What Does It Mean to Dream of a Black Snake?

Some black snakes are scary, creepy animals. Others are more benign and even helpful.

The meaning of a black snake in your dream really depends on the situation. These creatures carry great power that can be used for good or for bad.

Black Snake Dream Symbolism

Power

A black snake symbolizes power. Power can be used to help or harm people, so your dream of a black snake could ask you to look at how you use power in your life.

A black snake dream could also refer to a situation where someone else is using their power against you. You may have to decide whether to fight back or flee, but, either way, your choice is your power.

Transformation

While humans shed skin cells continually, little by little in a way that is generally not noticeable, snakes shed their whole entire skin in one dramatic process usually a few times a year, according to The Forest Preserve District of Will County.

This type of skin shedding is common to all snakes, but the symbolism of black snakes particularly spotlights this part of snake life. Black, in any context, can be associated with transformation.

Dreaming of a black snake could therefore symbolize that it is time for you to shed something in your life that is no longer serving your growth. After that, you can become a better version of yourself.

Common Black Snake Dreams

Dream of a big black snake

A black cobra in your dream or other big black snake in your dream could symbolize power. If the snake is generally on good terms with you, then you might be more powerful than you think you are.

If the big black snake in your dream is unfriendly toward you, however, dreaming of a big black snake could symbolize that you have a powerful enemy that you need to protect yourself from.

Dream of killing a black snake

The meaning of killing a black snake in your dream can depend on what the snake is doing in your dream. If the snake is attacking you, and you kill it in self-defense, the dream would mean that you have the ability to defend yourself against a powerful enemy.

If you kill a black snake that is not displaying aggression toward you or others, however, this could symbolize that you are afraid of power and transformation.

Dream of a black snake chasing you

If you dreamed of a black snake chasing you, how well did you succeed in getting away? If you manage to run away from an aggressive black snake, this could symbolize that you have the ability to escape a powerful enemy who might wish you harm.

If you successfully run away from a black snake, however, you have also evaded the helpful potential that a black snake has to offer. Black snakes can represent transformation and change, so running away from a black snake could symbolize that you are trying to avoid change, even though change might be in your best interest.

Dream of a black snake biting you

If you dreamed of a black snake biting you, what happened in the dream after you got bitten? Sometimes with a snake attack, like with a dog attack or bee attack, the worst part is your fear leading up to the attack.

One twist to a black snake bite dream that makes it different from other dreams of being attacked is that some snakes have venom that is poisonous to humans in their bites. This is not the case for every snake, but, if you are not a reptile expert, and you get bitten by an unfamiliar snake, you may not know what you are going to get.

If you become sick immediately after the black snake bites you in your dream, dreaming of a black snake biting you could symbolize that someone in your life is not good for you.

If the black snake bites you, and nothing bad happens, or you even feel better, maybe the snake gave you something you needed. This could symbolize that you could benefit from the positive qualities of the snake, such as adaptability and transformation.

Dream of a snake that is black with a second color

If you dream of a snake that is at least partly black but has a second color too, the symbolism of the second color, as described in What Does It Mean if You Dream About Colors?, would contrast with the symbolism of black.

For example, the black and white snake dream meaning would combine white’s symbolism of purity and innocence with black’s symbolism of life’s heavier issues.

In a dream with an overall negative context, a black and white snake could mean that you are seeing difficult issues in an overly simplistic way that will lead to trouble for you. In a more positive setting, it could mean that you have the strength to deal with serious challenges honestly but also the faith that good will win in the end.

Dream of black snake coming out of your body

If you dream of a black snake coming out of your body, the interpretation depends on what part of your body it emerges from.

Dreaming of a black snake coming out of your mouth could mean you have concerns about what you are saying. Snakes can be associated with deceptive speech, as in a famous story in the Bible, so you could feel guilty about having lied to someone.

Snakes also are powerful, though, so dreaming of a snake coming out of your mouth could symbolize that you are intimidated by your own capacity to speak powerfully.

Dreaming of a black snake coming out of your bottom could reflect concerns you have about your digestive health, as a snake at rest can at times resemble a bowel movement. As always, this website does not provide medical advice, and you need to contact a healthcare professional for any medical concerns you may have.

If you do not have concerns about your digestive health, dreaming of a black snake coming out of your digestive part could symbolize that you feel the need to purge yourself of negative qualities associated with snakes such as deception.

Dreaming of a black snake coming out of your private part could symbolize that sexual matters are important to you at this time. Snakes are sometimes regarded as a phallic symbol.

Dreaming of a black snake coming out of the top of your head could symbolize that you feel powerful intellectually and are perhaps using your intellect to trick people. This could also reference the myth of Medusa, who had hair made of snakes, as noted at GreekMythology.com. People who looked at Medusa turned to stone, which shows the power of snakes.

Conclusion

Black snakes in your dreams narrow your focus within the large field of snake symbolism to associations that are also shared with the color black: power and transformation.

Deception is a part of snake symbolism that is not primarily associated with black snakes. It could, however, be a factor in some situations of transformation where a person goes through a change that results in them becoming so different from how they were before that others who were close with them prior to the change feel deceived.

It is possible for power and transformation as symbolized by black snakes to be used in a destructive way. Even destruction that feels painful in the moment, however, can become the foundation for rebirth and renewal.