Dreams of Animals
It was believed by many people in ancient times that animals
had dreams. According to Pliny the Elder
Evident it is, that horses, dogs, kine, oxen, sheepe and
goats, doe dreame. Whereupon it is credibly also thought that
all creatures that bring forth their young quicke and living, doe
the same. As for those that lay egges, it is not so certian that
they dreame; but resolved it is that they doe sleepe.
Beyond veterinary research, there has been little study of
the actual dreams of animals. Researchers believe that domestic
cats, for example, experience something resembling human
dreaming, though they are likely dreaming of cat experiences
such as attacking prey. Animals, however, do have symbolic
meaning in the dreams of humans. For example, dreaming
of an alligator may symbolically represent an enemy;
dreaming of bees may symbolize that a person is hard-working;
a donkey may symbolize that a person is carrying a heavy load,
or is subconsciously recognizing his own stupidity; dinosaurs
may represent the past or part of a personality that has
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changed; and a wolf may symbolize fear in oneself. Symbolic
meanings vary from source to source.
Sources
Ackroyd, Eric. A Dictionary of Dream Symbols. London, England
Blandford, 1993.
Delaney, Gayle M.V. In Your Dreams Falling, Flying and Other
Dream Themes A New Kind of Dream Dictionary. San Francisco
Harper San Francisco, 1997.
Reidel-Geubtner Virginia and Jo Jean Boushahla. The
Dream Dictionary. New York Berkley Publishing Group, 1992
