When our head hits the pillow, it’s impossible to know what fascinating script our mind will come up with. Sometimes we dream about meeting up with an old friend or visiting a wonderful place, which can leave us feeling happy and warm once that alarm starts dinging. Other times, though, our dreams can take an odd and sometimes scary path filled with wayward plots. Dreaming about spiders is a perfect example of this.
Spider dreams are universal, meaning that it’s a common dream people have. Other examples of universal dreams include dreaming of your teeth falling out, not being prepared for a big exam, or being chased.1 What we’re trying to say is that lots of people dream about spiders, and as a result quite a bit of thought has gone into trying to figure out what spider dreams mean.
Ahead, we’re covering some common variations on this dream, psychological theories and interpretations, and how to process and interpret the dream yourself.
Common Themes and Variations
Spider dreams can take on a number of forms ranging from handling a spider to seeing a giant arachnid to being bit or chased by a spider, notes Jean-Baptiste Beau, dream expert, and founder of dream app Oniri. Another variation is to have a lot of spiders crawling all over you.
“Spiders are amongst the most common nightmares,” notes Jean-Baptiste Beau, dream expert and founder of dream app Oniri. “Because nightmares are often directly related to our fears, and spiders are a common fear we encounter from a young age, it is not surprising that spiders are up this list.”
Many of these “scary” sort of spider dreams can indicate stress or worry in your life. For example, you may feel trapped by a situation in your real life, have dread or feel overwhelmed, or experience fears and worries about the path ahead.
Of course, there are also happy dreams with spiders where this little critter is friendly. “These friendly spiders can represent wisdom, growth, and transformation,” suggests Olivia Dreizen Howell, a certified life coach and clinical hypnotherapist. For example, “if you are starting a new job, project, or relationship, dreaming about a friendly spider is a symbol for protection, and guidance.”
After all, spiders are brilliant weavers, and your subconscious mind may be using a spider as a metaphor for covering you with protection and a sense of wise guidance.
Common Symbolic Meanings of Spider Dreams
Dreaming about spiders can leave you feeling a bit icked out, really scared, or completely curious. The next step is to try to process the dream and figure out what it might be able to tell you about your own life. You can start by reading up on some common interpretations and theories.
Freudian
From a Freudian perspective, dreaming about spiders may be interpreted as a manifestation of repressed sexual desires or anxieties.2 “Freud often associated the spider with women and the feminine nature, so he may have interpreted the spider as being a protective mother figure in your subconscious, or as latent sexual desire—with perhaps a fear of one’s own sexual nature and femininity” Howell explains.
Jungian
Carl Jung was a subconscious expert who viewed dreams as expressions of the collective unconscious that were ripe with symbols and motifs.3 Howell says, “He may have interpreted dreaming about spiders as a representation for creativity and wisdom, as mythologically speaking, spiders were associated with weavers, basket makers, sewers, and creative jobs.”
Alfred Adler
Alfred Adler, founder of individual psychology, viewed dreams as reflections of an individual’s lifestyle, social dynamics, and perceived inadequacies.
While he never addressed spiders in his dream interpretations, you could speculate that he might view spiders as symbols of creativity, resourcefulness, or the ability to navigate complex situations. Or, they could reflect feelings of entrapment or manipulation.
Interpretive Psychology
“Most of the research today focuses on the neuroscientific and cognitive view of dreams and new frameworks were developed to integrate dreams into psychotherapy, like Integrative Psychotherapy, or Clara Hill’s model,” Beau explains.
He says that these modern approaches allow for more nuance and individual interpretation that aligns with our unique thoughts and emotions. When taking this approach, a spider dream interpretation can range from having deep fears to feeling trapped to feeling inspired.
How to Process & Interpret Your Dream
The thing about dreams is that they’re very open to interpretation. An accurate explanation for one person may not be another’s truth.
When analyzing dream symbolism, it is very important to question yourself on your own beliefs and emotions.
When analyzing dream symbolism, it is very important to question yourself on your own beliefs and emotions,” Beau says. “When you think of a spider, what comes to your mind? Also take note of the other elements in the dream, they can help.”
You can also tap into how you’re feeling when you wake up. Are you anxious or afraid? Curious? Hopeful? These feelings can provide you with insights into what the spider dream means for you.
“If the dream is recurrent, it could be that you have trouble processing something. In that case, we recommend analyzing the dream to understand what it’s linked to, and discussing the issue with a psychologist to work on it,” Beau says. “It is natural to have a proportion of nightmares, so if the dream is infrequent, we recommend not focusing on it too much.”
Generally speaking, try not to take things too seriously when it comes to dreams. While they can be informative and help guide you, they’re not meant to be taken with extreme gravity. It can be helpful to journal about your dreams, ideally right when you wake up while the memory is fresh. Over time, you can note patterns or common emotions, which can provide meaningful insights.