Bear
Often people dream of a bear coming to attack them, but because all the images, people, animals, places we see in our dreams, are simply your own feelings, fears, hopes and wonder projected onto the screen of your sleeping mind as images, there us nothing to be afraid of. So, it makes sense to take the image of your dream person, thing or animal back into you and own it. In that way, you are actually meeting and dealing with the things about yourself you are not owning or conscious of. That is why dreams are often difficult to understand, because we are hiding things from ourselves. To do this you can use – Being the Person or Thing and it is helpful to read Levels of the Brain
Whenever we dream its images are not like real life, because a dream is nothing like outer life where things could hurt you, but is an image like on a cinema screen, so that even if a gun is pointed at you and fired it can do no damage – except if you run in fear; so, all the things that scare you are simply your own fears projected onto the screen of your sleeping mind. Also dreams exress in a very ancient language, language that developed in ancient life forms before ever words were invented. The ancient languge is one that has taught youngsters by for millions of years by watching what mother or father fox, bear wolf did – all without words. This photo says it all – the family of bears are intently watching what mum is doing. they learn by seeing it, no words were spoken.
So the angry bear is an image of your own angry feelings that have not been expressed and are attacking you. We now know that such inturned anger can cause illness or depression.
Example: A huge black panther chased me. I fell and it clawed my back. It was about to chew my back to bite me. I didn’t know whether to relax or struggle. After being floored by the Panther I managed to get up. I later imagined being the panther. I allowed the panther to eat me, and I thus became the panther. Then I, as the panther, noticed feeling enormous temper – anger – hate. And I was amazed to see that my cousin Sidney was the cause of such powerful emotions. He was older than me and had mercilessly teased me as a child. The panther was my own feelings of anger, at last released.
But here is a very different example:
Example: I was standing on my patio and there was a bear inside the fence also there were children taunting the bear. I yelled at the kids to stop teasing the bear. Then all of a sudden the bear came towards me; it was a brown bear with its massive size and it stopped and looked at me. Although I was frightened I was courageous enough to pet the bears head, reaching over his large mouth to reach his head. Then, all of a sudden the bear lay on his back and I begin to brush my hand on his chest as to pet him in a downward motion, the bear just gazed at me.
A bear can have a similar meaning to elephant in the eastern countries – a tremendous force or energy, that if met badly can lead to conflict with your own nature and ill health, or if met well can be a tremendous protector and force for good.
Sometimes said to represent a possessive mother, and the feelings this has aroused. But in many cases the bear will represent a meeting with dangerous emotions such as fear, anger or being easily aroused. There might also be associations with independence, or strength. See: Dreams are Like a Computer Game; Animal.
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. In many dreams the bear is not at all harmful, and can be treated as a friend.
Through these we can also see the bear as a wonderful mother and protector.
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. It can confront us with 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 smothering, as a parent or lover might be.
Also it might represent your relationship with someone who is 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.
If the bear is felt as aggressive and dangerous, ask yourself what in your own inner feelings do you feel is aggressive and you don’t want to let it get out into what you express. In other words. what is it that you habitually repress from being expressed – your anger?
It is best to let the angry bear be expressed in you imagination. You can do this by being the angry bear and let it loose – see – Being the Person or Thing
But the bear can also be like the Beauty and the Beast, in which the dangerous beast is tame with the influence of kindness. So the bear relates to person who can be kind, but could also be a dangerous when roused.
It could suggest a desire to withdraw or hibernate. Because of traditional cultural associations, and its ability to hibernate, the bear can represent the ability to die and be reborn.
As the bear rears its childrfen alone without any male about, if oyu have been in that situation it can reer to you. But whateveer else it represent, remember that is an image of our relationship with our own ‘animal’ side. Please see the following to understand this important feature – Mammal Brain
There can be 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.
Bear attacking: It could mean that you are feeling or dealing with anger in yourself or another.
But many people dream of being chased by a bear and maybe run in fear or terror from the bear. Not only in your own dreams, but other people’s, it is obvious that we take into our sleep and dreams all the fears, terrors we carry within us. The huge bear, tiger or frightening person they are terrified of is actually fears either inherited or are frightening experiences from the past. They are purely mental things that you haven’t faced, and are therefore the victims of – victims of your own fears. But in dreams in you cannot die – or drown, or burn or any other threatening thing. We make the mistake of taking our very real values from our outer life into our inner life of dreams. If a bear or critter is chasing you, it is only a dream image and so what are you running from? If you drop the image if the bear/critter what you have is a feeling or emotion such as fear. And why are you running like crazy from an emotion? Remember that nothing can hurt you in your dreams, but you can feel fear. See The animal in my dream
And do not think, “That monster is bigger and stronger than I am, and it is frightening!!” It is our thoughts and fears that create the monsters inside us. So of course you are stronger unless you cower in fear.
But that only refers to outer bears, not dream bears. In some northern towns a bear or polar bear can be a real danger, so in your dreams it may be about a threat you need to keep watch for – although it is a bear in your dream, it could be any threat.
It can also, like the following dream, show a fight against disease.
Example: I dreamt that I was my older brother. As him, and yet at the same time myself, I was trying to fight off an attacking bear. I was doing all I could to defeat it but there was no let up.
Two days later my brother suddenly died from a vicious virus he had contracted while doing his job as a taxi driver. I feel as if I were fighting the disease with him in the dream, but we both lost the battle.
Baby or toy bear: Often represents a child or a young dreamer.
Tame or loving bear: Many people have no fear of animals in their dreams but are like the examples below. Fear is caused because we mix up our dream life with our outer life.
Example: In my dream I was actually happy to see bears lying down at the entrance of my parent’s old house. They were all lying down there as if waiting for me. When they felt my presence they woke up. They were happy and groaning amicably when they saw me approaching them. And there were babies too! I never felt fear or any threat but happiness to see them … and I knew it was mutual.
Example: My dream was not frightful. My Bear dream and I were walking, he put his nose in my hand and nuzzled, we walked home, I went up to my door and Bear went next door and rolled around in the neighbors driveway and rested.
But as people are educated in the modern paradigm, many of us are totally out of touch with the animal that we are, and have never been able to raise it to love and protect us, and instead are often frightened of it when it appears on their dreams. As a child we are often told not to do things – such as do not get angry, or told to be nice to everyone, but the intuitive animal side of us feels and act on its superior insight – that would allow them to mature with our animal self intact so we grow up repressing it, and often miss the natural curiosity of our inner mammal.
So if you have a loving animal dream you have a very good and healthy relationship with your inner animal. See Levels of the Brain and Summing Up
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 and Hints:
What were your feelings and 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 you imagine yourself as the bear in your dream, what do you feel and experience?
See Stand in Role; Processing Dreams; Summing Up
Comments
I had a reoccurring dream as a child that I was aerial view of a bear running in the woods. It was twilight out, a bluish color almost. When the bear stops in front of a tree I am right in front of the bear is it lets out a heart wrenching growl and starts to claw the tree it was by. I’ve looked into the meaning of the bear on different shaman websites. I found that the bear represents a very maternal energy. Also, the bear show introspection, rebirth, and reclusiveness. All of these things pretty much describe my personality.. what should i think of this?
Whitney – That may be true, but most bear dreams sent to me are people terrified and running away or hiding. So your dream message is personal and unique, so do not take any statements, mine as well, as gospel.
Your dream is a about a bear, a tree and you in a twilight scene. The twilight is possible suggesting a time of relaxation in a spiritual mood, shown by the blue colour.
The growls and clawing the tree is a sign of marking its territory and letting other bears know of it. Also you had an aerial or birds eye view of the bear. It was running to get somewhere and express its energy; an energy that may have been saying, “Here I am, alone and wanting you to know I exist”. That is what growls and clawing are about.
Tony
Hi Tony,
I had a dream a few nights ago that I was with some people walking along a forest road when one of the group spotted a bear ahead of us. We were scared at first but kept walking as we got closer we saw that it was helping its cub over some branches I immediately felt more comfortable and all fear vanished. I was spending the night with a fairly new girlfriend that night. I’m not sure if thats relevant. Thanks, Shane
Hi. I had a dream where 3 brown bear cubs came into my suburban home. In my dream i knew it wasnt normal but me and my family wasn’t nervous. Next thing i remember they went outside and playfully went down the street. As soon as they left the women were excitedly watching two white/maybe polar bear cubs playfully wrestling ourside my window. Im 3/4 Chero-Creek and culturally active. I’d appreciate any insight.
Hi Tony – I had a dream I was being chased by a bear through a forest. I was with a child (my nephew? little brother).
We ran to a highway where cars zoomed past quickly. Just as the bear was about to get us it stopped and roared fiercely. At the same moment I flagged down a mi Ivan and I helped the boy get in the van and we shut the door as the bear roared.
Phew! Safe! I wanted the man driving to loop back and pick up more people who migh be in
danger but it was a super highway with no way to go back so we had to continue on…
Love your interpretations! What do you think of this one?
Amber – As I have said recently to the man people chased by bears – That bear/critter chasing you in your dream is just an image. Take the image away you are left with feelings. And that is what your dream is – feelings.
Dreams are only our thoughts, feelings, fears and inspirations clothed in drama and images. There is no bear out there to get you, just your fear that you run away from instead facing and dealing with. An undealt with fear doesn’t go away.
In your dream the bear actually stopped and was trying to communicate something – the roaring. What was it communicating?
What were your feelings and 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 you imagine yourself as the bear in your dream, what do you feel and experience?
It is probably a fear of your own strength, and you are encouraging others to avoid it. See http://dreamhawk.com/dream-dictionary/animal/
Tony
I never remember my dreams, ever. but for the last two weeks i have the same dream every night that i remember in livid detail when i wake. im hiking through the woods, with a girl or a family member, and i see a bear in the distance. he sees me and starts chasing after me. i take flight and run and run but i wake up before he catches me. whats going on?
David – Dreams are only moving images that cover our emotions and thoughts. So if you take the image of the bear away and fear the feeling you understand the dream. And I guess or dream is about fear.
Something has scared you recently, and if you think back you could probably find the cause. But another way of meeting the fear and dispersing it is to imagine yourself in the dream and turn a face the bear. It is only an image, and if you meet the bear it will become the thing that cased you to run away.
Tony
Hi Tony. I had a dream last night that I was being chased by a very large brown bear. Larger than any real bear. No matter where I went it would always find me. It seemed like the dream went on forever. The dream took place at home I grew up in and at my old high school. I graduated in 2001. The bear would be chasing my at my high school and I would manage to escape and make it to the house I grew up in and it would be somehow find me. I recently took a trip to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and saw a small black bear where we got out of the car and took pictures on the side of the road but I don’t think that had anything to do with my dream. Can you make any sense of this?
Hi Tony,
I had a dream about a brown bear cub. I was in an open field and there were a few people in their 20’s or so, chasing this bear, so I grabbed it and held it in my arms as we escaped. I remember trying to get to the woods, but there were obstacles that I had to find my way around. The last thing I recall was going down a narrow white staircase and asking a nearby cleaning lady for help, but she couldn’t hear or see me.
…I was wondering if you could give me some insight as to what it means.
I had two dreams the same night about trying to avoid bears. The first I was on a cruise ship and somehow tthe bears get on board while we are at sea, everyone is running, chaos everywhere. I am with a man that I do not know but he is protecting me. Terrified I get on an elevator to go down to my room and when the door opens the bear is on that level, so we go down to the next level and there is another bear but he doesn’t see the door open so we try to sneak by but he starts chasing us and almost grabs my legs, but I manage to get away and I woke up in a cold sweat. When I fell back asleep, the setting changes to a college campus I do not recognize but again I see a bear in the distance and try to avoid at all costs. I try to stay a step ahead of it staying in different buildings, but somehow it always comes to the building I’m at. I tell the person I’m with that he has to be following me like my scent or. Sometthing. I’m on tthe second floor the bear starts coming up the stairs and I bolt jumping out a window to get outside, running past a man with a shot gun. I’m looking for another place to hide when my alarm wakes me up. Avoidance seems like tthe key, but I would appreciate any insight you can give, thanks!
Dear Tony~ I had a dream that I was walking through this maze closed in hallways with my councelor and going through all these doors. We got to this door and I opened it and there was a huge grizzly bear growling and snarling at us. I quickly slammed the door shut. I have my own theories but would appreciate your analysis of this dream, thanks!
Cali – The maze is the new territory of the mind you are exploring that seems difficult to deal with without your counsellor – your wider awareness awoken by your work.
The door is a barrier that is a way of passing from one feeling state to another. And the bear seems to be interiorised anger, still in its raw state. If you do not slam the door you can meet the anger a bit at a time and the bear will then stand with you as an ally. See http://dreamhawk.com/dream-encyclopedia/active-imagination/
Tony
Hi I had a dream lastnight I was with a girl I work with when 1 bear Appears in the distant. We realize and start to run then 2 bears start chasing us…. We try climb a tree but 1 bear bites my friends leg and she starts screaming at it and the bear after a while lets go. I woke up from the dream alittle scared. What does this mean??
Kas – It is about you creating frightening images in your mind while you sleep. It is also about the way we tend to take things that could be frightening out in the world and take them into the world of dreams where nothing can actually hurt you.
But what are you frightened of in relationship with your friend, and what have you been running away from in your life? What have you been avoiding? Try imagining yourself in the dream and instead of running stand and face the bears and see what you feel. No harm can come to you as it is only emotions you are dealing with.
Tony
Hi, Tony,
I’ve seen a dream that the brown bear was talking to me and helping to me wherever I go. He was like a reasonable partner, like guide and protector.
He even gave me easy earned money like 2000 queens in cash. Which is strange because I live in Russia.
What do you think about that? Thanks
Richard – In a way you have a secret view of yourself that you are like powerful animal – a bear. But more than that, you are in touch with your instinctive feelings and are instructed by your intuition. Thus you feel guided and protected.
The money – well of course you feel you have something of value with protection and intuition – you couldn’t be richer.
Tony
I have had so many dreams of bears,being chased,seeing pple dragged by them,what does this mean.
Karen – Our dreams reflect our most intimate fears and longings and are given an exterior life of their own in the form of the people, animals, objects and places of our dream. So do not see your dreams as reflections of waking life, but reflections of your inner fears and feelings given life and body.
So the bears you are frightened of are your own instincts you are avoiding and frightened of expressing. See http://dreamhawk.com/dream-encyclopedia/acting-in-your-dream/
Tony
Hiya, Been having lots of dreams lately, the last one being a friendly talking white owl! Last night I had a dream that I was looking after a big brown bear, I was worried about taking care of it and it kept trying to play with me but I was fearful that it was going to end up hurting me, so i locked myself away from it…….any ideas? 🙂 Great site by the way!!
Tony, I had a dream the other night that my brothers and I was at my mothers house and there was a raving bear inside a fenced area. There are no fences like this at my mothers house, but anyway we were all afraid to go into the fenced area. My one brother said that he could calm it down, it was standing at the other end of the fenced area looking kinda down, he walked over to it and it swiped at him 2 times slicing his head and neck. He was not killed, but injured badly.
David – Such an animal can depict your own animal anger or irritability. So it sounds like something happened in your childhood – mother’s house – that set the scene for your dream.
From your description I have the impression that it was something that felt bad and is being released now. An example will perhaps make it clearer for you.
I was in a hallway behind a door, pulling it against me to shield myself against a tiger. The tiger was large with bloodstained paws. Some people stopped outside the door to look at the tiger. I told them to move along, as it had a very uncertain temper, and could easily attack. In fact it began to grow restless and growl. They went. I saw the deep colours of the tiger, and the blood. I was terrified that at any moment it would pull the door away from me. At that moment the alarm woke me. On returning to bed I used my imagination and saw myself standing in the dream. The tiger attacked me when I came from behind the door, and swallowed me. As this happened I felt very great rage and temper rise up in me. Being used to the technique, I let this ‘roar’ through me. Suddenly I saw my cousin, several years older than myself, standing before me. He was teasing me by holding me at arms length, a pre-school child at the time, and my rage was towards him. Gradually it all emptied out and was gone. I was amazed that the rage had been bottled up in me all those years.
So if you could imagine yourself as the bear perhaps you could get to the root of such animal anger.
Tony
Hi Tony,
I had a dream that I was in the mountains and I sensed trouble of somesort. A large bear, like Grizzly sized was all of a sudden near and it put it’s arms around me. At first I was confused, but then realized she was protecting me from something dangerous. She almost hugged me too tight, but protected me. I wasn’t scared, and waited for the trouble to pass. Me and the bear were standing on a path in some pine trees. It was day light.
Thanks for your time!
Liana – It is so good to meet someone who isn’t scared of their dream animals. As you can see from your dream, such animals are protectors and also sources of great wisdom.
Being in the mountains suggests that you were in a changed awareness, a more inclusive awareness of things, so that may explain your relationship with the bear.
Remember that the bear is now a wonderful resource you have, so come to it if you need protection and advice. Remember also that your dream animal holds in it subtle aspects of the animal inheritance we carry with you. Some of these we see in our social behaviour, as when we shrewdly asses a person’s character, or discover what we call the ‘chemistry’ that exists between us and another person. Such things arise largely from our unconscious intuitions and senses. Such senses and responses were developed over millions of years by our animal forbears.
Tony