Need Help With Some Animal Symbolism..., Hermit Crabs, Giant Spiders, Baby Bear.... wtf. Options

Okay so without going to far into the details of this dream I had last night, here are the big points and where the animals came in.

You all watch the show heroes, I presume? If you don't, you live under a rock. It's the only thing I watch on TV, but anyway, last night my dream started as me, and then I became first Nathan Patrelli, then Peter Patrelli through the course of the dream.

I flew out over the ocean, fast and far enough to fly clear into the night, I got the impression I was flying east to get away from the day light. I flew out over a storm, like a hurricane, and there was thunder and lightning. THen, for some reason I seemed to lose my nerve, and I fell out of the sky. I landed among some rocks, and had to climb over them to find shelter. I tried to fly again, but couldn't for some reason. So, I was climbing across these rocks and there was a sort of muddy beach there at their base where I was trying to find like a cave or something to wait out the storm in (I had fallen kind of through it). As I made my way across the mud, there were hermit crabs everywhere, like thousands of them. THey pinched my toes, and I had to start sweeping them aside literally by the hundreds as they covered the mud.

Eventually I waited out the storm, some other details that I understood perfectly well went by, and then after changing perspectives to Nathan, and then to Peter, as peter something happened and I woke up. I went almost right back to sleep though, and the story picked up as though I had just disappeared from it and then reappeared some several hours later. Now I was in my apartment, but as Peter Patrelli. There was a faceless woman (which is to say, I didn't identify her -as- anyone, it was just some generic woman but I got the sense she was young) who was at my window. She pointed out of it and mentioned the spiders spinning their webs, and how it was beautiful. I went to look, and there were little spiders there spinning those classic circular webs. But then I saw other spiders, like I suddenly noticed they were there, not spinning webs but kind of hanging around, and they were much bigger, like the size of your head big. They moved a little and I saw them, but then I noticed even bigger spiders, and these had already caught something - baby bears - and were eating them very graphically. These were like, spiders the size of a ten-year-old, with huge mandibles that were tearing the flesh off of the baby bears bit by bit as they sat contently in this tree munching away.

The rest of the dream was more normal, and I understood all the events as they symbolized elements of my life now, but I have never been to good with animal symbolism, especially when I interact with it so much over the course of the dream, and when the animals interact with one another that way.

I know that Spiders represents the weavers, those who make illusions, and so symbolize creativity and creation, and that bears represent judgement, wisdom, and practicality, at least as far as I have ever heard - they've never been a symbol in my dreams before - and while spiders have, I've never seen them interacting with other symbols, and hermit crabs I've also never seen, and also never heard anything about. To have them in my dreams was kind of odd it seems like. I used to collect them at the beach as a child, if it makes a difference to anyone's opinions.

So any thoughts on the animal symbolism and what it might suggest? Greatly appreciated, I typically do okay interpreting dreams and sometimes even have an interpreter in the dream with me, but he was no where to be found last night...

peace

Greetings,

I must be living under a rock for I never saw Heroes, but for dream interpretation the two characters you where would display characteristics you would like to or do have. As for the flying part, http://dreammoods.com says that:

"Flying dreams fall under the category of lucid dreaming, associated with an exhilarating, joyful, and liberating experience.” You said that you where flying over an Ocean- defined as "A great expanse or amount; vast, limitless feelings”- so it could stand that you are overwhelmed with emotions” (http://petrix.com/dreams/o.html.) Then you flew over a storm, which is associated with a "Disturbance. Sudden attack, or Rage. There are some forces struggling within you.” Dreammoods goes on to say: “If you are flying with ease and enjoying the scene and landscape below, then it suggests that you are on top of a situation. You have risen above something. It may also mean that you have gained a different perspective on things. Flying dreams and the ability to control your flight is representative of your own personal sense of power. Having difficulties staying in flight indicates a lack of power in controlling your own circumstances. You may be struggling to stay aloft and stay on course. Things like power lines, trees, or mountains may further obstruct your flight. These barriers represent a particular obstacle or person who is standing in your way in your waking life; you need to identify whom or what is hindering you from moving forward.”

As with most common dream themes, falling is an indication of insecurities, instabilities, and anxieties. You are feeling overwhelmed and out of control in some situation in your waking life. This may reflect the way you feel in your relationship or in your work environment. This loss of control may parallel a situation in your life.

To see rocks in your dream signify permanence and stability, it may also indicate that you are making a commitment to a relationship. Or you may be contemplating some changes in your life that will lay the groundwork for a more solid foundation. Hiding from the storm would indicate that you found a solid place to work out an issue- be it a person or place.

To dream that you are climbing a rock signifies struggles, obstacles, and disappointments.

You where walking on a beach (a place associated with conscious and unconscious meeting,) when you saw the crabs, which relate to love affairs, or avoiding rivals. Feet or anything relating to feet symbolizes your basic beliefs, or direction in life.

This string of associations would have me believe that you are being offered a way out of a situation where you have little control. The solution is to find something- or someone- that that is stable, and set off in a new direction with it. With out letting it or interfere with your life as a whole.

The home- I am using home because the associations for apartment don’t fit with the rest of your dream- is the center of being the spiritual self or shelter where basic needs are fulfilled. The presents of the window- associated with an opening, or opportunity sometimes with being watched and a need for privacy- could be a warning that the new path is one that will lead to more transparency in your relationships. I believe this because of the recurring theme of relationships. The generic person, in my experience, is most often a surrogate for your self or your subconscious, though it may stand for people at large, or the relationship that keeps popping up- I cannot be sure, but it is likely you will. What ever it is it will show you the symbol of the spider.

To dream of a spider, denotes you being careful and energetic in your labors; fortune will be amassed to pleasing proportions. Also, domestic happiness is a common metaphor. Their webs are symbolic of complexity, net works, delicacy, or feeling trap. The size of the spiders could denote that the issue they represent is of greater importance. The bear they are eating often symbolizes victory over enemies- consistent with the craps, and the storm- and is signifies overwhelming competition in pursuits of every kind. The fact that it was a baby is symbolic of happiness in the victory- also, rebirth; and trust. The eating- satisfaction, pleasure, and happiness- could be taken metaphorically as sabbatizing a beneficial relationship.

As with anything, as subjective as dreams you are in the best position to interpret them. I used mostly Freud-Jungian approach with the associated sets meanings to the symbols; however, each symbol could be more relevant if a personal meaning is used. The sites I used for this are listed below if you can put them to any use. Do hope this helps.

http://dreammoods.com
http://petrix.com/dreams/animals.html
http://www.dreamdoctor.com/dictionary

I'll take a look at the sites, but yeah, actually that does help quite a bit, and had I found the resources I might have come to nearly the same conclusions. A lot of... stuff, happening in my life lately, and I can see the relevance easily now.

Thanks for the work, the links would have sufficed, so, I appreciate the extra mile.

peace