Dreaming about snakes can be unsettling and even a bit frightening. You may be left wondering what the snakes in your dreams mean. Snakes are common elements in dreams. They often represent a person in real life who’s “poisonous” or toxic. But snakes in dreams can also symbolize issues related to well-being, healing, or health.
Because dreams are so symbolic in nature, there’s not a simple, one-size-fits-all answer to what snakes represent. Factors such as what the snake was doing in the dream, and what the dreamer is dealing with in life at the time will have an effect on the interpretation.
Here are three questions you can answer to help begin an interpretation:
- Is the Snake Scary or Charming?
Your feelings toward actual snakes are significant when it comes to teasing out the meaning of snakes in your dreams. Snakes often are perceived as things to be feared. So, if they terrify you when you’re awake, it’s likely they have a negative meaning in your dreams. But if you find snakes appealing, their presence in your dreams could mean something more positive.
- What Kind of Snake Is It?
When discerning the meaning of a snake in your dreams, consider researching the type of snake it was that you saw. What a snake means in your dream may parallel the way they act in real life. As an example, a boa constrictor could symbolize a thing or a person that won’t release you and is preventing you from taking action. Poisonous snakes, such as vipers, adders, and rattlesnakes, may symbolize something evil or toxic. A cobra may represent somebody who’s trying to entice you with their charisma, while the common garter snake could be something that initially scares you but turns out not to be dangerous. If the snake is just a hatchling, you may be minimizing a challenge you’re facing. A dead snake or a snake you killed in your dream may represent a challenge you’ve overcome.
- What Color Is the Snake?
If you can’t figure out what kind of snake appeared in your dream, its color can be significant when interpreting what the snake represents. In nature, vivid colors like yellow and red often convey that something is toxic or poisonous. Dreaming about a yellow or red snake may be a warning to proceed with caution, and possibly to stay away from something altogether. A green snake may be an indication that there’s nothing to fear.
Here’s a general overview of some of the possible symbolism of snakes in your dreams.
- Something You Fear
The presence of a snake may make your dream feel more like a nightmare. Snakes could represent things that you’re anxious about and fear when you’re awake. Snakes could also symbolize something you perceive as a threat, particularly if the snake in your dream is biting you or chasing you. Often, the appearance of a snake is a signal that it’s finally time to face your fears.
- Something Tempting You
In the biblical account of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, a snake tempts Eve with fruit she and Adam were forbidden to eat. A snake in your dream may symbolize your struggle with a specific temptation. Or, it could represent a specific person who’s trying to tempt you.
- A Type of Person
Although snakes feel dry and fairly smooth when touched, they’re widely believed to feel rough and slimy. This belief, though untrue, is important when it comes to deciphering the significance of a snake in a dream, as the snake may symbolize a person who seems untrustworthy and “slimy” to you.
- Your Health
It may surprise you that snakes often appear in icons related to health and medicine. Snakes appear coiled on a staff in the Caduceus, the insignia of military and governmental health organizations, and on the Rod of Asclepius, an ancient Greek symbol related to medicine. So, your dream may relate to these familiar images, portraying a snake to represent your health or a medical doctor.
- A Personal Revival
Since snakes shed their skins two to four times each year, a snake in your dreams could represent revival and rejuvenation in your life. A new opportunity may be heading in your direction, or you may be experiencing a period of personal renewal. Similarly, the snake may represent your ambitions to build something new, or a surge in your creative energy.
- Wisdom
In many Indigenous American and Asian and cultures, snakes often represent wisdom. Therefore, a snake in your dream may imply that you’ll soon acquire the wisdom to settle a difficult issue that’s recently been challenging you.
- Spiritual Awakening
In early Eastern religions, dreaming of a snake (especially a white one) represented a type of spiritual awakening. As the snake uncoils from the base of your spine, divine energy flows through your body, and you’re transformed through spiritual growth. Your choice is to either accept the process or avoid it.
Seeking Help Deciphering Dreams
It’s often difficult to decipher the messages and images in our dreams on our own. From animals to fire to flying, it can be challenging to interpret the meaning behind elements in your dreams. The best way is to reach out to a psychic who specializes in dream interpretation. An outside voice is invaluable, and a psychic can help you find the answers you seek.
A psychic can work with angels and your spirit guides to help you discern the meaning of your dreams. For some people, dreams are the main method their subconscious and superconscious minds convey information to them. A psychic can help optimize this rare resource. To fully prepare yourself, do some research regarding what you should expect before you chat with a psychic regarding dream interpretation.
This piece does a good job of highlighting the multifaceted meanings that snakes can have in dreams. It’s intriguing how cultural perceptions influence these interpretations.
I found the connection between snakes and health symbols interesting. It adds a layer of complexity to the interpretation of dream imagery, especially for those with medical concerns.
The idea that snakes in dreams can symbolize personal revival or rejuvenation is particularly fascinating. It offers a positive perspective on what could otherwise be a frightening experience.
I appreciate the detailed questions one can use to start interpreting their dreams about snakes. It makes dream analysis feel more approachable and structured.
Indeed, having a set of questions to guide the interpretation process is quite practical. It allows for a more personalized understanding of one’s dreams.
The article provides a comprehensive overview of the symbolism of snakes in dreams. I found the various interpretations based on the snake’s type, color, and behavior to be quite enlightening.