Animals in Dreams (A-E)

*The interpretation always depends on the dreamer's personal relationship with each animal.

Alligator

Fear of being consumed by obligations and work.

Caution with aggressive, animal instincts.

Ant

Sign of intelligence, or dysfunctional neural network, tendency to withdraw.

A debt to society should be reconsidered and social action enhanced.

Patience and persistent work that brings benefits, increased activity.

On the other hand, it may mean too much upheaval, enthusiasm, nervousness.

Warning sign: relax and reconsider.

Antelope

Symbol of vivid, active women.

Elegance, desire, eroticism.

Bat

Clouded, strong, dangerous emotions or great sentimentalism, radar-abilities and useful instincts.

Bear

Symbol of tremendous vitality, for men. Indicating a real danger and threat, its pealt was worn by our ancestors making them very strong and ready to attack.

It may indicate someone a bit naïve, but of a good heart, or the neglected animal that hides inside us.

According to Jung, it is a symbol of the masculine power's negative side.

According to scandinavian myth, it usually represents feminine characteristics.

In ancient greek mythology, goddess Artemis had bears as followers, the so-called 'Arktoi'.

Since ancient times, bear is depicted as an animal with intense matternal feelings connected to the feminine urge.

Beaver

Meticulous planning, industriousness.

Excellent craftsmanship and building of exquisite constructions.

Bee

Industriousness, team work.

As with all insects, it means positive social behaviour, as well as a strong desire for personal evolution. Possibly something needs to be done for ourselves.

If the bee is threatening, a compliance based on social requirements may be necessary.

In mythology, it is connected to the divine logic of honey, the food of gods.

Priestesses of the Oracle of Delphi were called 'Melisses' -the greek word for bees-, since bees are also connected to the gift of prophecy.

-Sting: sexual contact. In ancient Greece and Rome, if a girl dreamt of a bee's sting, it would be said that she was in love.

Bird

Spiritual content, attempt for better perspective.

Hint of a desire to be different, as in the myth of Ikaros.

Moreover, symbol of sexual ecstacy, if the bird flies high in the sky.

-Flock: special meaning that has to do with nature's intelligence in motion.

Group vs. personal will.

-Wings: need for an easier life. Direct challenge to study big things and courage for the realization of great achievements.

According to Homer, wings symbolize thinking.

Blackbird

Indirect sign of hope. If it sings, happiness and a need to be more relaxed is suggested.

The careless life of birds.

Buffalo

Classic symbol of the masculine sexual urges.

Bugs

As microbe or virus, they don't pose a serious threat.

In Egypt, the black beetle or scarab symbolizes rebirth.

Symbol of luck.

Bull

Personification of urges and moods. Symbol of masculine power, fertility and potency. Perhaps animal instincts have been bridled.

It has to be confronted in the dream, because it has something significant to say.

If the dreamer runs behind the bull, the dream indicates a possible battle with urges.

Butterfly

Transformation. The image of inspired lightness and infantile soul.

Spirit-soul relationship. Symbol of enthusiasm and happiness.

Calf

Animalistic masculine instincts, primitiveness, the simple life from a romantic angle.

A suggestion to live more wildly, without prejudice and reservations.

We may have to trust more ourselves having the courage not to be perfect.

Camel

Journey, adventure, deprivation. Symbol of patience and tranquility, but also of foolishness.

Ability to overcome dry periods. Plus, symbol of the search for the necessary.

Canary

Happy, warm and cosy home. Symbol of freedom and spirit, but also of limitation (cage).

A bird that flies high in the sky symbolizes sexual ecstasy, which in the case of canary is in initial stages.

Cat

Emotional side, unconscious power of will. The female archetype. Also symbol of deception and trickery, relevant to a woman. On the other hand, the cat also consists a symbol of independence, will and desire, eroticism and sensuousness.

Symbol of the feminine genitals and sexual aggressiveness, of physical dexterity, orgasm and freedom.

In myth, cats accompanied the Egyptian goddess, Bastet, who personified the grace, affection, playfulness and cunning of a feline, as well as fierce power.

The dream is related to the dreamer's feminine side (anima).

Caterpillar

Beginning of the process of transformation.

Greedy, it eats only what is not whole, but someday it will become a butterfly.

Cockroach

Secritiveness in order to survive.

It is connected to food, spiritual nutrition, deterioration of the old and preparation of the new.

Moreover, it is related to dirt, mental impurity, or in other words, to the repression or projection of the Shadow.

Cow

Symbol of the mother -fertility and nutrition. Beginning and renewal of life. It is connected to the Moon and the unconscious. Naturally, the cow is a tranquil and passive animal and follows the family.

Very rarely, it appears in men's dreams, when there is a strong bond to mother.

Coyote

Trickery, dexterity and deception.

A loner that surbives in desert -unconscious.

Crab

Instincts that come from times long ago, hidden desires and fears, that are now better recognized. Its way of movement is important and shows an indirect approach of the target -moving sideways.

A tendency to maintain and preserve things for a long time, in a rather painful way. It is often connected to a fear of illness.

Crocodile

Devouring or undertaking more than we are capable of.

It is the guard of the underworld gates.

It may symbolize the guarding of whichever gate, -emotional or psychological barrier.

In mythology, a crocodile swallows the Moon and then cries with fake tears, connecting it to possible dishonesty and hypocrisy.

Possible symbol of fertility and growth, since it lives in water and mud.

Crow

Messenger between heaven and earth, sign of death, prophesy of hidden truth and unconscious.

Deer

Grace, kindness, speed.

Symbol for a woman or a girl.

In celtic tradition, it is a supernatural being and fairies use it as a messenger, while they live under the earth, in a place where time stops. Seen this way, the deer may imply a message coming from the unconscious.

-Antlers: symbol of nature's strength and fertility. Sign of supernatural force, possibly shamanic. It also may mean a trophy or a hardly manageable issue.

Dog

Symbol of the true friend. Instincts used and guided by the consciousness.

It may appear as a guardian that protects and defends someone or something. Dog is the creature closest to man. It may also represent a side of the dreamer, like the Shadow.

As a pet, it almost always indicates instincts or their loss, especially if it is trained, in which case it doesn't represent culture, but rather destruction of instincts.

It is supposed to protect its surroundings, to search and discover information.

According to Jung, dog is the grave-digger that buries the corpse. With its instincts it enables the process of death and resurrection -like Anubis in ancient egyptian mythology.

According to greek mythology, Kerberos, a three-headed dog, stands on the frontier between life and death.

-Wild, bad: jealousy and ruthlessness.

-Barking: Warning, danger, aggression. It may be happy, warning or threatening -its meaning is directly depended on these characteristics.

Dolphin

Smart, wise mammal.

Highly-evolved emotions, connected to spirit and thinking.

Donkey

Stubbornness, stupidity, sexual energy, vitality. Strength of staying power.

It has its own logic and sense of ownership. Trying to satisfy its urges, it may be very intelligent and inventive. Urges and instincts don't necessarily lack logic...

Duck

Women as friends or lies.

Eagle

Ancient symbol of power, rulers and freedom.

It may resurrect from its ashes like phoenix and become immortal.

It has elevated ability of eyesight. Rare and omnipotent animal, it is also considered as a symbol of the above average intelligence.

A warning in relation to bold projects and actions that can result in danger.

It denotes the connection between heaven (spirit) and earth (matter), as all birds.

According to Jung, the eagle is a symbol of transformation.

-White eagle: a symbol of happiness and spirituality.

-Broken wing: limitation

Eel

Numbness, slumber or activity and desire for unimpeded and natural movement.

It is also connected to emotional departure.

The quality of water, in which it swims, is significant. If looking at it, there is a feeling of disgust, it denotes a childish dislike of sexuality.

In classical psychoanalysis, it is considered as a phallic symbol and indicates sexual urges.

Elephant

Realization of power or denial of approaching.

The power of the unconscious is not available and it inspires fear. It may have to do with cruel people who don't realize their destructive abilities.

Warning for the repression of sexuality. Need for more patience and endurance.

-Tusks and trunk are sexual symbols.

-Weak or sick: emotional traumas indicated.

-Peaceful: comfortable management of the subconscious.

*The interpretation always depends on the dreamer's personal relationship with each animal.

Related articles:
Animals in Dreams (F-L)
Colors & Dreams