▲ Leans unlucky (a warning) Traditionally a warning — read it as pointing to what to watch, not as doom
A symbol of flexibility or being misled. Squirting ink warns of deception.
Category: Animals (how to read this category)
Psychology
A squid mirrors adaptability and the feeling of being bewildered. Ink-squirting stands for evasion, and colour-changing for hiding your true feelings to fit in.
Folklore and history
Dried squid is written with characters for "long-lasting bride" and given as a betrothal gift. The deep-sea giant squid stayed a mystery until Japanese researchers first filmed it alive in the 2000s; it may lie behind sea-monster legends.
A book that reads through the strange phenomena and vengeful spirits appearing in classics like the Kojiki and the Konjaku Monogatarishu — a reference for our legend and kaidan articles.
Strange Classical Literature: Japan's Beautiful World of the Uncanny (Itsuki Asazato / Asahi Shimbun Publications)
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This site's view
In this site's view, ask who squirted the ink. A fleeing squid means someone hides the truth from you; being wrapped in ink means you are evading; a deep-sea giant is great potential yet unseen.
Going deeper: our reading
On the night sea, squid boats line up offshore with dazzling lamps. The fishery relies on squid gathering toward light, and these fishing fires are a nighttime sight of seaside towns. Freshly caught squid are also known to be translucent, turning cloudy white as time passes. In this site's reading, people who dream of squid are often drawn strongly to something yet unsure whether it is good for them. Watching rows of fishing lights suggests longing for distant lights while keeping a calm distance; moving toward the light, being pulled in by an attractive offer; a translucent squid, a wish for clear relationships without secrets; a squid turning white, sadness as fresh feelings fade. This is our speculation, but the dream may urge you not to blame yourself for being drawn to light, but to discern what it really is.
What to do on waking
Recall one exchange you glossed over and add an honest word if needed.
In this scene
- ◎Good It comes close or is friendly: help is near (good)
- ▲Warn It attacks or bites: a held-back feeling or friction nearby (warning)
- It is dead or weak: the strength it stands for is running low
- Big, white or gold: the meaning is stronger; white and gold lean lucky
- 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 encyclopedia of terms and origins related to sorcery and magic rites — a reference for our sorcery-themed articles.
Encyclopedia of Sorcery and Magic Rituals (Kazuho Fujimaki / Futami Shobo)
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FAQ
Q. Is dreaming of a Squid a good or bad sign?
A. Traditionally a warning — read it as pointing to what to watch, not as doom. A symbol of flexibility or being misled. Squirting ink warns of deception.
Q. Why do I keep dreaming of a Squid?
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 Squid?
A. Recall one exchange you glossed over and add an honest word if needed.
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 "Animals"
- A Chicken
- Ants
- A Dragonfly
- A Snail
- A Slug
- An Octopus
- A Crab
- A Shell
- A Jellyfish
- A Lizard
- A Sheep
- A Goat
※ Dream interpretation here is entertainment drawing on psychology and folklore — it is not scientifically proven. "This site's view" is our own interpretation.
