It is normal to assume that dreams about snakes are automatically a bad omen. However, this is not always the case. Snakes in dreams have a wide variety of meanings.
In fact, snakes in dreams can help you to better understand yourself and make positive changes. For instance, snakes shed their skin and as such can be a sign of rejuvenation.
Snakes can also represent self-sabotage. Similarly dreams about snakes can also warn you about negativity present in your life and push you to take the necessary actions to correct these negativities.
Most importantly, snakes in dreams reveal a lot about ourselves and our personal lives. It is up to you to learn from these snakes and take the necessary measures to ensure a positive and healthy life and mental state.
Whether you are a spiritual person, a superstitious person, or are just curious about what kind of omens a snake could mean from a recent dream you had, you might find your answers here.
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Interpretations Of Snakes In Your Dream
Here are some common interpretations of snakes in your dream according to the well-renowned dream analyst and author Lauri Loewenberg.
The Appearance of a Snake in a Pleasant Dream
That dream. According to renowned dream analyst Lauri Loewenberg, this is a single health issue that is not serious yet. It can also be a sign that there is a toxic relationship with a friend, colleague, lover, or family which has not reached a critical stage.
If you have such a dream, it may be wise to go for a health checkup. You also need to examine the persons in your help and take actions to improve potentially toxic relationships or rid yourself of them.
The Appearance of a Snake in a Nightmare
It is quite common to be scared of a snake in a dream. However, this is not a negative dream as this tells us a lot about our life.
A dream like this means that there is an issue, person, or object causing us stress and that we have to address this problem as soon as possible.
This dream tells us a lot about our subconscious mind. This threat is immediate and we need to negate the threat as soon as possible. This threat can be a toxic relationship with a friend, colleague, lover, or family. We must always take action after this dream.
The Appearance of a Boa Constrictor
if you dream of a particular species, that provides an in-depth understanding of the snake’s presence. Snakes just don’t appear randomly.
It is no coincidence that you dreamt of a boa constrictor. What the snake represents will provide you with insight that you should not ignore.
Boa constrictors are quite a common occurrence in dreams. Boa constrictors are snakes that constrict. This is how they kill their prey – by constricting them to death. Boa constrictors provide a similar function in dreams.
A boa constrictor in a dream warns you of a person in your life that is constricting you. This constriction can be financial. It is essential to identify this person if you see a boa constrictor in your dream.
The Appearance of a Nonvenomous and Harmless Snake
An example could be a garter snake.
When many of us see a nonvenomous and harmless snake, we get scared and may even feel threatened. This can cause us to panic and act irrationally while there is no need to panic.
Harmless snakes such as garter snakes provide many benefits to farms and other agricultural settings by getting rid of harmful pests.
Similarly, a dream of a harmless snake is letting us know that a person whom we thought was harmful is really not. This can be a colleague you are wary of or a friend whose intentions seem bad.
We can relax knowing that the person is not a threat.
The Appearance of a Rattlesnake
The rattling of the rattlesnake makes it easy to notice one. This serves as a warning to anyone who gets close to the snake.
It is essential to heed this warning or else you could easily end up bitten and in need of serious medical attention.
A rattlesnake in your dream is providing a similar function. This snake is warning you and letting you know that you can get hurt if you don’t take action. This rattlesnake warns you of a toxic or negative person who will cause you significant harm.
You should also be attentive and notice potential persons who will cause you imminent harm. Thus you can protect yourself from harm.
The Appearance of Multiple Snakes in Your Dream
If you see a lot of snakes in your dream, that means that there are several issues to contend with. These can be toxic relationships. You could have several toxic persons in your life causing you a multitude of problems.
Similarly, it can be just a single toxic person causing you a multitude of problems. It may also be several toxic situations or just 1 complex and multifaceted toxic situation. As mentioned earlier, a single snake can represent a health issue.
Several snakes can mean that you have several health issues that you need to pay attention to. The number of snakes in the dream is significant.
The Appearance of a Snake in Your House
The meaning of this dream is similar to any of the above dreams of snakes but it has an element of location to it. This dream shows you the location of the situation.
Let us go over the meaning of a snake in a dream. A dream of a snake means that there is an issue, person, or object causing us stress and that we have to address this problem as soon as possible.
This dream tells us a lot about our subconscious mind. This threat is immediate and we need to negate it as soon as possible.
This threat can be a toxic relationship with a friend, colleague, lover, or family. The house location shows that this toxic person is right under your roof and is right in your home.
The Appearance of a Snake That is Outside
This is another dream that has a location. However, the meaning of the dream doesn’t represent the location of the problem. This dream means that it is time for us to take action and not just any action.
This dream shows that we need to get our issues out in the open. It requires us to openly address the problem we have with the toxic person in our lives. If this is a close friend, we need to talk to that friend so the issue and situation are known to both of us.
The toxic person may even be unaware of their toxic behaviors. Likewise, speaking to us will ensure that they back down.
Regardless of the outcome, actually ousting the problem shows will give us the option to solve the problem. If the toxic person is not ready to change, then we know what to do. If the toxic person is willing to change, then our lives also improve for the better.
We may also get to know ourselves better. The person could be toxic towards you because of perceived wrongdoing on your side which the person has been keeping a secret.
Getting Bit by a Snake in a Dream
While this may automatically seem like a bad dream, it usually isn’t. According to Lauri, this could represent the treatment of an illness or disease. This dream means that the treatment is working and you’re recovering.
Have you been receiving treatment lately? If so, then this dream signifies that treatment. The bite is similar to an injection.
The healing doesn’t only have to refer to your physical health. It can also refer to your emotional and mental health.
You could be recovering emotionally or mentally following a stressful ordeal such as relationship problems or career setbacks. This is not the only meaning of a snake bite in a dream.
The dream can simply signify a bitter or critical remark you have received in life. This could be criticism from your boss at work or from someone who means a lot to you in your life.
A Loved One Getting Bit By a Snake in a Dream
This is similar to the dream of you getting bitten by the snake. However, with this dream, it is that loved one who is receiving treatment for a health condition.
The person might also have received biting remarks or criticism from someone who means a lot to them. That someone could be you.
It is important to ask yourself if your words to that person have been harshed in recent times. Maybe those words are affecting them more than they show.
Snake Coloration In Dreams
The color of the snake in your dream is also significant. If you can notice the snake’s color in the dream, you need to take note. This color will tell you a lot about the dream and your life:
A Red Snake
A red snake more often than not signifies a toxic person. This person is likely to betray you.
This is, however, not always the case as red snakes can also signify vitality, power, and passion.
Is the dream terror-inducing? If it were, then you need to pay attention to the people in your life as one of them is likely to betray you or undermine you.
Is the dream unthreatening? Then this is a sign that you need to be more assertive as success, and vitality are just within your reach.
A Black Snake
Black snakes represent gloom and depression. It tells us that there are unseen dangers ahead of us. These dangers may be emotional or mental.
You may already be plagued with negative emotions such as guilt. Maybe you could be feeling guilty about an action you took. We may already have lost hope because of our actions or inaction.
If you have such a dream, then it is a warning to you, a warning sign that you need to cleanse yourself of negative thoughts and to be more positive.
A Green Snake
As we have already learned, snakes are symbols of vitality and rejuvenation. Green snakes symbolize this. Green snakes signify healing. This healing may be physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual.
Examine your life carefully after having a dream about a green snake. Have you been treating a health condition? If so, then the green snake signifies that the treatment is positive and you are recovering.
The green snake also shows recovery connected to your emotional and mental wellbeing. You could have a dream about a green snake just as you are recovering from a horrible breakup or betrayal.
A Pink Snake
This dream signifies love and happiness. Pink is closely related to feminine energy. You need to pay attention to your femininity. You could be ignoring that aspect of your life.
A Blue Snake
Blue snakes represent healing and positive energy. They could signify your creativity and your creative force. They may also signify protection.
A Yellow Snake
Yellow snakes are associated with happiness and joy. If you have been feeling joyous of late, then do not be surprised if you dream of a yellow snake.
A dream with a yellow snake can also signify happiness in your immediate future. This is particularly true if you have been going through difficulty.
A White Snake
White snakes represent innocence and purity. If you have been having dreams of a white snake, then expect clarity and or calm in the near future.
White snakes also signify truthfulness. This could be a sign that you need to be truthful to people of importance in your life.
Likewise, someone close to you may wish to be truthful to you on an important issue.
Snakes and Serpents in Cultures Throughout the World
Snakes represent a lot of things all over the world. While people seem to think of serpents are evil creatures, they also have their positive symbolism even in Christianity where they represented healing in the story of the Nehushtan also known as the healing serpent.
Rebirth and Fertility
In cultures around the world, snakes have been associated with fertility and rebirth. This is because serpents are known to shed their skin.
Along the same line, snakes are also associated with healing, immortality, and transformation. According to ancient Egyptian and Greek tradition, the serpent, ouroboros, represents eternity and rebirth.
The divine feminine energy located at the base of the spine according to Hinduism is a coiled serpent.
Protectors and Guardians
In many cultures snakes and serpents represent guardianship. These include the serpent king Mucalinda in Buddhism and the nagas in Angkorian culture. The Gadsden flag shows a snake that is poised to strike and is a popular flag used by American revolutionists.
Depiction of Snakes and Serpents in Chinese Culture
In Chinese creation myths, the mother of creation who created humans from clay, Nüwa, is a half-snake goddess.
According to the Chinese zodiac, the snake is sixth in the cycle. The last snake year was 2013 and the next will be in 2025.
Snakes are also said to rule the time of birth.
Depiction of Snakes and Serpents in Indian Culture
The divine feminine energy located at the base of the spine according to Hinduism is a coiled serpent. This serpent is called Kundalini.
There are also divine entities called nagas which are serpentine creatures. These deities represent rebirth, mortality, and death.
Depiction of Snakes and Serpents in Japanese Culture
In Japanese culture, the guardian beast of Kyoto is often depicted as a combination of a snake and a turtle.
Depiction of Snakes and Serpents in African Culture
Mami Wata is known as a snake goddess among many cultures in West African and Central African cultures. She is also closely associated with water bodies.
Depiction of Snakes and Serpents in Indigenous American Culture
in Indigenous North American culture, the rattlesnake is considered the king of snakes and is respected as such. The Hopi of Arizona incorporates the serpent into their dances.
The Aztec deity Quetzalcoatl is a serpent god which is believed to act as a portal between worlds.
The horned snake or serpent also features heavily in Native American mythologies.
Depiction of Snakes and Serpents in Nordic mythology
The Jörmungandr which is the world serpent is a great sea serpent present in Norse mythology. This serpent is a child of Loki alongside Hel and Fenrir. This serpent is large enough to envelop the earth.
Other serpents that feature in Norse mythology include Svafnir, Ofnir, Nidhöggr, Moin, Gravvitnir, Grafvölluðr, Grábakr, and Goin. In the Poetic Edda, these serpents gnaw on Yggdrasil, the tree that exists in all Nine Worlds.
Conclusion
Snakes in dreams come with a variety of meanings, many of which are not automatically bad. These dreams can tell you about occurrences in your life that you are unaware of and provide insight. This allows you to improve and prevent negativity.
Historically snakes have had many positive meanings. Snakes have been a symbol of fertility, rebirth, guardianship, and healing. Many of these symbols are linked to the snake’s ability to shed its skin.
These dreams help you to better understand yourself and the world around you. Snakes commonly symbolize transformation.
They also commonly signify hesitation and fear. It is up to you the dreamer to take the needed positive change.