Dreaming of Snakes - The Meaning of Snakes in a Dream

Snakes tend to be seen as phallic and are sexual symbols or a symbol of temptation for many.  They have a tendency to symbolize something negative, fearful, untrustworthy, or mysterious for people.  Depending upon the context of the dream and the dreamer’s culture, snakes have a tendency to represent someone that is trying to harm the dreamer in an underhanded, sly, and sneaky manner.

As a positive symbol, snakes represent transformation, knowledge and wisdom. The presence of a snake in a dream may indicate self-renewal and positive changes for the dreamer.

The meaning of a snake to the dreamer is important to explore.  Different cultures assign both negative and positive characteristics to snakes.  From a biological point of view, snakes are seen as adaptive, are able to shed their skin, are skilled predators and could be poisonous.  These traits could be viewed as both negative and positive.  The experience the dreamer has with snakes has a tendency to also reveal itself in the dream.

The type of snake is relevant to the dream.  If the dreamer is someone who has some knowledge of snakes, the type of snake needs to be taken into account. A poisonous snake, a harmless snake, or a snake that constricts its prey all has different meaning.  A constricting snake, such as a boa constrictor, may indicate to the dreamer that they are being suffocated, restricted or repressed in their waking life.

Dreams can assist the dreamer to explore and understand the state of his/her unconscious, what is needed for greater personal development, and gaining insight into their psyche. Snakes may symbolize hidden fears or and worries that are currently threatening the dreamer. Since snakes are mysterious, the presence of a snake in a dream may be alerting the dreamer to something in his/her waking life that has not fully surfaced yet. We often use dreams to process the experiences we have in our days. We often dream of the important facts of our days that we may have missed. The details within the context of the dream are always important. For example, dreaming of a snake with a head at each end would most likely symbolize the feeling of being pulled in two different directions, the risk of burn out, how the dreamer is not getting anywhere due to lack of commitment or direction, or feelings of confliction possibly relating to sexuality to sexual/romantic relationships. A two headed snake, in contrast, may symbolize a cooperative relationship. Finally, dreaming of many snakes may mean the dreamer is anxious, overwhelmed, and possibly that a lot of little things are "getting to" the dreamer.

Dreams may not mean what they appear to mean at first glance. Characters and objects within a dream, although separate from the dreamer within the dream, may actually illustrate aspects of self to the dreamer. The relationship to each other and the qualities assigned to each object may reflect aspects of self the dreamer is either unaware of, beginning to develop, recently accepted, or has repressed. A snake may symbolize a part of self that is either unknown or is believed to be undesirable by the dreamer.

The snake is a symbol of Kundalini, a Hindu concept of pure energy located within the base of spine. Kundalini is described as a dormant potential force in all people. Yoga is the practice that is supposed to awaken the Kundalini energy. Yoga evokes the progress of Kundalini through the different chakras. Each chakra leads to a different level of awakening and mystical experience.

In dreams, the snake could represent wisdom, spiritual awakening and inner power.

The snake is a very positive symbol within the eastern cultures, practices, and religion. Individuals familiar with these practices may discover their dream relates to these concepts more than others.

The Christian perspective may view the snake as a symbol of temptation. The snake relates to the serpent in Genesis 3 that tempts Eve to eat the forbidden fruit from the tree of knowledge. In this story, the snake is a sneaky and sly individual having a negative influence on others. The snake can relate to a malicious enemy, betrayal, or deception. Christians may find their dreams of snakes relate to trials and tests they are experiencing in their waking life and their relationship with God. An individual dreaming of snakes coming from a Christian perspective may want to explore further what this biblical story means to them and how the lessons and hardships experienced within this story relate to his/her current experiences.

 Some people dreaming of a snake- especially the skin of a snake is a sign of protection from illness.

Others may view snake dreams as predictive in nature showing the dreamer a potential danger or a deceitful person they will soon be encountering.

It is important to note that dreams can mean so many things to each individual, at any given time and could even mean more than one thing within the same dream. It is common for dreams to be layered in nature where a symbol may relate to something that occurred during the day, to our subconscious, to our spiritual growth, and to events in our childhood influencing our beliefs, thoughts, and behavior now.

Interpreting ones dreams can be a powerful way to gain insight into a world the individual to too busy to explore during waking hours.

Looking to gain further insight into yourself and cannot recall any more dreams? Try eliciting more content from your unconscious by taking a Rorschach Inkblot test.