What Dreams About Wolves Mean

Dreams about Wolves Explained

Have you been having dreams about wolves lately? Are you struggling to find meaning behind the symbolism of a wolf or a wolf pack? Did you dream about a wolf following you through the forest at night?

If you’ve answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, then you’ve come to the right place. Wolves pop up in a lot of peoples’ dreams, but their true meaning can be elusive. The wolf is a powerful, mysterious animal that can frighten and inspire in equal measures.

As a counselor, life coach and interpreter of dreams, many people come to me with questions about their wolf dreams. Sometimes, the wolf represents a person. Sometimes, it represents a persistent problem. Yet, it can also foretell of unique opportunities that you should seize.

On this page, you’ll learn about:

• The underlying meaning of wolf symbols in dreams
• The spiritual and Biblical meaning of the wolf
• The historical and mythological meaning of the wolf
• The meaning of wolves of different colors
• What it means to be chased by wolves in your dreams
• What it means to fight or kill a wolf in your dreams
• The meaning of running with a pack of wolves
• What does the howling wolf symbolize?
• What it means to become a wolf in your dreams
• The meaning of wolves watching you
• Wolves teeth in dreams

My Personal Wolf Dream and Experience with Dream Analysis

Before I go into greater detail about the meaning of wolf dreams, I’d like to make a quick note about my own personal experiences. Dreams have always had a spiritual importance in my family, and I proved myself early on to be someone who had a talent for dream interpretation.

I’m a certified counselor and life coach. I also hold two certificates in cognitive behavior therapy. I’ve also read extensively about dreams and dream analysis from the viewpoint of a psychological practitioner.

In my personal life, I have a reoccurring dream about a wolf. There’s a house that represents my grounding space and behind that house there is a dark, foggy forest. In my dreams, I run to the safety of this dark forest when I’m being pursued or confronted by negative energy.

In that dark forest, there is also a black wolf, a she-wolf. At first, I was afraid of this wolf. I thought it was chasing me, but as I delved into my dream journals and searched my heart, I came to realize that this wolf symbolized my grandmother.

My grandmother was the black wolf and she was the guardian of this sacred forest. Whenever I was in trouble, I could retreat to the safety of the dark forest and she would keep me safe from my enemies.

I wanted to mention this wolf dream because I used to believe that the wolf was stalking me. I was afraid of the wolf, similar to how someone might fear a dream about death. But I learned that this wolf was an important symbol and represented someone of vital importance to my life.

Perhaps the wolf in your dream is also a protector or a teacher.

Dream Analysis in Psychology – Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung

Carl Jung and Sigmund Feud were two psychologists that saw the importance of dreams in our daily lives. According to Freud and Jung, dreams contain potent symbols that are related to our deepest desires and fears.

Sigmund Freud valued dream interpretation at a time when dreams were thought to be just random imaginings of an unrestricted consciousness. Sigmund Freud called dreams “the royal road to knowledge of the unconscious”.

Dream analysis was central to Freud’s brand of psychoanalysis, but Freud might have oversimplified the symbols in dreams. For Freud, just about everything that you saw in a dream was either related to sexual urges or your family.

Carl Jung, on the other hand, was a bit more open minded about the interpretation of dream imagery. Jung thought that dream imagery was meant to teach us things about our own personality. Dreams didn’t represent something hidden; dreams represented aspects of our character.

Carl Jung really focused on the symbolic representations in dreams. These symbols were vehicles for self-portrayal and exploration. All of the symbols in your dream represent something in your own psyche. Nothing is random. For example, if you are dreaming about sharks, there is a reason it is happening.

What Do Dreams about Wolves Mean?

Let’s get a broad sense of the wolf and its importance in nature. The wolf is a large predatory member of the canine genus. Wolves are typically larger than dogs and live in hunting packs. The image of the lone wolf is popular, but factually inaccurate.

All wolves, even lone wolves, are associated with one or more packs. Wolves bond with other wolves, but they have a complicated relationship with humans. People are fascinated with wolves and treat the animal with a great deal of respect and fear.

Wolves are territorial animals. They can roam across an area of a hundred miles or more in search of mates and prey. For people with cattle and herd animals, the wolf is seen as the enemy. For people who feel connected with nature, the wolf often represents a powerful teacher and guide.

This historical reference is important when analyzing dreams about wolves. The wolf is a powerful animal that deserves respect. The role of a wolf as a hunter and predator dominates our symbolic relationship with wolves and forms the basis for what all dreams about wolves mean.

Spiritual Meaning of Wolves

The wolf is a powerful symbol in the mythology of ancient cultures from around the world. Interestingly, many of them see the wolf in a positive light. The wolf has always played a vital role as a teacher in ancient mythology.

For example, in Roman tradition, the twin brother Romulus and Remus were suckled as babes by a she-wolf. Romulus went on to be the founder of the city of Rome and the wolf is a prominent symbol in Roman art and literature.

The wolf is an important spirit animal for Native Americans. The Quileute from the Pacific Northwest believe their first ancestors were transformed from wolves to men. To the Shoshone people, the wolf is a symbol for the Creator himself.

There is a popular Native American folk story about the wolf that you feed. In the story, there are two wolves. The old, wise grandfather tells the boy that the white wolf is good and peaceful while the black wolf is angry and hateful.

The two wolves live inside of you and both vie for your attention and sustenance. Which wolf wins out in the end? The one that you feed. It’s a popular story about hatred eating away at your spirit, but the story’s origin is controversial.

Another popular reference for the symbol of the wolf comes from stories where children are raised by wolves. In the story Jungle Book, Mowgli is raised by wolves and becomes a member of their society. Although the social norms are quite different, Mowgli learns valuable lessons about himself and nature from the wolves and other animals.

Regardless of the origin, this story and others like it from mythology, help us to form a symbolic primer for the wolf. These stories also help to form the symbolic references for our relationship with wolves.

Biblical Meaning of Wolves

If you’re a Christian or study Judeo-Christian spirituality, then you might be interested in what the Bible says about wolves. In the Hebrew lexicon, the word zeeb means wolf. The wolf almost always has a negative connotation in the Bible.

Jesus is symbolized as a lamb and the wolf is a creature that would prey upon sheep and lambs. So, the wolf, in symbolic terms, represents a dangerous hunter and predator. This makes sense when you consider that many people in old world Palestine, Egypt and the Middle East were shepherds.

The first Biblical reference for a wolf is found in Genesis 49:27. In this passage, Benjamin shall shred as a wolf: in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil. The next passage of note comes from Ezekiel 22:27 where Her princes in the middle thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain.

So, clearly from the Old Testament, the wolf symbolizes a rapacious, predatory animal that is violent and seizes upon the weak. In the New Testament, wolves are compared to corrupt or evil leaders, as in Matthew 7:15. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Factors Influencing the Wolf Symbol

What do wolves mean to you? That’s an important question to ask yourself because how you interpret the symbol of the wolf is a key factor in how wolves behave in your dreams. If you think wolves are cute, cuddly creatures, then some of the most common interpretations might be skewed.

You see, there are universal constants with interpreting dreams. Society has certain grand symbols that take their place in our global consciousness, but your dream is largely a personal artifact. What you see and feel might be different from other people.

So, before you delve into specific interpretations of your wolf dreams, ask yourself what the wolf symbolizes for you.

Interpreting Wolf Dreams

Now, it’s time to explore the many different ways that wolves can manifest themselves in dreams. You need to remember that you are the best dream analyst for your own dreams. That’s because your own reactions and ideas about wolves dictate what wolves mean in your dreams.

For psychoanalysts, dreams about wolves represent aspects of the dreamer’s personality. For example, you might be suppressing your own aggressive urges and the black wolf continues to stalk you through a forest in your dreams. The message is that you need to embrace your shadow self and find ways to express your primal urges.

Due to the relationship people have with wolves in nature, people often immediately interpret wolf dreams as negative. That might not always be the case. The wolf in your dreams could represent something positive like family, internal toughness, or your ability to handle difficult situations.

What Does a Dream about a Black Wolf Mean?

Colors matter when it comes to dreams about a wolf. That’s because wolves of different colors are symbolically important. If you are dreaming about a black wolf, then that could mean:

• You’re trying to reach a deeper understanding of your shadow self
• You’re afraid of your own primal, animalistic urges
• It could be highlighting your comfort or lack thereof when dealing with negative emotions
• You desire to leave a social group or neglect some responsibilities
• You’re fearful of becoming the outcast in a social group

What Does a White Wolf Symbolize in Dreams?

The white wolf represents the noblest of characteristics, much like the color white in any other symbolic representation. However, the white wolf does have some specific characteristics in dreams. A dream about a white wolf could mean:

• You seek protection from a difficult situation or trauma in your life
• You need guidance for embarking on a new journey
• It could reflect a feeling of victory, triumph, or success in your personal life
• It could represent a connection with a higher power

What Does it Mean When a Wolf is Chasing You in Your Dreams?

Sometimes, we confuse being chased by a wolf with running with a wolf. These are two different symbols. So, be sure that you were truly being chased. If you were being chased by a wolf in your dreams, then it might mean:

• That you are running away from an important issue in your waking life
• You might be considering a new job or career choice, but the consequences frighten you
• Someone or something is trying to tell you something, but you won’t listen
• The wolf represents an aspect of your personality that you don’t want to accept
• Ultimately, you can’t escape from some form of trauma in your past.

What Does it Mean to Kill a Wolf in Your Dreams?

Fighting or killing a wolf in your dreams is a rare symbol. Wolves are common dream symbols, but our dream selves rarely physically interact with them. If you are fighting or killing a wolf, then that could mean:

• You feel betrayed by someone very close to you, a best friend or family member
• Someone who was once your ally has become your enemy
• You could be in serious denial about an aspect of your own character
• You could be angry with yourself or feel intense guilt or shame
• You finally have the strength and courage to tackle the most serious problems of your life

What Does a Dream about Riding a Wolf or Running with a Wolf Mean?

Wolves are pack animals. They belong to social groups, even when they appear as a lone creature. If you are running with a wolf pack or riding a wolf, then it could mean:

• You seek support in dealing with a difficult transition in life
• Something that threatens you also threatens everyone else around you
• There’s a trauma in your life that is too big for you to handle alone. You should seek help.
• You’re thinking about a close loved one who has passed away.
• It highlights a sense of harmony in your personal and social life.

What Does a Wolf Howling in a Dream Mean?

The howling of a wolf is one of the signature traits of the animal. It’s well established in our psyche and if you dream about a howling wolf, it could mean:

• That you have been alerted to a problem in your waking life
• Someone close to you needs your help
• You are struggling with a decision on whether to speak out or remain silent
• It is an invitation to join a new social group or reestablish yourself with an existing social group

What Does it Mean When You Become a Wolf in Your Dreams?

To embody the wolf in your dreams is quite rare. If you are the wolf in your dreams, then it could mean that you are seeking its character traits. Your dream could mean:

• You are faced with great challenges and you need more strength and resilience
• You are seeking to be alone or seeking to join a group. It depends on your perspective.
• It could mean that you need more courage to be your true self
• There is something or someone that you desire

What Does it Mean When a Wolf is Watching You in Your Dreams?

The eyes of the wolf represent a deep, spiritual connection with nature. If you see a wolf watching you in your dream, it could mean:

• Someone close to you knows a deep, personal secret that you’re hiding
• Someone close to you will watch over you in a dangerous situation
• There’s something that you don’t want to tell someone who is close to you
• It’s a confirmation that you are connected and grounded in nature
• Something hidden will reveal itself to you very soon

What Does a Dream About Feeding or Being Fed by Wolves Mean?

Wolves take care of their young by nursing them and there are popular historical and mythological references to feeding or being fed by wolves. If you are being fed by wolves or feeding wolves in your dreams, it could mean:

• A confirmation that you are a nurturer and you’re ready to become a parent
• You are ready to seek a romantic relationship
• The wolf feeding you can be a teacher or someone who has an important message for you
• The wolf you are feeding represents an emotion that you should embrace or neglect
• You are about to embark on a life-changing project or some great venture

What Does it Mean When You’re Surrounded by Wolves in Your Dreams?

Wolves are social animals. When you see a pack of wolves in your dream it could mean the following:

• Your family, friends or members of your social group are concerned about your well-being.
• You’re feeling anxious about a new job or role in society
• The pack could represent a gang or group of attackers. You should be cautious going forward.
• Your problems are pressing in around you and you need space
• Your family, friends or members of your social group need you

What Does a Wolf’s Teeth Symbolize in Dreams?

Did you see the teeth of a wolf in your dream? Were you bitten by a wolf and it left a tooth in your flesh? These are powerful symbols in wolf dreams that represent a higher level of connection. A wolf’s teeth could mean:

• You have made a deep connection with your own inner emotions and thoughts
• Something in your deep psyche is troubling you and the urgency is great
• Something traumatic that you thought was behind you is in fact still a part of you
• The wolf tooth represents a blessing, a sort of confirmation from the spiritual realm
• If the wolf is showing its teeth, then you should be cautious but not fearful
• The teeth may symbolize an alpha part of your personality

Other Meanings of Wolf Dreams

Sometimes, the wolf represents nature in general. The wolf is a symbol of primal, wild, aggressive energy. This might be a type of energy that eludes you in your daily life and your sub-conscious mind is trying to exercise and express its primal instincts.

Some spiritual and mythological interpretations of the wolf dream go in a completely different direction. Again, it all depends on how you see the wolf. What was the setting like in your dream? Was the wolf in the forest or out of place in the city?

A wolf can represent aspects of your personality or it can reveal aspects of the world around you. If you see a wolf in your dream, it could mean that you are strong and ready to embark on a difficult journey. You might also be receiving confirmation that someone is watching over you.

The Importance of a Dream Diary

Interpreting dreams is difficult, especially since our memory fades away so quickly. Have you ever tried to recall to a friend what happened in your dream and the words just didn’t make any sense? Well, dreams are funny like that.

The language of your dreams is uninhibited by the mechanics of the waking world. You might understand that a wolf in your dream represents your father, even though the wolf didn’t say anything. Or you might come to the realization that you are at home, even though you’re not in a house.

The context of the dream is important and that’s one of the reasons why you should keep a dream journal (see Amazon for an example). When you wake up from your dream, it would be helpful if you had a small notebook on your bedside table that you could jot down some of the imagery from your dreams.

That way, it’s still fresh in your mind and you can explore the meaning of your dreams privately. If you have reoccurring dreams, then you can go back and trace what happened the last time a wolf showed up in your dreams.

A dream journal is an essential tool in dream analysis, and it can help you better understand the inner workings of your own subconscious mind.

Wrapping it Up

When you see a wolf in your dreams, most people respond with a feeling of awe. The wolf is a powerful animal with the capacity to frighten, teach, protect, and guide you. There’s a definite connection there.

The wolf is an animal, but it’s also a symbol. It represents ideas in our global consciousness that have existed for thousands of years. These symbols help us clarify what the wolf means in our dreams. However, you have your own symbols and meanings for the wolf.

So, what you see in the dream is influenced by your own perceptions and ideas. So, it’s important to try to understand what the wolf means to you specifically.

Use your dream journal to make references and try to understand that nothing is inherently wrong or right in your dreams. It is all a lesson from within.

Thanks for stopping by. I hope this guide on wolf dreams was helpful.

References:

Artemidorus, The Interpretation of Dreams, R.J. White (ed.), New Jersey: Noyes Press, 1975.

Revonsuo, A. and C. Salmivalli, 1995, “A Content Analysis of Bizarre Elements in Dreams”, Dreaming, 5:169–187

Freud, S. , The Interpretation of Dreams, Brill, A. A. (trans.), Basic Books, New York, 1931. (Originally published in 1900.)

French, T., Fromm, E., Dream Interpretation, Basic Books, New York, 1964

Hall, C. S. , The Meaning of Dreams, Harper, New York, 1953

Rosen, M.G., 2013, “What I Make up when I Wake up: Anti-Experience Views and Narrative Fabrication of Dreams”, Frontiers in Psychology, 4, doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00514