◇ Depends on the scene Lucky or not depending on the scene — see "In this scene" below
A symbol of temptation, guilt or weakness. Defeating one hints you can break a bad habit.
Category: Monsters & myths abroad (how to read this category)
Psychology
A devil stands for temptation or self-blame. In Freudian terms, the clash between conscience and suppressed desire may play out as good against evil. Whether it whispered sweetly or threatened changes the reading.
Folklore and history
In Christianity the devil rebels against God and tempts people; Goethe's Faust tells of a pact trading the soul for desire. Buddhism tells of Mara tempting the Buddha before enlightenment. Dream lore reads defeating a devil as breaking a bad habit.
A portable toilet that helps during a long stakeout or shoot at a remote ruin or mountain haunted spot with no restroom nearby. It comes with a solidifying agent and odor-blocking bag for use in the car or a tent, and keeps for 15 years, doubling as disaster-prep gear.
Toilet Goddess PREMIUM Portable Toilet, 100 Uses (Disaster Prevention Advisor Supervised, 15-Year Storage, 7 Days for a Family of 2), Made in Japan
We may earn a referral fee on purchases made through these links.
This site's view
In this site's view, the most frightening devil is one that knew exactly what you wanted — that may be your own unspoken wish. Desire is not evil; whether you refused the shortcut it offered shows your strength now.
Going deeper: our reading
Devil dreams sometimes show the familiar cartoon scene of an angel and a devil arguing on your shoulders. In this site's reading, such dreams reflect being torn, when making a choice, between drifting towards the easy option and wanting to do right. Recalling which voice was louder, and which you finally obeyed, shows how heavy your dilemma is. Some people look closely and see that the devil has their own face. This is our speculation, but that may be a sign you are beginning to own your weaknesses and cunning instead of blaming an outside villain. It seems frightening, yet it is part of the heart's growth. Turning round when the devil called your name suggests realising that temptation or bad habits are closer than you thought. We see devil dreams not as accusations but as a chance to re-examine your own choices.
What to do on waking
Pick one habit you want to quit and cut it back just today. Practice saying no.
In this scene
- ◎Good It helps you or gives treasure: like the zashiki-warashi, luck is coming (good)
- ▲Warn Tricked or taken: a hidden trap, or words to doubt (warning)
- Seeing what it really is: a fear becomes clear and fades
- It felt good: the lucky reading gets stronger
- ▲Warn It felt frightening or painful: the warning reading gets stronger — rest first
- The same dream again and again: something your mind has not settled yet
Turning a bad dream
In Japan, people once tried to turn a worrying dream for the better: a baku charm under the pillow, telling the dream to a nandina bush, or reciting an old dream-turning poem. Read the column on dream trading and dream-turning
An inverter that plugs into the cigarette lighter socket and turns your car battery into a household AC100V outlet — for charging a laptop, spare camera or lighting batteries, or several phones at once during an all-night stakeout or long car-camping shoot.
meltec Car Inverter, DC12V, 1 Outlet 120W IP-150
We may earn a referral fee on purchases made through these links.
FAQ
Q. Is dreaming of a Devil a good or bad sign?
A. Lucky or not depending on the scene — see "In this scene" below. A symbol of temptation, guilt or weakness. Defeating one hints you can break a bad habit.
Q. Why do I keep dreaming of a Devil?
A. A recurring dream usually points to something your mind has not settled yet. Research suggests such dreams tend to stop once the underlying worry is resolved. Keeping a dream diary helps you notice what triggers it.
Q. What should I do after dreaming of a Devil?
A. Pick one habit you want to quit and cut it back just today. Practice saying no.
Related dream essays
- True Dreams and Reverse Dreams: Why We Read Dreams Backwards
- Buying Dreams, Turning Dreams: A Japanese History of Dream Trading and Dream Charms
Read this dream with your own scene in the Dream Dictionary →
More dreams in "Monsters & myths abroad"
- A Dragon
- A Dinosaur
- A Monster
- Space or Aliens
- Zombies
- A Clown
- A Witch
- A Skeleton
- A Fallen Angel
- A Vampire
- A Werewolf
- An Artificial Being
※ Dream interpretation here is entertainment drawing on psychology and folklore — it is not scientifically proven. "This site's view" is our own interpretation.
