Hippos and wolves - Please Interpret?

[Wolf-Tigress]

In my dream it started in Disney Land. We will skip to the part where I run to see the light water show and suddenly as I move up to see it was bright outside and there were people swimming in the water doing a show. Then two hippos were swimming in a circle. I said "Those aren't real hippos, they are too aggressive to be in there with humans". Suddenly I was in the water. Though the other hippos were normal color, the one that approached me was a light green[/color] (like this). He bumped into me and I got scared know he was real. He then grabbed my arm and dragged me through the water toward one of the people then let go. When the hippo turned back around he was suddenly a wolf. He grabbed my hand in is jaws again dragging me around wagging his tail. He brought me to the middle and suddenly the water was gone or at least low enough for me to sit on the ground. All the hippos were wolves now and there were more. They left their trainers and ran to me leaping over my head and bumping into me. A couple of them started to nip at each other. Then I woke.

Any Interpretations here?

[SnowCat]

I need to do more thinking, but I see change as a major theme in the dream. I can't come up with a commonality between hippos and wolves, but maybe they both mean something to you.

Snow

[Wolf-Tigress]

I just looked them up and they both can mean aggression, but it depends on who is interpreting it I guess.

[Vesca]

It's not generally so much what the animals "are" as much as what they are to you.

Do you associate hippos and wolves with aggression? What do you associate the color green with? Do you currently feel like you're being pulled in an unwanted direction in your life against your will?

Knowing what feelings you correspond with hippos and wolves and the color green will help this interpretation along fantastically. Take some time to sit down and think on it. Look at a picture of a hippo and a wolf and jot down in a notebook what thoughts and feelings pop into your head. Same with the color green.

[Wolf-Tigress]

Well I was scared of the hippos in the dream and scared when it pulled me, but when it turned into a wolf I wasn't scared anymore. Wolves are one of my favorite animals. I don't know what green means for me. In real life I find hippos beautiful and amazing even though I know how aggressive they can be. I have never ever been scared of wolves and grew up with wolfdogs so they wouldn't mean aggression really to me.

[naomij]

I love dreams, and I think only the dreamer can really relate to the symbolism of their own subconscious. Anyway I thought I'd reply because the water in the dream hasn't been discussed much yet.

Water tends to represent our emotional life - a choppy sea = turbulent emotions, a still lake = calm. I used to dream I was swimming in ice when I felt unloved.

A tank of water seems enclosed, trapping. You were outside, watching other people in it - then joined them. Is there an emotional issue which is shared with others?

The hippos are funny - an animal which we often see as cute but are potentially dangerous. You didn't know what to make of them at first in your dream, so they made sure you ended up really feeling frightened. Is there something you need to confront in your waking life, but you're not sure how easy/scary it might be?

Just my thoughts, feel free to take or leave x

[Wolf-Tigress]

Thanks! That's a good point. Water is an important aspect of the dream. Do you have any idea for the water becoming less at the same time the hippos turn to wolves and become more friendly?

[Becks]

Well, again I agree with Vesca and dreams aren't so much what symbols mean collectively, but what they mean to you. How do you view the element of water? For many water is a symbol of cleansing, and water can also be a symbol linked strongly to the emotional and feeling aspect of the self. Have you been feeling overwhelmed?

Naomij also mentioned this aspect in her reply to you.

[naomij]

Well, if the idea of water as representative of an emotional situation resonates with you, and the wolves get friendly (frankly it sounds like a nightmare to me, which is why its so important to look for your own interpretation!) then maybe this ending is telling you to dive in, because the situation might just then resolve itself and turn out better than you expected.

If wolf like dogs are a familiar thing from your childhood, maybe there is a connection to someone in your family, or who you have known a long time. Or maybe not - your subconscious might just really like wolves!

But I agree with the above - consider what all these symbols mean to you in particular

[Wolf-Tigress]

Thanks you guys!