Wolf
Although the wolf can depict a feeling that ‘things’ are out to get us, the wolf in our dream often depicts just our fear. Fear is one of our instinctive reactions to situations, so is shown by an animal. We may find ourselves a prisoner of such feelings, as Anna in the example below. The wolf, as is suggested by such fairy stories as Red Riding Hood, also represents the female fear of powerful male sexuality; repressed sexuality or anger; emotions and drives that frighten you. See Animals
Also 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 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. In the early days of moving pictures, a film was shown of a train coming fast toward the audience; the viewers all fled in terror, fearing the train would crush them. That is exactly the same response if you are terrified of any thing you dream of. See Masters of Nightmares
But the wolf also appears in our dreams as a master of life in the wild. It is a group animal and has tremendous loyalty and protectiveness to its family and group. As such it can depict your intuitive understanding of life on earth, the seasons of life and death, and the deep wisdom of group relations. In some dreams the wolf is a protective companion on your life journey – what in the past has been called a spirit guide or totem animal. This sort of wisdom tells us that aggressive urges are natural to us, but sometimes they can turn back on ourselves and injure our well being. You might then even dream of killing the wolf or animal in you. But love can resurrect that vital animal life and consciousness within you and the world. The following dream and commentary illustrates this.
Quote: We have doomed the wolf not for what it is, but for what we have deliberately and mistakenly perceived it to be… the mythologized epitome of a savage ruthless killer… which in reality is no more than a reflected image of ourselves. Harley Blake.
To see the wonderful nature of wolves watch https://www.facebook.com/AppreciateENG/videos/1763709230595548/?t=63
Example: I dreamt two great wolf like dogs were on a headland. They had to be killed for some reason. I shot them. They seemed to take a long time to die and I felt compassion for them. Now horses seemed to be lying with them. The death struggles became the horses – mares – struggles to give birth. I saw the vagina parted to show a head. Birth would follow. Nathan.
Nathan explored his dream and had the following intuitive response to it as if someone was explaining it to him:
“When you were trying to murder the animal forces in yourself they would not die, they only thresh about, trying to survive. Try bringing life to them. The bringing of love is represented by your desire not to have them suffer. Great love turns the destructiveness of the lower forces into creativeness. The gun was the destructiveness of the fears and angers in you turned against yourself. The love redeemed this power, directing it in a new way. Love enables new life to emerge. The new life promises strength where there was only fear. When you love yourself, you lift parts of your being into new life.”
EXAMPLE: “I was in a caravan in the middle of a field and in this field was a large black wolf. Every time I tried to run from the caravan to the edge of the field, the wolf chased me back, so I was a prisoner in the caravan. It all sounds so simple now, but at the time I was truly terrified.” Anna S.
This next example from Oliver, a boy of six, illustrates how such fears can be met with a little courage. It is a dream which recurred several times, so his description is of a series of dreams.
EXAMPLE: “I am in my bed in my own room and I hear what I know to be a wolf wearing the sort of clogs worn in Lancashire. When the wolf gets to a certain point, there is a bang, and I wake terrified. My Mother’s reassurances do not help. Each night he gets a bit nearer before my panicky awakening. The night came when I know he will reach me. Sure enough he arrives, and the bedroom door – in my dream – is flung wide open with a tremendous bang. There is no one there. I never dreamt it again.”
When something gets nearer to us in a dream, it means that it is moving nearer to consciousness. So Oliver’s wolf – or at least, what it represents, namely his response to his childhood fears – is becoming ever more conscious. This means he is facing his fear and thereby dealing with it. If he had run away or fought to keep the door closed, then it would have gone on haunting him.
The wolf can also be a protective and life-giving symbol as in the following dream. In the dream Cathy is demonstrating a loving and unified relationship with her natural or instinctive feelings.
Example: I dreamt about a white wolf. I know you won’t believe this but I actually feel like I touched its fur in my dreams. I was protecting it and it was protecting me, and it was so real I woke up looking on the floor next to my bed to see if it was there. Cathy
IDIOMS: Wolf at the door; wolf in sheep’s clothing; cry wolf; throw to the wolves; a wolf – meaning a man who lusts after women and pursues them like a predator.
Useful questions are:
Am I still dealing with anxiety with my dream wolf – if so how can I change this?
Do I relate to the wolf as an ally or an enemy?
Is my dream wolf showing a negative relationship with my fears and aggression?
Are you accepting the wolf as a protector and giver of wisdom?
See Programmed – Levels of the Brain – Being the Person or Thing
Comments
Hi..I’m currently in my third trimester of pregnancy and dreamt that I was on a sleigh with a religious leader led by a Wolf. My initial feeling was that of fear. The Wolf who led was running really fast. Another Wolf caught up with us to touch my belly in an endearing way.
After that I stepped outside and I walked on a board and there was a full moon out that night and there was a river to my right and a small hill to my left something was running along the hill it was two animals and they walked and I think they were a Otter and a black bear and they smelled my hand and they spoke and I was a little surprised, And the Otter said “oh It is him,”and I said “what,me?” And they said “yes come with us” and I backed off and I thought about if these animals were tricking me. Then I excepted and said “yes” and the other animal witch I don’t really remember what he was said “we must go” and we ran up the hill and the Otter said “I think I hear them” and then I heard a fermiliar voice through the trees down the road and the otter said “we must hurry and set up defenses” and we ran down the hill back to camp and more animals of the same kind came to defend the camp and they made some sort of fire that was in layers and was like rectangle shape and the wolves that we’re attacking came around the tree bend on the road I backed off and the leader wolf growled or yelled at the fire and the fire blazed and reflected on the wolf like the wolf was on fire like itself, and it backed off and I could see the fire light reflecting off the wolves eyes and mouth and then I saw them panting heavily and I realized they and me we’re panting the same pace, and then I ran up to the devider that was between me and the wolves and the wolves were saying to me “we want to take you with us” and I knew that the wolves were coming after me to make me one of there’s and that dream ended there for some reason…very interesting.
Dreamt I was walking along a crowded dirty street, and I saw several dead white wolf pups. One was left alive, I grabbed him to rescue him, and as I did a hug scorpion like thing (it wasn’t a scorpion, but I don’t know what else to call it) bit me- this part has become recurring recently, had a dream the other night I was stung by a scorpion and bitten by a nearly dead snake at the same time- anyhow, I rescued the pup and noticed he was blind as took him home with me. He was so gentle and sweet. I remembering feeling so much love for him. And as I arrived home, my neighbors were trying to tell me I shouldn’t keep him, but I refused to listen… There was also another strange part in the dream where I was in this enormous house and a butterfly landed on me (butterflies represent my grandmother who passed). Somehow, i forget what, something happened and i accidentally killed the butterfly.
I would greatly appreciate the help of a translation. I hope you’re phenomenally well. Many blessings.
Dear Chiara – I read through your website and learned about the wonderful work you do.
I also explored your dream and saw that the only moment in your dream where you express your feelings is here;
“I remember feeling so much love for him.”
Is your own dream figure in your dream aware of her feelings when;
The scorpion like thing bites her?
When the snake bites her?
When the neighbours try to tell her that she should not keep the pup?
When the butterfly gets accidentally killed?
To explore this you can use http://dreamhawk.com/dream-encyclopedia/acting-on-your-dream/#BeingPerson
Your “anyhow” (“anyhow, I rescued the pup”) may reflect that you have learned to repress or ignore feelings that you may consider “not human” (I read on your website that “Humanity is the goal”) and so these feelings are not worth giving attention to.
See also http://dreamhawk.com/dream-dictionary/whole-2/
I believe that both the scorpion and the snake bite reflect negative emotions that are not expressed; they are turned inwards.
A snake is also a symbol for the force of life, the latent energy or potential within you and repressing part of your being does not do it any good; “I was stung by a scorpion and bitten by a nearly dead snake at the same time.”
Your potential is also reflected in “this enormous house” and accidentally killing the butterfly may reflect that by repressing parts of yourself, you have lost the connection with the source of Life.
The good thing is that the butterfly can be brought back to Life again, by allowing to express all your selves without holding back or editing; http://dreamhawk.com/approaches-to-being/opening-to-life/
A dream can be approached from many angles and every symbol in your dream has many layers too.
So apart from the dead, white wolf pups being a symbol for the young, vulnerable people you try to help, they may also reflect your own needs and vulnerability that you “pick up” so you can give these a place in your own life (again); open your eyes instead of being blind to them.
See also https://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_on_vulnerability?language=en
Anna 🙂
I was hoping that you would be able to help me understand the meaning of this dream I just recently had. I was in a cabin for some reason with my father in law talking about my 3 children’s birth weight, told him I’d be right back .Went outside to take a picture of the beautiful night sky.. but it caught three dark wolves instead.They started chasing me to the cabin trying to force themselfs in but did not realize I had a greyish white wolf behind me.Who pushed to get out as the other wolfs mouths and teeth we’re fighting to get in like a protector,Since of safety, warmth.Wolf took off to the night even through all this.And I suddenly woke up?! Have no idea still questioning this.
I had a worrying dream today the 26th June 2016 where I killed a wolf and I was afraid that I was going to be found out so I took the body and hid it because it had seemed that the wolf was supposed to be the groom I was to marry and because I had killed it I was worried about what the family of that wolf was going to say. I then called my brother aside to try to explain the situation to ask for help on what to do but then he introduced me to a woman who was a relative to the wolf, she greeted me very nicely and even hugged me and said she did not want to say hi to the wolf because their family is not nice.
I need help what the wolf means in terms of marriage/wedding and the other aspects. What is means to having killed the wolf in the dream etc.
Please help me.
In my dream, I was walking through the woods in the snow and within 30 yards, a white beautiful wolf was walking beside me. As I came upon a clearing, three brown bear cubs were playing and passed in front of me. As I come across the clearing, I remember looking down and realizing I was a black wolf. Started looking around and the white wolf and three brown bear cubs were on either side of me. Didn’t matter if I ran or walking or stopped they seemed to memic every move. On the other side of the clearing I was greeted by a white tail doe. Seemed like she accepted me, found a watering hole and started to drink, and realized I was no longer a black wolf, but was now a majestic buck. Looked around again and the white wolf and three brown bear cubs were still with me. Then the rest of the dream was a long walk, but I remember feeling happy, and full.
Dear Anthony – Have you read http://dreamhawk.com/dream-dictionary/shapeshifter-or-shape-shifter/ and http://dreamhawk.com/dream-encyclopedia/archetype-of-the-shapeshifter/ yet?
What I see in your dream is that you are ready to meet your opposites in your inner world and this makes you feel happy and full (more whole); http://dreamhawk.com/dream-dictionary/whole-2/
Perhaps you feel like exploring your own dream figure and all of your inner animals while awake too; http://dreamhawk.com/dream-encyclopedia/acting-on-your-dream/#BeingPerson
What does your dream figure think and feel when he becomes aware that the white wolf and three brown bear cubs mimic every move he makes?
Anna 🙂
I had an interesting wolf dream. I was watching him, almost as if in a rearview mirror. I saw the bird flying low, swooping down low and flying back up high. Eventually the wolf caught the bird in his mouth and began to eat it. At this point a child- toddler maybe if 2 or 3 years- approached the wolf crying, trying to get him to stop eating the bird. The wolf was not annoyed or bothered by the child, simply nudged the child away occasionally. I felt no fear or worry watching the encounter.
I saw a very strange dream…Me and my lover being chased by dogs in forest,my lover is protecting me from them ..And just other moment we are prisoners eating dirty food and water which has been spit up..then we find an ancient guru there and he tells some one that she’s 22nd most clever woman in Asia ..I am surprised and say how can I be,he said perhaps you are but not using it ..Next moment I am walking with guru in an ancient palace like building where we are prisoners.Its a beautiful green place with so many trees and ancient architecture..I tell guru that I wanted to be out of that urban-modern life for a while for a vacation to this kind of place but now we are here as prisoners and I have understood that freedom is the ultimate thing in life..there’s nothing above freedom in life..Guru says he has been a prisoner for 80 years there,I get disappointed hearing that, thinking we would never be able to get out of this prison..but Guru then said “Dont worry ,I am going back to the country now and will make sure that all prisoners here become free including you..”We walk across a temple where there are idols of gods,I ask him about a God that I worship and he shows me that idol..We both say prayers,chant mantras and walk across..After that there are lot of activities we need to do as prisoners ,after marking my attendance..Guru tells next activity is that all prisoners will have to go in a room which has four doors..When you open them ,each door has something and one door has nothing ..Doors can be scary but remember that if you are scared you will die and only if you appear calm despite all fear you will get through..I opened first door there was nothing ..I came back inside the room and thought of opening other door..Meanwhile I saw other prisoners gathering in my room ..I opened other door and there came a scary big wolf..I thought to myself that I was lucky to get a door that had nothing at first,then why I was so stupid to open this second door ..I tried to close the door again so I don’t have to face him but it jumped inside the room..I was trembling but remembered gurus words,I chanted mantra and remembered God ..I was shaking..The wolf for a long time kept shaking me and trying to attack me between my legs..And one point I was about to give up but I didn’t and at the end the wolf started moaning and wagging tail..I patted him and cuddled him..He leaned to my ear and said something like “role”.. I said role?? he said again “ROAM”..I asked him again “you mean ROAM or ROME ?” And the dream ended..
I had a dream last night of seeing a dying white wolf, that they had purposely starved themselves so the wolf was emaciated, could see all it’s ribs and had thinning fur. I was crying uncontrollably at the wolf and when I woke up I had a few tears on my face. I have seen no dream analysis about a dying animal like this, only if I had killed the animal in the dream which I did not do in the dream. It was walking towards me.
Dear Riki – You are the creator of your inner world and of your dreams and every symbol in your dream reflect a part of you.
With that in mind it could be interesting to explore what “they” symbolise; “that they had purposely starved themselves so the wolf was emaciated.”
To explore the dying white wolf you can think about it and let any thoughts/feelings/bodily sensations/images etc. arise which will provide you with a lot of information about your inner world.
See http://dreamhawk.com/dream-encyclopedia/acting-on-your-dream/#BeingPerson
Your dying white wolf may reflect your hunger for self-love, for self-expression or self-realisation and the way you are trying to attain that.
Please also read http://dreamhawk.com/dream-dictionary/fasting/
Another way could be to use http://dreamhawk.com/approaches-to-being/opening-to-life/
See also http://dreamhawk.com/body-and-mind/peoples-experiences-of-lifestream/
Anna 🙂
I had a dream a pack of wolves were chasing my son and myself. I was able to hand my son over to my husband before the wolves made it for me. They finally got close to me and I fell down into the fetal position. Each one of them got close to my face and out their noses in my cheek. The last wolf kept his nose in me for a long time, it was cold and wet. Then they all say in a circle around me to protect me. But I don’t know why and from what.. Then I woke up
Dear Nichole – Being chased in a dream usually denotes that you are feeling something you fear more intensely and are trying to avoid confronting it.
Your son in your dream could reflect a part of you that has potential to grow when you feel strong enough to face your fears.
Regression to the fetal state seems to help you going back to a time when you felt safer and where the stresses – the fearful feelings – in question were not known yet.
What do you feel when the wolves put their noses in your cheek and when you feel protected by them? See http://dreamhawk.com/dream-encyclopedia/acting-on-your-dream/#BeingPerson
When someone has suffered extreme physical or psychological trauma (including massive stress) he or she may also take the fetal position.
This position provides better protection to the brain and vital organs than simply lying spread out on the ground, so it is clear as to why it is an instinctual reaction to extreme stress or trauma when the brain is no longer able to cope with the surrounding environment, and in essence “shuts down” temporarily.
As you can experience in your dream the wolves – the fearful feelings – do not arise because they want to hurt you; they arise because they want to be felt and processed; http://dreamhawk.com/dream-encyclopedia/defence-mechanisms/
See also http://dreamhawk.com/approaches-to-being/opening-to-life/
Anna 🙂
I had a dream I was pregnant and a wolf was lying over my belly. It was a warm feeling, I felt safe and loved. I just don’t get it!?
Dear Jakeisha – I trust you have excluded the possibility of being pregnant in your waking life, because of your response “I just don’t get it!?”
Being pregnant in your dream can reflect that a new area of your potential or personality is developing; a deepening relationship with your potential is producing a new area of experience, talent or facet of your personality. It is still unexpressed but is developing; a new scheme or creative idea ‘hatching’.
This can point to the development of a new approach to life, a new project you are creating, a new outlet of expression, or new faculty.
You have found a way to feel warm, safe and loved with your inner growth; http://dreamhawk.com/dream-dictionary/growth-of-something/
To “get it” you could use http://dreamhawk.com/dream-encyclopedia/acting-on-your-dream/#BeingPerson for your dream figure and for the wolf in your dream.
Your dream wolf is a protective companion on your life journey towards inner growth; what in the past has been called a spirit guide or totem animal.
Lucky you!!
Anna 🙂
I was hoping you could help.. It was a two series dream.
I vaguely remember walking with my brother and sister when something called the muai tiger appeared. I couldn’t remember what happened. I believe I looked around for a weapon when he ran away. I got into the car and drove to someones house who apperantly we stayed with while they fixed our car. At the table my step mom said to my girlfriend she didnt like her and that she is lying and won’t stop lying. That she didn’t like her. That being said the man suddenly kicked us out of his house. I woke up a second and went back to Sleep.
I was working with my grandpa on our vending route, playing a phone app (fighting game) when I noticed the (muai tiger) became a new character to choose from.
when we entered a new store we saw our old friend sharrel. Suddenly they ran outside and I walked out to follow. A man just stole something and escaped through a vent. As I was walking to see, a blind wolf.. Maybe dog but pretty sure it was an old dirty wolf silvery but dirty. He circled us but I walked in front ready to fight the wolf to make sure I was attacked first. He lunged as I put my fist up for him to bite as I flexed my hand to harden it. Somehow we ended up onto the ground and I killed the wolf with a chokehold..
I somehow ended up into the truck not sure what just happened. I had asked my grandpa if what happened was real and he told me yes, I was just shocked and confused from what happened. Again I checked my app and then the silver wolf was a new character. Eventually I got home and my girlfriend was being mean so I told her I’d take her home cause it was over. I still felt weird since I had asked my grandpa what happened. Feeling kind of confused and unsure of what was really happening around me. I ended up spinning out onto someone’s lawn. I went into there house to give them my information, while they greeted me very friendly. We talked and eventually I just ended up staying there for a while and checked my app again to notice there was a -2 next to the name now.Not much more happened aside from more weird feelings and woke up.
I had a dream last night were I was walking up the hill with some friends, then we see a cave with 3-4 cubs from the top then there after their mother appear. She is white with greyish back. A cold, calm presence, she attacks my friends it all happens in an instance then she tries to attack me.
I do not seem to be hysteric with fear but total presence of mind…concerned about my friends and my neck, also thinking she must be angered due to ‘her mother nature’
So as I run away she keeps chasing me. I try to shut her out of the door, she keeps coming in. It seems I am not looking hurt her just avoid hurting both of us..
Eventually after few doors, we reach corridors what seems like a school, with kids…I tell everyone wolf is in the building lock the doors and I go in one of them. She still follows me..there after I see her through the window and she some how gets in through the locked doors.. once again she attacks..this time I wield chair…using its legs as barrier try to fend off the beast (not attacking) eventually I seem to have tamed the beast ..I see black cat supporting me underneath the chair or the chair may have had a cat spirit with its claws out!
So there after the Wolf is Tamed into what feels like cloth of its fur..I take it outside handling the cloth with care. There seem to be some reporters outside..I let the cloth go..It turns into wolf, once more and howls then runs away and looks back at me while running towards the wild, where there were other animals and I walk towards civilisation (building)
I dream that some was killing4a wolf and it got me upset can you explain.
I posted my dream earlier about the wolf and the fox can anyone help me with this interpretation it is really bothering me
Dear Christine – What is bothering you about this dream? What do you think/feel might have triggered this dream or links with it in some way?
What do you think/feel when you are walking in the desert with your husband by some large rock formations; http://dreamhawk.com/dream-encyclopedia/acting-on-your-dream/#BeingPerson
Anna 🙂