Caterpillar Dream Interpretation: Insights from 28 Unique Sources

Vision: Seeing a caterpillar: new possibilities will open up—pay attention but be cautious. Watching several caterpillars: some people don’t have your best interests at heart, but be very careful. Things are turning out to be very different from what you expected. Catching or killing a caterpillar: your distrust in anodier person is justified—as you will soon find out.

Depth Psychology: You—or people around you—have hidden talents that will emerge later.

The caterpillar can also point to physical cravings, because it is “blind to the intellectual and spiritual dimension.”

1- The caterpillar appearing in a dream usually indicates that we are undergoing some form of major change. We may be being warned that we must undergo a complete metamorphosis. We must change and grow from what we arc now into a greater potential.

2- To dream of caterpillars would indicate that we need to remain flexible in our attitude to change. Also, because of the caterpillar’s association with creeping things, it may represent evil or difficulty.

3- The spiritual potential, largely unrecognised, which must transmute into something more beautiful.

This bug may represent a stage in your own personal growth and development.

The butterfly is a symbol of transformation; it represents a level of individual achievement.

The caterpillar, on the other hand, may indicate that you are on your way but have not reached your goal. You may be in earlier stages of accomplishing a real-life goal, a relationship goal, or even a spiritual goal.

The caterpillar may represent a specific area of your life or may be symbolic of the larger you.

Dreams of a caterpillar symbolize that you are in the midst of a great transformation, and that you are realizing the value of every stage of growth.

The caterpillar stage of growth is about budding potential and beauty and the importance of honoring the ordinary and mundane aspects of your life. This dream can also be a suggestion to take your time and not rush a new relationship. Consider the feeling tone.

See Breakdown/Breakthrough Dreams.

Caterpillars are the emblem of what has been corrupted. To dream of them is usually quite unpleasant and distressing. However, as you know, caterpillars turn into butterflies. This reminds us not to beat ourselves up because of our shortcomings. Not surprisingly, all creatures, including people, can eventually change and become beautiful and wonderful beings. (See WORM, BUTTERFLY, METAMORPHOSIS)

Before the transformation occurs that leads to the butterfly, there is the caterpillar.

The caterpillar must do something tremendously courageous: it must willingly give up its own life. It has no idea of the miracle to come. When the caterpillar comes to your dream, you are being asked to consider total and utter surrender, to take a great leap of faith, trusting that miracles occur.

Often this represents male sexuality, or sexual intercourse, but it can also suggest untrustworthy acquaintances.

If moving to chrysalis stage, this suggests you may be moving towards making very profound life changes.

If already a chrysalis, a new aspect of yourself is forming and is ready to emerge.

Caterpillars may also indicate a desire to withdraw from social activity.

Gives gender-specific: The caterpillar is a recognizable first symbol of the growth process. In a woman’s dream it may represent an awareness of a potential pregnancy whereas for a boy such an image suggests his emerging sexuality. In a man’s dream a caterpillar signifies the commencement of a journey of discovery about his spirituality.

To see a caterpillar in a dream, denotes that low and hypocritical people are in your immediate future, and you will do well to keep clear of deceitful appearances. You may suffer a loss in love or business.

To dream of a caterpillar, foretells you will be placed in embarrassing situations, and there will be small honor or gain to be expected.

(Saturn, Silkworm) In a dream, a caterpillar represents a devious thiefwho wears the cloak of a pious person, who gently and slowly steals people’s money or encourages them to invest in losing business ventures. However, no one will suspect him of wrongdoing because of his good looking appearance.

(See Butterfly)

To see a caterpillar or grub in your dream signifies a challenging stage in your own personal growth and development. You are on the right path but have not yet reached your goal. Your dream is warning you that you must undergo a complete metamorphosis to grow into something more beautiful and realize your full potential.

Material aspects: The caterpillar appearing in a dream usually indicates that we are undergoing some form of major change. We may be being warned that we must undergo a complete upheaval before we can achieve our goal. There may well then be a period of transition or apparent stasis.

See Worm. Caterpillars only eat what is not complete. They are greedy and fat. On the other hand, a butterfly was once a caterpillar. Therefore, the caterpillar stands at the beginning of transformation. This symbol almost always points to the process of transformation.

Psychological / emotional perspective: To dream of caterpillars would indicate that we need to remain flexible in our attitude to change. Also, because of the caterpillar’s association with creeping things, it may represent evil or difficulty.

No good may be expected by lovers from dreaming of seeing caterpillars.

To kill one is a sign that your affair will be broken off.

To find one on your person predicts a disagreeable experience with someone you regarded as a friend.

The symbol of a caterpillar is of metamorphosis or the spiritual potential, largely unrecognized, which must transmute into something more beautiful. We must change and grow from what we are now into a different way of being.

Another rather unfortunate omen regarding trouble from unforeseen jealousy and treachery.

Be extremely careful of your actions following this dream or you could be put in a humiliating position with no defense.

To dream of a caterpillar implies that you are slowly progressing towards reaching your inner spirituality. You haven’t yet achieved your objectives, but you are definitely on the right path.

1. Need to enhance one’s identity.

2. Recognition that one has potential.

3. Desire to sharpen one’s image.

4. Desire to sharpen one’s approach to things.

To see a caterpillar in your dream means that you are at a stage in your own personal growth where you are on your way, but have not yet reached your goal.

To dream of a caterpillar suggests we are about to undertake a major change in life. Typically, this change will result in something of much worth.

Gossip; hairy indicates malicious intent; a warning to avoid communication

Male sexuality; prenatal forces of growth, bacte­ria.

Limited knowledge; unaware of potential and beauty.

1. Potential/ Restoration /devourer/; Joel 2:25.

A devouring curse, Amos 4:9

Beware of false friends.

lucky numbers: 9-22-24-42-44-48

catching a: talents you are saving should be revealed.

killing a: your distrust of hypocrisy is credible, in your worldly experience.

several: be careful of the spiritual blindness of those whose help you accept.

tractor, owning a: watch own actions, especial y to whom you speak.

of this piece of machinery: embarrassing situations wil provide smal gain.

working with a: embarrassing situations with little chance of progress.