Dreams of bears are much more related to animals than dreams in general. They are less related to unnamed people and less related to strangers.

Bear dreams are more related to happiness, more related to grief and sorrow, and more related to fear than dreams in general. They are less related to confusion.

Bear dreams are more related to natural places than dreams in general. They are less related to human-made places, less related to magical places, and less related to schools.

Dreams of bears are more related to aggressive acts and more related to eating and drinking than dreams in general. They are less related to sex and less related to health events.

Dreams of bears are more related to weird dreams than dreams in general. They are less related to lucid dreams, less related to vivid dreams, and less related to good dreams.

Dreams of bears

You can gain insight from thinking about any dream, no matter how strange. Only you, as the dreamer, have final say on what your dream may or may not mean. Each dream is unique.

The DreamWell dictionary provides information on how each dream symbol appears in dreams in general. Finding how experience bears in dreams can be a key to understanding its meaning.

Our emotions in dreams can help us understand its meaning. Pay attention to how you felt in the dream. Pay attention to how you feel about bears in dreams. See how you feel about bears now, in your waking life.

This interpretation is from ""The Dream Interpretation Dictionary: Symbols, Signs, and Meanings" and is provided by J.M. DeBord aka "RadOwl". He is the author of several acclaimed books about dreaming, the host of The Dreams That Shape Us podcast, and is a moderator of r/Dreams, one of the largest dream sharing communities on the internet. Depending on the breed, a bear can be aggressive or docile, and the difference has implications for the meaning of the bear in your dream. For example, Winnie the Pooh is a docile characterization of a bear, and panda bears are thought of as cute and harmless. But grizzlies are known for their ferocity. A grizzly is more likely to be a symbol of ferocity than docility. Large bears are very powerful and can symbolize great strength. It’s a coarse sort of strength, and when mastered can make you master of your domain, a pillar, especially in difficult situations. A wild bear can symbolize that your strength and instincts are untamed. A powerful bear can symbolize a situation that can’t be changed, or a person is set in their ways. A bear can symbolize something menacing—especially the menace of a powerful or intimidating personality. Bears are slow to anger but overwhelming when they attack, which is a great metaphor for when a usually docile person is poked one too many times. The same association can be used to symbolize the unconscious mind. It too moves slowly but can be fierce and unstoppable when roused or protective. The unconscious mind is the primary source of human creativity, so a bear, as a symbol of the unconscious, can symbolize powerful creativity. See: Unconscious minds Befriending a bear can indicate a harmonious relationship between your conscious mind and the unconscious mind, but a hostile bear can indicate an adversarial relationship. Bears hibernate, so dreams can associate them with dormancy and long periods of introspection. Hibernation is also associated with death and rebirth. You might be going through some sort of big personal change and will emerge as a changed person. A sleeping or hibernating bear can symbolize someone or something you want to avoid arousing. See: Caves, Comas, Sleeping Possibilities for symbolism can be found in figures of speech like “hungry as a bear,” “a bear to deal with,” and “overbearing.” The meaning will show in the actions and other details. For example, feeding a bear (it’s a hungry bear), or a bear on top of you (the bear is “over” you, aka “overbearing”). Because bears are mostly solitary, they can symbolize a “go it alone” attitude or desire to be away from people. The idea can stretch to include characteristics such as introversion, independence and self-sufficiency. Animals in dreams can represent related instincts in you, such as bear-like instincts to defend, to mother, and to view strangers with suspicion. See: Animals Bears are associated with sexuality and the dark, devouring aspects of it. Coming to terms with the power of sexuality, the hunger, can be a struggle, devouring people who can’t control it. See: Devouring A bear in a woman’s dreams can symbolize the power of her sexuality, and more, her inner strength and connection with nature as a vessel for offspring. The same idea can apply to a man—he too can be a life-giver—it’s just more likely with a woman because of her innate connection to Mother Nature. See: The earth, Vaginas Being devoured is often symbolism for something figuratively devouring you such as stress or fear. But dream imagery of a devouring bear is also common to an experience known as dark night of the soul. These rare dreams feature bears that shift shapes, often from a wolf or dog to a featureless human, then to a bear, or any combination of this imagery. They also feature a theme of death, and, of course, a bear dining on you. The devouring bear in these dreams represents the unconscious mind, come to eat away the old person so the new one can emerge. You are “born again,” but first the old person must pass away, and it’s gruesome when represented visually. Some people give in to the beast and let it eat them, allowing the process of transformation to happen. Others resist, holding onto something about themselves that doesn’t want to die figuratively—or they’re unable to let go, because the process of healing isn’t complete. Bears are traditionally associated with nature and motherly instincts. When kept in check, the motherly instincts of a “momma bear” create peace and security for her children. But when unchecked the motherly instinct can smother, stifle, and psychologically devour her offspring. Any female figure—sister, girlfriend, aunt, wife—can play the role of momma in its positive or negative aspect and be symbolized in a dream as a bear. A bear can symbolize the desire for a strong mother figure, or a good or bad attachment to one. Your feelings help you determine the difference, because you subconsciously recognize what momma bear symbolizes in your dream and you react based on that knowledge. See: Mothers A mother dreams about walking through the woods with her teenage son. Suddenly, a bear emerges and mauls him. It’s a way of saying that momma bear’s motherly instincts are smothering her teenage son. She is overprotective and needs to allow him room to take risks and make his own decisions. And let’s not forget poppa bear—strong, rugged, instinctual, protective. He can be symbolized as a bear. A bear can be used in a wordplay for “bare,” as in bare your soul, or bare naked. See: Being naked A teddy bear can symbolize a childlike desire for protection and comfort. See: Children Personal associations come into play, too, to create dream symbolism. For example, perhaps you once encountered a bear in the wild and remember well the adrenaline rush and cold feeling of fear. Or you felt sorry for a bear you saw in a zoo. Those associations could be used to symbolize an encounter with a dangerous or wild person, or a feeling of sadness or loneliness. See also: Animals, Anxiety, Caves, Comas, Devouring, The earth, Eating, Emotions, Hunger, Mothers, Being naked, Sleeping, Unconscious minds, Vaginas