Ask What Animals In Dreams Represent

Dear Nancy: I’m recuperating from a car accident and progress has been slow. I have so much to do and I hate being laid up. I’ve had this same theme in my dreams for many weeks. - Megan

I’m watching two horses and their riders come over a bridge. I quickly focus on one horse (whose name is Trigger) because it’s being ridden so fiercely that I worry for its safety. Then the rider turns it back toward the bridge and charges down the steep bank with its jagged rocks. The horse and rider plunge into the deep water.

Next, I become the rider and watch Trigger’s head slip beneath the water. I call to the horse and try to lift its head, but I can see it’s drowning. I feel helpless and distraught.

Dear Megan: It’s important to note recurring themes in our dreams. The overriding message is often clear. Your dream’s general theme is the destruction of life due to stress and recklessness. Is someone in your life pushing you too hard? Are you pushing yourself too hard?

During our telephone conversation, I asked what horses represent to you. You stated that they are powerful, wild and have natural vitality. Are you pushing yourself so hard that you are losing your natural vitality?

You also said that you usually have 20 things on your daily “to do” list, and that you have a 15-year-plan for your life. And each day you punish yourself for being behind. Your dream may be a warning that if you don’t slow down, you will continue to drive yourself until you lose your health, strength and energy.

Drowning is often a metaphor for being unable to “keep your head above water.” Do you “drown” yourself in self-criticism or other negativity, thinking about your situation?

Healing takes time, Megan. Be easy on yourself and let your body recuperate before you add more stress. This should be a period of relaxation for you. Think about using this time to learn about your dreams since they’re obviously trying to guide you.

Reader tip: To uncover the significance of dream animals it’s important to ask yourself, What does this animal mean to me? What feelings do I have about it? Am I afraid of it, or do I want to protect and nurture it? What situation in my life has stimulated this dream?

Cats, dogs and other domestic animals often represent the every-day instinctual parts of ourselves, such as the instinct to nurture and protect our family. Wild animals such as tigers, wolves or bears, can remind us of our basic survival instincts, such as fight or flight, sexuality and domination.

Animals can represent other people in our lives. A domineering bully can show up in our dreams as an aggressive bull. People who want to take advantage of us may appear as a wolf or hyena, while sneaky or underhanded person may be depicted by a rat or a snake.

Remember, all creatures also have positive qualities and strengths. Look at the dream’s context and your emotional reaction to it.

I highly recommend the book, “Animal-Speak,” by Ted Andrews. It is a comprehensive dictionary of animal, bird and reptile symbolism.