Snake Dream Meaning

The Gypsy interpretation of the snake dream is that the snake indicates that a "great opportunity" will be yours in the future. Because a snake lives on the ground, it could also represent the fact that you need to meditate in order to ground yourself in life. 

The details around your dream are important when understanding the meaning. If you have encountered any threat from the snake in your dream, this may mean you are finding it difficult to cope with your subconscious mind. You may find in life everything is content and happy, but underneath there are some things that are concerning you.

There are various factors that you need to consider when seeking an interpretation. Generally, the image of either a snake or serpent represents your power within. It is important to understand that this dream equals some kind of emotional storm in your life, normally as mentioned in the opening sentences above, around relationships and energy. Let's first review the old dream meanings.

What does the snake signify in dreams?

• If the snake was aggressive in a dream, this is often connected to hidden enemies; due to the coil of the snake in dreams it represents our life-cycle, and you need to take note of spiritual symbols in waking life.
• If you see in your dream a dead body and a snake or a worm inside the corpse, according to Freud this is directly associated with a passion that has not been recognized in the waking life. If the snake is on the floor performing, or on a carpet, this shows the bitterness and emptiness that you are currently feeling will soon pass. Dreaming of a snake in the grass means that you are going to hear the news that will upset you, and which involves frustration, regret, and depression.
• If you are swallowed by a snake, then this means you need to consider your reasons for thinking negatively, and you need to return to the real world and be content and happy. If the snake is surrounding your body, then this dream is a direct interpretation of entrapment, which may be connected to a love affair.
• If you see a snake in the countryside on the grass, river or field, this dream indicates that somebody in your life is currently being disloyal and that you need to be able to recognize it.
• To be swallowed or eaten by a snake in a dream shows that you have upset too many people around you at the moment, and it is time for you to seek space.
• If the snake is poisonous, then this is a direct representation of your fear. Do you recall the mythical figure of Medusa, with her head surrounded by snakes, who turns people to stone? Then this dream represents that you have conflicting feelings inside, and they are starting to harm your inner peace. It is important to make sure that you totally forget about the past, and ensure that you are on the journey of self-healing.
• If you find yourself in ancient times visualizing snakes in your dream, this means it is time for you to embrace a situation and transform the good from it, in order to progress in life.
• To dream of a viper indicates that forces in your working life are threatening you.
• If you dream that the snake attacks you, then your enemies are going to encircle you in order to find your weak points, and they will try to ruin you. It is important that you recognize any problems with the responsibility that you have.
• To dream of many snakes means that a person is going to make sure that you are displaced. If your dream involves a domesticated snake, then this indicates you are in the process of overcoming difficult times. The fact that the snake is domesticated indicates that you have been able to maneuver yourself in difficult situations and overcome any obstacle in your way.
• If you see children playing with snakes, or see that you are playing with a snake, this dream indicates that you are going to be able to distinguish between enemies and true personalities in the future. If you hit a snake, then you are likely to be able to overcome enemies that intend to do you harm. To see a snake rising up in the air is a direct indication of conspiracy. Somebody is trying to be extremely brave in their life, and it is important that you recognize this action so that you can congratulate the person for overcoming their anxieties.
• If you are hypnotized by a snake, this indicates that your rights are going to be maintained. Snakes can often reflect a situation that is currently in your life. Perhaps it is time that you face up to reality. If you find the snake cut in half in your dream, this is an indication that you need to adapt better to social situations. The key message is that you can never be too nice. Consideration and respect for others are recommended. The color of the snake may also provide additional interpretation to your dream.
• If you see a baby snake in your dream, then this is a direct indication of your child's light. It is a symbol to show that it is time for you to act better with money. If the snake in your dream changes itself into another person, this can indicate that it is time to give up a bad habit. If the snake bites you and the bite is not fatal, then the dream relates to patterns that you have formed in your life. If the bite was fatal, then you have an enemy around you at the moment.
• If you see snakes near you in a dream or if you are handling a snake, this indicates you are going to have a strategy to overcome obstacles.
• Noticing the snakes moving across you indicates that struggles are likely to develop in your life. If you kill a snake, then you are going to have a great opportunity to advance yourself with respect to others around you. This is a positive dream in that you are going to overcome all obstacles that stand in your way.
• If you find yourself walking over snakes in the dream, then this indicates you are going to be able to change your own visions and destiny. If the snake fights you, then influences in your life are going to take over affairs. These influences are positive. If you dream that a snake is spotted, then you are likely to be deceitful, and this dream is a warning to the subconscious mind. The message is to treat people the way you like to be treated.
• If you step aside or avoid a snake or let the snake pass, this dream indicates that your efforts will help you overcome any obstacle that may stand in your way.
• If you are a woman and you dream of a dead snake biting you, this shows you are going to suffer some type of defeat in a situation connected to a friend. This dream usually foretells evil in different forms and stages.
• For a man, this is a warning not to look into situations too deeply.
• If you dream that the snake coils itself around you or other people, this means you are likely to be in a position of power in the future, but that it will be taken away from you very quickly.
• If you see snakes turning into different animals or different objects, this dream symbolizes that any difficulties are likely to be destroyed by you in the future. If your dream involves seeing a snake attacking another person, this foretells that a friend is going to hurt your feelings. If you see small snakes, then this is directly associated with joy in the future.
• The Adder is likely to mean that you are going to encounter money problems.
• The Asp is the modern Anglicization of the word "Aspis", which in antiquity referred to one of several venomous snake species found in the Nile region. If your dream involves seeing an Asp, this is a negative dream for a woman, and it indicates that she has a few enemies that want to do her harm. If you are a man, this indicates that you are going to overcome any difficult problems in regard to a masculine situation. Cleopatra tested a wide range of deadly poisons on condemned people and animals for her entertainment, and she concluded that the bite of the Asp was the least terrible way to die. Therefore, in dream terms, it is important to understand that bad times are not that bad in the bigger light of things.
• To dream of a boa constrictor generally indicates that stormy times are likely to be in your life in the near future. If you kill this type of snake, then it is a positive dream, indicating that you can overcome any difficulties you face, and that you have a strong character. According to the ancient oracles, a snake is generally a warning of troubles and difficult times to come, especially if the snake is injured. If you kill more than one or two snakes, this indicates that you are in danger from enemies that wish to do you harm. Ensure that you are not cheated by someone you trust in the future. If you harm or get rid of all the snakes in your dream, this is an indication that you can overcome any hostile or difficult people in the future.
• If you walk over snakes without trying to kill them, it suggests that in the end the tables can be turned, and justice is going to run its course. If you dream that the experience of handling the snakes is positive, then you are likely to be led astray by somebody.
• If your dream featured a professional snake charmer at work or someone who is on a carpet controlling the snake, this indicates there is likely to be gossip in the future.

What is the symbol of the snake in dreams?

The snake itself can be a symbol of life and death and is connected to how we are perceived by others. Many occult writings include the snake as a symbol of energy, the energy and life force of life itself. The snake is often symbolically connected to a rebirth of life; this is due to the fact that it sheds its skin. In Hindu mythology the snake is associated with the rebirth process of the dead. Snakes can also be connected to fertility and wisdom in life.

A snake in a dream is a symbol of change and transformation according to dream psychologists. If we look at a more general interpretation of the snake dream, this can be associated with how we handle life's difficulties; it can suggest that our waking emotions are going to be unsettled for a period of time and predict that an enemy will come to light. There is, however, a positive side to this dream interpretation in that snakes also represent healing and overcoming adverse problems and difficulties in waking life.

What is the general dream interpretation of a snake?

If the snake is large in the dream this can suggest that there is somebody that wishes to do you harm; the good news is that you are powerful enough to take this on.

• Carl Jung - called the snake the oldest symbol in the unconscious. In his books he believed it represented transformation, instinct, and everything the mind refuses to acknowledge; think of it as hidden knowledge, in that you have something hidden in your life right now.
• Genesis - In the Bible the snake in Eden is not evil exactly; it is the thing that knows too much. Dreaming of a snake biblically is dreaming of knowledge you are not sure you wanted.
• Moses and the bronze serpent - God tells him to make a snake on a pole and anyone who looks at it is healed. Your snake dream might be medicine, not poison; it is a sign from above to say: what are you refusing to look at?
• Greek - The god of healing (Asclepius) carried a snake staff. Every hospital on earth still uses that symbol. Remember also, snakes shed their skin. In my view, the dream might be about what you are leaving behind, not what is threatening you.
• Kundalini - Hindu tradition places serpent energy coiled at the base of the spine. A snake dream can mean that energy is waking up. Something in you is rising.
• Ancient Egypt - In ancient Egypt the snake dream meant power was coming or needed protecting.
• My view: As a dream meaning author for 30 years and a medium, I am not going to go on about Adam and Eve too much, but I want to let you know that there might be a problem that you will face and you don't know yet what it is. Something is shedding. Something is healing. Something knows more than you are admitting yet. The question is not whether to be scared of it. The question is what skin you need to leave on the ground when you wake up.

What does it mean to be frightened by a snake in your dream?

If the snake is frightening you in any way, then this dream relates to trying to overcome a difficult problem or a troublesome person. Often this dream occurs when you are suffering some kind of grief or separation in your life. The symbolism of the snake means it is time to close the door on a period of your life and move on. If you see a snake in the grass or in the sand, then this dream is connected to a particular person or situation that is likely to harm you in your waking life. Often the other factors of this bizarre dream are important to interpret. In occult work, snakes have often been associated with death and coldness, and this is because they are associated with poison and fear.

Is this dream of a snake good or bad?

Its good as it is about transformation. If we look at shamanism the snake itself can be seen as an important animal guide. The snake is connected to how we interact with other human beings. This could be how we communicate or deal with difficult and unsettling situations in waking life.

What is the Freud dream snake interpretation?

Freud believed that the dream of snake is directly related to some aspects of emotional passion. He believed that the dreamer needed to come to terms with his or her own personality that has been oppressed due to his or her urge of sexuality. On a more basic level, this dream also has a direct relationship with the penis. If we look at ancient history, the snake or serpent signifies the evil as illustrated in the Garden of Eden. Yet Freud thought this dream was a direct interpretation of an uncontrolled passion. The snake or serpent also suggests some type of temptation and search for spiritual power.

What does it mean to see a snake speak in a dream?

As a snake is a wild animal, it is directly associated with dangerous situations. It is important to recognize there may be some negative forces arising from your subconscious mind. These forces may threaten your inner peace, and this dream is a direct indication of trying to cope with your anxieties. If the snake spoke words in your dream, then it is important to recognize that this is instinctive wisdom. The greater spiritual power is trying to tell you to stop and think before you rush into situations. Most cold-blooded animals such as snakes generally represent destructive situations in the waking life. The message of this dream is that you need to recognize that negative energies have existed, and it is time to clear the air and move on with your life.

What is the dream interpretation of snakes biting?

If you dreamed of a snake biting you, it implies that you may be having second thoughts in a situation in your life. The "bite" is a representation of the anxieties that you are suffering in life. Additionally, if the snake bit you on the legs it can denote spiritually that you may encounter a time to review your life. I have already focused a specific dream meaning on snake biting by clicking here.

• To find yourself with a bite mark on your body or to see scars can remind you that you should not lose focus in life. It's time you leave your past behind and move forward to your future with happiness.
• To see other people bitten by snakes in a dream indicates you can't fix other people's attitudes.

What does it mean if a snake bites on the left hand?

If a snake has bitten you on your left hand, it represents your weakness in life. You feel vulnerable or weak in someone's presence and you want to overcome your fears of getting hurt. You also fear you will make a wrong choice and you're concerned about your mental health. My advice is to try to overcome your fears by facing them. Focus on becoming an independent person in life. Once you do, you won't fear people will hurt you or betray you anymore. You will feel confident enough to continue living your life even if it happens.

What does it mean to dream of a snake bite on the right hand?

If you dreamed of a snake bite on your right hand, it indicates a negative experience will soon happen in the near future. You won't be able to avoid it, but you will overcome it thanks to your strength. I believe that the snake bite on the right hand is about how you approach your goals in life. After all, the right hand is what we make our life with, according to palmistry! If the snake bite was deep on the right hand it can indicate a hidden pattern of behavior. This may be your own or others'.

What is the dream meaning of snakes attacking?

If a snake attacked you in your dream or attacked someone else it can suggest your fragile mental state. Maybe you're entering a difficult relationship with someone you like but you know you should focus on yourself. Now, the good news is that your dream is also a symbol of spiritual revitalization. You are going to become a much stronger person through any difficulties in life.

What does it mean to be surrounded by snakes in your dream?

In my opinion, to be surrounded by snakes that are wriggling and slithering often indicates your own anxieties in life. It indicates that there have been a number of possibilities to progress your life. The fact that you were dreaming of snakes indicates that even though you have that opportunity for change, you were worried about the future.

What does it mean to fall into a pit of snakes in a dream?

Falling into a pit of snakes is a warning. The pit of snakes itself represents many worries that you are experiencing in life. As snakes can symbolize difficult times this dream can be connected to how we are perceived by others.

What does it mean to see a dream about a dead snake?

In my opinion, dreaming about something dead can mean the release of old ideas or desires in your life. Snakes usually represent transformation or change - so when you see a dead snake in the dream, it normally indicates that something significant may have come to an end within yourself, not that you are dying (but something needs to be set free).

What does it mean to kill a snake in a dream?

If you killed a snake in your dream, it foretells you're going to successfully avoid danger in waking life. You will also end a relationship with a toxic person who's doing more harm than good in your life. Often, in many psychological dream meaning books regarding snake dreams, killing a snake is connected to our desires in life.

What does it mean to dream of eating snakes?

If you ate a snake in your dream state, it means you feel content and happy with your life. Your dream also signifies a desire for someone you know you're not allowed to have. You're not satisfied with your love life and you wish you had someone to fulfill your biggest desires. The actual "eating" of a snake can also be connected to how you are feeling inside. Maybe you want more or are feeling a sense of helplessness in waking life? Eating snakes on a plate, for example, can indicate that you are wanting a new partner. So go out and get one!

What does it mean to dream of entwined snakes?

Okay, I'm going to quickly give you an overview of what the Greeks believed entwined snakes mean. The Greeks believed that the entwined snake symbolizes healing. This comes from the Greek Mercury's caduceus, which is a symbol of the medical world, so the interpretation of this dream is quite obvious. If you see entwined snakes, it means that you need to look after your health, try to watch your diet, and eat better.

What do green snake dreams mean?

Green snakes in a dream represent hope and your connection with your own soul. You've been experiencing some inner conflicts, but you're going to solve them on your own soon. Always look for peace within yourself, not in someone else, or someplace else. Green from a spiritual perspective is connected to grounding in life. You need to review how you focus on your own spiritual development. To read more about a green snake in a dream, click here.

Why am I having a reoccurring snake dream?

It is not uncommon to see a snake in our conscious mind every day and not even be aware of it. This may be the reason for your recurring dream. Perhaps you have this dream because you saw a statue or picture, or even watched a snake on the television. I'm not saying that your dream does not mean anything because it definitely does, but sometimes "external" influences do affect the dream state. As our dreams unfold, it is very rare to remember each and every dream. The fact that you remember the snake dream is a great sign. Having covered that, let's now review the history of snakes in different cultures.

In both Greek and Roman cultures, the symbolism was associated with healing. From a biblical perspective, the snake in the Bible illustrates the source of temptation as well as forbidden knowledge. Moving on to the modern symbol of a snake: if we look at cartoons, TV shows, and even movies, the snake represents deception. The snake is normally portrayed as the baddie!

What is the Chinese interpretation of dreaming of snakes?

In the Chinese culture, the snake is connected to intelligence, mystery, and manipulation. Unlike Islamic and Christian meanings, the snake doesn't have an evil connotation in the Chinese culture. If you see a snake in your dream, the Chinese interpretation of your dream is associated with your personal growth, inner strength and acquiring power in waking life. If you're being attacked by a snake in your dream, it's a sign of endurance and mental strength. Your dream reveals your preparedness to deal with unexpected challenges.

What did snakes mean in ancient cultures?

Many ancient cultures viewed snakes as a symbol of immortality because they believed snakes reincarnate themselves when changing their skin. They're also associated with immortality because of their ability to bite their tails and form a circle without a problem. In the process of forming a circle it looks like they're forming spirals, and we all know that spirals and circles symbolize eternity and immortality. The circle was seen as an important symbol in Dahomeyan myth, where the snake Danh was represented as a god who circled the world like a belt, preventing it from flying apart in splinters.

A snake is seen as the Devil in Christian traditions because of its involvement with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. The Biblical story says that Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating the forbidden fruit from the Tree of Knowledge. And the one tempting them to do it was a snake. First, Eve took a bite of the forbidden fruit, which in this case was an apple, and then she convinced Adam to do so as well. You probably know the rest. God banishes both of them from the Garden of Eden and curses the snake.

Why is the snake dream so popular?

The dream of snakes appears more than once during this tremendous timespan. What I find even more fascinating about all the dreams that I have decoded about snakes is the fact that generally in waking life we do not encounter snakes on a regular basis! This has led me to believe that perhaps the fact that we subconsciously see snakes may be why the dream is so popular. Snakes also represent an opportunity to change and the ability to grow, depending upon the details of the dream.

Summary of a snake dream

In many ancient dream dictionaries, the snake represents discontentment and also the importance of healing. If you are bitten by a snake then this is generally associated with an enemy in life. If we look at the snake as a symbol, it sheds its skin and is a sign of rebirth/transformation. To see more than one snake in a dream can suggest that you have a number of enemies that are against you at the moment.

I want to share a secret with you before I go. When I was 11 years old, I started to dream of snakes. This would be at least once a week; there would be hundreds of white snakes everywhere in my garden, bedroom and on the sidewalk. The snakes weren't threatening to me at all. But as I was so young, it did cause me some concern. Why were there so many snakes in my dream? I would sometimes half open my eyes in the morning and wonder if a snake was under my bed, and I can remember feeling that I just wanted the snakes to go away. If I opened my eyes in the black of the night I could sometimes feel the movement of the snake. The dream at this time was extremely vivid, and this led me to the path of dream interpretation, which was nearly 30 years ago! So yes, I feel well-placed in order to decode your dream and I'm so grateful and thankful that you have found the website.

Research Sources

• Spiritual dreams (1920s); Sigmund Freud, The Interpretation of Dreams (1900)
• Book Occult Magazine (1920), Snakes the encyclopedia (1920)
• Snakes by Chris Mattison ISBN: 9780691132952, Amazing snakes by Sarah L.

About the author

In total over 8,000 people have contacted me in the last decade about their snake dream. Oh, before I forget, I am psychic and have been in the field of dream psychology for 25 years.

Feelings that you may have encountered during a dream of the snake

Terrified. Surprised. Anxious. Worried. Strange. Insecure. Furious. Upset. Overwhelmed. Offended. Angry. Scared.