Dreaming of the devil
Meaning and interpretation
What does dreaming of the devil mean?
Dreaming of the devil or a demon can be striking, but it most often points to temptation, guilt, or a part of yourself you judge as bad. Depending on your upbringing and beliefs, the figure can be very loaded. The dream stages an inner struggle more than an outside threat.
What it's often linked to
Temptation. A desire you blame yourself for, or a line you want to cross.
Guilt. A feeling of having done wrong, or fear of being punished.
Your shadow side. Anger, jealousy, desire: what you'd rather not show.
Depending on what happens in the dream
The devil chasing you
Guilt or fear on your heels.
Talking with the devil
An inner negotiation, a hard moral choice.
Being possessed
A sense of losing control of yourself, your emotions or actions.
Driving out a demon
You're fighting a bad habit or an intrusive thought.
A demon in the bedroom
Common during sleep paralysis: a well-known, harmless hallucination.
Questions to ask yourself when you wake up
A dream's meaning lives in your own context, not in a dictionary. These three questions get you there faster.
- 1
Is a temptation working on you right now?
- 2
What do you feel guilty about, even a little?
- 3
Did it happen as you were falling asleep or waking up, unable to move?
A dream predicts nothing and diagnoses nothing. If a distressing dream keeps coming back and weighs on your days, talk to a health professional.
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