Sleep is the body’s natural way of recuperating and the ability to dream is just as important. Dreams are how the mind works through difficult concepts that people might otherwise avoid during their waking hours. Because of this, what you see in a dream shouldn’t be taken literally. Actions, locations, objects, people, and even animals can all have underlying meanings that relate back to a bigger concern you might have in your life.
For example, if you’ve ever dreamt of snakes, it doesn’t exactly mean that you should be concerned that you’ll encounter one in real life. While this dream can be confusing, understanding the symbolism and psychological significance around dreaming about snakes can help provide clarity for big picture issues that might be plaguing you in your waking life.
Symbolism and Interpretations of Dreaming About Snakes
Dreams rarely have literal meanings. Instead, they serve as symbolic scenarios to help people work through conscious or subconscious concerns that often go unaddressed in daily life. Historically, snakes represent intense symbolism throughout cultures and mythologies. Snakes represent transformation, healing, wisdom, and sexuality. But to fully understand what it means to see one in a dream, people need to consider the location, how the snake was behaving, the type of snake they saw, and how the dream made them feel.
Interpreting Dreams About Snakes
To fully understand your snake dream, you need to recall memories from your dreams. In particular, you need to think about where you saw the snake, the type of snake you saw, how it interacted with you or others, and how you felt during or immediately after the dream.
Location Matters
If you dream of a snake in your house, this usually means that you feel like someone close to you might not have your best interest at heart. Maybe there’s a friend that’s nice-nasty or a relative that always tries to minimize your success. Whoever it is, this dream is telling you that someone in your circle is toxic. Meanwhile, a dream with an outdoor snake escalates the conversation and is trying to urge you to confront that toxic person.
The Type of Snake in Your Dream
Just as in real life, some snakes are harmless and some should be avoided at all costs. Seeing dangerous snakes like a boa constrictor indicates that someone in your life is holding you back, making progress difficult. Similarly, a rattlesnake can be a warning dream that someone in your circle again, doesn’t have your best interests at heart.
Also note that if you see multiple snakes in your dream, it can mean that you are either facing a problem with multiple issues to overcome, or that you literally have multiple people in your life that aren’t helping. By contrast, harmless snakes like garter snakes tend to mean that whatever was causing concern in your life isn’t as serious as you once thought it was.
Snake Behaviors in Your Dreams
No one wants to get a snake bite, and they’re not exactly positive omens in your dreams either. If you get bitten in your dream about snakes, this can mean one of two things. It can legitimately mean that there’s a health concern you should take seriously. Alternatively, it can also mean that someone in your life is being overly critical of you.
If that snake bites a loved one, the meaning is the same as if it bites you. Either your loved one is dealing with a health issue or they’re surrounded by someone negative — and that might be you. However, if a snake bites your enemy, this usually just represents that you’d love to see them get put in their place.
How Dreaming About Snakes Makes You Feel
Don’t discount your visceral reactions both in the dream, as well as when you wake up. If that dream felt like a nightmare, again you’re dealing with toxicity in your life. By contrast, a dream where it’s fairly pleasant or neutral usually means that whatever issue is at play — health concerns or toxic people — shouldn’t be ignored but isn’t a heightened threat.
Power dynamics and sexuality
While most dreams about snakes represent health or social concerns, they are sometimes associated with sexual symbolism. They often quite literally represent male sexuality. So, if you see a non-threatening snake in a dream and you’ve currently been crushing on a guy, this could just be your mind reinforcing your desires.
The Psychological and Emotional Significance of Dreaming About Snakes
According to Dr. Rachel Bennett, a psychologist specializing in dream analysis, dreaming about snakes can reveal profound psychological and emotional implications. She explains, “Dreams about snakes often tap into the dreamer’s subconscious desires, fears, or unresolved issues. They can provide valuable insights into one’s emotional landscape and facilitate personal growth.”
Dreaming about snakes can reflect the dreamer’s subconscious desires for transformation, wisdom, or a need for healing. It may also represent fears or anxieties related to change, personal power, or sexuality. The emotional impact of these dreams can vary, ranging from feelings of fear and discomfort to fascination and curiosity.
Common Themes and Variations in Dreaming About Snakes
Most snake dreams center around health concerns or interpersonal relations. But there are a few variations that alter most traditional meanings. In most cases, these changes center around the snake’s behaviors.
A Friendly or Protective Snake
Not all snakes represent looming doom. If your dreams include friendly or protective snakes, this often represents a sense of support, wisdom, or a helpful presence. This is especially if you’re going through a difficult time or are in a transitional period in your life. Whether the snake represents your intuition or emotional intelligence, or that of someone else in your life, these are reassuring dreams telling you that whatever is happening, you’ll weather the storm.
Snake shedding its skin
In real life, a snake shedding its skin is a sign of growth and development. The same holds true for when you’re dreaming about snakes. In this case, the snake is an extension of you and represents how you’re on a journey of personal growth by shedding or removing old behaviors. As with the friendly snake dreams, this is a positive dream that’s reassuring you about your future.
Personal Reflection and Self-Analysis
Dreams are as unique as the people that have them. Even though certain themes or motifs tend to translate across individual dreams, your personal experiences, world view, and even current waking life situation will all impact how you interpret the dream.
Since dreams usually aren’t literal, it’s a good idea to keep a dream journal. This will help you reflect on not just the symbolism, but what it means for you in your waking life. Dr. Bennett advises, “By documenting your dreams and reflecting on them, you can uncover patterns, recurring themes, and gain insights into your subconscious mind.” Don’t forget to record how the dreams make you feel or if there are personal associations that stand out.