Worm in a dream: meaning in Ibn Sirin, al-Nabulsi and Ibn Shahin

24 passages from 5 sources, quoted as written, every one linked to its page.

Abd al-Ghani al-Nabulsi, Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam

in a dream is a daughter, and worms are daughters. Worms in the belly are his dependents who eat from his wealth. Likewise the worm whose sustenance comes from the human body, and likewise the worm that eats flesh or does not eat it: they are dependents who eat from another's wealth, if you see it resting apart and not mingling with your body.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 114

(And whoever sees) worms coming out of his anus, they are the children of his children.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 114

(And whoever sees) as though worms are coming out of his mouth, then the people of his household wish to deceive him and plot against him, and he knows that and will be saved from their plot and from their leaving his maintenance.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 114

(And whoever sees) that worms come out of his belly without his doing, then he will distance himself from evil people, and by that he will have honour and purity. The coming out of worms from the body is the departure of grief, because they are harm; and likewise pus when there is a wound: it is the removal of grief or the coming out of wealth.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 114

And the worm is an enemy from among the family. The silkworm is the subjects of the ruler; and it is said the silkworm is the merchant's customer and the craftsman's client, and obtaining it is the attainment of benefit from them.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 114

(And whoever sees) something of that will obtain wealth. And it is said the silkworm indicates unlawful wealth and the obtaining of a safeguard.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 114

Freud and Jung, a separate view

A six-year-old girl, who goes to school unwillingly, dreams that her leg is encircled by a large red worm.

Carl Jung, Psychology of the Unconscious (1916) / Collected Papers (1917), Psychology of the Unconscious, ch. V Symbolism of the Mother and of Rebirth

Kinds and conditions of Worm

worms

Ibn Shahin al-Zahiri, al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat

As for worms, they are interpreted in several ways: wealth, benefit, dependents, and something disliked.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 224

Whoever sees worms on his clothes, then it is interpreted as wealth.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 224

poisonous worm

Freud and Jung, a separate view

The poisonous worm is, if one may speak in this way, a “negative” phallus, a deadly, not an animating, form of libido; therefore, a wish for death, instead of a wish for life.

Carl Jung, Psychology of the Unconscious (1916) / Collected Papers (1917), Psychology of the Unconscious, ch. VI The Battle for Deliverance from the Mother

The retrospective longing acts like a paralyzing poison upon the energy and enterprise; so that it may well be compared to a poisonous serpent which lies across our path.

Carl Jung, Psychology of the Unconscious (1916) / Collected Papers (1917), Psychology of the Unconscious, ch. VI The Battle for Deliverance from the Mother

worms and lice on the body

attributed to Ibn Sirin, Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam

If he sees in his belly worms eating from his belly, then they are his dependents eating from his wealth; and lice are a man's dependents.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 787–790

If he sees that lice or worms are scattering from his body or from some of his limbs, and he sees that they have become many upon his body or his garments, or one of the two, then the one who has this will obtain wealth, servants, and dependents.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 787–790

long worms

Artemidorus of Daldis, Oneirocritica (1644 English translation)

to vomit wormes by his mouth, or upon his seat, is to know his enemies, and familiar wrongers, and to overcome them.

Oneirocritica (1644 English translation), The Third Booke of Artimedorus His Exposition of Dreames.

little worms in the flesh

Artemidorus of Daldis, Oneirocritica (1644 English translation)

LIttle wormes, are care, and anger, and oftentimes displeasure, which one shall have by his wife, or familiars.

Oneirocritica (1644 English translation), The Third Booke of Artimedorus His Exposition of Dreames.

water-worm (da'mus)

Abd al-Ghani al-Nabulsi, Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam

In a dream it is a vile man, a grave-robber, accursed, because it is filthy.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 114

8 more passages on this symbol are in the database and used by the interpreter.