[Dream interpretation] Dreaming about snakes!

Here’s what it means if you’re dreaming about snakes.

[Dream interpretation] Dreaming about snakes!

If the dream was terror-inducing…
Start with how the dream made you feel; that will tell you how urgently you want to identify the potential stressor in your life and address it. “A snake within a nightmare is a very good indication that your subconscious feels there is a toxic person in your life that is an immediate threat, meaning their toxic behavior has reached a point where your subconscious has had it and needs to slap you into attention,” Loewenberg says.

 

If the dream was more pleasant…
Well, then you don’t have to panic… yet. “A snake in a dream that is not terrifying will either mean the snake represents a health or healing issue or a toxic person or situation that isn’t in the red alert stage yet,” she says.

 

If you dreamed of a boa constrictor…
According to Loewenberg, nothing in a dream is ever random, meaning that the species of snake that appears in your dream is significant. (And remember, snakes tend to represent people in your life.) Think about the snake closely — and in particular, consider the way it threatens its prey or predators.

“A boa constrictor is known for squeezing its prey to death,” Lowenberg says. “So a boa constrictor in your dream may be connected to someone in your life who is causing you to feel crowded or constricted, or someone who may be squeezing you financially.”

 

If you dreamed of a harmless species, like a garter snake…
In this case, you may be able to breathe a sigh of relief. “A garter snake is harmless, so it may represent someone you were originally cautious about but are now realizing is not a threat to you,” Loewenberg says.

 

If multiple snakes appeared in your dream…
Just like the breed of snake, the number of snakes that appear in your dream can hold meaning. “Multiple snakes can represent multiple toxic people or a toxic situation that has many facets to it,” Loewenberg says. Alternatively, “multiple snakes could represent multiple health issues or one health issue that has many elements to it.”

 

If you dreamed the snake was in your house…
If you come across a snake in your house, well, look for potentially toxic people — or stressors — under your roof. (Sorry!) Or, think of it more figuratively. Perhaps, Loewenberg suggests, the menacing individual’s “toxicity is to the point that you are bringing that negativity home with you.”

 

[Dream interpretation] Dreaming about snakes!

If you dream the snake was outside…
Conversely, if the snake in your dream is outside, Loewenberg says it “can be a message that it’s time to get things ‘out in the open’ with this toxic person.” She adds: “Toxic people continue to poison our lives because we don’t speak up about it.”

 

If the snake bit you…
In this case, the snake likely has less to do with others in your life, and more to do with you — specifically, your health. The meaning of a snake bite in a dream can be counterintuitive: “The bite is similar to a shot being administered,” Loewenberg says. “So if a snake bites you in a dream, ask yourself if there are any health issues that are beginning to get better or an emotional wound that seems to be healing.” Or, “the snake bite could signify that you are the victim of someone’s critical or ‘biting’ remarks.”

 

If the snake bit a loved one…
If a snake attacks a loved one in a dream, then that person could be the one dealing with a health or emotional issue. Or, if you don’t believe the snake has anything to do with health, Loewenberg suggests looking internally and asking yourself if you might be the snake. Ask yourself, “have you been spewing venomous words at this person?”

 

If the snake bit an enemy…
In this scenario, you might be the snake. “To dream someone you dislike gets bitten by snake could reflect your desire to take them down with your own ‘biting’ remarks and ‘wounding’ words,” Loewenberg says.

 

If you felt afraid of the snake...

"Typically we're very alarmed when we see a snake," Loewenberg notes; "therefore, we connect it to a person or situation in real life we need to be alarmed or wary about." How did you feel when you saw the snake? If it frightened you, you're likely feeling fear about something in your life.

 

[Dream interpretation] Dreaming about snakes!

If you were bit by the snake.

"The second most common thing a snake can represent is a need for physical healing" she adds. "[When] we see the snake in symbols for physicians, pharmacies, etc.—we subconsciously equate the snake with healing." So if you've been bit by a snake, she says, "the bite can symbolically represent a shot of healing serum."

If you had a snake on you.

Similarly, if the snake climbs on you, say your leg or around your chest, "it might be connected to an area of the body where you need physical healing," Loewenberg says. Whether you're aware of it or not, your dream may be giving you a sign of an imbalance somewhere in the body.

 

If you saw the same snake...again.

If your snake dream is recurring, or if you're having lots of different snake dreams, this means you might feel overwhelmed by a toxic person or situation that's constantly present, "like a spouse or co-worker," she notes. "The more present the snakes in your dream, the more present the person is in your life."

"If it's a really frequent dream and it's been going on for a long time, what issue in your life has been going on for as long as the dream has?" Loewenberg asks. "Look at how you are behaving and reacting to the dream, because it will tell you how you're behaving and reacting in real life."

 

[Dream interpretation] Dreaming about snakes!

If you saw a rattlesnake.

Yes, even the breed of snake you see in your dreams could be significant. "The nature of the rattlesnake is that it gives you a warning first. So that rattle on the snake would represent your gut feeling or a red flag that's already happened with this particular person or situation," Loewenberg says.

If you saw a garter snake.

If you see a garter snake, which is harmless, it could indicate a seemingly threatening situation that's passed. "The garter snake is not poisonous," she says. "Therefore, it would represent someone we were wary of at first but then realized wouldn't harm us."

If you had a snake in your bedroom.

Where you see the snake in your dream could correlate to where you feel like there's a "snake" in your real life, adds Loewenberg. So, if it's in the bedroom, "it could be connected to someone you're intimate with," she says.

If you saw a snake at work.

Again, location is important. As you might imagine, if you're dreaming about a snake or snakes in your office or workplace, you could feel distrusting of who you work with. Or it could mean there's a situation at work that's not sitting well with you.

If you saw a white snake.

If you have personal connections with specific colors, take those associations into consideration. If not, Loewenberg says a white snake can represent a new beginning. Did you see a white snake and feel frightened or excited? You may be anticipating changes or a fresh start.

If you saw a black snake.

A black snake, meanwhile, "can typically represent the unknown," she notes. Again, note where the snake was in the dream and how it made you feel. While being afraid upon seeing a snake is likely the first reaction for many, if it didn't scare you, home in on what it did bring up for you.

If you saw a red snake.

This one's pretty clear, according to Loewenberg: A red snake is a red flag. If you're seeing this in a dream, this could be a sign there's already been a red flag in your life that you're ignoring, and now it's not resting well with your subconscious. "Alarm—stop dealing with this person," she says.

[Dream interpretation] Dreaming about snakes!

 

If you saw a green snake.

Green can mean jealousy, Loewenberg says. "Is there a jealous, toxic person around you?" she asks. Alternatively, it is possible that you could be the jealous person or the one exhibiting toxic behavior. To find out, try to remember if anyone else is present in the dream, along with where you are.

If you saw a yellow snake.

If the snake in your dream was yellow, "that would be fear," she notes. In this case, definitely take stock of your reactions and thought processes when you saw the snake, and how you ended up getting away from it or confronting it.

If you saw other people around the snake.

If there are other people in your snake dreams, it can be interpreted in one of three ways:

• You could be the "snake" in the dream and have feelings of malice or conflict toward the other person in it.
• You could be the other person in the dream.
• You could be picking up on the fact that the other person in the dream is in a toxic situation and needs your help to get out of it.

[Dream interpretation] Dreaming about snakes!

 

If you saw the snake bite someone else.

Going back to the idea of snake bites as being healing, it's possible if the snake bites someone else in your dream, you're actually dreaming about them being healed. But, Loewenberg notes, "always start with yourself when figuring out a dream, because sometimes our dreams will give us a third-party perspective so we can better understand how something is affecting us or how you're behaving in that situation."

 

If a snake appeared in a sensual dream…
Snakes can also symbolize male sexual energy — vis-à-vis “their shape,” Loewenberg says. So, if you find yourself sexually interested in a man, snakes may begin to appear in your dreams in a non-threatening manner.

 

If you’ve dreamed about snakes amid the coronavirus pandemic…
If serpents have started appear more frequently in your dreams as of late, you’re not alone. “I have found snakes, and in particular, snake bites a very common dream symbol lately,” Loewenberg told the Cut, which she believes is due to the venomous nature of snakes. “These days, it seems the collective subconscious is giving this virus the form of a snake because it literally is poisonous and we all want to avoid getting bit by it,” she continued.

 

[Dream interpretation] Dreaming about snakes!