Frog Symbolism: The Meaning of Frogs in Dreams and Other Areas of Life
The frog is a popular symbol in many cultures but can mean different things depending on several factors. Thanks to its close association with water, it mostly bears positive connotations but can also be linked to witchcraft, illness, and other dark areas of our lives. Frogs and toads (biologically the same species) were one of the ten plagues in Egypt. There are also countless superstitions related to these amazing amphibians. What does the frog actually symbolize? What does it mean to dream about a frog?
Frogs can symbolize many things
A Symbol or a Totem?
Frogs fascinated humankind from the beginning of time. Thanks to shedding their skin and going through at least one major transformation (from egg to tadpole, from tadpole to adult frog), they became a symbol of growing up, changing, transforming, and adapting.
Latona transforming the peasants into frogs, Johann Hulsman
Olmecs are familiar with a toad god who is constantly eating his own skin, symbolizing the life cycle, going from birth through life to death and rebirth, just like everything in nature constantly grows up, dies, and is born again. In some parts of China and Japan, the toad is considered a magical creature with the power of immortality. Many people there still carry frog-shaped amulets said to bring good luck.
Illustrations from The Frog King by Warwick Goble (left) and Sleeping Beauty by Arthur Rackham (right)
The Frog King by the Brothers Grimm, The Tale of the Toad by Johann Gustav Gottlieb Busching, or The Frog Princess from Russian folklore feature a frog in a title role, in the Piedmont’s version of Beauty and the Beast the latter reveals himself to the world as a toad, at the beginning of The Sleeping Beauty it’s a frog who brings the message about the birth to the queen, in the old poem A Frog He Would a-Wooing Go (Frog Went a-Courtin) the title character also obviously represents fertility …
Illustrations from The well at the World’s End by John Dickson Batten (left) and Tale of the Toad by George Cruikshank (right)
Frogs were closely associated with the Nile’s flooding, which brought water and fertile soil and thus new life. Considering frogs to be symbols of fertility and abundance was (and still is) a logical step. In ancient Egypt, the frog is the symbol of the number hefnu, translated as ‘a huge number’.
Illustrations from The Frog Princess by Viktor Vasnetsov (left) and Ivan Bilibin (right)
In Latin America, frogs and toads are considered creatures with supernatural powers by native people. Some believe they have the power to bring or withhold rain. Others see them as protectors during childbirth, while others see them as symbols of destruction.
Did you know a coqui frog is one of the symbols of Puerto Rico? The sound produced by a coquí can reach up to one hundred decibels, making it the loudest known amphibian. People see it as small but loud and proud – just like people of Puerto Rico!
Coqui frog, Public Domain Photo
In general, frogs were associated with water, life, and new beginnings. They were a symbol of good luck, and talismans in the shape of frogs can still be found in virtually all parts of the world. With all the magic powers assigned to these little amphibians, it’s no wonder they were used in many rituals performed by shamans, magicians, and witches. We shouldn’t forget that most frogs are essentially nocturnal creatures. In medieval Europe, parts of frogs were used as protectors against poisoning among the nobility.
The Plague of Frogs, engraving by Gerard Jollain
Such beliefs were in sharp contrast to Christian beliefs, in which frogs symbolise evil. In the Bible, they were sent to destroy crops in Egypt. Frogs and toads were closely related to witchcraft. They were seen as something ominous and unwanted. Frogs are spirit or totem animals of several Native Indian tribes. A spirit animal acts as a guide, helping a person on their journey. It can serve as an advisor or protector.
Such ambivalence about the frogs is reflected in dream dictionaries where the dreaming of the frog doesn’t have a uniform meaning.
Dreaming about Frogs
To put it short – a frog in your dream predicts a change. Specifically, this is an important change that could be either good or bad. Seeing a frog in the grass, for instance, suggests you’ll meet somebody new. It can be a new friend or a new business partner and this meeting will likely evolve into a long, fruitful relationship. A frog in your house is good news too. It prognoses a productive period of your life.
On the other hand, frogs in water mean negative changes. Some serious problems may be ahead of you. Catching or stepping on a frog also brings bad news. You’ll likely get sick. Holding or even killing a frog represents negative emotions or aggressive actions, which can have long-term damaging consequences for you, no matter against whom these feelings are directed.
Frogs symbolize transformation
Several characteristics of the frogs can be used in dream interpretations about toads and frogs. Their ability to regulate their body temperature by entering or exiting the water is reflected in dreams in which frogs alter their surroundings. If a frog goes into the water, your situation at the moment is likely too stressful, so you need to cool down a bit. If a frog leaves the water, you may be ready for an important life change. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but it will very likely create an additional burden for you.
If you dream about a lot of frogs, your love life will probably improve. The color brings additional info. Black and dark colors are generally bad. They are associated with losses. If you see red, it means that you will react very passionately. Don’t overreact! White and gold frogs bring good luck.
How About Frogs in Fables?
Frogs are popular characters in fables. They are always associated with changes and transformations.
Illustrations from The Frog Who Aspired to Become as Big as the Oxx by Eugene Louis Gillot (left) and The Ox and the Frog by Victor Wilbour (right)
Let us remind ourselves about:
- The Frog and the Ox (known under various titles): The frog inflates itself to become as big as the ox, but explodes.
- The Frog and The Rat: The frog tries to drown a rat by tying its leg to the rodent and dive, but ends up as a hawks pray.
- The Scorpion and the Frog: The scorpion asks the frog to carry it across the water. While the frog initially refuses the poisonous partner, she eventually helps and is then bitten.
- The Frogs Who Wished for a King: Frogs demand a king from Jupiter. He gives them a log, but they are not satisfied. Then they get a crane and their world turns much worse than ever.
Illustrations from The Frog and the Rat by Benjamin Rabier (left) and Frogs Wishing for a King by Walter Crane (right)
In all the presented cases, the frogs tried to escape the natural rules. For that, they are always punished. While change is natural, certain cosmic rules still apply.
Caricature of William McKinley presented as the illustration from The Frog Who Tried to be as Big as a Bull by John Samuel Pughe
Feng Shui
Feng Shui is an ancient mix of science and art, one of the so-called Five Arts of Chinese Metaphysics. A frog plays an important role in it. We can find traces of a Feng Shui frog in Chinese folklore. To put it short, there were eight immortals and one of their wives secretly drank the elixir of immortality. She also became immortal, but was punished by being transformed into a toad. According to common belief, a three-legged (hind legs are fused into one) toad appears at some homes mostly on a full moon and brings good luck – what is often closely related to money.
Photo of a three-legged money frog
Three Legged Frog and Money
For obvious reasons, the three-legged frog from Feng Shui became one of the most popular symbols of money and wealth, not only in China, but around the world. It’s also a popular decorative element in the form of the three-legged toad with a coin in the mouth. Everybody who knows anything about Feng Shui probably knows this philosophical system deals with energy flows. Placement of objects is extremely important.
So how to place a money frog? The science behind it suggests that you should start with relatively complex maps. However, if we follow some general guidelines, we still have a good chance of attracting positive energy and improving our financial situation. These are some common rules:
- place it near the front door with its face inside (so the money is oriented towards the inside of the home!)
- it should never be in a straight line from your entrance towards the living room
- if you have more than one money toad, place others in the north and south-east parts of the living room, on the table or close to the table if possible (don’t forget the orientation – the coin in the mouth should never be oriented away from your home)
- never put it on the floor
- never place it in a bedroom, a room with running water, or garbage
- if your money toad is broken, replace it immediately.
Photo of a golden money frog
There is another trick, not practiced by every Feng Shui master, yet worth trying. Many people believe a three-legged frog should be activated first. This can be done by placing a red ribbon around its neck or putting it on red paper.
Illustration from A Frog He Would a Wooing-go by Constance Haslewood
May the frogs in all kinds of forms bring you good luck!