For thousands of years, different cultures have been believed that dreams are spiritual and have a deeper meaning than they appear. They have been analyzed for centuries and applied to your current situation, your character, and your experiences.
Many cultures and people believe dreams are spiritual lessons to help us understand why certain events are happening in our life, and how we truly feel about them.
Many people have dreamed about alligators at one point in their life. If you have dreamed about this dangerous reptilian, you are probably wondering what the animal represents and why it has appeared in your dreams.
Alligator Symbolism In Dreams
When an alligator appears in your dreams, it could mean that you have found a hidden instinct within yourself. It could also symbolize that you have experienced or discovered an act of treachery or deception in your life.
Another possible explanation for an alligator in your dream is that you need to be more questioning and inquisitive in life. Alligators appearing to you in your dreams may mean you need to acquire an enhanced perspective about a particular situation you are currently experiencing.
Another common theory suggests that you are mentally or emotionally imbalanced and that your overall well-being is not in good standing; that you are stressed out and holding onto too much underlying tension, and that stress and tension need to be addressed in order to restore harmony.
A dream about an alligator doesn’t have to mean something bad is coming or has happened to you. As these reptiles are powerful apex predators, dreaming about them could mean that you will experience future success and reach your goals.
The meaning of your alligator dream is also connected to what happens in it and how you experience it.
Alligators in Spirituality
Alligators have meanings and symbols in a range of cultures, usually in areas where alligators are native.
Native Americans, Chinese, Hindu, the Aztec culture all believed the Earth was formed on the back of a large reptilian creature who swam in an endless sea. This creature was described as a giant turtle or alligator.
Alligators are commonly found in the swamps of Louisiana, so naturally there are lots of Cajun legends about the animal. One of the most notable stories is the Letiche. If a child is born out of wedlock and not baptized, the child will be snatched by the alligators raised in the swaps. This child will become a Letiche, a terrifying group of Louisiana swamp creatures.
For Native Americans, the alligator is a powerful symbol of spiritual cleansing and healing. Because alligators hunt sneaks, Native Americans believed they were immune to snake venom. They wore necklaces with alligator teeth to protect them from the dangers of the water.
The Choctaw People, who hail from Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, and Louisiana, tell the story about how the alligator taught people to hunt. Native Americans who lived in the Ohio River basin area around 800 – 1200 AD told a tale of a supernatural underwater panther who ate people. This panther was considered to be the guardian of the water, although now anthropologists believe it was an alligator or crocodile.
In the Mexican Book of the Dead, before your soul can ascend to Heaven, you must go through a series of trials. The first is dealing with a frightening serpent that blocks your path, and if defeated, the next level is an alligator. Alligators are represented as being a scary protector in the underworld.
When Marco Polo traveled to China in the late 13th century, he called alligators flightless dragons. Many historians believe the legend of dragons were inspired by real-life alligators. In Chinese mythology, there were tales of a dragon-shaped creature called Jiaolong who lived in the water.
Aside from the Americas, China is the only other place where alligators are native. The Chinese alligator, who lives in the Yangtze River valley, is extremely endangered, which is maybe why dragons are viewed as a symbol of good luck in Chinese culture.
In Christianity, the alligator it is a sign of an enemy pretending to be your friend. These faux friends pretend to be by your side in difficult situations while also acting negatively against you. Alligators are associated with deceit for Christians.
Also Read: Black Bear Dream Meaning and Interpretation
The Spiritual Symbolism of Alligators In Dreams
Alligators are animals which live on both land and in the water, this commonly represents the blend between the physical world and the spiritual world. Water represents the subconscious mind and access to the intuition and land represents the conscious mind with logical thought.
Alligators are believed to have psychic abilities because they appear to sense the nearby dangers. This parallels the intuition and gut instinct humans have when they live in the moment. Alligators have regularly been used as a metaphor for the human wild.
In spiritual symbolism, alligators are used to warn people of destructive thinking patterns. If an alligator appears to you, it means you have the power and imagination to manifest your reality.
What It Means If You’re Swimming With Alligators
A dream where you are swimming sounds lovely, but then you get the fright of suddenly spotting an alligator swimming with you. Swimming with alligators usually means you feel threatened by something in real life and are unsure how to react. It is easy to hide water, away from real-life problems.
Dreaming about this situation may also mean you are threatened by something, and you don’t know how to react. People going through an against all odds situations regularly find themselves dreaming of swimming with alligators because they feel like they have no support or help in their life.
Alligators can represent something that makes you feel as if your way of thinking and feeling are not welcome. People in values systems which aren’t their own sometimes dream of alligators swimming beside them.
What It Means If You Get Attacked By An Alligator
Alligator dreams are often nightmares, involving savage animal attacks, blood, injury and even death. Alligators drag people down, underwater, against their will and perhaps something in your life is making you feel this way.
Dreaming of an alligator attack may signify you need to remove ourselves from a toxic situation. Getting bitten by an alligator in a dream may be your brain telling you that you need to get out of a situation which is currently causing you pain and distress. Alligator attacks signify that something in your life is starting to or is threatening to consume you.
Alligator attacks may not always mean bad things in dream symbolism. If the alligator in your dream suddenly attacks, it could symbolize that you’re waiting for the right moment to seize an opportunity. A sudden alligator attack may also be reminding you to harness your powers, follow your instinct or have tougher skin.
It is also common to dream of an alligator attacking a child. Children represent our vulnerability and the parts of ourselves that have yet to fully grow.
You may feel emotionally immature if you are stuck in a phase of your life or are going through a period of insecurity. A child being attacked, whether it is you as a child or someone else, may symbolize that you are stuck and unable to move forward with your goals.
Dreaming of an alligator attacking a spouse, partner, or friend is often a sign that you feel insecure in that relationship. This dream will symbolize that you may be worried about what they think of you, you may have concerns about their emotional attachment or worried about their commitment.
What It Means To Attack Or Kill An Alligator
It is common to specifically dream of stepping on an alligator. It represents you feeling the need to be taken care of, but there are barriers in your way. Proceed with caution in your life, planning carefully and being observant.
Alligators are often considered dangerous and frightening creatures, so it’s surprisingly that killing one is actually a negative sign. This is because alligators represent our own feelings, thoughts, and wishes.
Killing the alligator means you are avoiding your own feelings. The killing of a dream alligator may signify that you are avoiding challenges and blaming others for your mistakes.
What It Means To Dream Of Being Eaten By An Alligator
You might think that dreaming of being eaten has the same symbolization as being attacked, by they are very different. The action of being eaten can be a symbol of change and the re-balance of your energies. Change isn’t always comfortable, but it must be embraced.
If you dream of an alligator eating someone you know, it may be a sign that the relationship between you and the person is about to come to an end. It may also mean it should be ending, as there is bad energy between you two.
What It Means To Dream Of An Alligator Fighting With A Snake
Snakes and alligators commonly appear together in dreams, usually in conflict, engaged in a physical fight, or eating each other. It may represent that you are struggling to come to terms with your inner thoughts and feelings.
This is because alligators represent our internal selves and snakes are harbingers of a spiritual awakening. The real meaning of the dreaming will depend on which animal is attacking which.
If the snake is acting defensively, it may be that your spiritual development is being hampered by unproductivity. If the alligator is under attack, it could be a sign you are growing spiritually.
What It Means To Dream About A Flying Alligator
If you have dreamed about a flying alligator, it may be a sign that you need to set your subconscious free. People who dream about flying alligator usually feel trapped or tethered. A flying alligator represents their longing to be set free. This could be from a job, a relationship, or just your general lifestyle choices.
What it Means To Have Dreams About a Calm Alligator
Alligator dreams don’t always have to be violent and negative. The alligator in your dreams may be very tame and calm. This is a sign you feel comfortable with your inner self, free and balanced. People on spiritual journeys tend to have calmer dreams involving animals because they are more mindful in what they are creating,
If you dream of an alligator as a pet, it means you will make a great leader and will achieve your goals, even if you are a little too controlling. If you have a dream about having a pet alligator and are already in power, it could be a sign you are manipulating and egotistical.
What It Means To Have Dreams About a Baby Alligator
Dreaming of a baby alligator symbolizes that you are manifesting and nurturing a reality. It’ a sign that whatever energies, actions and though you are currently working will turn into something in the future. It may also be a reminder that the actions of today impact your future reality.
Generally, seeing a baby alligator is a good omen, but it means you must decide how your projects will need to be nurtured. It may also be a sign you need to have a stricter routine to become more productive.
What it Means To Be Having Recurring Dreams About Alligators
Having the same dream repeatedly, or having repeated symbolism appearing in a dream, is often a sign of karmic energies being processed through your dreams.
In Tibetan Buddhism, recurring dreams are known as Samsara dreams. Their purpose is to help you work through the karmic energies rooted deep in your subconscious. They are called karmic dreams and energies, because they are based on behaviors and decisions made on a subconscious level.
Recurring alligator dreams are a sign that you are working past karmic energies related to your own thinking patterns, beliefs, or negative energies felt by others. You should always take note of recurring dreams, as they may be giving you an insight into your karmic energies and subconscious.
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