The Dream Dictionary from A to Z [Revised edition]. Theresa Cheung

lambs means that the dreamer is carrying the burdens of the people they love happily. If lambskins appear in a dream, this suggests that the dreamer or other people have been deprived of joy and comfort.

       Leopard

      The leopard’s spots – which can be seen as eyes – represent watchfulness or the need for it. As with all the big cats, leopards in dreams suggest anger, speed, courage, passion, and, in some cases, cruelty.

       Lion/Lioness

      Generally a positive symbol that suggests physical strength and success in waking life. It can also suggest self-assertion, or the need for this to be expressed in waking life because of the lion’s roar. If, however, the lion is small or injured, or in a vulnerable situation, this could suggest that the dreamer feels that they are in a dangerous place, but also that these difficulties can be overcome with strength and daring. If a lion is chasing you, this is most likely due to a struggle with natural feelings of anger or aggression.

       Lynx

      Shares the same qualities as all the big cats, with an emphasis on the vigilance and the keenness of the lynx.

       Mole

      Associated with solitude, seclusion and the avoidance of human company, the mole can represent the attitude of a recluse. It might also indicate problems festering beneath the surface, as in molehills.

       Mouse

      Suggestive of the mousy, shy, or timid part of the self, dreaming of mice could also suggest small but important developments or subtle changes that can gnaw away at our self-esteem. Dreaming that you are a mouse could mean you feel dull, undistinguished, and lacking in confidence in waking life. The sexual organ which goes in and out of a hole is another association. If a person sees a mousetrap or a mouse caught in a trap, it could mean they need to watch out for people who gossip or take advantage of them.

       Otter

      Ancient cultures saw the otter as a pure, holy creature, and to see an otter in a dream suggests an ability to adapt to circumstances without ‘drowning’ and to clearly see what is really going on under the surface of everyday life.

       Ox

      Very similar to ‘bull’, with the possible exception that oxen are often castrated, so dreams in which they feature could suggest frustration. Can you recognize the strength of the ox within yourself? Are you engaged in a task that demands great commitment?

       Panther

      A Christian symbol, representing power to protect against evil. It also suggests anger and fierceness.

       Pig/Wild Boar

      Pigs are symbolic of a life governed by untamed physical needs and passions; they can also suggest impossible ventures, or inappropriate behavior and neglect of the spiritual side of life. By contrast, among the peoples of the East, a dream about a pig is interpreted as a good dream that attests to prosperity.

       Rabbit

      The rabbit breeds easily, so in dreams it is often linked to sexuality. It is also associated with the soft, vulnerable part of us that can be easily hurt or hounded. If the dreamer is hunting wild rabbits, this could suggest that they are being criticized, attacked, ‘hunted down’, or hounded.

      See also PETS.

       Ram

      Representing masculine sexual energy, the ram can also indicate a refusal to conform or be part of a group, together with an unconscious desire to lead rather than follow.

       Rat

      The rat is a symbol of fears and anxieties, or is the diseased or devious part of a dreamer or their situation. It can also represent something which is repulsive in some way. The dreamer may be experiencing disloyalty from a friend or colleague. Other associations are of dirt and squalor, or of time gnawing away at our life and the unacceptable parts of oneself. By contrast, dreaming about a pet rat suggests the opposite: vulnerability and responsibility for caring.

       Seal

      Dreaming of a seal suggests the dreamer is at one with the life they have chosen to lead. If the seal is wounded, injured, or hunted, the opposite might be suggested.

       Sheep

      Sheep in dreams represent the aspects of oneself that conforms to social pressures, such as feeling part of a crowd or being herded by others. Dreaming of sheep can also suggest aspects of ourselves that are the same as other human beings, or working hard to accomplish a goal. If the dreamer is caring for sheep, this may indicate a desire to grow spiritually.

       Squirrel

      The squirrel represents the hoarding aspect of the personality.

       Tiger

      Similar to the lion in many ways but with an emphasis on uncertainty and unpredictability. For example, tigers in dreams may suggest the possibility of plans changing unexpectedly. It can also warn against trusting a new acquaintance. The tiger can also represent sexuality but, depending upon how it is presented in the dream, a sexuality of uncertain elements – for example, will I be attacked or ignored?

       Weasel

      The weasel highlights the devious and more dubious side of our personalities.

       Wolf

      Dreaming of a wolf suggests that the dreamer may be feeling threatened by other people, or may be vulnerable in some situation. The wolf, as suggested by fairy tales like Red Riding Hood, also represents the female fear of powerful male sexuality, and yet might also figure in female sexual fantasies. Wolves are also symbols of repressed sexuality and anger.

       Zebra

      In dreams, the zebra has much the same significance as the ‘horse’, but with the additional meaning of balancing the black-and-white aspects of the personality into a powerful whole.

       ANKLE

      See BODY.

       ANTELOPE

      See ANIMALS.

       ANTS

      See INSECTS AND ARACHNIDS.

       APE

      See ANIMALS.

       APOCALYPSE

      End-of-the-world dreams refer to situations in your waking life that are in the process of some kind of radical change, and that change can be emotional. If your dream is post-apocalypse, this suggests the way you feel about something dramatic that has happened is making you feel emotionally drained or hopeless. If you have this kind of dream it can feel unsettling, but your dreaming mind is using these images to show you that change is inevitable; and if there is huge stress because of big changes happening in your life right now, you will survive. You may feel like it is the end of everything, but whenever something ends something else always begins.

      See also CLIMATE CHANGE.

      APPLES In Judeo-Christian belief, the apple denotes sin and temptation because of the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden after the serpent tempted Eve to eat the apple growing on the Tree of Knowledge. Greek mythology associated the apple with sexual attraction. So if you are married