Rape Dream Interpretation

Universal Landscape: Integration of the aspects of personality through violent, forceful means.

Dreaming Lens: Were you being raped in a dream? Were you witnessing a rape? Were you aware of who the rapist was? Were you the rapist? Was the rape a violent act, or was it an erotic pseudo-rape?

Personal Focus: Although it is conceivable that in the waking world, a woman could rape a man, the notion of rape as a symbol connects to the masculine principle. Women will sometimes dream of being the aggressor in sexual situations and may even have a penis in their dream, or perceive themselves as having one. Because the act of rape is sexual in structure, the symbolic meaning must reflect the same theme as sex that is consensual, which is the coming together or integration of different Character Aspects of the personality. However, rape is an act of violence and when this is combined with the absence of consent, it puts a very different spin on how to interpret it if it should appear in a dream.

When a dream includes something as heinous as rape, it is important to remind yourself—whether you are male or female—that dreams are symbolic, not literal. Rape in a dream is not like rape in life. It simply means that the integration that is occurring within your psyche is being experienced as so abrupt and potentially frightening that the symbolic expression of it appears dramatically. The unconscious will often use nightmares and frightening dreams to get our attention.

If you were raped in the dream, consider the rapist. If he was known to you, then use that person as a Character Aspect to see what part of your own personality is demanding to be dealt with. If he was not known to you, then consider the dream a precursor to a powerful shift that is going on under the surface and is not yet clear. If you cannot glean more helpful insight from this dream, trust that future dreams will inform you of whatever shift is taking place.

If you witnessed a rape, you must look inward to see what aspects of your personality are at odds with one another, for they ultimately need to be integrated and made whole. The rapist would be the part of you that is demanding to be recognized and the victim is the part of you that needs to accept the merging, but may be in resistance to the process. If you were the rapist in your dream, consider the victim as a Character Aspect that represents the part of you that you wish to subdue.

Rape fantasies are common for many people and can be quite erotic and satisfying when handled in an appropriate manner. If the dream of rape was erotic in nature, the meaning is the same, but the integration that is taking place has much lower stakes and may, in fact, be a source of pleasurable anticipation.

Example: \ tried to turn but my legs were like lead.

The man caught me and I fought. He tried to rape me but couldn’t do it. As I talked to him I began to feel sorry for him and not frightened. I realised that inside he was a nice person. In the end I found I liked him so much I began to kiss him myself (Mrs JB). Rape in dreams is very different from rape in real life, as we create our own dream, so why introduce rape? Perhaps in the above example Mrs JB discovers her own power in the situation as she realises the weakness of the male.

Example: A man is trying to make love and at the last moment I repel him as I know it will cause a pregnancy. When I was about 10 I was raped and for many years had a fear of men’ (Anon.). This is the other side of rape. Rape in this dream may be memories, the effects of which are still visible in the life of this dreamer, causing her difficulties in warm sexuality.

Example: The devil attacked a woman. He was invisible.

The woman turned black as he raped her. She didn’t die. At this point I woke and went to the toiler. On returning to bed I continued the dream, particularly wondenng what I was in conflict with in the image of the devil. I found it disturbinr and frightening to be confronted by such a powerful oppo­nent. Partly because of the rape, I realised it was repressed sexuality. I then approached the “black” woman with tender­ness and this transformed the devil into available sexual or emotional energy. I tried this again and again. Each time it worked, and I could observe the devil was my sexual warmth and love which had become negative through restraint’ (Neil V). In this male dream, it is the conflict with his sexuality which causes the devilish’ rape. When he can find tender­ness, the negative aspect disappears. Rape also depicts the real evil of another person disregarding our personal needs and feelings, abusing not only the body, but particularly the ‘person’. Being raped by someone known: feeling anxious about sex with them, fighting off desire for them.

A dream of rape can be incredibly disturbing and you are unlikely to want to dwell on it, but it might be worth your while to ask yourself why your dreaming mind would put you through such an ordeal.

If you have been a victim of sexual violence, then your dream may have been trying to resolve your feelings about the trauma.

If this isn’t the case, however, your dream may have been warning you about a predatory person in your life or warning you about someone in your life who is forcing you to do something against your will.

Whether you are raped by a person of the same or the opposite sex in your dream, the images reinforce your feelings of powerlessness and shame at having to bend to (non-sexual) demands in waking life. Your dreaming mind may have sent you this shocking image to encourage you to assert yourself and fight back.

If you are raping someone else in your dream, this expresses your desire to humiliate or put someone in their place in waking life.

If you witnessed someone else being raped in your dream but could not or would not prevent it, the message is again one of powerlessness and your feelings of frustration at being unable to right a wrong in waking life, or protect someone who is vulnerable.

See Also: NIGHTMARES; SEX.

Dreaming about being raped is a nightmare that inflicts fear and anxiety upon recall. Since rape is a brutal and deeply personal violation, it suggests that the dreamer may be feeling robbed of options and negated as a human being. In a dream, as in real life, rape have very little to do with sex.

It is about power, control, anger, and other very destructive emotions. In order to understand this dream, you may need to think about the areas of your life that causes you great anxiety and fear.

If you are superstitious, take this dream as a warning. Take precautions, protect yourself emotionally and physically and don’t engage in careless behaviors.

If you were a rape victim, the traumatic nature of this experience may cause you to have a dream like this from time to time.

To dream of being raped suggests a subconscious desire to be sexually abused or humiliated. You might be conveying a hidden desire to be violated, conquered, or forced. Some women secretly wish to be sexually overpowered without being battered. Also, it may indicate hatred and ill-feelings toward the opposite sex. Alternatively, it indicates you are feeling violated or your well-being and self-esteem is being impinged. You dream may also be a sign that you are being forced to do something against your will. Dreams of rape are mostly experienced by actual rape victims.

The dream is usually a manifestation of their traumatic encounter.

To witness a rape being committed denotes sexual incapacity or ambivalence.

Dreaming of rape symbolizes the loss of control over your reality. You are living in a situation in which you own love seems damaged. For a man, it could be a sadistic representation of his sexual desires.

It is possible that you harbor feelings of vengeance towards the opposite sex. For a woman, it could represent sexual fears or the manifestation of masochistic fantasies.

Even Victorian books about dreams contemplate this image. According to superstition, if a woman dreams of rape, her pride will be damaged. In the case that it is a close friend who suffers, it is saying that you will hear impactful news.

(1) In a woman’s dream, rape may represent cither (unconscious) fears of sex or (masochistic) fantasies of being raped.

(2) A man’s dream of committing rape would probably be a straightforward symbol of sexual desire, but of a sadistic kind. You probably need to become acquainted with your own feminine qualities - ability to relate, patience, gentleness, etc. - and let them play a larger part in your life. What arc you trying to take vengeance for? Did your mother seem to withdraw her love from you as a boy?

This is a dream of immediate warning which could involve yourself or your resources.

To dream that you are being raped, or even if you dream you see someone else being raped, then avoid loose companions and the seamier side of life’s highways and byways for safeties sake. Also be sure that you check everything on any financial agreement, or any deal so whatever, involving your finances, as the chance of having your bank account ‘raped’, or your business, is very high.

Dreams of rape or of being raped can suggest that you are feeling overwhelmed in some way by events in your life or that other people are dominating you. Images of rape appearing in dreams can also be associated with the violation of personal space. In rare instances, such a dream can express emotions that have been rejected or lingering pain from past experiences returning to haunt the dreamer.

1. Defilement;

2. Violating your boundaries in a way that gives them pleasure;

3. Abusive control that gratifies the flesh;

4. Someone forcing you to reproduce against your will.

5. A defiling impartation;

6. Forced intimacy interaction that violates your boundaries.

7. Can be a memory or reliving the trauma of abuse.

A dream about a rape (whether it was you or someone else being attacked in the dream) suggests that you are feeling violated in some way. Something or someone is jeopardizing your self-esteem and emotional well-being. Dreams of rape are also common for those who were actually raped in their waking life.

To dream that rape has been committed among your acquaintances, denotes that you will be shocked at the distress of some of your friends.

For a young woman to dream that she has been the victim of rape, foretells that she will have troubles, which will wound her pride, and her lover will be estranged.

Vision: Sometimes a dream about rape is a sign that the dreamer is looking for aggressive sex. In general, however, a dream about rape means that others are ignoring your feelings and wishes—or you are ignoring theirs.

See Also: Aggression, Intercourse, Sexuality.

A dream of rape, one in which a woman is sexually attacked by a man, is considered, by some authorities, to be the expression of the subconscious desiring a fulfillment of sexual love contrary to the conscious wishes in the waking hours of the woman.

Whatever form it took in your dream, this act is a warning to avoid loose companions or careless behavior that could seriously damage your reputation by giving a false impression to those whose opinions are important to your welfare.

Any image of rape appearing in dreams can be as much to do with violation of personal space as with the sexual act. Rape may only appear as an image when we as adults are ready to deal with trauma of any kind.

You are losing energy, allowing someone’s negative influence to take your power and self-esteem. Has no sexual meaning; do not take it literally. Simply indicates you are getting ripped off.

Dreams of rape denote that you are grappling with victim/perpetrator issues. Perhaps you have taken what is not yours, or you have allowed someone to take advantage of you.

See Also: Boundaries.

A dream about rape may symbolize a violent assault on the dreamer’s physical environment or a devastating blow to the person’s financial security.

1. Violation of principles, beliefs.

2. Assault on sense of worth, self-esteem.

3. Feelings of vengeance.

Forcefully taking advantage of the innocent, physically, financially, i.E. Like locust that rape the land

To dream of committing or witnessing a rape prophesies a period of business and mental depression.

To dream of being sexually assaulted is indicative of a demonically induced nightmare

Forced merger of left brain/right brain.

(See Also: Adultery)

See Also: Sex