Snakes are incredibly prevalent in dreams, and they often have special
significance. There are four quite different meanings associated with snake
imagery.
1. Snakes symbolize trouble. This is the most common association I
find with this image. The snake pit, the snake in the grass, or the
threatening snake is usually a symbol of a situation that holds tricky
and worrisome potential. The situation is usually difficult to grasp
or control and has an off-putting or repelling element.
2. Snakes can operate as a phallic symbol—most notably when the
dream has a sexual nuance, takes place in the bedroom, or involves
penetration or embrace with the snake.
3. Snakes can represent a situation that offers the potential for
transcending a limiting pattern (sometimes referred to as
transformation). This is most often the case when the snake bites
you but the bite is not fatal, or when you are forced to face the snake
in an encounter that is almost ritualistic.
4. Snakes can be references to the passage into the afterlife. People
who are dying or who have recently lost a loved one will often
dream of snakes.
The varying interpretations of this image make it necessary for you to
check the plot of your dream for verification. If the snake is merely
frightening and troublesome, it is likely to represent a tricky problem
you’re dealing with. The snake that makes contact with your body or
climbs in bed with you may be a reference to sexuality. A snake that
challenges but doesn’t harm you may indicate a situation with the potential
for surprising growth for you. And finally, if you have recently lost a loved
one, you may dream about a snake in the initial stages of grief.