The sheer power of lions amazes people all over the world, but what is the deeper spiritual meaning of these magnificent big cats? Find out what lions symbolize spiritually, what they symbolize in dreams, and what it means when the lion is your spirit animal.
The mighty lion is known as the king of the jungle, but this majestic creature is more than just a powerful cat. For some people, the lion represents deep spiritual truths and for others, the lion is their personal spirit animal who guides them to mystical truths and helps them to grow spiritually. Just what are lions and what do they represent spiritually? What does it mean when you dream about lions and just what is lion spirit animal meaning? Join us at SpiritualBlossom as we learn all about lions and answer these questions.
What is a Lion?
Lions are big cats native to India and Africa. While there is only one species of lions, there are seven subspecies including the Congo Lion and Asiatic Lion. Some fully grown adult male lions can be as small as 330 pounds or be as large as over 800 pounds. Lions live an average of 10-14 years and are known as apex, or top predators. A lot of cats are more active at night, but lions are active during daytime too. That is surprising since they can rest for up to 20 hours a day! They are the most social of the big cats, with up to 40 members in each of their packs, or prides. Prides typically consist of a few adult males and some adult females, called lionesses with their cubs. A male lion’s roar can be heard as far as 5 miles away. They eat mostly meat and do a bit of scavenging as well as hunting.
Female lions do most of the hunting for the pride, and they hunt in groups. They are also the ones who raise the cubs. Male lions are not lazy, though. Their job is to help with some of the hunting and protect the entire pride. They protect the cubs while the females are out hunting, and it is up to them to make sure the females have plenty of cubs. Lions first appeared over 2 million years ago with the oldest known fossils of them found in Tanzania, and today, three of the five largest lion populations are still found in Tanzania. About 100 years ago, there were an estimated 200,000 lions living in the wild in Africa, and today, it is estimated only 39,000 or 20,000 of them do. Read about the spiritual meaning of another big cat, the tiger: What is the Spiritual Symbolism of Tigers?
Lion Spiritual Meaning
Besides being a beautiful animal, lions have great spiritual meaning. Their regal behavior means they represent pride, bravery, and splendor, but they also represent something else- strength.
Pride and Bravery
Lions behave regally and are thus known as “the king of the jungle.” They carry themselves with confidence and are not afraid to tackle an animal much larger than they are, like a buffalo. Lions need to hunt to survive, but they are brave enough to take care of their families and won’t run away to save themselves if their loved ones are in danger. They have been known to hunt animals that are powerful enough to kill them, but they are more likely to back away from a fight than other big cats if they feel like it is safer. Leo is the Zodiac Sign the lion is the symbol of. They walk with confidence, and people are likely to immediately respect them. Read about Leo here: Leo Traits and Love Compatibility
Strength
Watching a lion take down a big zebra or run fast might make you think they are the strongest of animals, and lions do, indeed , represent strength. Some folklore expresses this. The ancient Egyptian lion headed goddess Sekhmet was the daughter of the god Ra and she breathed fire, which was compared to the heat of the desert, and laid waste on all who opposed him. She could bring plague, but she also healed the sick. Lion statues guard the entrance to the imperial palace and shrines in China and the traditional Lion dance is done to chase away malevolent spirits and bring good luck. Another lucky animal is the ladybug and you can read about them here: Ladybug Spiritual Meaning, Lore, and Symbolism
Splendor
Lions represent the splendor of royalty and warriors. The Lion of Babylon on the Processional Way leading to the Gate of Ishtar in Ancient Babylon represents the protective power of the king. It was also a good luck symbol. Richard I of England was called Richard the Lionheart because he was such a respected king and warrior. In the Book of Revelations, Jesus, who was believed to be the human manifestation of their god was called the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. This is believed to be saying he is coming to take his followers home with him during the end of the world. The Royal Banner of Scotland, known as the Rampant Lion is the emblem of the royalty of Scotland. The standing lion with raised claws indicates the royalty is ready to protect and defend their people. Another protective animal is the bear and you can read more here: What Do Bears Mean Spiritually?
Lion Dream Meaning
Dreams about lions can represent any of the things they symbolize, but the details of the dream will reveal more meaning. Lions in dreams can be about lions roaring or adorable lion cubs. Dreams about female lions will have a different meaning than dreams about a lion pride. Male lions symbolize different things in dreams than lions attacking. Lion dens mean something entirely different.
Dreams About a Lion Roaring
Lions roar to communicate, not just to be majestic. Sometimes they roar to announce their presence to assert their territory and other times they roar to communicate with members of their pride. They locate one another in this way just like humans call to each other. Males roar to attract females for mating and they sometimes roar to let members of rival prides know how powerful they are. Dreams about roaring lions can have a couple of different meanings. The dream can be telling you that you need to assert your position in a situation, letting would-be rivals know your strengths. The dream could also be telling you to reach out to a friend or family member and talk to them. Another powerful creature with a loud call is the wolf and you can read about them here: What Does a Wolf Symbolize?
Dreams About Lion Cubs
Lion cubs symbolize youth, hope, and playfulness. If you dream about sleeping lion cubs, the dream represents safety and being protected. If you dream about lion cubs crying, the dream symbolizes fear, and you are being instructed to reach out for help or reassurance the way frightened cubs would cry for their mother. If you dream about lion cubs playing, the dream is instructing you to set your worries aside and find ways to relax and have fun. Dreams about lion cubs with a parent represents learning. Like mother lions teach their cubs, someone will teach you something valuable, so listen and pay attention! Owls represent wisdom and you can read about them here: What Does it Mean When You See an Owl?
Dreams About a Female Lion
Female lions are very important. They take care of the cubs and do most of the hunting for the entire pride. The males guard the females with their lives and fight other males for the right to mate with them. In some ways, the females might be most important. Never underestimate the power of women and mothers! Female lions represent life, fertility, hope, and nurturing. When you dream about female lions hunting, it is your cue from the universe to work with your womenfolk for solutions to problems. When you dream of female lions with cubs, it is telling you that it is time to teach or train someone. When you dream about sleeping female lions, you are being told to rest. Read about dream interpretations here: Your Guide to Dreams and Interpretation of Them
Dreams About a Lion Pride
The lion’s pride is the center of their lives. Their family group is everything to them. Most female lions stay with their pride they are born into for life. Male lions may leave their pride and take over a new pride, join another one, or start one. Lions in the pride work as a team, hunting, and protecting one another day and night. Dreams about a happy pride of lions instruct you to keep close to your team and do your part to support them. The dream can also tell you to reach out to your team for nurturing guidance, help, or just companionship. Your loved ones will pull together to make great things happen, and your dream is letting you know the time will come when you need to do your part to help them too. Read more about dream interpretations here: Your Guide to Dream Meanings
Dreams About a Male Lion
Male lions represent strength, protectiveness, and success. When you dream of a massive male lion, you are being told that there is great power within you, and you should assert that. If you are being disrespected in life, when you dream about a male lion, behave as a lion would when challenged. Meet the challenge and crush your foes. Male lions watching over their pride in a dream instruct you to watch over your people, because they need your strength. Read more about dream interpretations here: Your Dream Bible and Dream Analysis Guide
Dreams About a Lion Attacking
Dreams about lions attacking symbolize fears. When you are going through an especially stressful time, it would not be surprising to dream an animal is attacking. After such a dream, it is important to journal. First write down as many details as you can remember about the dream with the date of the dream. Then journal about whatever stressful things are happening. If you are being bullied or disrespected in life when you have this dream, it is a manifestation of the fact you feel attacked. Take some time to sit with your feelings, and then draw up a plan of action to avert the attacks. When a lion is attacked, it might back away if it needs to but sometimes, it stands its ground. Your instincts will know what is best to do. Read about dreams of your ex here: Why Do I Dream About My Ex?
Lion Den Meaning in a Dream
Lions don’t live in dens. They shelter around trees instead. Female lions use dens when they are going to give birth. Hollowed out trees, thickets of shrubbery, caves, and rock shelters make good dens for lions. It would not be wise to enter a lion’s den! The mother lion would feel threatened and attack anybody who she felt would harm her or her cubs. A lion’s den is often a metaphor for being in a hostile situation. If you dream you are in a lion’s den, your dream is instructing you to step away from the situation you are in because you don’t belong there. Read about dreams of snakes here: Dreaming of Snakes - Meaning and Symbolism
The Lion Spirit Animal
Everybody has a spirit animal, and there is a chance the lion is yours. When the lion is your spirit animal, you will feel a kinship with it, and you won’t be afraid when you see a lion like some people will. Your spirit animal will teach you all of the wonderful things it knows. The lion spirit animal teaches you to protect those who rely on you and keep your friends and family close. It teaches you not to be intimidated by appearances and to go after things that seem insurmountable. They also teach you to back away from that which proves overpowering and to walk with confidence no matter what. If the lion is your spirit animal, you are a spiritual brother or sister of the king of beasts, and you should be proud of that. Read about spirit animals here: Which Animal is My Spirit Animal?
Do Lions Need Our Help?
Once inhabiting parts of Europe, Africa, India, and Eurasia, lions are listed as a vulnerable species which means they are threatened by extinction. Their numbers have declined in the wild by over 30% since the 1990s, and habitat loss because of humans is the main cause of their decline. Some documentation shows that some kinds of lion’s numbers have declined by 2/3. Lions need our help. To help lions, we can support legislation that outlaws trophy hunting. We can support conservation programs like World Wildlife Fund, and a local zoo, which rescues vulnerable animals who cannot survive in the wild. Make sure not to send funds or pay visits to privately owned big cat collectors, as many of them are exposed in the news for neglecting or abusing our big cats. You can “adopt a lion” here: Adopt a Lion | Symbolic Adoptions from WWF (worldwildlife.org)
Powerful, beautiful, and regal, lions captivate us whenever we see them. They may be mighty, but they are vulnerable and need the help of humans to survive so they may thrive again. They symbolize great spiritual things and visit us in dreams to deliver powerful messages. When the lion is your spirit animal, it teaches you bravery, confidence, and to protect those you love. May the power of the lion be with you.
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About the Author: Lady Saoirse has studied magic and lore for most of her life but started walking her own Magical Path after being spiritually reborn in the desert. Today she is a High Priestess for The Temple of the Goddess, she is a psychic advisor and spiritual counselor, she shares her gifts as a Psychic and Content Writer for SpiritualBlossom, has written for Mysticsense, and she writes for The Green Egg and PaganPages.Org emag.
