Tiger Tigress
Power, anger, sexual power, inner anxiety or terrifying urges. Fear of another person’s anger or forcefulness. Sometimes the power of a mother’s protectiveness. A woman’s anger or sexual craving.
Although similar in many ways to the lion, the tiger has a more feminine quality. It can therefore represent an angry woman; ones mother/a woman as a protector or destroyer; anger; spitefulness; the power and authority of ones animal strength; anxiety or fear, flight or fight. Often children have recurring dreams of being chased by a tiger (or lion), and this is about anger that they have been told is bad to express. So this is why they are running from it when they should have made it their friend. This is probably also why most people are still running or hiding from tigers in their dreams. Instead they should have been taught to direct their anger – a natural part of our defense system – effectively.
Do not to be afraid of the animals you meet in your dreams. They are only symbols of your own inner nature, your animal self. See Your Mammal Brain
The tiger represents your own power, the power that can protect your family and any children. Feel the power of that by imaging yourself as the tiger. Yes, actually imagine yourself in its body.
Also big cats, like domestic cats and dogs are very ‘mouthey’ – in other words they do everything with their mouth. They love with their mouth and love to hold you with their mouth. It is their way of giving a hug and wanting to be near. But of course tigers can bite for real too, but your dream tiger is a part of you. Even if it did bite you in your dream it is only like holographic image and can do you no harm. To be frightened of your dream tiger is to run away, avoid or deny your own wonderful natural strength and self protection. See Mouthey Animals
Example: Just last night I dreamt I was walking and a tiger came at me. I was scared, but I thought I would try to be strong and not show my fear. It did not work and the tiger ran at me. I climbed a tree and onto a roof of a tin shed. The tiger followed me up and I ran across a series of tin sheds. I finally realized I could not escape and I turned and faced the tiger. I screamed at the tiger and ran straight at it. The tiger got scared and turned and ran away, and then I woke up. These dreams have been on my mind, and I would love some insight into them. Thank you so much.
From that you can see that an image – in a dream – cannot hurt you, though it can cause you to feel fear. So chasing it was a way of changing your feeling, and that of course changes your dream. So, there is nothing in any dream that can hurt you, unless you run away from something. Running away is leaving yourself open to being a victim of whatever frightens you.
When we call someone a tiger we either mean they are fierce, capable of defending themselves, or very successful at what they do. But we also say a woman can protect her children or loved partner like a tiger. So it is also about strength and passion to protect and care. This aspect of the tiger depicts the primeval and passionate power of motherhood and the love and care of nature itself emanating from the unconscious. Tigers are individual creatures and are not, like lions, part of a group less it is a mother with her cubs.
Like any other animal, the tiger can also represent aspects of sexuality, depending upon how it is presented in the dream. As a symbol of sex it would most likely include elements of uncertainty – will I be attacked or overwhelmed – power and instinctive responses. It has to be remembered also that the tiger is a top of the food chain predator, and so can represent the predatory facets of human nature. See animal for an explanation of the role dream animals play in our life:
But it has to be remembered that every image in our dreams is an aspect of ourselves, and being an animal the tiger represents the wonderful strength we have as our heritage – if we claim it. Many people are frightened of their own strength and so run from their dream tiger, but as the following dream shows it can be your strength.
Example: An adult tiger was at my bed with one of my old high school buddy holding him on a leash. When I saw him I was furious what the fuck is such dangerous animal doing on my bed. Went to load my AK (the imaginary one, don’t actually own one), but when I pointed the gun at him he ignored me with calm and assertive look. I dropped the gun and in my admiration for him just felt his strong and firm energy. Since then I started to really think of Tigers as the ultimate alpha animal!!
Example: 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 tiger attacked me when I came from behind the door, and swallowed me. Now instead of feeling separate I was the tiger, and delighted in his movements and anger.
If you are born in the year of the Tiger in Chinese astrology, dreaming of a tiger might be a comment on your strength and weaknesses. It could be wise to consider your basic characteristics in the light of the dream. See Chinese Zodiac Tiger
The tiger can represent many things however, and below is another important aspect of a tiger.
Example: While in a basement a person approached me holding quite a large animal. As they handed it to me I saw it was a tiger cub, large and very well built, with a thick neck. I was surprised, but even more surprised and disturbed when a huge tigress came through a doorway above us at ground level and came down the stairs to us. I thought she was going to attack us, but she took the baby cub and placed it down. She then came with something in her mouth, probably money, and placed it near me. She gave off a powerful feeling of not wanting the cub, and with the money handing it over to me or us for our care. There was an atmosphere of irritability about her. Peter G.
In this example the tiger has an obvious connection with the mother. The dreamer had often been threatened by his mother that she was going to give him away, or put him in a home. So the dream probably dealt with his need to confront these feelings of abandonment which, like the tiger, were threatening. Interestingly, almost exactly five years later, in the same month, Peter dreamt the following.
I am in a house. There is a feeling I am sharing it with a number of people, as if there is a connection with a friend Mike. Suddenly I notice there is a tiger cub running around the room. It is a large room and empty except for myself and the cub. I realise this must mean there is a mother tiger about and worry that it will be angry or aggressive because of its cub. I go to walk through a doorway, but the mother tiger walks through. I stand still, not daring to move. But she brushes against me in a friendly way and strolls over to look at her cub. Peter G.
Interestingly the dreamer sees himself as a young tiger in his dreams.
Example: There is alarm that a wild tiger is about. I am concerned to find a place out of sight, behind a desk, in case the tiger sees me. It comes in, and, although there are many other people, it comes directly to me. As it comes towards me, I see it is small, and young, and un-coordinated in its random, flailing movements (rather like Tigger in Winnie-the-Pooh). Its body is like a pipe-cleaner twisted into a tiger shape. As it comes to me, I see it is full of energy but also shaking uncontrollably with fear, drenched in sweat. It is furiously wagging its tail, which may have a white bow tied to it (or is it the shape of the tail? – the latter I think), as if it is desperate to please. So from within my fear I say to it “Good tiger, there’s a good tiger,” to calm it down. I think, or say: “This tiger is terrified, because it is quite out of its element, in a classroom with humans.” I look up and see there is no one else in the room – just me and the tiger. JH.
JH says of his dream: “This seems to me to be a very revelatory dream. Clearly I am the tiger, and so I am frightened of my own fear in trying to hide from it. But the clarity of the dream is in the basic fear of existence the tiger exhibits.” Here the tiger is clearly about the fight and flight instinct in us all, and the struggle JH has in dealing with this in his life as a teacher.
Idioms: Fight like a tiger; paper tiger.
Useful questions:
Am I dealing with anxiety or anger in this dream?
What relationship do I have with the tiger, and what does this say about the way I deal with the ‘tiger’ aspects of my life such as fear, anger, aggression and dominant strength?
Does my dream tiger show any signs of motherhood in this dream, and if so how does that reflect on my mother or motherhood?
Comments
Hi I not long woke up from a dream , there was a large beautiful stone house , with a huge living room like a palace , there were two tiger cubs , one White one black orange what seemed to be in a glass carriage type cage , a woman was on the other side of the room , I was so excited to see the cubs I asked the woman if I could go closer to the glass cage to get a detailed look , the woman was calm elegant and gracious she said peacefully that I could enter and go closer to see the cubs.
But to my surprise the cubs were walking towards me , and on closer contact the cubs weren’t so little , they were quite huge but yet not full adults , I was scared inside but surprisingly the tigers were calm , I was in total shock as I thought they were in glass cage yet there was no glass just carriage with a golden frame and silk bedding which the tigers were resting on .
The woman told me to remain calm , but I was scared and wanted to get away , I managed to find a upstairs room but , the white tiger followed me into the room , I was trying to climb out a window away from it as I was frightened , but the tiger was showing no aggression , just as I considered jumping out the window I awoke.
Please could you tell me the meaning of this dream.
Joe – A beautiful dream with a wonderful message.
The stone house like a palace represent your own potential – an unconscious potential that you can claim if you face up to your fear. It is a possibility of a wider life experience. The woman can be thought of as a fairy godmother, who is trying to introduce you to a bigger life. An example of the wider/bigger life can be seen in http://dreamhawk.com/interesting-people/edgar-cayce-and-the-cosmic-mind-superminds/
The tigers are again your own potential that you are frightened of. Do you actually imagine that a real tiger is there in your dream? So if it isn’t why you are afraid of it? It is like a realistic computer game in which you have creatures attacking you, presumably to scare yourself – but why, when you could make friends of your own inner powers; for each creature in our dreams is a projection of our inner world and its powers. See http://dreamhawk.com/dream-encyclopedia/brain-levels-and-dreams/
It is important to say that when a person meets the experience of the hugeness of their Life which they are usually unaware if, it feels like fear of being overcome or attacked, it is a shock. As we begin to meet the Hugeness that we are, we often react to it in our dreams or in waking with fear or panic. So we dream of being attacked by aliens or frightening creatures; or being swallowed by something huge or even possessed by evil entities. If we realise that they are things we have created through our own fear we will pass on.
Tony
This dream occurred last night, I was in a special branch of the military for people with special abilities. My dna had been altered to I had the agility and speed of a rabbit. Anyway, my team and I were stationed at a jungle base and every morning I’d see a tigress outside the base. I jumped out of my window and ran to greet her. Somehow she wasn’t threateded or wanted to eat me, rather she became my good friend. I don’t remember what happened next all I know is the next thing I saw I was back at the base crying because the tiger had been killed. I had never felt so sad in a dream before. My male companion who was like me in enhanced dna tried to comfort me. The other two were out on the balcony overlooking the ocean. I suddenly heard roar and rushed to the balcony, and on the nearby shore stood another tiger. I felt myself falling into the sea. I swam to shore and followed the new tiger. Only to find she had a human child with her. A little boy around six that I later found out she was raising. This tiger however was a bit frightened when one of my teammates came after me. But my heart ached even after I woke up. I feel like the first tiger was something important to me. Any suggestions?
What does it mean when the tiger is getting tattooed on the body. then I had a different dream when I was petting the tiger and there was another person in it. I barely could see the other person because I woke up then.
Natalie – Being tattooed is to be indelibly given something, and the tiger is about your female strength to protect yourself. Or it could be a hidden strength that will protect you. Imagine yourself in the body of the tiger and see what feelings it produces.
Tony
I just had a dream last night – full of anxiety (and yes, I’m experiencing stress daily – just started Chinese Medicine School), that I’m trying to protect my entire family – I say entire to emphasize that the scene was full of close AND extended family members – from a tiger that we see running far away in the distance. That was the entire dream – no closure. I often have dreams with wild cats in them – for 4 years I was dreaming of a mountain lion about 3-4 times a week, that was more of a teacher for me and the mountain lion dreams stopped when I decided to go to Chinese Medicine School. Why is it that wild cats are always the animals to come to me in dreams?
Whitney – Cats, wild or tame are usually about the less socialised side of a female.
It is normal for a woman to dream about worries about her children and sometimes her family. See http://dreamhawk.com/dream-encyclopedia/questions-2/#BabyKill
You are trying to protect your family from a distant tiger. But you are mixing up a dream tiger with and external tiger. Your dream tiger is a wonderful strength you have and so fighting against it would naturally cause you stress – it is like fighting against your own strength, a waste of energy. See http://dreamhawk.com/dream-encyclopedia/questions-2/#AnimalDream
The tiger is in fact the wild strength that will protect your family.
Also I do not have a newsletter but I do have a Facebook page where I put other information. See https://www.facebook.com/tony.crisp.581?ref=tn_tnmn
Tony
Hi, I find this very interesting, and dreaming has become important to me, despite my lack of conscious control in them, so far. Last night I had a very vivid dream and have been striving to understand it. I dreamt that I owned a small farm with my love, and that we were to be having a gathering with our friends that night at the house. At the time however, I was alone in the house, and noticed a brightly colored Tiger tied up outside of the house, but not in the fenced in area where the other animals are. I wanted to go outside and make sure both that the Tiger was ok, and that it would not be able to reach my friends as they arrived at our house. however, as I opened the door, I saw in the distance, approaching at a moderate speed, a Lioness, being followed immediately by a (Jackal/Coyote/Hyena??) who could not seem to catch up to the Lioness. Seeing this put me on guard, and my reaction again was both for the safety of the animals in the fenced area, as well as concern that my friends who would be arriving soon would encounter these wild animals. I chose to close the door, and went to the window where I initially saw the tied up Tiger. The Lioness was not in sight, however the Coyote like creature had made it into the fenced in area, and was harassing/biting a Pony who was trapped in the corner. I was extremely distraught at seeing this and wanted to run outside into the enclosure and save the Pony, yet my fear of the Lioness kept me from going outside. I should note that Tigers and wild cats in general have been my favourite animal for a long time, and I view them with respect/admiration. The dream was longer than what I have typed, however I feel that the content I have described was an isolated part of the dream, and can stand on its own. Any thoughts?? Thanks
-J.T
JT – I think it would be useful to catch up on what you feel dreams are, and it would save me a lot of explaining if you read http://dreamhawk.com/dream-encyclopedia/questions-2/#Summing.
I think that your fears about the coyote are probably brought about by feelings that your inner animals can be hurt, and that the magnificent tiger and lion is bent of doing damage. They are both your powerful energies which of course can turn against you when you feel fear. Fear is a terrible thing to let loose within you. See http://dreamhawk.com/dream-encyclopedia/the-archetype-of-fear/
Tony
In my dream, I had a tiger as a pet in an unlocked room next to the house, I was concern what to feed him, so I gave him the head of a black bear. But after two days I was concerned he didn’t have no food and I had neglected to give him water.
I recently went through I breakup with this girl whose child was in the hospital, so I was doing my best to care for them, after a week I went to work but I took a couple of hrs off so I could take a flying lesson I had scheduled, so when she tried to contact me I couldn’t answer, I had mentioned it a couple of days before but that wasn’t in her mind. So she broke up with me and kicked me out of the hospital because if I could take a couple of hrs off why didn’t I go to the hospital, I think the dream is related
i have a recurring tiger dream but im trying to help the tiger. it has to stay in my shed for the obvious danger reasons but im always trying to get it out or feed it or find it a home. i fear for the tiger. what does this mean?
Hi Tony,
I had a dream last night where I was driving around a parking lot with a few family members, while we were waiting for another family member to come out of a store. As we drove around the exterior of the parking lot I noticed a dead tiger to the side of the road (almost like what a deer would look like on the side of the road if it was hit by a car). We then continued around and I saw another dead tiger in the middle of a dirt/gravel parking area.
Somehow I ended up being outside of the van and as I was walking a tiger attacked me from behind. He/she (I’m not sure which), had dug their claws into the sides of my shoulders and was trying to bite me. I was getting scratched by its teeth. I then grabbed the tiger’s paws, bent over forward to flip it in front of me, and proceeded to fight with it. We ended up in a position where the tiger was in front of me, I had it standing up on its back legs, and I was holding on to its paws. I was keeping it back from biting me, and somehow we maneuvered to the van. I jumped in the vans side door, the tiger lunged after me and as I shut the door of the van I was pushing its head back with my foot. The tiger then stuck its head into the passenger side window where I was then able to roll the window up, after quite a bit of effort and a few more punches. By this time we were driving down the highway (at a pretty fast speed) so when I pushed the tiger off of the window the last time, it ended up falling off the van into the road.
I don’t know what happened to it after that, but I know that I had some scratches and teeth marks on my arms and legs. For the most part I was fine, it was not life threatening; just a few bloody spots.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this dream.
Thank you,
Heather
hi Tony,
Last night Ig had a dream I was swimming in a lake, my head above water, treading water more then swimming really. up on a hill on shore were 2 tigers and 2 dogs. The one tiger had my attention. I was terrified of the tiger attacking the dog. Thr tiger approached the dog as though it might hurt him but then walked away with it’s nose up with “pride”. The dog and I were relieved and the dog jumped into the lake.
Hi Tony,
In my dream, I was sleeping under a tree with no leaves with a male companion (not my husband) and the male companions wife. When we heard a noise and ran out from under the tree and atop the tree was the tiger, fierce and roaring. Then a mean, aggressive dog was approaching from the left. Then, just as the tiger was to pounce, two demon looking creatures desended and were about to attack when I woke. Can you help me with this dream. I have never dreamed of such scary creatures.
Hi Tony
I have just this minute woken from my dream and am left with the feeling of that must mean something.In my dream A women is in trouble she is being hunted by a man and is trapped in a mist of fire. Then I notice a big tiger who knows this woman maybe in love with her.He has given her an ultermaton that if she doesn’t come to him by 12 then he will be angry.In my dream I am fascinated watching the Tiger, I am scared as he is be coming incresingy anxious about the time and the non appearance of the woman.I am lying close to him and my foot is in reaching disstance, I am unsure if he will bite my foot when he gets angry but then
I look at him and he also looks gentle and kind.The time arrived and the women does not appear but I know she can’t she is trapped by a man/boy and a fire. I become nervous to what the Tiger is going to do as he clearly has deep feelings for this women bit he is a Tiger. I look at him and study his face he almost looks disappointed than angry and I do not fear him I seem to emperthise with him. He stands up and dissapears. I cannot remember or know what happens next.
I would appreciate it if you could help me understand this fascinating dream.
Many thanks Sarah
Hi Tony
I have just this minute woken from my dream and am left with the feeling of that must mean something.In my dream A women is in trouble she is being hunted by a man and is trapped in a mist of fire. Then I notice a big tiger who knows this woman maybe in love with her.He has given her an ultermaton that if she doesn’t come to him by 12 then he will be angry.In my dream I am fascinated watching the River at times I am scared as he is be coming incresingy anxious about the time and the non appearance of the woman.I am lying close to him and my foot is in reaching disstance, I am unsure if he will bite my foot when he gets angry but then I look at him and he also looks gentle and kind.The time arrived and the women does not appear but I know she can’t she is trapped by a man/boy and a fire. I become nervous to what the Tiger is going to do as he clearly has deep feelings for this women bit he is a Tiger. I look at him deeplyand he almost looks ddisappointed than angry and I do not fear him I seem to expertise with home. He stands up and dissapears. I cannot remember or know what happens next.
I would appreciate it if you could help me understand this fascinating dream.
Many thanks Sarah
Dear Tony:
Your interpretation of the tigress interest me very much:
In my dreeam the tiger was a pet in our house which we share with some unwanted relatives. The tiger somehow got lost for a couple days, during that time I realize it mas my pet and start looking desperatly for him everywhere, when the tiger came back by himself i saw him acrooss the street but before i could reach him my mother caught him by the neck and brought him to my bedroom door, I open the door, he did lost half his weigh and look very tired, I feed him with some meat that i found in the fridge which belongs to my relatives, but still he wouldn’t eat very much and went to sleep next to my bed.
I am very confused about this dream could it mean that this relatives want to harm my family?
Thank you for your help.
Hi, Tony.
I was very interested in your article on tiger/tigress.
I, too, had a very interesting and unusual dream about a mother tigress. I was in a forest or park and all of a sudden, I see what I thought to be a kitten. I go near it to pet it, and I see that the kitten is really beautiful. The eyes are big and clear and playful. And then I realize it is not kitten, it’s a tiger cub. And I immediately say to myself ‘its mother must be look for it’. A few moment later, I see the mother – a very big tigress – coming through. I don’t run away. I don’t want her to think I am an enemy. I wanted to push the cub towards her, so she;d know I don’t want to take the cub away from her. The mother takes her cub, and I turn away and leave. The cub escapes from the mother and keeps following me, playfully. and I am thinking to myself, oh, brother, this is going to get me in trouble with the mother for sure…
What does this mean? That I fear motherhood? I am currently going through a lot of problems right now. Could it be that when I think I solve them, they keep following me?
Thank you for your valuable input!
Lori
Lori – Do not be afraid of the tigress. The tigress is a symbol of your own inner nature, your animal self. See http://dreamhawk.com/dream-encyclopedia/brain-levels-and-dreams/#mammalbrain The tiger represents your own power as a woman, the power that protects her family and any children. Feel the power of that by imaging yourself as the tiger. Yes, actually imagine yourself in its body.
At best it is your own power, at worse it is fear about your own mother.
The mother made no attempt to attack you, so face the fear/the tiger and see where it come from. Running away is avoiding it – not running is discovering the hidden meaning of your dream. See http://dreamhawk.com/dream-dictionary/practical-techniques-for-understanding-your-dreams/
The cub is your young and playful natural and instinctive self. Love it an encourage it/you to grow into the wonderful strong woman that you are.
Tony
Hi tony wondered if you could help me with a dream lplease?
First I am swimming in a waterworld which is a street and there is Labradors all swimming and playing and then I end up trapped and pinned down with a massive kind looking tiger I am talking with the tiger quite calm and not scared but then it kind of scares me as I fear it’s going to eat me and the Labradors are going to get my leftovers I am also holding a teaspoon wrapped In a napkin – in real life I am experiencing disciplinary problems with my 7 yr old daughter who has started to use bad language