that in between the two dolphins was a human form, and he too was completely covered in this “mud”, and he was running; all three were moving together. (I realised the water mustn’t have been very deep for this being to be able to do that).
I was on an elephant, and travelling very quickly, running… on the ground, along this river. As we moved, interestingly, the 3 beings in the river moved at a similar speed.
At the end of the run, the elephant stopped, lifted his trunk to gather some dew/water on a grassy area on a ledge, as he was thirsty.
(sorry if that’s silly)
Hello,
I was meditating as part of my prayer routine and had a feeling of a grey or white wolf entering the room as a dog would and resting at my feet. I didn’t feel at all threatened. While meditating it “felt like” someone tried to enter the room. The wolf growled at the person and the person left. The wolf then returned to resting but I sensed he was staying awake as if to guard me. I can’t recall any more detail but would like to meet up with this wolf again.
Hi Roy,
That’s a neat and comforting image. Seems like the wolf is a protective force for you. Apparently he senses something in your life, or in your thinking, that could be a danger to you.
Thank you for sharing.
Andy
Hello Andy, I had this dream a few mornings ago (about 3-5 am). I am in an open to sky place with a high iron rod gate at my back with my young lion cubs (1-2) & tiger cubs(2-3) playing on a big block of stone. They are playful but I am worried that if the lions plays too hard the tiger cubs may get hurt. I want to intervene (control them?) but I worry that I may get hurt. I am stressed & want to get out of the place.
I have had dreams with tigers earlier too. Do you think I can interpret the message in this dream?
Hi Ashish,
Yes, I think you can interpret it. What ideas do you have regarding it?
Andy
Hi Andy, what came to mind was-
I have only recently developed an understanding & awareness of the Self (lion, tiger cubs). I had always taken pride in my ability to rationalise & to stand by my set of values that came from my upbringing(worry about others), experiences (that I know better) & my environment .
The awareness of the Self’s power & its unpredictability(hurting while playing) unsettles me (my ego).
Lions & tigers together could symbolize different aspects of the Self both powerful & unpredictable.
My interpretation was that I should let my “I” (something that worked for me all my life even if it was only partially) go but am uncomfortable with the consequences of that.
Just a thought
Hi Ashish,
I think that is a moving and insightful perspective. It really fits.
Thank you.
Andy
Hi Andy,
Could high iron gates & cubs instead of adult lions & tigers symbolise Puer Aeternus? Have had dreams of tiger cubs & cages earlier too.
Thanks
Hi Ashish,
No, I don’t think that the lion or tiger cubs would symbolize the Puer Aeternus (eternal boy). As they are cubs, my guess is that they symbolize new life of some kind within yourself, probably some instinctual energy related to strength, authority, or the ability to protect and care for yourself and others. The high iron gates suggest to me a boundary, but also a place or opportunity of transition, a threshold between two worlds, states of being, or stages of life/identity perhaps.
Andy
Hi Andy, I had a dream last night where animals were unexpectedly aggressive… first, crocodiles under water, that made us paddle quickly on a flimsy Board to a wooden quay. They were sufficiently threatening enough to take refuge in a garage type building, we didn’t know but hoped they wouldn’t try to get in at night as we slept. Then I was walking in a wood and a very benign looking little dog, flew towards me and started biting me. It was overwhelming and alarming and totally unexpected. …. any thoughts? I start a new job on Monday……
Hi Lesley,
Yes, I would wonder why the animals are behaving in such an aggressive way, especially the dog. It could very well relate to the new job you will be starting. Could the animals be saying that the new work goes against your nature; are you being discouraged from pursuing it? Could you be entering a “shark tank”, so to speak? Or, with all of the emphasis on being bitten, perhaps you will need to be ready to bear your teeth and bite back at your new place of work?
Thank you for writing.
Andy