What Does it Mean When You Dream About Spiders?

Dreaming of spiders tends to be associated with bad luck, fear or aggressiveness. However, there can be more meanings, depending on the content of the dream itself. Find out more here.
What Does it Mean When You Dream About Spiders?

Last update: 07 October, 2021

The world of dreams is a source of fascination for many people. In your dreams, there are often unconscious or repressed impulses or desires that, for some reason, don’t show themselves when you’re awake. In this article, we’re going to talk about what it means when you dream about spiders. This is a fairly common dream, as is dreaming of animals in general.

It’s generally understood that dreaming of insects is related to the general ups and downs of life. More specifically, dreaming of spiders symbolizes discussions and problems you might currently have in your conscious life. However, how many different versions of spider dreams are there and what does each of them mean?

What does it mean to dream about animals?

Before talking about the meaning of dreaming about spiders, let’s talk a little about the general symbolism of dreaming about animals.

In 2006, Anna Monteschi wrote The Great Book of Dreams. In this book, she stated that animals experience certain parallels with human beings. For example, birth, life, and death. Furthermore, they eat, mate and fight…just like humans.

However, unlike humans, they’re unaware of their life and destiny. For this reason, they tend to be used to represent or project the impulses and passions that we, as humans, don’t follow, precisely because we are aware of our own nature.

In this sense, in the dream world, animals act as extremely useful projections to represent that part of us that’s primitive and instinctive. In other words, the part that’s impossible to rationally analyze.

Woman dreaming of spiders

Some meanings of dreams about animals

Dreaming of animals may have multiple meanings. It all depends on the type of dream. For example, dreaming of unknown animals is said to be a symbol of bad luck. To dream that an animal follows you, such as a spider, can mean that you need to make a decision and perhaps be a little aggressive in order to be successful at work.

Finally, dreaming that you transform into an animal is a symbol of cunning. If in the dream, the animal speaks to you, it signifies that it’s not advisable to be too impressed by people around you who may appear to be learned and wise.

If you dream about an animal…

If you dream about an animal, you should ask yourself when and in what circumstances you saw it. Then, you need to consider how you felt about the animal. Did you love it? Were you afraid of it?

In addition, ask yourself if the animal is considered ugly or beautiful. These questions tend to relate to your current life. Also, to your feelings and past experiences. As a matter of fact, this is a typical element involved in the process of psychoanalysis.

What does it mean to dream about spiders?

Dreaming of spiders tends to be associated with discussions and problems in your present life. There may be multiple meanings here. For example, if you dream you’re holding the spider in your hand, it might mean that you’re usually courageous in the face of the most feared and dangerous situations.

On the other hand, if you dream that you kill the spider, this is a good omen and a symbol of wealth. In fact, the meaning is the same if you dream of killing insects in general. If the spider’s extremely large, this relates to a discussion that’ll have many consequences.

In general, dreaming that you see spiders implies an unpleasant situation. If it crawls on you it symbolizes annoyance.

If you simply dream that you see a spider, this symbolizes an unpleasant situation in your life. Furthermore, if you also see it weaving, this may mean that you’re waiting to become involved in something.

Well, we’ve talked about some meanings attributed to dreaming about spiders. However, there’s more, so read on!

The spider bites you

Spiders sting their prey and paralyze them with their venom.

If you dream that a spider bites you, you may find yourself at a time in your life when you’re feeling paralyzed by fear, insecurities, or doubts. This restricts you when making decisions. Therefore, the spider bite in your dream invites you to reflect on the decision you have to make.

Black spiders

Dreaming of black spiders may represent a specific fear in your life. However, it’s probably one that you’re not particularly aware of.

Dreaming of cobwebs

In this case, you can view the dream as a possible warning or need to be aware. In fact, you may have the feeling, in your real life, that someone is “out to get you”.

On the other hand, if, in the dream, you’re cleaning your house of cobwebs, this is related to the need for an inner cleansing in order for you to be happy. If your mouth is full of cobwebs, be careful, because perhaps you’re not being honest with yourself.

Spiders in your hair

Dreaming of spiders in your hair relates to fears that you’re thinking about a lot. In fact, it’s a dream that tells you about your deep fears. The ones that you should maybe take a closer look at. The kind of fears that leave you without any strength. They’re usually deeply rooted.

Woman with hands on head

How do you feel about spider dreams?

Have you ever dreamed of spiders? If so, in order to interpret your dream, you need to be aware of how you actually felt in the dream. For instance, did you experience feelings of disgust, repulsion, fear, fascination, curiosity….? Then, try and relate those feelings to your real life or to any real situations you’ve experienced with spiders.

Often, dreams are snippets of the day-to-day, of memories or things that have happened to you or you’ve seen. In these cases, they tend not to have any underlying meaning. However, at other times, they might be trying to tell you something…..

“We are a little more ourselves during sleep; the torpor of the body seems only to be the awakening of the soul. It represents the bond of the senses, but also the freedom of reason; our conceptions, upon awakening, do not reach the fantasies of our dream “.

-Thomas Browne-


All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.


  • Freud, S. (2013). La interpretación de los sueños. Editorial Akal.
  • Monteschi, A. (2006). El gran libro de los sueños. La interpretación de más de 10.000 sueños para conocerlo todo sobre el amor, la riqueza y el éxito. Editorial De Vecchi, S.A.U. Barcelona.
  • Trujillo, M. (2004). Interpretación de los sueños. Editorial Libsa. Madrid.

This text is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace consultation with a professional. If in doubt, consult your specialist.