Those snake dreams you've been having? They have a message and a meaning.
As a professional dream interpreter and the author of “The Alchemy of Your Dreams,” I help people come to insights about recurrent patterns and symbols that pop up in their dreams, like snakes.
All dreams are gifts, even the ones that scare you (see: snakes). Every night when we sleep, we are gifted with the opportunity to receive guidance, creative ideas and positive solutions through our dreams.
Dreams have been proven to help regulate negative emotion and offer up healing. In a previous interview with TODAY.com, Adriane Soehner, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh and the director of the Pitt Sleep, Affective Neuroscience, and Development Lab, said dreams have a “functional” purpose, aiding with “memory, emotional processing and sensory processing.”
Now, this isn’t to say that all of your dreams will feel easy, or a nightly narrative of bliss and pleasure. That’s because our dreams help to guard against self-deception and in doing so, they often pack a metaphoric punch, encouraging you to ask: What is the message I’m not hearing? The “thing” that I’m not seeing? The path I’m afraid to follow? The feeling I’m unwilling to feel? The snake I am unwilling to see?
If you're simply seeing snakes everywhere once you go to sleep, there's no need to worry. Here’s what to know if one slithers into your subconscious.
What do sneaks mean as a dreams symbol?
Snakes are both universal and personal symbols. From the ouroboros (a snake eating its own tail in a circle like shape) to the cosmic rainbow serpent, snake dreams can alert you to your state of consciousness and well-being, as well as the greater mysteries of life.
Snakes in dreams are a call to focus on healing, transformation and change
Snakes are symbols of transformation and change. The Asclepius rod, a rod that has two snakes intertwining it, is a common sign for medical institutes because snakes have long been associated with healing.
So, if you dream of a snake in your house, you may need to focus on change, healing and transformation. Periods of change and adjustment often lead to life altering transformations although the process can feel emotionally intense.
Sometimes, you have to let go of what was, in order to let something new and better in. And a snake dream may just come to you in order to remind you of your innate ability to do just that.
Snakes in dreams also indicate it may be time to make a swift move
Snakes shed their skin in one go. If you dream of a snake in this manner, it may symbolize that you need to shed a pattern, belief, or identity that is no longer serving you, in order to move through life more easily.
A dream like this also tells you that this can happen in one swoop movement — just like a snake sheds its skin easily so can you! Ask yourself—what do I need to release in order to transform into a healthier, happier version of me and can I allow these changes to happen with ease?
The dreamer will have to look at their own spiritual beliefs and ask themselves what the next right path is. It may be a calling to some type of initiation and learning.
Common snake dream meanings, explained
Dreaming of a snake chasing, biting or threatening you
II the snake in your dream was threatening or biting you then this type of dream may indicate that you need to pay attention to your relationships and partnerships.
As well as your own relationship to your instincts. Do you trust your gut? Are your instincts on sharp form? Have you let something poisonous into your life (unhealthy habits/beliefs/behaviors or people)? If so, the solution to something venomous is to remove the poisonous ‘thing’ from your life. No one needs toxicity in their life, and we all have to address our own negative behaviors too.
Dreaming of a specific snake, like a rattlesnake
If a very specific type of snake shows up in your dream, you can take that as a sign to research that kind of particular snake. For example: a rattle snake asks you to see what is "rattling" in your life? It is a dream message that is rattling you awake — it is saying that you need to pay attention and remain alert!
On the other hand, a boa constrictor could symbolize a situation in which you feel like something is squeezing the life out of you. And like all dreams, both in waking life and sleep, you are the key player. Focus on bringing your awareness to the here-and-now so that you can make conscious, helpful, and positive decisions that will serve you and those around you.
Dreaming of a dead snake
Seeing a dead snake in a dream could symbolize the end of a challenge, fear or transformation. It might indicate overcoming a past difficulty, moving beyond fear or deception or completing a cycle of change.
If the dead snake made you feel relieved, it suggests you’ve conquered something significant. If it felt unsettling, it may mean you’re still processing a recent change.
Dreaming of holding or controlling a snake
If you dream of holding a snake without fear, it could mean you’re embracing change, wisdom or power. Snakes can represent intuition, and holding one may symbolize a deeper connection to your instincts.
If you were struggling with the snake, it might indicate a conflict between logic and emotion, or a fear of embracing transformation fully.
Dreaming of lots of snakes
Seeing many snakes in a dream can be overwhelming, and the meaning depends on how you felt in the dream. It might indicate:
- Overwhelm: Are you facing many challenges at once?
- Healing: Multiple snakes can symbolize deep, layered transformation.
- A warning: If you felt threatened, it could point to multiple sources of stress or deception.
If the snakes were peaceful, they could represent wisdom and intuition multiplying in your life. If they were attacking, you might feel emotionally overwhelmed.
What does it mean if you have a snake dream while pregnant?
Many pregnant people report having vivid snake dreams, which can carry several meanings:
- Protection and intuition: Some cultures believe snake dreams during pregnancy symbolize wisdom and a heightened sense of awareness.
- Transformation: Pregnancy itself is a period of deep change, and snakes often symbolize transformation.
- Fears or anxieties: If the snake felt threatening, it could reflect worries about pregnancy, childbirth, or parenthood.
If you’re pregnant and dreaming of snakes, consider how the dream made you feel. Was the snake a guide, a threat or simply present? Your emotions in the dream may offer insight into your subconscious feelings about pregnancy.
What should you do if you keep dreaming of snakes?
If snake dreams keep recurring, it’s a sign to reflect on what’s changing in your life. These dreams often point to transformation, intuition, and sometimes fear, making them powerful guides for self-awareness.
Here’s how to work with your snake dreams:
- Keep a dream journal to track details and emotions.
- Look for patterns—do you dream of snakes when stressed, growing, or making big life choices?
- Reflect on your emotions in the dream and how they relate to your waking life.
- Consider working with a dream expert or therapist if the dreams bring up unresolved fears.
Ultimately, snake dreams — whether mysterious, unsettling, or profound — offer a window into your subconscious mind. The next time you wake up from one, instead of feeling alarmed, see it as an invitation to explore what’s shifting in your life.
