My dream was about myself, a friend, and a naked toddler. We were walking through one of my paddocks at home, and we suddenly came to a gate. We tried to climb over it but kept on getting electric shocks. We then found a button that opened the gate, so I pressed it, and while the gate was opening I noticed a rod that was sparking with blue electricity. We walked through the gate to a massive meadow of knee high grass. The baby ran off through the grass and I spotted wild flowers that I wanted to take a photo of the baby in.

The meadow was the most beautiful place I have ever seen. Suddenly my friend screamed because there was a snake in front of us, and the grass had grown up to neck height, also the snake seemed to be on top of the grass. We were going to go around the snake but suddenly there were millions of them. We ran back through the gate and I had to push the button several times before the gate closed. I’m not sure whether the baby made it or not.

--Kim, Age 17, Melbourne, Voctoria, AUSTRALIA

Hi Kim -

In an earlier time - at about the turn of this century - if you asked an analyst about the significance of snakes in dreams he would have told you that they represent sexual or libidinal energy. More specifically - you would have been informed that snakes in dreams are phallic in nature - and that they represent the penis.

In an even earlier time, however - at the turn of this millenium - you would have received a different interpretation to your dream. Had you made the pilgramage to a Greek Aesclepion - a temple that specialized in the interpretation of dreams - the visitation of a snake to your dream would have been treated as a great omen. In earlier times, snakes were viewed as symbols of health and healing. If you were ill and dreamed of a snake - it meant that your disease or illness would be cured.

If you look carefully in today’s modern world, you will see the snake as a symbol of healing on an almost daily basis. Next time you visit a doctor or see an advertisement for physicians or a medical association - take a closer look at the logo adopted - and used everywhere - by the medical profession. It is the familiar “staff of Aesclepius.” Aesclepius was the Greek god of healing, and on his walking stick - his staff - a snake is coiled.

In modern dream interpretation, snakes are viewed as symbols of change - in addition to being representative of sexual energy and “the vital force.” Snakes are viewed as symbols of change because they shed their skins. Continuing on this theme, snakes also are seen as symbols of metamorphosis and transition - including life and death - because they shed the old and put on the new.

The central theme of your dream is transformation. The electrical charges can be interpreted as the beginning risings of the Kundalini or vital force within you. The toddler, also, is an apt symbol for re-birth and innocence. And while you find yourself in a meadow of wonderous beauty - you appear to be reminded - by the presence of the snake - that all is not as it appears on the surface. The grass rising up to your neck appears to be a symbol of your unconscious - which was below you - rising up to the surface. You want to avoid the snake (change) but suddenly you find millions of them surrounding you. You and your friend flee - but it also is interesting that the toddler does not necessarily make it out of the paddock with you. Being newborn and innocent - the dream suggests that he is either unafraid or unharmed by the snakes.

Your dream suggests that a period of growth and change - represented by the snakes - is upon you. It is natural to fear and resist change initially - as represented by your running from the snakes - but it also is important to recognize change as a natural, everyday part of living. The arrival of snakes in our dreams are signs that we need to prepare ourselves mentally and emotionally for a new period of growth and development.