Dreams About Snakes Probably Don't Mean You're A Parselmouth, But Here's What They Could Mean

It happened again. You dreamed that you were lying in a bathtub of snakes, or running from a terrifying, clown-snake hybrid creature, or stuck on an Anaconda-inspired cruise. Dreams about snakes are the worst because of how completely visceral they feel. It's not like those dreams about running from Frankenstein's monster in the woods, because like, you know he's not actually real. But when you wake up from a dream about snakes, you're still super creeped out, since, you know, snakes are real creatures that some awful higher power actually decided we needed on this planet.

Of course, like everything else that happens in your brain, your dreams about snakes deserve to be acknowledged and understood. If you're routinely dreaming about these slithering serpents, it might mean more than one thing, depending on how the little fellas appear to you in your subconscious. So, let's break it down further, shall we?

First of all, if you're dreaming about snakes in zoos, or about having conversations with fork-tongued creatures, my guess is you need to stop watching Harry Potter before bed. But I digress. Now that we've cleared that up, let's address some other common dreams about snakes.

If you're being chased by snakes, it might mean you're trying to avoid or run away from something unsettling in your waking life.

Snakes often symbolize anger, aggression, or vulnerability, so a snake chasing you might mean you're angry or upset about something that's happening to you. Think about your work or personal life: Does it feel like something in either world is overwhelming you, or making you feel the need to lash out? That could be the source of those creepy little serpents following you with their weird s-curve dance.

If a snake is swimming in the water in your dream, it could mean something else entirely: that you are suppressing your emotions in an unhealthy way. Snakes can often represent the subconscious in its entirety, so when they appear in a box or in water, it might mean you're trying to submerge or enclose feelings that you're not sure you want to have.

If you're not already convinced that snakes are the most ubiquitous dream symbol of all time, consider this:

In Freudian theory, snakes are a specifically phallic symbol that can represent sexual temptation or unfulfilled desires you may have for someone or something.

This is especially relevant if you dream the snake is in or on your bed, which may imply that you feel sexually overpowered or out of control in some aspect of your sexual life. Or, if you're totally calm with the snake, it could just imply healthy and erotic desire for something.

One general motif to pay attention to, regardless of the context of the dream, is your attitude toward the snake itself.

If you're terrified of the snake, it most likely symbolizes fear and anxiety about something in your life you feel you can't control.

If you're intrigued by the snake, or speaking to it, it might mean the snake represents wealth, wisdom, or intuition, and you should maybe listen what it has to say. (Unless it says you're a wizard, in which case, please see my advice above.)

If you're attracted to the snake, it's for sure something sexual, and you should try to think about what this means in real life.

Dreams of any kind are always multi-faceted, and rarely understood in totality. But to ignore them entirely would be to shut off a massive part of your brain that we are still slowly learning about, and a part of your consciousness that might be an open door into your truest thoughts and feelings.

Or it could just be that Harry Potter thing. It's up to you to decide, Malfoy.

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