Tiger Symbolism & Meaning
Looking to awaken your sense of adventure? Want to tap into your fighting spirit? Tiger, as a Spirit, Totem, and Power Animal, can help! Tiger teaches you how to embrace your wild curiosity, all while connecting with your inner warrior! Delve deeply in Tiger symbolism and meaning to find out how this Animal Spirit Guide can animate, inspire, and illuminate you.
Tiger Table of Contents
- Tiger Symbolism & Meaning
- Spirit Animal
- Totem Animal
- Power Animal
- Tiger Dreams
- Astrology & Zodiac
- Far Eastern Symbolism
- Back to all Mammals
- Back to all Spirit Animal Meanings
Tiger Symbolism & Meaning
William Blake summarized much about the tiger by saying, “Tyger Tyger, burning bright, / In the forests of the night; / What immortal hand or eye, / Could frame thy fearful symmetry?” Tiger symbolism is fiery and fearsome, so much so that Blake ponders how powerful a Divine being would need to be to fashion such a creature. Metaphysical imagery frames the tiger as being tied to the will, strength, aggressiveness and bravery.
Tiger definitely has duality in terms of global meanings. The phrase, “Don’t wake a sleeping tiger,” sums up the darker side of this creature. Life is unpredictable, and when the Tiger wakes and strikes the results are swift, sure and generally not pleasant. This is not the time for making rash decisions
On a more positive note, when you keep seeing tiger images in your life it acts as a powerful reminder of overcoming obstacles and fears by reclaiming your place of power. Tiger imagery represents the ability to manage strong emotions more effectively. If you find these images unnerving, it may be a signal that you feel hunted or threatened by a person or situation and need to face it head on.
Tiger Spirit Animal
When Tiger comes to you as a Spirit Animal treat this with the utmost respect. Tiger will teach you patience – when to move, when to remain still and in the end experience a successful “hunt”. Tiger will not let you plan things willy-nilly, nor will he let you procrastinate when the Path is already clear for that next great leap.
Additionally in terms of spiritual growth Tiger offers you incredible strength. Sometimes the Universe uses tests as learning tools. These can weary the spirit of the traveler but Tiger stands ready to lend a powerful paw that keeps you going. Tigers are known for their amazing bursts of energy in the wild, and you can tap that for any challenge you face.
People with a Tiger Spirit Animal often yearn for adventure, and they can stare down a statue! There is little that can stand in Tiger’s way when it wants something. The caution here is avoiding a selfish agenda. This typically happens early in the spiritual relationship. As you mature with Tiger, that temptation comes under greater control. In the meanwhile use a chrysoprase crystal to help.
If your spirit animal is a Tiger your relationships and sexual expressions are very intense. You love fully and have a strong desire to parent. Female tigers revel in their motherhood roles and keep their young close for lessons.
Tiger Totem Animal
If you have Tiger as a Birth Totem, you are charitable, curious, dynamic, sassy, and of high intellect. You have exceptional communication skills and a leadership quality about you. Many people with Tiger as a Totem are business owners or hold high positions in society.
Tiger People are confident. There is nothing uncertain with Tiger Energy and Medicine – this cat is the perfect embodiment of elegant power. As Tiger Energy guides, it teaches self-actualization; you begin to feel comfortable in your skin and even revel in it. That is why Tigers often come to those who have poor body images or low self-esteem; you too, will serve as a teacher for others on how to appreciate one’s most authentic self.
In terms of spiritual growth and awareness, Tiger is all about keeping your eye on the prize. Whatever your goals are energetically, Tiger as a Power Animal that provides tireless discipline and energy. From a Shamanic standpoint, Tiger symbolizes healing the immune system and clearing environmental toxins from your system.
Tiger Power Animal
Call on Tiger as your Power Animal when you need renewed confidence. There is nothing uncertain with Tiger energy and medicine – this cat is the perfect embodiment of elegant power. As Tiger energy guides she teaches self-actualization – you begin to feel comfortable in your own skin and even revel in it. That is why Tigers often come to those who have poor body images or love self-esteem.
In terms of spiritual growth and awareness, Tiger is all about keeping your eye on the prize. Whatever your goals are energetically, Tiger as a Power Animal provides tireless discipline and energy. From a Shamanic standpoint Tiger symbolizes healing, the immune system and clearing environmental toxins from your system.
Tiger Dreams
Dreaming about Tigers often represents your personal will. Tigers confront challenges, so Tiger dreams could be a sign that you are literally being advised to find that “Tiger fighting spirit.” Running from a Tiger symbolizes hiding from an emotional situation or personal longing.
When Tiger enters your dreamscape, it may represent your untamed nature, and a need to let your wild side out to play. If the Tiger chases you, your dream is encouraging you to explore and embrace your Shadow Self to achieve a greater sense of wholeness emotionally and spiritually. If there is emphasis on the Tiger’s stripes, your dream points to waking life conditions where you or someone you are interacting with may be too inflexible or unmoving.
If you are fleeing from a Tiger in the jungle, you may feel overwhelmed by present conditions or your dream is telling you that you are not ready to face what it is you fear the most. To dream of a tame Tiger foretells of conditions free of emotional turmoil or overcoming phobias.
Learn more about Tiger Spirit by reading Dreams About Cats: Tiger Dreams on WhatIsMySpiritAnimal.com!
Tiger in Astrology & Zodiac Signs
In Chinese Astrology, those born under the sign of the Tiger are bold, spirited, capricious, and poised. Anyone born under the Tiger Zodiac Sign is charismatic, has a fiery personality, and knows all-too-well how to turn on the charm. Sometimes Tiger People are a bit erratic and stubborn, and if they are not careful, their temperament can turn volatile.
Far Eastern Tiger Symbolic Meanings
In China, Tigers embody pride, bravery, fierceness, defense, and austerity. People have images of Tigers in their homes or on their attire as a means of protecting the property or person. Tigers also represent abundance, which is seen in the deity governing wealth: Tsai Shen Yeh, whose depictions often portray the God with a Tiger at His side. One story of creature depicts Five Tigers, in the colors yellow, red, blue, black, and white, responsible for ensuring harmony in the Cosmos by supporting the Universe. The same Tigers govern the five Chinese elements, Earth, Fire, Water, and Metal, along with the Sun and the seasons.
Tiger Symbolic Meanings Key
- Confidence
- Curiosity
- Dignity
- Prowess
- Raw Power
- Sexuality
- Spiritedness
- Strength
- The Seasons
- The Sun
I read the toad totem of the tiger and yes it fits me to a tee and I’m glad that it was on here so I can learn some more thank you
Thank you for these thorough explanations, helping me to better unterstand my totem animal, the tiger.
Is there a special way to create the totem carving? And someone once told me that you are not to reveal your spirit or totem animal to outsiders. Is that right, or does it not matter? Thank you.
So had some heartbreak this week with my eldest of 8 children. I dreamt of a small white and black striped tiger with splashes of bright orange. It was in a small container cooped up, and I instantly fell in love with it. I had to take this home. I asked the woman of the house if I could have it, she explained as soon as her son gets home, she’ll see if she could give it to me. He argued with her son and I ended up with it and woke up. Any idea?
I had an amazing vision dream…I emerged up from water…looking out into this beautiful universe…I saw a white tiger walking towards a beautiful Indian lady…she was dressed in colorful traditional clothing…sitting by the water…she was singing or humming a beautiful sweet tune…the universe was ever so present…as it glistened when she swirled her hand in the water…it sent ripples throughout meeting up at the paws of the white tiger…I was trying to warn thos lady…before I could even say anything…The tiger pounced up on her…as she turned to great this powerful spirit…she smiled with love so strong.. .I heard the tiger speak…in a beautiful voice I have heard many times… (mine)…say “I miss you mama”…the beautiful lady just smiled and hugged the tiger back…then I woke up…
wow <3 that's beautiful. thank you for sharing it!
Last night I saw a tiger in my dream. That’s why I want to learn more about how to use its power, confidence, and a lot more. I mean, who doesn’t want to know how to tame the tiger spirit animal?? Anyway, thank you.
The Tiger Totem fit me to a T so bad when i read bout the self-esteme i got emotional and was actually crying n i could notstop it from happening. Thankfully i stopped in like a min. Why would that happen for? My main question is, what if you dont dream about a tiger or any animal infact? I strongly believe in the native culture for my dads parents were both cherokee indian and my mothers side is blackfoot indian. Can you please help me understand why i dont dream bout tigers nor any other animal? Thank you
Thanks a lot for this! Re. tigers not being native to North America, in Ontario and thereabouts, there are rock paintings of what they call a waterpanther, which could be a tiger that used to live here, since tigers like water, or maybe a spiritual being. Anyway, they may have lived here before, or may not have…. but the stories tell of them, and it sounded like you had not heard of these so I thought I’d let you know 🙂 just look up water panther, or underwater panther. and rock paintings. I just found some but your website won’t allow it to be posted here. All the best. peace and light.
Hi Rachel,
I have heard about them for me what Tigers represents is the ‘stand alone Quality’ which apply’s to humans as well,
My Chinese zodiac is a tiger, and even before I knew tigers are my guiding and spiritual animal in real life since childhood was fascinated with these big cats, now working with various organizations to save this majestic cats in the wild
Thanks & Regards
Simran Gulati
Helping Paws Rescues
so please email me, if you can by phone because i dont use the computer alot. so plase tell me if im able to get a wooden necklace anyway possible. actally, text me at 830-387-1188. thx
one day, we and my family were at schlitterbahn and i saw a tiger scratched out of the paint. it had an aviator goggles and a scarf on. no one else saw it. what does it mean, i wonder. i have always wanted to fly a plane, though.
read the little prince
My spirit animal is a bat
Sooo… My “spirit animal is an owl”. Anyway; with that being said the last three nights in a row, I’ve had the same bad dream… I dreamt of me in the most comfortable spot ever (a family function aka a party) anyway it starts out at as going good when out of this wooded like alley/ lot; a camel comes running out first, then a fully grown moose, and last but not least a roaring tiger. The camel runs left and the moose runs right with the tiger chasing behind it. When all of a sudden it stops chasing the moose and slowly walks to approach everyone of us behind a gate meant for cattle when it sits down and stares directly into my eyes and I wake up. What does this mean??? Hoping, it’s not as bad as I’m thinking..
I have had the tiger with me all my life. Until I was 5 years old, my imaginary friend was a tiger that I called Tager. He was very real to me, adults used the word imaginary, not me. Then after that age, he was in my dreams allot. He was the one who showed me that linear time does not exist outside the biological body, and made me see that the dream world was real and that we do real important work there.
That is fascinating. Thank you for sharing!
so i’m entering 2021 with new and good energy and really trying to learn about myself and why i repress my emotion and be more comfortable with being a gay man because m family shamed me so much but basically i feel like i opened up my third eye and i started to manifest things in my life and it actually worked then i started to just always stay with the positive energy and i saw i picked tiger i was reading everything about that tiger and it all lined up and the only reason i picked the tiger is because i was watching a video on spiritual awakening totems and it was a picture that’s looked different in everyone and i saw a tiger face and i feel so happy and so at peace with myself and i’m so happy and i have a great boyfriend that is always there when i need someone’s view on things i went through in the past it’s a lot lol but can you can give me some feedback on what you think about everything
Human infants are often imprinted by the first animal creature they come into contact with either directly or indirectly, For many people of the depression era and baby-boom generations, that was often a teddy bear or a dog or a cat. I played with a stuffed Tiger. It is not an easy totem and requires a lifetime of mastery. One thing not noted above is that Tigers have “Keen situational awareness”. They’re “switched on” all the time. Early in life this can translate into being high-strung. Meditation is key along with physical exercise. They are also the symbol of the negative side of the ego which needs to be brought under control via meditation. That’s why so many Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Arhats and Meditation Masters are pictured near or with Tigers in the Mahayana and Theravada Buddhist schools, and in Vajrayana Buddhism in particular, The Wrathful Male and Female Wisdom Beings (Tough-Love) are depicted as wearing Tiger-skin aprons; a symbol of overcoming the Ego. They are also The Emblem of The Hermit/Mystic as they are solitary creatures. Having said all that, never forget Tigger from Winnie the Pooh. Tigers have a ferocious sense of humor too.