The 100 Best Dream Symbols

If you are hungry for the prophetic, than these 100 Dream and Vision Symbols will be an amazing resource for you! Each of these have been taken from The Way of Dreams and Visions Symbol DIctionary by Apostle Colette Toach, get your own copy today by clicking the button below!

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Demons

It is common to see demons both in dreams and visions. Seeing these beings indicates that you are functioning in the gift of discerning of spirits.

The Lord will reveal these things to you at His bidding, but if you are having demonic manifestations or coming face to face with demonic forces that you cannot control, realize that the enemy has been given license in your life and you need to deal with it accordingly.

CHARACTER SPECIFIC AND UNIVERSAL SYMBOLS

I often see demons in the spirit and I will give you a quick summary here of the different levels of demons. You can then relate this to what you have experienced and seen in the spirit:

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places]." - Ephesians 6:12 (KJV)

"Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory." - 1 Corinthians 2:8 (KJV)

The following descriptions have been based on The Prophetic Warrior. You will find all the Scripture references and full explanations in this book. The following is simply a summary.

Principality demons: These are usually your spirits of infirmities. I see them in the spirit as insects, small crustaceans and so forth. I remember one time really suffering with a pinched sciatic nerve on my left side. The pain was unbearable, shooting from my hip and down my leg, sometimes even making my leg feel lame.

My husband Craig prayed for me and in the spirit he saw what looked like a scorpion on the nerve pinching it. By identifying the spirit of infirmity, he told it to go and I felt an instant relief. The pain and the condition cleared up and by the next day I was walking around as if nothing had happened.

By identifying the spirit of infirmity when praying for someone and telling it to leave will often bring an immediate result.

What I share here is based on my personal experience. You may see these demons in a different way. This is just a guideline for you to follow and help you identify what you may be seeing.

Power demons: These demons are a little stronger and are what are associated to things like depression, discouragement and deception. (See Snakes for more on deception)

They are what attacks us in our day-to-day walk. These are the demons that are also given the most license through association with others and by contamination through family generations.

We see these demons often like monkeys or gorillas hanging on and attacking.

Ruler demons: These demons are stronger and look a bit more human in the spirit. The ruler demons are occult in nature and if someone is possessed then there is a ruler demon involved. I often see an occult demon as a broad shouldered, strong- looking demon. Sometime green or grey in color with a bald head and pointy ears.

Some people see these spirits as your typical "devil -pointed ears, forked tongue" kind of creature. These demons are given license through personal or generational sin involving, witchcraft, false religion, freemasonry, horoscopes, fortune-telling and so forth.

I have seen the prince of death and he looks like an emaciated black being. Thin and evil. I have seen the prince of lust. He is attractive, almost feminine in appearance and is dressed lavishly in many different colored silks. When I see this demon, I know that the person I am ministering to is bound by lust.

These are just a few, but you should be able to identify for yourself what you are coming against.

Jezebel spirit: I see the Jezebel spirit as a witch who is haggard and aggressive. When ministering to someone and I see this, I know that counseling as well as deliverance will be needed. I have found this particular demon to be quite aggressive – like with any demon, the person in question will need to deal with personal sin before they can break free.

Princes:

"In which in time past you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the authority of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience" - Ephesians 2:2

These demons coordinate and arrange entire structures to help them fulfill their purpose.

This is where you will find your territorial spirits. You will have princes with varied influences.

To name a few of them: family generational princes, territorial princes, and princes who are in control of specific archetypes.

What separates them from the other categories, is that they build the structure in which the other demons can fulfill their purpose.

Territorial demons: The princes are very human in appearance and can even be “good looking” at times. These are the demons placed over an area such as the prince of Persia mentioned in the Word. Yes, there is a prince of America, Mexico, Africa, and every other country, state, and province of the earth. They are given license through the sin and the words of man.

I have seen the prince of America as a half-bull and half-man. Having the face of a man, but the horns of a bull. We have seen the prince of Mexico as looking like a type of Indian chief, with a full feather headdress on.

Wickedness in high places: There are seven main categories of princes that rule the systems of this world. I teach on them in The Strategies of War.

Here I will mention the three main leaders of the demonic realm. The first being Lucifer who is in charge of the religious system. The second is Apollyon who is in charge of the world and the attack on us directly, and Pharaoh, who is in charge of the world system and referred to as “The God of This World.”

Lucifer: Usually attractive looking – do not assume the enemy is unattractive! He was after all, the son of the morning.

"How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations!" - Isaiah 14:12

Apollyon: I usually see him as half-human and half-reptilian in the spirit. Note that demons are disembodied spirits – how you see them might differ from the way the Lord shows them to me.

"And they had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name Apollyon" - Revelation 9:11

Pharaoh: I usually see him as a pharaoh of old, sitting on a huge throne surrounded by the banks of the world.

"In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." - 2 Corinthians 4:4

Doctor

A process of healing and restoration to be experienced through another person.

So often when we come to the Lord with hurts in our hearts, we want to hide away and have Him heal them quietly. More often than not though, He will use others to bring healing. He will use “spiritual doctors” to come and reach in.

Consider this: If you were able to receive this kind of healing on your own, then you would be healed already. It stands to reason that if you are still struggling with hurts or conflicts that you need someone from the outside to help.

"On hearing this, Jesus said, 'It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick." - Matthew 9:12 (NIV)

CHARACTER SPECIFIC AND UNIVERSAL SYMBOLS

POSITIVE

If you dream of going to the doctor or being treated for something, this is an indication that there is some “fixing” that the Lord wants to do in your life. This fixing, is something that He wants to do through someone else, so if you have been led to a ministry or to a specific person, it is likely that this is the person that God wants to use.

If you dream of a successful surgery, then the Lord is saying that He is going to complete the work that He has begun. If you are a doctor or dream of a specific doctor that you know, you would need to determine what they mean to you in real life. If they are someone that you rely heavily on, they could very well represent the work of the Holy Spirit in your life.

NEGATIVE

If you have a fear of doctors or have had a bad experience in the past, dreaming of them would also be negative. It would speak of the enemy trying to bring a spirit of fear into your life.

If you dream of having surgery you did not need or of a surgery going bad, then this also speaks of the work of the enemy to try and “dig up” things in your life that are just not there. It is like the passage above – only the sick need a doctor!

So if you dream of being healthy and attacked by doctors or being pushed into surgery you do not need, then it means that the enemy is trying to trick you into digging up things in your life that do not need to be dealt with right now.

On the other hand, if you dream that you need surgery and that a doctor is trying to reach out to you, but you keep rejecting him, this is negative. It means that you refuse to look at the deeper issues that God wants to deal with inside of you. You are trying to avoid painful things in the hope that they will just go away. In situations like this, it is time to submit to the Lord and the person He is using to finally bring healing and change in this area of your life

UNIVERSAL SYMBOL

POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE

As ministers, the Lord often uses us as spiritual doctors. We are there to comfort and to bring healing to broken hearts. When my husband Craig prays for physical or emotional healing for someone, he encourages them to relax and not to try so hard to believe.

He shares the illustration of them being on the operating table and to just trust “the doctor” to do the right job. In the spirit, we will also see a wound that represents a hurt. It is for us to follow up with healing and counsel.

Dog

If negative a dog speaks of attack coming from the world. It can also speak about a spirit of fear. If positive, it can represent trust and loyalty.

CHARACTER SPECIFIC SYMBOL

If you dream about your pet dog, then look up Pet for a better understanding. If you are afraid of dogs, then they would represent fear in your life.

If you love dogs, then they would speak of joy or a blessing in your dreams.

UNIVERSAL SYMBOL

Wolves and dogs have the same meaning in Scripture.

They do not have a positive connotation in Scripture at all. They speak of something that is evil. They also speak of demonic attack. The kind of attack that comes at you from all sides. It also spoke of someone that was lowly or held a low level position.

If you see dogs attacking anyone in a vision, it speaks of the enemy seeking to devour and destroy:

"For dogs have surrounded Me; the congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet." - Psalms 22:16

Door

A new direction in your life, or one that has passed. A gate, path, door or fence opening all speak of either a new direction in your life or one that has passed.

I often see a door or gate in the spirit when I am releasing someone into something new in their lives.

A door often speaks of a new plan that the Lord has for them. Perhaps someone has been trusting the Lord for a new job or hoping to move house. If I see an open door before them, it means that the way is clear before them. If I see a closed door, it either means that we need to pray and open the door, or that something is blocking them. The same refers to a path or to a gate.

I might see a blockage in the road that needs removing, or the Lord could be saying "Not now, I have put this blockage here for a reason". Once again, it takes a bit of discernment and a look at the person's current condition. Let's look at a few typical scenarios here:

POSITIVE

I see a door, gate or a new path in the spirit most often when I am releasing an individual into their ministry or releasing them into something new. When I have imparted gifts or confirmed a calling in a person's life, then the Lord often shows me a new door that he has for them. This door refers to a new plan, with a new set of circumstances.

This often also involves closing off the doors to the past. At this point the Holy Spirit requires that they commit entirely to this new plan and allow Him to “burn their bridges” of the past and close all past doors.

Referring to a new direction for ministry:

"because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me." 1 Corinthians 16:9 - (NIV)

"Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and found that the Lord had opened a door for me," - 2 Corinthians 2:12 (NIV)

If you see a closed door, then the Lord means for you to open it in the spirit:

"I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name." - Revelation 3:8 (NIV)

NEGATIVE

Most negative doors I see in the spirit refer to an open door to the demonic realm. When I see an open door and darkness behind it, or a demon coming out of it, I know that a person has an “open door” in their lives.

In other words, they have given the enemy license to mess in their lives because of personal sin, generational sin or sin by association. I do not close this door on the person's behalf.

It is vital to remember that you cannot forgive sins that are unto death. In other words, if the person in question opened the door, then it is up to them to repent and shut it.

In a nutshell apply:

"Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." - James 4:7

Submit to the Lord, confess your sin, and then close that door and tell satan to leave!

Speaking of walking a life of sin (thus giving the enemy license in your life)

"Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of evil." - Proverbs 4:14

In reference to giving license to the enemy:

"Be angry, and do not sin: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil." - Ephesians 4:26

Eagle

A picture of the Holy Spirit and His ability to protect us and do warfare on our behalf.

Positive: Powerful work of the Holy Spirit

Negative: Destructive work of the enemy

CHARACTER SPECIFIC AND UNIVERSAL SYMBOLS

POSITIVE

There are so many positive connotations for the eagle, that you might have many of your own in addition to this book.

My favorite is a personal revelation the Holy Spirit gave me concerning hiding in the shadow of His wings.

I saw myself standing alone, facing the many attacks and pressures that I am used to facing daily. Then I saw a huge eagle come and stand behind me and extend its wings. As it stood behind me, I was covered by its shadow.

When I stood alone, I looked very small when others looked at me. But when that eagle was behind me, the size of His very shadow made them stop dead in their tracks!

Alone, I was helpless, but as I stood in His shadow, they saw His magnificence, and so I was protected!

"Because You have been my help, therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice." - Psalms 63:7

Here is another passage that describes the Lord as an eagle:

"As an eagle stirs up its nest, hovers over its young, spreading out its wings, taking them up, carrying them on its wings:" - Deuteronomy 32:11

NEGATIVE

In a negative light, an eagle can also speak of destruction. The eagle is a bird of prey, and it tears that prey apart with its powerful beak and

claws.

Here is a passage that indicates that an eagle in a vision or external dream, can indicate destruction and an attack from the enemy:

"... their cavalry comes from afar; they fly as the eagle that hastens to eat." - Habakkuk 1:8

Fire

This symbol can take on many forms. It can be a picture of passion, cleansing or even destruction. The interpretation will depend on the context of the dream or vision.

Positive: The anointing of God to refine the gold in you
Negative: The destructive work of the enemy meant to bring you pain

CHARACTER SPECIFIC SYMBOL

POSITIVE

Fire in a dream can speak of a purging and a cleansing. It speaks of burning the old to make way for the new.

Depending on the context of the dream, it could mean that the old or the past is being burned, so that the new can come to pass.

This may also represent a death of a vision with regards to your ministry, personal death to the flesh with regards to your own spiritual condition, or sacrifice with regards to the price of the calling on your life.

Fire is also a picture of the passion you have for life and for the Lord.

I see fire as being positive more often than it being negative in a dream.

NEGATIVE

Fire can also speak of destruction and of fear. If you have a fear of fire, then this would represent fear to you in an internal dream.

If you had bad experiences with fire as a child, then fire would not mean a good thing to you. However, if you dreamed that you overcame a fire in your dream, this would represent a healing from those past memories.

UNIVERSAL SYMBOL

POSITIVE

Fire has many interpretations in Scripture. Some of the most common are: anointing, Holy Spirit, purging, glory of God, death and change.

Fire is used to make a clay vessel set in its shape. It is also used to refine gold.

Fire in visions is often positive, and speaks of the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of a person or ministry. It speaks of being made pure, holy and purged of all dross and sin in our lives.

Here is my favorite passage referring to our calling being refined as gold:

"that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ:" - 1 Peter 1:7

Time and time again we will be called to stand in the fire, so that we might be purified and made as gold for the Lord.

Often the Lord has said to me personally, "Do you want all I have for you? Then stand in the fire. For as long as you stand in the fire, I will continue to use you, for your works and your flesh will bow to my will alone."

It will cost you to stand in the fire, but it will also change you - forever.

I have also seen the Holy Spirit as a pillar of fire many times as I have been in prayer. You can find many references in the Word as to the Lord being like fire. Here are just a few:

"For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God." -Deuteronomy 4:24

Here is a good picture of the Holy Spirit:

"And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night." - Exodus 13:21

NEGATIVE

Fire in a negative sense speaks of destruction. The Word says that our tongues are set on fire by hell, meaning that evil and negative words destroy. (James 3:6)

The Scripture also refers to the fiery darts of the enemy. These bring pain, destruction and a curse into our lives.

If you see this in a vision, then you need to stand against those negative words and curses in the name of Jesus!

"above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one." - Ephesians 6:16

Fish

A picture of provision for your needs. Fishing refers to your job or business. If your business is “ministry” then it speaks of the work of the ministry.

Catching fish with either a rod or net is also a picture of the evangelistic ministry.

Positive:

Provision for your daily needs
Success in ministry

Negative:

Loss of provision
Failure to follow through in ministry

CHARACTER SPECIFIC SYMBOL

POSITIVE

Fish speak of provision and providing your needs. In the old days, fishing was one of the main sources of hunting and gathering food.

Today it lines up with the saying, "Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him to fish and he will eat for a lifetime."

If you dream of fishing, it could have two interpretations. If you personally enjoy fishing as a sport, it could speak of something you enjoy and a recreation.

However, if you do not have any fishing memories, then it speaks of working and providing the things you need.

NEGATIVE

If you dream of a shark or of a fish that is deadly, this speaks of something quite negative. It speaks of attack, or of reaping something negative for your hard work.

Perhaps you are working in an area where you should not be. Or perhaps you put all your effort into something that you thought would be a blessing, but it is not going well.

Dreaming of a shark or a deadly fish would confirm the trouble you are in, and a good idea would be to get out of the situation.

To dream of fish dying indicates two things. If it relates to your finances, it is speaking of your finances dying. This is an attack from the enemy and likely caused by a curse.

UNIVERSAL SYMBOL

POSITIVE

Keep in mind that the interpretation for dreams is going to vary from the interpretation for a vision or an internal prophetic dream.

Evangelism: The fish has varied meanings in Scripture, but the most outstanding is the picture of evangelism. Consider this famous passage:

"Then He said to them, Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." - Matthew 4:19

So if you dream or have a vision that you are fishing, then it is an indication of an evangelistic ministry. The evangelist has two functions:

The first is to see him as a man with a fishing rod, who catches one fish at a time. This speaks of the one-on-one ministry that the evangelist does.

Then he can be likened to the fisherman who casts out the net. This speaks of the mass and public ministry of the evangelist. We see Jesus fulfilling both these functions in His ministry.

Provision: To have a vision or dream of receiving a fish speaks of having your basic needs met by the Lord. In each instance in the Word, you will see that the provision was supernatural, although some work was involved.

This indicates that if you will only obey the Lord in the direction that He has given you, He will move on your behalf and meet your needs miraculously.

"Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the multitude." - Luke 9:16

NEGATIVE

Of course rotten fish would indicate a curse regarding your daily needs. The enemy is stealing, killing and destroying!

To dream of fishing for dead fish is also negative – you are either trying to evangelize in the wrong area, or those you are trying to reach need the anointing for you to revive them – not just a good speech!

If you dream of fish dying after being caught, it could also speak of the need for ministry follow up for those that are recently born again.

Flowers

Flowers speak of beauty and promise. Their life is not long though, so they speak of a blessing that does not endure for very long, but is wonderful while it does.

Positive: A sweet promise that is about to come to pass

Negative: A stolen blessing

POSITIVE

They also represent the promise of fruit and reproduction. A flower in bud is a good picture of the birth of a vision.

"As for man, his days are like grass; as a flower of the field, so he flourishes." - Psalms 103:15

Often in the spirit we have seen the work we have done as seeds that are flowering. Just like flowers give a wonderful harvest but die quickly, so also does it require you to keep sowing seeds.

The minute you stop sowing, the flower that you once enjoyed died and there is nothing more to enjoy.

A bud: A bud speaks of something of promise that is only just starting out. Although it will lead to much fruit in the future, it is still tender and needs to be taken care of.

"Those who come He shall cause to take root in Jacob; Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit." - Isaiah 27:6

If you are praying for someone, you might see them as a bud. This indicates that they have a lot of potential, but are still growing.

They need to be nurtured and encouraged. To reject or to strongly correct a person like this could mean crushing them.

NEGATIVE

Dried flowers represent an old season. The season for that beauty and promise is now passed and it is time to move on. To dream of hanging on to dry flowers means you are clinging to the promises of the past, when the Lord has something new for you.

Flowers that are wilting is a warning from the Lord that either the enemy is stealing the life out of your promises, or that it is time to start sowing more seeds again. Have you been investing faith, hope and love into the spiritual realm?

Flying

A desire to escape the pressures of life. Positively, it speaks of being free of the burdens in your life right now.

Positive:

Seeing things from God’s perspective
Promotion

Negative: Running away from your problems

CHARACTER SPECIFIC SYMBOL

POSITIVE

It is common to dream of flying, especially in internal dreams. This represents your inner desires.

Perhaps if you are under stress, you dream that you are flying away. This is simply a picture of your inner desires and how you feel at the moment. You wish that you could escape the pressures you are under.

NEGATIVE

It is also common to dream that you are being attacked and that you are trying to fly away; or that you are trying to fly but struggle to do so.

This is a picture of the attack and conflict you are currently experiencing in your life. It is a good picture of what you are experiencing in real life. You are trying to “take off”, but you keep failing to do so.

Perhaps you are working on a new project or going in a new direction, and things are not going according to plan. You need to identify for yourself why you are not “taking off” in these areas.

I suggest that you journal and ask the Lord for direction. The Way of Dreams and Visions book gives full instruction on how to journal.

UNIVERSAL SYMBOL

POSITIVE

"So I said, Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest." - Psalms 55:6

In a vision or a prophetic dream, flying is a picture of escaping from the pressures and attacks of the enemy and into the presence of the Lord. Here you will find the peace that you are looking for.

In The Journey of Tamar, I write often about flying with the Mighty Eagle. As a believer the Lord has called you to fly high above your circumstances with the Holy Spirit.

To have a prophetic dream or vision of flying is a picture of flying high above your problems. The Lord is saying that it is time you start looking at things from His perspective, and to take your eyes off the natural things.

NEGATIVE

"Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away like an eagle toward heaven." - Proverbs 23:5

To see something flying away speaks of something that is fleeting and leaving. This is a picture of something in your life that does not have a firm root, or is built on the wrong foundation.

Foundation

Dreams: A picture of the things you have based your life on. A good representation of the archetypes that you follow.

Visions: A picture of a doctrinal belief system.

Positive: Plans of the future are secure

Negative: The inability to build for the future

CHARACTER SPECIFIC SYMBOL

If you dream of the foundation of an old house you stayed in, in the past, it represents everything you were and everything that was built into you at that time.

Old foundation: Perhaps you will dream of an old house where the foundation is still standing. It would mean that whatever was built into you at that time still remains. You would need to discern if what was built into you back then was positive or negative!

You could dream of a church building or foundation. It would then represent your spiritual foundation. It is a picture of the things that have been built into you spiritually through the years.

Once again it could be positive or negative depending on the context of your dream. If the foundation or building is cracked, it could mean that there is a flaw in what has been built into you.

If you dream of the foundation or building being destroyed, it could mean that the Lord is smashing all of the old templates that have been built into you over the years.

A new foundation: A new building and foundation being erected could speak of something new that the Lord is going to build into you - spiritually speaking.

Perhaps He is leading you to receive from a new ministry or to head out into something new. Dreaming of a new building and foundation would then confirm that it is indeed the Lord leading you in this direction.

Foundation being laid: In the Word, Christ is our foundation! If you see a new foundation being laid in a vision, this speaks of a new work beginning.

It means that the Lord is about to begin building a new pattern or plan into the life, ministry or church you were praying for at the time.

Keep in mind that you will always receive a vision according to what frame of spirit you were in at the time.

Breaking foundations: I have often seen the Lord give someone a long staff in the spirit, to break up a foundation. This is an apostolic function, and I often see it when we are confirming an apostolic call in a person.

In the old days they would use a rod to smash the foundation so that they might start again. If you see a similar vision, or external dream, then it speaks of smashing and removing the old incorrect pattern of the system, so that the new can be put in its place.

A foundation refers to the foundation of God's house:

"... Who spoke in the day the foundation was laid for the house of the Lord of hosts, that the temple might be built." - Zechariah 8:9

It also refers to what we build our lives upon:

"He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock." - Luke 6:48

Referring to those things that we establish for the Lord through ministry:

"According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it." - 1 Corinthians 3:10

NEGATIVE

Cracked foundation: A broken foundation or building speaks of something that was not properly built or something that has been broken down.

If you get this kind of vision for a person or ministry, then it would mean that what they have built their spiritual life or ministry on is not solid, and that it has flaws.

I often see the status quo church system like this. It has walls and a building that may look firm, but with a broken and weak foundation.

It is like when someone has fed things into their spirit that were not the correct pattern or of God:

"But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great." - Luke 6:49

Having a wrong foundation means that you cannot build for the future. You must be prepared today for the plan God wants you to fulfill tomorrow. Without a solid foundation, this is impossible.