The dreamer will recognize in the mermaid his desire for and fear of the feminine. Also addressed is a man s desire to identify with femininity and his fear of doing so.
The water spirit mermaid is enticing men to follow her into her kingdom, where, “under a glittering surface, are hidden inexplorable depths,” according to C. G. Jung, who saw the realm of the water spirits as a symbol of the unconscious. So the mermaid is a symbol of life and inner maturity, a spirit who “walks” along boundaries. Young men dream about mermaids when they reach manhood; young girls, when they become women. In another sense, the mermaid is without a soul and therefore is after the soul of humans. According to Jung, the water spirit is at the instinctual stage, the pre-stage of the feminine being, or anima.
Also, the mermaid is a being in need of liberation: since she lives in water, she is drowning in her emotions—and she has no sexual organs.
Male water spirits seldom appear in dreams.
(They are usually cruel, ugly, old, and comparable to goblins.) [1]
(2) In a man’s dream it might represent an idealized image of women (which may inhibit relations with actual women). Are you frightened of sex?
(3) For a man, it might represent the siren, which might actually symbolize the anima as the part of the psyche that will take you - safely - into the depths of your unconscious, and thereby heighten your self- knowledge.
(4) It may also, for a man, express fears of being ‘drowned’ by the feminine or by the unconscious.
See also: Seduction, Introduction, page49. [2]
A dream that features a mermaid should be considered aspirational, and you must keep in mind all of her qualities, light and dark, when formulating an interpretation. In any case, such a dream is connecting you to the spiritual side of your nature. [3]
The combination of two “ways of being” (such as both feminine and masculine), or being “of two worlds” (such as work life and home life).
Support, assistance, or kindness.
A desire to be different than you are.
A desire to fit in or excel in a different or new environment.
Femininity or masculinity, or your feminine or masculine ideal.
Someone or something you feel is different or unusual.
A real-life friend, or a desire for friendship.
See also: Fish, Mythological Character [4]
Depth Psychology: The mermaid is a symbol of female sensuality that has yet to be lived, particularly in women’s dreams. It might, however, also indicate a strong but unconscious love you feel for someone, particularly in men’s dreams. [6]
If you were a mermaid in your dream, this represents the current state of your love relationship(s).
If the dream was happy and turned out well, it is a good forecast for your love life. But if the dream was strange or unhappy, it means your current love relationship or crush is not doing well. [7]
If those elements were pleasant, you can expect things to go well; but if they were unpleasant or generated a feeling of confusion or dissatisfaction, the dream portends a disappointment [8]