If you’ve ever had a dream about a spider, then you know just how creepy-crawly they can be. Maybe you wake up gasping or sweating after a spider dream—totally freaked out. We wouldn’t blame you! You might even be wondering if a spider nightmare truly means anything. While some people believe that our dreams signify what’s going on in our subconscious, others are skeptical that dreams mean anything at all. So, Parade consulted professional dream analyst Lauri Quinn Loewenberg to find out more about spider dreams. “Understanding your dreams will give you a clearer picture of what is going on in your life so you can make a better decision based on this clarity,” Loewenberg tells Parade. “That’s the purpose of dreaming, after all, to help us have a better, deeper, more honest understanding of ourselves and the world around us. So, never dismiss your dreams as ‘just a dream,’ because they are oh so much more!” Dreaming about spiders? Creepy! Keep reading to find out what a dream about a spider could possibly mean—plus, more on dream analysis.
What does a dream about a spider mean?
Waking up in a cold sweat after dreaming about a long-legged arachnid? Yuck! We know it’s kind of gross (and especially spine-tingling if you’re an arachnophobe with a true fear of spiders), but such dreams actually have less to do with the “bug” itself and more to do with a specific symbol. “Dream analysis is… a comparative analysis between the imagery, actions, and emotions in the dream to the events, thoughts and emotions of your current life,” Loewenberg explains. “Dreaming is a thinking process but since the brain is working differently when we are in REM dream sleep than when we are awake, we are thinking in symbols, metaphors, experiences, and emotions rather than in words.” With dreams causing our brains to think in symbols, the spider can be thought of as a metaphor for experiences or struggles you may be dealing with in your life at the time. In fact, plenty of us dream about the same things—and most commonly, these symbols often mean the same thing. “We call these common themes and symbols archetypes,” Loewenberg says. “For example, dreams of being chased often mean you are avoiding something in real life or trying to distance yourself from a difficult issue rather than facing it and dealing with it properly. Falling in a dream often means something in your real life is bringing you down… Teeth falling out is often connected to communication.” Loewenberg adds, “Dreams like these are so common and tend to have similar meanings for so many of us because they are connected to common issues or behaviors that many of us experience.” So, what about a dream about a spider? Here are a few common meanings Loewenberg usually associates with a spider dream.
Something’s on your mind
Is something big bothering you? Maybe you’re avoiding having a difficult conversation with someone important to you; maybe work is stressful or you’re thinking of making a massive life decision but are afraid to commit. “Bugs in dreams tend to symbolize something that has been ‘bugging’ you in real life, a pestering issue that needs to be exterminated,” Loewenberg says. It’s a little general, but this dream could signify something unsaid that, well, needs to be dealt with.
Lying and liars
Have you lied to someone? Are you worried that someone else is lying to you or cheating in a relationship? A spider in a dream could be presenting itself as that fear. “Spiders in particular often point to deceit, a web of lies or a sense of feeling trapped since the web is created to trap the spider’s prey,” Loewenberg explains. “And of course, the old saying, ‘What a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive,’ is so embedded in our collective psyche that it also plays a role in why spiders so often represent deceit in dreams.” Speaking of deceit, it’s totally possible—and very common—that a spider could also represent a bad egg stinking up your life. Is there someone lying to you? Are you dealing with someone who is self-centered to the point of raining on your parade? “In my research and practice, I have found spiders can represent a narcissist in our life,” Loewenberg adds.
Feeling uneasy
Perhaps there’s something making your stomach flip. Are you feeling uneasy? Creeped out? If something feels unsettled or gives you an anxious feeling, it wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to think a spider dream could represent that anxiety or discomfort. “Spiders also creep and crawl and are a popular feature in Halloween decor and scary movies so they can also represent a situation in the dreamer’s real life that gives them an eerie, creepy feeling,” Loewenberg says. “In this case, the subconscious would be using the spider as a warning to not get involved or to be very wary of the situation.”
Bravery
We know—that took a hard left! But though dreams do often have common themes for different people, it’s alo true that the context of the dreamer is also crucial, too. So, if spiders don’t represent something negative to you—like fear or anxiety—and instead, represent something more positive in your life, then a spider dream could signify strength or bravery. “The majority of dreams and the content within the dreams are unique to the dreamer, the dreamer’s experiences, and associations,” Loewenberg explains. “As always, your personal associations matter most when figuring out your dream… So, if you’re a Spiderman fan, the spider could represent your own ability to transform into a strong individual, ready to save the day.” While these are some of the most common meanings a spider dream could have, it really depends on what a spider specifically represents to you.
What if you’re killing the spider in the dream?
Not all spider dreams are created equal. Depending on the positioning of the spider or the overall context—like what you’re doing or whether you feel afraid or not in the dream—the symbolism could vary. For example, dreamers will commonly dream that they are killing a spider. “To kill in a dream typically means you are putting an end to something in real life,” Loewenberg explains. “So, to kill a spider might signify you are successfully ending or ‘squashing’ an issue that was previously bugging you—most likely an issue that involved deceit.”
What if you’re being attacked by spiders in the dream?
Being attacked or surrounded by spiders could mean something entirely different since the spiders are in control in this scenario and in the dream, you likely feel fearful. “Being attacked by a spider—or by anything for that matter—can often be connected to a feeling of being attacked or victimized in real life,” Loewenberg says. “If the spider is biting you, this could be about biting remarks and criticism of which you are on the receiving end… or even that you are being lied about or lied to.” There could also be a difference in meaning if there is only one spider versus several. “The more there is of something in a dream or the bigger something is in a dream then the bigger of an issue you’ve got on your hands or the more it weighs on you,” Loewenberg says. If you are surrounded by a plethora of spiders, each spider could individually represent a lie or multiple liars. “An infestation of spiders can mean there are many, many lies. Spiders all over your body may indicate there is something about your body that is really bugging you,” Loewenberg adds. “Or, there may be some sort of deception that is really consuming you, becoming all-encompassing.”
What does a dream about a spiderweb mean?
What a tangled web we weave—right? If you’re dreaming specifically about spiderwebs, it could be a metaphor for something holding you back, tangling you up—something old you need to break free from. “A spiderweb would represent something you need to free yourself of before it gets to the point where it will fully consume you, just as a spider traps its prey and eventually consumes it, " Loewenberg explains. “Cobwebs, however, will most likely represent something that has been neglected, as cobwebs gather in corners and on things that are never dusted or cleaned.”
How do you know what a dream is telling you?
Dissecting dreams can be difficult—especially when one thing can have so many variations of meaning. But if you’re interested in doubling down on what your dreams mean, it’s important to note that a dream most always is a reflection of the day you had prior. “Your dreams at night are a brutally honest and insightful commentary from your subconscious about your previous day,” Loewenberg says. “Since dreams speak to us in a cryptic, symbolic language, it can be tough to figure out the meaning. But keeping a day/dream journal is a great start because it will help you pinpoint the issue your dream is commenting on.” Start by keeping a dream journal where you record the highlights of your day and then what you dream about that night. Loewenberg also has a handy-dandy trick for deciphering dreams—the Webster’s Dictionary method. “Applying the Webster’s Dictionary rule of thumb can also help you piece it all together. With each creature, object, location, etc. that appears in your dream, just pretend you are writing a description of it for Webster’s,” Loewenberg advises. “The description you come up with will usually also fit someone or someone in your own life right now. Many times, the description will fit you! Because dreams are always all about you and what directly affects you right now.” A lot of it has to do with your feelings inside the dream as well as what’s said or thought. Do you think something’s totally normal in the dream? Totally weird? Are you afraid or fearless? “I think one of the most important elements of a dream that provides the most information is whatever is said or thought in the dream, " Loewenberg adds. “Dreams are basically a conversation with the self, no matter who is talking in the dream, it is really coming from you (it’s a message to you, from you, about you—remember!). So, pay very close attention to anything said in the dream as well as any thoughts you have while in the dream because whatever is said and whatever you think to yourself at any given moment in the dream is very important and will apply to your real life right now and will often be exactly what you need to know right now.” Next up, good night quotes for sweet dreams.
