Spit Dream Meaning & Interpretation

General Meaning

Dreams about spitting often reflect themes of communication, rejection, or purification within your inner world. This expulsion can symbolize a forceful release of something held internally, whether it’s unexpressed thoughts, negative emotions, or a need to cleanse oneself from external influences.

Expression and Release

Spitting could suggest a powerful need to articulate unspoken thoughts or feelings that have been suppressed. This act of expulsion in a dream might highlight a desire to release internal pressure or confront something that has been difficult to voice in waking life.

Rejection or Disgust

The act of spitting is often associated with disdain or revulsion, indicating a strong rejection of a person, idea, or situation. This theme could point to an internal conflict where you are attempting to distance yourself from something perceived as toxic or undesirable.

Purification and Cleansing

In some contexts, spitting can be a symbolic act of expelling impurities or ridding oneself of something unwanted. This may reflect a subconscious desire for emotional or spiritual cleansing, seeking to clear away negativity and achieve a sense of renewal.

Specific Considerations

Take into account the specific details of your unique dream.

Narrative

How did the act of spitting unfold in your dream, and what was its immediate consequence? The context of spitting, whether it was intentional, accidental, or a reaction, could reveal much about your agency or lack thereof in releasing suppressed issues or expressing boundaries.

People

Who was present during the spitting, or who was the recipient of it? The individuals involved could represent aspects of yourself, specific relationships, or external influences that are either the source of your need to expel something or the target of your emotional release.

Places

Where did the spitting occur in your dream? The setting, such as a public space, a private room, or an unfamiliar location, might symbolize the arena of your life where these themes of expression, rejection, or purification are most actively playing out.

Emotions

What emotions did you feel before, during, or after spitting in the dream? Feelings of anger, relief, shame, or liberation could provide crucial insights into the underlying emotional landscape driving the dream’s message about what you need to express or let go of.

Other Details

Were there notable colors, objects, or sounds associated with the act of spitting? These details can amplify or nuance the meaning; for instance, a foul taste might reflect bitterness or resentment being expelled, while a sense of relief could indicate a successful release of tension.

Psychological Meaning

Explore your dream from various psychological perspectives.

Jungian Perspective

From a Jungian perspective, the act of spitting in a dream might be seen as a manifestation of the shadow self, representing unacknowledged aspects of the personality that are being forcefully expelled. This could also symbolize the process of individuation, where the unconscious attempts to integrate or reject elements that are hindering personal growth. The act of expulsion could be a symbolic cleansing, ridding the psyche of archetypal energies that are no longer serving the individual’s path. Such a dream encourages examining what parts of oneself are being disowned or what is being forcefully rejected from the collective unconscious.

Freudian Perspective

A Freudian interpretation of spitting in a dream could link it to oral-stage fixations, where the mouth and its functions are central to early psychological development. The act of expelling saliva might be connected to repressed desires or aggressive impulses associated with early experiences of feeding or weaning, symbolizing a forceful rejection of something undesirable or a release of pent-up frustration. This expulsion could also be seen as a symbolic representation of a desire to rid oneself of unwanted thoughts, feelings, or even individuals, reflecting a struggle with primal drives and their societal constraints. The dream might offer a glimpse into the unconscious mind’s attempt to process these unresolved conflicts.

Adlerian Perspective

The Adlerian individual psychology perspective might view spitting in a dream as an expression of an individual’s striving for superiority or their response to feelings of inferiority. If spitting is an act of defiance or rejection, it could symbolize a desire to assert one’s will or distance oneself from perceived threats to one’s social standing or sense of belonging. This dream could also reflect a struggle with social interest, indicating a need to either connect more effectively with others or to set clearer boundaries within relationships. The act of expelling might represent a forceful attempt to overcome a feeling of powerlessness or to establish a sense of control over one’s environment.

Gestalt Perspective

A Gestalt therapy perspective would focus on the immediate experience of spitting in the dream, seeing it as a direct expression of an unacknowledged or unresolved aspect of the dreamer’s current being. The act itself, the sensation, and the context are crucial, inviting the dreamer to “become” the spit or the act of spitting to gain insight into what is being expressed or resisted. This dream could highlight a desire for completion or closure regarding a situation where something has been held back or left unsaid. It emphasizes bringing unconscious material into conscious awareness through direct experience, encouraging the dreamer to fully own the feelings and actions presented in the dream.

Cognitive Perspective

From a cognitive behavioral perspective, a dream about spitting might be understood as the mind processing and attempting to cope with stressful or challenging waking life situations. The act of spitting could represent a cognitive attempt to “expel” negative thoughts, anxieties, or perceived threats that are causing distress. This dream might reflect automatic thought patterns related to rejection, disgust, or the need to assert boundaries, which are being played out symbolically in the dream state. Examining the specific triggers or situations in waking life that elicit feelings of revulsion or a strong need for expression could provide insight into the underlying cognitive distortions or coping mechanisms the dream is addressing.

Symbolic Meaning

Reflect on symbolic parallels in mythology.

Ancient Roman Omens and Spitting for Luck

In ancient Rome, spitting was often used as a protective measure against evil and to avert bad omens. For instance, spitting into one’s bosom was a common practice to ward off the evil eye or counteract misfortune, and spitting thrice upon encountering a madman was believed to prevent contamination. This practice highlights a symbolic belief in the power of bodily fluids to cleanse, protect, and ritually purify against external malevolent forces or internal fears. It connects the act of spitting with a desire for spiritual safety and the expulsion of negative influences.

Reflection: How do you perceive external threats or negative energies in your waking life, and what actions do you take, consciously or unconsciously, to protect yourself or your inner peace? Does this dream suggest a need to ritualistically cleanse or purify an aspect of your environment or your emotional state?

The Biblical Story of Jesus Healing with Spit

In several instances in the New Testament, Jesus uses his saliva to heal the blind or the mute (e.g., Mark 7:33, Mark 8:23, John 9:6). This act transforms a seemingly mundane bodily fluid into a conduit for divine power and miraculous restoration. Here, spitting transcends mere expulsion to become a sacred act of imparting life, sight, or voice. It symbolizes the transfer of healing energy, divine grace, and the restoration of what was lost or impaired, suggesting a profound potential for transformation and spiritual regeneration.

Reflection: Where in your life do you seek healing, restoration, or the ability to see or speak more clearly? Could this dream be pointing towards an unexpected source of healing or a spiritual intervention that requires a release or a new form of reception?

Indigenous Cultural Practices of Spitting as Blessing or Curse

Across various indigenous cultures, particularly in parts of Africa and the Americas, spitting can carry significant ritualistic meaning, often used in both blessings and curses. For example, among the Maasai, spitting on a child is a sign of blessing, and spitting on one’s hand before shaking is a greeting of respect. Conversely, spitting at someone can be a profound insult or a deliberate curse. This duality underscores the potent symbolic power of saliva as a life-giving essence that can either bestow good fortune or inflict harm, depending on intention and context. It represents the power of words, intentions, and the vital essence of a person.

Reflection: Consider the power of your own words and intentions in your interactions with others. Are you consciously or unconsciously bestowing blessings or curses through your expressions or rejections? What does this dream reveal about the impact of your personal energy and communication on your relationships and your environment?

Spiritual Meaning

How different spiritualities view this dream.

Biblical Interpretation

In biblical contexts, spitting can carry a dual meaning. It is frequently associated with scorn, humiliation, and intense rejection, as seen when Jesus was spat upon during his crucifixion (Matthew 26:67). However, as noted in the healing accounts, Jesus also used saliva as a means of divine healing and restoration (Mark 7:33, John 9:6). Therefore, a dream about spitting could spiritually signify either a feeling of being scorned or humiliated, or it could point towards a powerful act of cleansing, healing, or the imparting of divine grace.

Islamic Interpretation

In Islamic tradition, spitting without intention or out of disgust is generally considered impure. However, a light spitting or ‘nafth’ (blowing with a light spit) is mentioned in prophetic traditions as a means of seeking refuge from evil or for healing, particularly when reciting certain verses from the Quran. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was known to lightly spit after reciting supplications for protection. Thus, a dream involving spitting might reflect concerns about purity, protection from evil, or a spiritual practice of seeking divine refuge and healing through sincere supplication.

Buddhist Perspective

From a Buddhist perspective, a dream about spitting could be interpreted through the lens of attachment, aversion, and the desire to release negative karma or defilements. The act of expelling something might symbolize the practice of letting go of clinging to desires or aversions that cause suffering. It could also represent the purification of negative speech or actions, or the aspiration to cleanse oneself of mental impurities (kleshas) on the path to enlightenment. The dream encourages reflection on what the dreamer needs to release to cultivate greater inner peace and compassion.

Universal Spiritual Themes

Universally, spitting often represents a forceful expulsion, signifying a need to rid oneself of something unwanted, whether it’s toxic emotions, negative influences, or unexpressed truths. It can symbolize the act of setting boundaries, rejecting what is deemed harmful, or a powerful form of self-expression. Across cultures, saliva itself is often seen as a vital fluid, capable of conveying essence, blessing, or curse. Spiritually, this dream could highlight a deep subconscious urge for purification, a release of spiritual burdens, or the activation of a potent, perhaps raw, form of spiritual communication or protection.

Waking Life Reflection

Connect your dream to your waking life.

• What unspoken truths or feelings are you holding back that need to be expressed or released?

• Is there a situation or relationship in your life that you feel a strong urge to reject or distance yourself from?

• Consider areas where you might need to cleanse yourself, either emotionally, mentally, or spiritually. What does this purification look like for you?

• How do your words and expressions impact others, and are you using your voice to bless, heal, or potentially cause harm?

• Reflect on moments where you felt disrespected or humiliated. How did you respond, and what unresolved feelings might still linger?

• What boundaries might you need to establish or reinforce in your waking life to protect your personal space or energy?