Night calls
Dream encounters with animals can be surprising, but what might they symbolise?
Have you ever woken from a dream and found yourself puzzling over an encounter with an animal? The details might be vivid and strong, or you might recall only hazy fragments, but you’re certain that during your slumber you were visited by a beloved pet or perhaps a more mysterious creature whose presence felt unclear. Either way, such experiences can be deeply affecting and arouse much curiosity.
Open to interpretation
There are many theories as to why people dream, and debate also surrounds their significance. Austrian neurologist and founder of psycohanalysis Sigmund Freud called dreams ‘the royal road to a knowledge of the unconscious activities of the mind’ and introduced the theory that, through dreaming, the subconscious mind expresses the memories, ideas and emotions that the conscious, waking mind struggles to deal with.