ANIMALS - A

	Enter your search terms
	Web This Site Submit search form

ALLIGATOR/CROCODILE - Feelings or fears of being attacked or overwhelmed, possibly from within oneself, or by a powerful mother - i.e. ones internal dependence upon mother.

The alligator and crocodile often represent a hidden form of treachery, apparently harmless until it opens its mouth to eat us, such as that of a person spreading malicious rumours or trying to undermine us in some way. Another attack from deep within can be from repressed emotions.

The alligator or crocodile is similar to the serpent and depicts the power of the emotions, influences and experiences emerging from the unconscious. If you do not relate to your unconscious urges constructively, conflict can occur. Then you may feel fear of these forces within you - fear of being swallowed, or dragged into dark feelings. That is, of being carried away, or possessed, by fears, urges, ideas, arising from within, or fear of the irrational.

The Egyptians worshipped a crocodile as a guide to the dead in the underworld. It represents not only a threat, but also a wealth of wisdom about unconscious things. It possibly represented the forces of the unconscious because of the observation of the crocodile emerging from hidden depths to lay its eggs on the river bank. In this sense the crocodile or alligator in some dreams represents a personal confrontation with eternity. Depending upon the dream, the crocodile may well depict your fears about your inner hugeness. When we meet this it shows a personal awareness of merging with the many lives held in the collective unconscious. It is illustrated by the Christian idea of being cells in the body of Christ. We retain individual life, but know ourselves as part of an eternal life. This is possibly a natural stage in ageing, as our physical prowess and motivations fall away, this immense inner life begins to open to us.

As some people keep pet alligators, there might be a very personal meaning if one has actually kept an alligator.

Useful questions are:

What does the alligator represent to me?

What do I know about them?

Am I feeling threatened or carried away by any fears?

In what way is my intuition or awareness reaching beyond myself ?

Do I feel myself part of a larger whole?

APE - Impulsive unreasoned urges such as self centered grabbing of food or sexual expression without concern for the other person; mischievousness; mimicry; instinctive or intuitive wisdom about relationships, social interactions and life; folly or foolishness or feeling an idiot.

The following is taken from a man's dream journal, in which he describes how he feels when he identifies with the image of an ape.

EXAMPLE: I feel like a powerful ape at the moment. I am not holding myself back in regard to my fellow creatures. I am ready to fight, play, love, laugh. All the different bits of me are available. The question I am asking myself is how do you get people to feel it - that basic animal experience of oneself. The wonderful experience of existing, of being alive with all the powers of a living creature - physical strength, emotions of anger, tenderness, passion and sexual excitement, curiosity, awe and wonder in meeting life and the stars.

See: ape brain.

Useful questions are:

What is the non verbal, spontaneous and responsive part of me doing in this dream and in my life?

Am I on good terms with this natural part of me?

What does my dream ape want, or what is it expressing?

What can I bring to my daily life from it?

ASS OR DONKEY The basic life processes in the body, which uphold or carry us through the years; the plodding long suffering body; foolishness, a sort of living on whims and fancies, or being used and abused by others. Also a foolishness or stupidity arising from a limited view of things.

In the bible the ass carries the Christ, and so represents the unconscious automatic functions of the body which can support the wider awareness. Also stubbornness arising perhaps out of long entrenched habits and automatic behaviour, but also out of the hungers and needs of the body. This aspect of the ass also represents humility and patience along with common or everyday life.

If the ass or donkey is being ridden by or pulling someone else: You may be feeling you are doing all the hard work in a relationship, or working like a beast of burden.

Riding a donkey or ass: This may represent humility or feeling in a lowly position. But may simply relate to your relationship with your body's needs and responses.

Useful questions are:

If you consider that your relationship with the ass might indicate how you are dealing with your body, what does it suggest?

Are you feeling put upon by the needs or demands of others?

Is somebody trying to make you go in a direction you do not want to?

Are you being a donkey or an ass - i.e. a bit dense or silly?

ANIMALS - B

BABOON - These are often seen as the more aggressive, confrontational and daring of the ape family, but in general are similar to the description under ape. See: ape.

BADGER - May refer to badgering people, or feeling badgered; the quiet unobtrusive or even secluded life - so may refer to urges to get away from other people's influence or company; define what you associate with the badger, as there are very mixed general associations with this animal, far more so than with the fox for instance.

Useful questions are:

If I imagine myself as the badger in my dream what does it feel like and what am I doing? (For help doing this see Stand in Role under peer dream work.)

How would I describe a badger, and how does that apply to me?

BAT - Thoughts or influences emerging from the unconscious; fear of the unconscious; being able to see in the dark - i.e. intuition. The Australian aborigines see the bat as the spirit of death.

Useful questions are:

What did I feel about the dream bat, and what part does that feeling play in my life at present?

Was there something I realised on seeing or dealing with the bat?

If there was fear, what was it about as base?

What is my dream badger doing in this dream, and what does that suggest about my own activities?

BEAR - Through television and the many 'nature' films which are now a part of our wider education, we can see that the bear is largely a solitary creature, capable of living alone and surviving. This, and its human way of standing and holding its arms out in a hugging posture, may be the major factors from which a 'bear' dream arises.

We may therefore associate the bear with feelings about living alone or surviving by our own strength; it can refer to the confrontation with feelings we have about independence, or the meeting with strength and independence in someone else; massive or dangerous rage, such as 'the bear with a sore head'. In this case it might represent your relationship with someone who is touchy or grouchy; powerful, possessiveness or a smothering relationship, as or by a parent or lover; it could suggest a desire to withdraw or hibernate; the 'animal' side of our relationship with our parents; a play on words, such as 'bare', bare facts, bearing with something or someone, 'bearing' ones soul, bearing in mind, a 'bearer' of tidings, come to bear, overbearing, getting ones bearings, bear fruit or bear-hug. Because of traditional cultural associations, and its ability to hibernate, the bear can represent the ability to die and be reborn.

Three bears as with father bear, mother bear etc.: Family situation or parental relationship.

If hint of money in the dream: might refer to 'bear market'.

Useful questions are:

What was I feeling in my interactions with the bear? (For instance were you avoiding, running from cooperating with, watching from a distance - and where does 'avoiding', 'running from', 'cooperating', or 'observing' enter your life at the moment?)

If I imagine myself as the bear in my dream, what do I feel and experience? (For help doing this see Stand in Role under peer dream work.)

BEAST - Many dreams have as their main feature a beast who is of no particular characteristic or type. Often this beast is horrific and we feel such terror we cannot sustain the dream and awaken in dread. Such a creature is a combination of many associations and fears. Perhaps it even holds in it memories of past hurts so deep we find it difficult to meet and redeem them. Thus it usually is an expression of drives and parts of our nature that have been repressed or avoided for one reason or another. See: nightmares; and for a fuller examination of the beast in dreams, see beast.

Useful questions are:

How am I relating to this beast, and can I change it by meeting or being it? (For help doing this see under peer dream work.)

Is the beast trying to communicate with me in any way?

In what ways am I trying to escape from or defend myself from the beast - in other words what do I use to repress this in myself?

BEAVER - Is often associated with industriousness and independence. The beaver is also a great planner and builder, offering great protection and care to their young.

The word beaver sometimes has sexual connotations - the sexual organs; if there is emphasis on the beaver dam, then it may suggest either conserving your energy and emotions, or holding back feelings, depending on the dream action.

In the North American Indian traditions the beaver was often a holy animal, and occasionally offered great wisdom to the dreamer. If the beaver speaks to you in the dream, it may be expressing innate or unconscious information or insights you have that are becoming conscious.

Useful questions are:

Is there any suggestion of working hard in the dream, and how does that apply to me?

If the beaver communicated something what was it?

Am I gathering a deeper insight into the forces of nature in my life?

BIRD - See: birds.

BUFFALO - See: bull below.

BULL - The symbol of the bull often refers to the instinctive responses in us that are powerful enough to drag us along, cause us anxiety if we are in conflict with them, or carry us further in our endeavours if we can work with them. Such instinctive urges may be in connection with sexual attraction and desire, feelings about people invading our territory, and protectiveness for family; sex drive, or the aspect of it that has generally been under control, but may be occasionally wild if provoked; the basic drives toward parenthood, and caring and providing via sex; an aggressive, 'bullish' trait in oneself or someone else.

The bull may refer to personal traits to do with being very basic or earthy, and perhaps sexual in ones relationships; being moved by impulses such as sex or aggression, without being aware of this; strength; ferocity; obstinacy; maleness; power.

The aggressive bull: Often shows the frustration arising from these basic drives being taunted or thwarted. For instance a person may wish for a family, yet be frustrated by a form of sexuality in their partner which does not care for children.

The killed or dead bull: A killing of the natural drives to sex and procreation.

If sacrificed: May show self-giving.

The ridden bull: Shows a harmony between self awareness and its decision making, and the basic 'animal' drives.

Idioms: Like a bull at a gate; bull in a china shop; red rag to a bull; score a bull's eye; sacred bull; take the bull by the horns.

As an astrological sign the bull is the sign of Taurus. Therefore with Taureans the bull may depict their innate characteristics and how they are dealing with them. Taurus is a 'Fixed' 'Earth' sign. The bull, and the time of year it is within, symbolises being in tune with the instinctive earthy side of oneself. An animal born out of season, a calf for instance, would find it difficult in nature to survive, because there would be less food, and it might not be strong enough to face the winter. Therefore the Taurean is born 'in season' and has a harmony with the natural cycles. The sign denotes bodily, mental or spiritual strength; also inherited qualities or possessions; practical, useful powers or gifts. Its essential characteristic is that of service. The person born with their Sun in Taurus is said to be a steady-going, reliable, practical, rather conservative person; slow to anger, but likely, if angered, to be a formidable adversary.

In past cultures the bull was considered sacred. In Egypt for instance the bull was never sacrificed. But in Mosaic times, and in the Persian cult of Mithras, the bull was used for sacrifice to God. In these approaches the bull was a symbol of servitude. But there are many different cultural approaches to the bull. In Christianity it was seen as representing brute force or the earthy quality of human life. In other cultures it was male procreative power, or the power of nature or God in action.

There is a theme which appears in many cultures or myths connected with the bull. It is of the Hero confronting and overcoming the bull. Lao Tzu for instance found, struggled with and eventually rode the bull, representing the human struggle and victory over instinctive or reactive forces influencing consciousness. Also Theseus saves Ariadne from the Minotaur, suggesting that the conscious self has to meet the entangling forces of emotional dependence upon cultural norms, mother and public opinion. Theseus, or our active growing self, frees Ariadne, the feminine or intuitive feeling principle in oneself. From this a new life can be born or emerge.

Useful questions are:

What is my relationship with the bull in the dream, and what does that suggest about my relationship with sex or natural urges?

Is the bull out of control or peaceful, and does that show my own inner condition?

Am I using or abusing the enormous energy of the bull in my dream, or am I afraid of it?

Tony's in print Books in the UK or USA

Books - Stories - Poems - Articles/Features - Links - One Stop Shop - Home