It can be one of the most frightening dreams: You are walking past a body of water, then all of a sudden an alligator jumps out of the water and grabs you. Or, you may see someone else getting attacked by an alligator. These dreams can cause a lot of anxiety, and you can wake up feeling the stress of trying to survive an alligator attack.
So what does it mean spiritually if you dream of an alligator? Alligators in dreams represent the power of our subconscious thoughts and imaginations. The power of our thoughts can create a beautiful reality; however, they can also be powerfully destructive if we aren’t careful. Just like alligators that can strike at any moment, our thoughts left unchecked can have the power to destroy.
Alligators represent the power of manifesting your own reality, and how the reality you are living is created from your thoughts and imaginations.
There are many other reasons why an alligator shows up in your dream, depending on the context, emotion, and events that take place. Each dream can be interpreted differently because we all have different subconscious realities. This article will go over the most common themes in alligator dreams, and what they may mean.
〰️
The Spiritual Symbolism of Alligators
Alligators live on both land and in the water, and spiritually this represents the physical world and the spiritual world. Water represents the subconscious mind and access to the intuition; whereas land represents the conscious mind and logical or rational thought.
They are believed to have psychic abilities known as a sixth sense that allows them to perceptive to dangers that are lurking nearby. This is the same sixth sense that humans can tap into when connected to their psychic centers and are living in the present moment. This connection gives us our intuition.
With these qualities combined, alligators serve as a great metaphor for how the human mind works, and is often sent as a spiritual message to communicate what is happening in the psyche.
Alligators often show up as spiritual symbolism to warn of destructive thinking patterns or to encourage you about the power your thoughts and imagination have to manifest your reality.
Alligators and Crocodiles as a Sign of Manifesting Power
In Aztec cosmology, the crocodile, known as the Cipactli, symbolized the earth floating in the primeval waters, and appears as the symbol of the first calendar day of the Aztec calendar. The Cipactli symbolized the beginning of the earth and the beginning of all things that are created in the physical realm.
The Cipactli represented psychic powers, wisdom and the power of manifestation. The most powerful manifesting tool that we have is the power of the mind, and it is the source of where our reality is created.
When dreaming of an alligator, it is often a sign of your manifesting power and the power of your thoughts. People who are creators, thinkers, and manifestors often have dreams with alligators or reptiles in them for this reason.
〰️
Having Recurring Dreams About Alligators
Having the same dream over and over again, or having repeated symbolism showing up in a dream, is often a sign of karmic energies that are being processed in dreams. This is especially true if there are a lot of emotions attached to the dream.
Dreaming is one way that we work through this karmic energy in order to move past spiritual lessons or understand the reasons why certain events are happening in our life.
In Tibetan Buddhism, these are called Samsara dreams and are meant to help you work through karmic energies that are deep within the subconscious so that you can move past them in your waking life. They are called “karmic” dreams because they are based on behaviors and decisions that we make on a subconscious level, that is driven by past or current energies we are trying to work through.
Recurring alligator dreams is a sign that you are working past karmic energies related to your own thinking patterns, false beliefs about yourself, or dealing with negative energy that someone is sending to you. It is also related to the process of how you manifest things in your reality.
Depending on the recurring emotions that come up in the dream, it can give you insight as to what karmic energies are coming to the surface.
This article will explore the most common alligator dreams, and what they may mean in terms of subconscious energy coming to the surface.
〰️
Spiritual Meaning of Dreaming of An Alligator Attack
Alligator attack dreams can often feel like a night terror, and you may feel stressed from the dream even after you wake up. They bring up a lot of emotions that take some time for the conscious mind to process.
So, what is the meaning of dreaming of an alligator attack? Dreaming of an alligator attacking in a dream represents the harmful and destructive power that the mind has. Our thoughts create our reality, and negative thinking or filling your mind with negative media can have a destructive impact on how your reality is manifested.
The message from dreams about an alligator attacking is to be more mindful with your thoughts and imagination. This could be related to negative thoughts you have about yourself and others, or you may be filling your imagination with news media or TV programs that are harming your positive mindset.
It could be a good idea to develop a meditation habit. If you have a very difficult time turning off your mind, even for 5 minutes, this could be a sign of an unfocused and untrained mind, filled with distractions.
But, depending on who the alligator attacks and the emotions that you feel during the attack, this dream could mean something else for you. Below is a chart that explains other means of alligator attack dreams.
| Alligator Attacking You | Dreams of an alligator attacking you is a sign that you have an unfocused mind and it is causing destructive behaviors. This could cause you to feel agitated, depressed, anxious or feeling as though you have lost direction in your life. |
| Alligator Attacking a Child | Dreams of an alligator attacking a child are not common but can be particularly hard to process after waking. Children represent vulnerability and a part of yourself that is not yet matured. It often means that there is some emotional immaturity that is causing you to feel stuck, incapable or insecure in your waking life. This can prevent you from taking action in your life to move forward with your goals. |
| Alligator Attacking a Spouse, Partner or Friend | Dreaming of an alligator attacking a spouse, partner or friend is often a sign that there are some insecurities in the relationship that are holding you back. It is often from caring too much about what they will think of you, getting overly attached emotionally, and feeling too dependent or reliant on their commitment to you. If you often have a fear that you will lose them, this could be that energy coming to the surface in your dreams. |
| Alligator Attacking a Pet | Because pets are bonded to us in our waking life, pets in dreams often represent unconditional love without judgement. To dream of an alligator attacking a pet, especially a dog, represents a subconscious fear of losing things you love. It is important to note that almost all of these dreams involve stress, horror and grief, seeing something you love get destroyed. These emotions are being brought up to process. |
| Alligator Attacking a Snake | Snakes and alligators are very similar in terms of spiritual symbolism, and it is common to see these symbols appear together in a dream. To dream of an alligator and a snake fighting, or an alligator eating a snake, represents a deep internal struggle you are having with your primal fears and spiritual awakening. Snakes can represent the beginning of spiritual awareness and evolution. To have an alligator eating the snake is a symbol of some subconscious self sabotaging behavior that is preventing your growth and holding you back out of fear or doubt. |
Dream of an Alligator Bite
As mentioned earlier in this article, alligators often show up in karmic dreams, and have been tied to the symbolism of Samsara – the karmic cycle. An alligator symbolises the manifestations of your thoughts, actions and imaginations.
To dream of an alligator biting you is a message that energy you have put out into the world is coming back to bite you. Have you been thinking negatively about someone? Have you lied or taken advantage of someone? Do you feel guilty for any reason?
Even if you don’t feel as if you have done anything wrong to someone else, it could be things you have done to yourself. For example, have you thought negative things about yourself? Made bad decisions that limit your growth?
The message is to be mindful of the energy you are sending out, as that is what is coming back. Negative energy outward will come back as a nasty alligator bite.
Dreaming of an Alligator Chasing You
If you dream that an alligator is chasing you, it is a sign that you are afraid of your own power. Alligators represent the power that we have to create our own reality, but this can also feel scary for some people. A fear of success, or a fear of letting people down may be causing you to shy away from pursuing your dreams.
You may feel overwhelmed by something in your life, or are facing a challenge. Instead of facing it and seeing it as an opportunitiy for growth, you are viewing it as an enemy that you have to run away from.
Instead of viewing challenges in life as a fear for your survival, it may be helpful to change your perspective and start seeing them as an opportunity to evolve and learn new life lessons.
〰️
Dreaming of An Alligator Eating you or Someone Else
Dreaming of an alligator eating you or someone else is actually a very positive sign. Alligators eating you or someone else represents the karmic energy that is being balanced out.
If you dream of an alligator eating you, it is a sign that big changes are headed your way. Things are working themselves out and once things are balanced, you will feel a huge push in your life to start a new project – or even a whole new life!
These dreams can bring up a lot of stress, because the emotions that are being balanced out are coming to the surface. These can be feelings of survival, helplessness, grief, sadness and severe anxiety. The message is that it is time to move past these fears so that you can finally move forward.
Seeing an alligator eating someone else can bring up a lot of fear because you sense that things are just about to change. Once karmic relationships end, there is no outstanding karma that is keeping you together, and it could be the beginning of the ending of the relationship. You may have had a lot of negative karma from past lives keeping you together to finally resolve it – now you both are free.
However, if you do stay together, it is a sign of true love – there are no karmic contracts binding you together; it is pure and unconditional love.
〰️
Dreaming of Killing an Alligator
Dreaming of killing an alligator, whether for fun or for self-defense, may seem like you have conquered your enemy; however, it often represents an avoidance of facing your fears.
Sometimes, when we see a perceived enemy, we get defensive and think that the only way to survive is to kill it. To kill or be killed. However, in dreams you can’t really die, it is all just in your subconscious.
This represents an overreaction to perceived threats, and the tendency to avoid challenges or blame others for your mistakes.
Taming the alligator is a better solution to killing it; yet, this takes time, patience and persistence. Just like many challenges in life.
The message from this dream is to ask yourself what you are avoiding and lean into the vulnerability of being uncomfortable so that you can grow. Being uncomfortable for a time while you have to learn won’t kill you, it will help you evolve.
Dreaming of a Dead Alligator
If you dream of a dead alligator, but you weren’t the one that killed it, is a sign that you are going to experience a big change in your life. Death is always the sign of rebirth, and the chance to start over again.
It may represent something that you manifested in your reality fail, such as a business or relationship. However, whatever is about to end will give birth to many new opportunities that will move you closer to your goal.
〰️
Dreaming of a Calm Alligator
Dreaming of a calm or tame alligator is a very positive dream. This represents that you have achieved a state of inner balance, freedom and are comfortable with knowing your true power. It is a sign that you have strong manifesting power and are a super-generator.
This is the sign of someone who is more evolved on their spiritual journey, and you are very mindful of what you are creating. There is little in your life that is unintentional – always aware of your thoughts, feelings, and actions towards others.
If you dream of a calm alligator, it is a good omen that you should start the project you are dreaming about, or lean into spiritual pursuits. You have the qualities of a great leader.
If you dream of an alligator as a pet, this is a similar dream. However, you may be too controlling over this gift and it could be causing you to have a dangerously big ego. If you are already in a leadership position or in a position of power, it could be a sign that you are manipulating your gifts to control others.
The message is to release the alligator and see if it will choose to stay with you. This is the real test: trusting and surrendering while possessing great power and strength.
〰️
Dreaming of an Alligator in Water
Dreaming of an alligator in water represents your emotions and beliefs hidden in your subconscious. You may feel as though you can rationalize your emotions, but sometimes they burst out of the water and attack when you least expect it. It would help to connect with your intuition and to balance the logic with intuitive thinking.
This dream could also be about your reservations about bring your dreams and passions into the physical world. You may have the ideas for a new project but aren’t ready to launch it just yet. This may be because you are worried you will fail, or that you don’t have the right skills or authority to do it. Maybe it is a case of “imposter syndrome.”
It could be that you don’t feel as though this is the right timing, so you are patiently waiting for the right opportunity to strike. However, that time just never comes.
Being underwater can often be about fearing the unknown and fearing that you will be in over your head, preventing you from taking action.
If you dream that the alligator was in the water but then comes out of the water, it is a sign that you are in the process of manifesting your imaginations and dreams into the world.
〰️
Dreaming of a Baby Alligator
Dreaming of a baby alligator is the signs of something that you just manifested into your reality, and is still being nurtured. Whatever thoughts, energies and actions you give to it will determine how it will turn out in the long run. Be aware of our own thoughts, and set intentions for what you want in the upcoming future.
This is a good omen, but you must decide how to nurture your projects so that they will have success.
It may be a good time to start setting stricter routines so that you are more products, such as wake up earlier, start a workout routine, start a diet, or begin to meditate more regularly.
〰️
Summary
Having dreams about alligators bring up a lot of stress and emotions; yet, most alligator dreams are giving you critical information about how you are creating your reality, and awareness of your own power.
This may be a good time to start setting your intentions and move forward with taking action on projects that you have been putting off.
Like everything on this site and on the internet, use your intuition when deciding what dream symbolism works best with you. While this is one interpretation of the spiritual meaning of alligators in dreams, everyone has their own intuitive and dream language. Sit still and listen to your own answers about what the symbolism of your alligator dream means to you and your spiritual journey.
〰️
