Waking up yesterday morning, my mind was still filled with dream images: a grassy field where rabbits scampered about. One brown rabbit chased a white one, and eventually they began mating. The whole scene left me feeling both tense and bewildered. After waking, I kept wondering: What exactly was this dream trying to tell me?
I’m not one to put much stock in “dream interpretation,” but this dream felt so vivid I couldn’t just brush it off. So after breakfast, I decided to seriously figure out its meaning.
Step One: Write Down the Dream Immediately
I have a little habit—keeping an old notebook by my bedside. Every morning, the first thing I do is jot down whatever dreams I had the night before. Because I know that if I don’t write it down immediately, within a few hours, the details of the dream will melt away like ice cubes in hot water, and eventually, I won’t remember anything.
That day, I wrote: “Dreamed of rabbits mating, brown rabbit chasing white rabbit, felt somewhat anxious.”
If you dream frequently, I recommend trying this method too. It doesn’t need to be beautifully written—just capture the key images and your feelings at the time. This is the first step to understanding your dreams.
Step Two: Don’t Blindly Trust Online “Standard Answers”
I opened my computer and searched “What does dreaming about animals mating mean?” A flood of articles popped up. They said:
- Dreaming of rabbits mating = Possible pregnancy or heightened creativity
- Dreaming of snakes mating = Relationship troubles or fleeting romance
- Dreaming of chickens = Feeling lonely or unstable relationships
- Dreaming of cows or dogs mating = Financial luck, but be cautious with investments
Some articles even claimed: “Pregnant women dreaming of snakes mating will have twins,” “Students having this dream should be cautious during exams”…
It seemed plausible at first, but the more I read, the more off it felt. These interpretations appeared copied from the same template, applying identical explanations regardless of who you are or your life circumstances. Yet reality is this: everyone’s pressures, desires, and worries differ—how could one answer fit all?
Step Three: Return to Your Own Life for Answers
I stopped reading those cookie-cutter interpretations and asked myself: “What’s been troubling me lately?”
Gradually, new insights emerged:
- That brown rabbit reminded me of my current job—stable, repetitive, yet lacking passion.
- That white rabbit made me think of how I’ve always wanted to learn painting but kept saying “I don’t have time.”
- The image of them “mating” might not be about animals at all, but asking: “Can these two things be combined? Can I work and pursue my passion simultaneously?”
Thinking this way, the entire dream suddenly made sense. It wasn’t predicting the future, but reminding me: Don’t completely separate “making a living” from “what you love.” Maybe they can coexist—even support each other.
How did I gradually understand this dream?
I used three simple methods:
- Look at the surface first: Literally, it’s rabbits mating. But that didn’t help me, since I don’t keep rabbits.
- Focus on the emotion: I felt tense in the dream, which actually reflected real-life anxiety—I constantly worry about not doing my job well and fear not having time to pursue my interests.
- Reassign the animals’ roles: Treat the brown rabbit as “work” and the white rabbit as “painting.” This substitution clarified the dream’s meaning: my inner self was saying, “Get these two parts moving together!”
This approach proved remarkably effective. Animals in dreams rarely represent themselves; they’re usually “symbols” for aspects of your life.
The Meaning of Dreams Actually Comes from Your Life
Later I realized: dreaming of animals mating isn’t necessarily about “sex,” nor does it signify good or bad luck. It’s more like a signal telling you, “Certain parts of your life are connecting, or need to connect.”
Here are a few examples:
- If you dream of snakes mating, it might be because you’ve recently collaborated on a project but worry the other party is taking too much credit.
- Dreaming of chickens might mean you’ve been alone too long and crave someone to talk to.
- Seeing cows or dogs in pairs could indicate your luck is improving lately, yet you fear missing opportunities.
Additionally, if you frequently have vivid dreams like these, it might simply be due to recent stress or poor sleep. When your body is exhausted, your brain “acts out” in dreams.
Dreams Hold Different Meanings for Different People
The same dream carries entirely different significance for different individuals:
- For expectant mothers, such dreams often reflect worries about the baby’s health, not speculation about gender.
- Entrepreneurs might be contemplating whether to seek a business partner.
- Office workers may fear colleagues taking credit for their work.
- Students might experience “competition” or “chaos” in their dreams due to exam pressure.
So don’t rush to apply others’ interpretations. Only you truly understand your own dreams.
Understanding Alone Isn’t Enough—Take Action!
After grasping the meaning of my dream, I did two things:
- Set a rule for myself: Dedicate at least one hour daily to drawing, no matter how busy I am.
- Clearly communicated to my boss: No more weekend overtime—I need time for personal pursuits.
After these steps, I felt significantly lighter. That troubling dream never returned.
How I View “Dreams” Now
I used to see dreams as mysterious, like hidden codes for the future. I don’t think that way anymore. Now I see dreams more as the brain’s “alert system.”
It won’t directly say, “You’ll get promoted next week!”
But it might use images like rabbits, snakes, or dogs to tell you:
- “You’re pushing yourself too hard.”
- “You haven’t done something you love in a long time.”
- “You need to work on your friendships.”
So next time you have a strange dream, don’t rush to search online for “Is this a good or bad omen?” Try this instead:
- Write down the dream immediately;
- Reflect on how you’ve been feeling lately;
- Ask yourself: “Is this dream reminding me of something I haven’t resolved?”
You’ll discover dreams aren’t scary or mysterious. They’re simply your inner voice communicating in a unique way. If you’re willing to listen, they can help you see your life more clearly.