- The dream dictionary has 30 symbols starting with S.
- The most searched of them are snake, spider, snake bite.
- Every symbol is read three ways: folk dream books, psychology and sleep research.
- Dream interpretation is a tradition of reading symbols; it does not predict events.
Most searched dreams starting with S
SnakeAnimalsA dream about snakes is traditionally read as a warning: hidden danger, a false friend or temptation close by. Psychology reads the snake as something in yourself you have not looked at yet, and research simply finds it among the most common animals people dream of.SpiderAnimalsA dream about spiders is traditionally read as patient work, a web being spun around you, or a trap. Psychology sees the spider as a small fear made large, often tied to a controlling figure, and research finds it among the animals people most often dream about with fear.Snake biteAnimalsA dream about a snake bite is traditionally read as an enemy striking, a betrayal or the start of an illness. Psychology reads the bite as a conflict you have avoided catching up with you, or a sudden truth, and research finds it among the most common animal-attack scenes in anxiety dreams.Someone dyingDeath and lossA dream about someone dying is traditionally read as a change in your relationship with that person or as a sign of their long life, not of their death. Psychology reads it as fear of losing them or as the end of a role they play in your life, and research finds such dreams are among the most common and most distressing.ScorpionAnimalsA dream about a scorpion is traditionally read as a hidden enemy: Miller says false friends will use their chances to undermine you. Psychology reads the scorpion as a sting the dreamer expects, from others or from their own sharp tongue; research adds that venomous creatures are classic threat dreams.SexLove and relationshipsA dream about sex is traditionally read by the partner: folk books say sex with a stranger brings news and sex with an ex brings unfinished business. Psychology reads sex in a dream as union with a quality the partner carries; research finds sexual dreams in most adults, often without any sexual meaning.
All symbols starting with S
SaltFoodA dream about salt is traditionally read as a sign of discord, tears or sharpness, but also of preservation and value. Psychology reads salt as what gives life flavour and what hurts when poured on a wound.SandNature and plantsA dream about sand is traditionally read as famine and losses, in Miller's blunt phrase, and in folk books as time slipping and plans without foundation. Psychology reads sand as impermanence and the ground giving way, and research links it to the beach settings and unstable footing common in dream reports.SchoolHome and placesA dream about school is traditionally read as distinction in literary work, or as longing for simpler days when the schoolhouse is that of your childhood. Psychology reads it as being tested, judged or still learning, and research ranks school among typical dreams.ScorpionAnimalsA dream about a scorpion is traditionally read as a hidden enemy: Miller says false friends will use their chances to undermine you. Psychology reads the scorpion as a sting the dreamer expects, from others or from their own sharp tongue; research adds that venomous creatures are classic threat dreams.ScreamingActionsDreaming about screaming is traditionally read as pent-up feeling looking for a way out, or as a call for help you have not made while awake. Psychology links it to stress and suppressed anger, and sleep research explains why the scream so often will not come.SeaWater and weatherA dream about the sea is traditionally read by its mood: calm water for peace, rough water for upheaval. Psychology reads the sea as the unconscious, vast and only partly known, and research notes that water scenes often follow the dreamer's own emotional weather.SexLove and relationshipsA dream about sex is traditionally read by the partner: folk books say sex with a stranger brings news and sex with an ex brings unfinished business. Psychology reads sex in a dream as union with a quality the partner carries; research finds sexual dreams in most adults, often without any sexual meaning.SharkAnimalsA dream about sharks is traditionally read as formidable enemies: Miller says a shark attacking you brings unavoidable reverses. Psychology reads the shark as a threat moving under the surface of feeling; research places sharks among the predator dreams the mind rehearses.ShoesMoney and objectsA dream about shoes is traditionally read as your footing in life: new shoes bring good changes, worn ones bring criticism, lost ones bring separation. Psychology reads shoes as the role you walk in, and research notes that clothing and dress are ordinary dream material.SisterPeopleA dream about a sister is traditionally read as family news: a quarrel with her means reconciliation, her tears mean worry in the household. Psychology reads the sister as a mirror of the dreamer, and research shows family members are among the most frequent people in dreams.SkunkAnimalsA dream about a skunk is usually read as a warning about something that will leave a bad impression: gossip, an awkward situation or a person who is better avoided. Psychology reads the skunk as boundaries, self-defence and a reputation you want to protect.SmokeHome and placesA dream about smoke is traditionally read as doubt and confusion: fire somewhere unseen, flattery that clouds judgement. Psychology reads smoke as feeling that hides its source, and research notes that real smells and breathing difficulty during sleep can enter a dream directly.SnakeAnimalsA dream about snakes is traditionally read as a warning: hidden danger, a false friend or temptation close by. Psychology reads the snake as something in yourself you have not looked at yet, and research simply finds it among the most common animals people dream of.Snake biteAnimalsA dream about a snake bite is traditionally read as an enemy striking, a betrayal or the start of an illness. Psychology reads the bite as a conflict you have avoided catching up with you, or a sudden truth, and research finds it among the most common animal-attack scenes in anxiety dreams.SnowWater and weatherA dream about snow is traditionally read as a pause and a cooling: Miller says snow brings the appearance of trouble without real misfortune, and melting snow turns fear into joy. Psychology reads snow as feelings frozen or a fresh start; research adds that season and the news shape such dreams.Someone dyingDeath and lossA dream about someone dying is traditionally read as a change in your relationship with that person or as a sign of their long life, not of their death. Psychology reads it as fear of losing them or as the end of a role they play in your life, and research finds such dreams are among the most common and most distressing.SpiderAnimalsA dream about spiders is traditionally read as patient work, a web being spun around you, or a trap. Psychology sees the spider as a small fear made large, often tied to a controlling figure, and research finds it among the animals people most often dream about with fear.SquirrelAnimalsA dream about a squirrel is traditionally read as visiting friends, business advancement and family joy. Psychology reads the squirrel as thrift, preparation and playful energy, and research notes that small familiar animals often follow recent daytime sightings.StairsHome and placesA dream about stairs is traditionally read by direction: going up promises good fortune and happiness, going down is unfavourable, and falling brings envy. Psychology reads stairs as movement between levels of life or mind, and research links falling images with sleep onset.StarsNature and plantsA dream about stars is traditionally read as hope, guidance and good fortune when the stars are clear, and as trouble when they are dull or falling. Psychology reads stars as ideals and distant goals.StorkAnimalsA dream about storks is traditionally read as a gentle omen: news of a birth, a new beginning, or a settled and protected home. Psychology reads the stork as the wish for, or the worry about, something new coming into your life, and research notes that birds are a regular but not dominant part of dream animals.StormWater and weatherA dream about a storm is traditionally read as trouble approaching, a quarrel or a shock, with shelter from the storm read as escape. Psychology reads it as emotion gathering faster than the dreamer can contain it, and research links weather dreams to waking stress and threat rehearsal.StrangerPeopleA dream about a stranger is traditionally read as news, a visitor or an unknown influence entering your life. Psychology reads the stranger as an unfamiliar part of yourself, and research finds unknown people make up a large share of dream characters.StrawberriesFoodA dream about strawberries is traditionally read as a pleasant sign: a long-wished-for object, requited love and small joys. Psychology reads the red fruit as desire, tenderness and the pleasure of ripeness.SugarFoodA dream about sugar is traditionally read in two directions: sweetness and pleasure coming, or, in Miller's stern reading, a dreamer hard to please and worries that tax the temper. Psychology reads sugar as the craving for comfort, and research links food dreams to appetite and to the body's night.SunNature and plantsA dream about the sun is one of the most favourable images in dream tradition: clarity, warmth, success and vitality. Psychology reads it as consciousness, energy and the part of you that sees clearly.SunsetNature and plantsA dream about a sunset is traditionally read as the close of a matter: a calm sunset promises rest and contentment, a blood-red one a quarrel. Psychology reads it as acceptance of an ending, and research finds scenic dreams follow the dreamer's mood and recent views.SwanAnimalsA dream about a swan is traditionally read as grace, love and prosperous prospects, especially a white swan on calm water. Psychology reads the swan as beauty, composure and transformation.SwimmingActionsA dream about swimming is traditionally read as moving through your emotions: easy strokes in clear water are a good sign, a struggle in murky water is a warning. Psychology treats water as feeling, and swimming as how you cope with it.Swimming poolHome and placesA dream about a swimming pool is traditionally read by its water: clear means pleasure and good company, dirty or empty means disappointment. Psychology reads the pool as feeling held within limits, and research finds water settings among the most common in dreams.
How to use the dream dictionary
- Recall the most vivid image of the dream: the thing, the animal, the person or the action.
- Find it by letter or in the search; a plural or a variation leads to the same page.
- Read the three readings and the variations, then note how you felt in the dream.
Questions people ask
Which dream symbols start with S?
All of them are listed on this page in alphabetical order, with a short traditional reading next to each. Open a symbol for the full page.
Why are some symbols missing?
The dictionary grows in batches, starting with the most searched symbols. A symbol appears only when its page is complete.
Sources
- Miller G. H. Ten Thousand Dreams Interpreted, 1901.
- Freud S. The Interpretation of Dreams, 1899.
- Jung C. G. Man and His Symbols, 1964.
- Artemidorus. Oneirocritica, 2nd century.
- Hall C. S., Van de Castle R. L. The Content Analysis of Dreams, 1966.
- Schredl M. Dream research: an introduction, in various editions.
How this page is made
Each symbol page sets three readings side by side and names where each comes from. A symbol is published only when its page has a full description with sources. Search volumes decide which symbols are written first.