This dream seems pretty archetypal, but I can't quite make sense of it yet.  Any ideas? (And I don't think the snakes have anything to do with sex issues.)

I'm with one or two other people going down a road into the woods.  We seem to be in a vehicle at first, though later on foot.  We pass a carriage that has no driver.  I consider trying to gain control of it, but decide against it.  Then we pass two horses running in the opposite direction.  I start to notice snakes along the path - in the trees.  Then I see one giant snake covering the path.  I consult with my fellow travelers about moving the snake or getting by it somehow.  Just then I hear a creature shriek in pain.  I turn around to see a giant turtle (as big as a car).  He's had something sprayed in his face.  I assume that one of my traveling companions has taken it upon himself to begin removing all the creatures from the path with some sort of chemical spray.  I protest vehemently at this, feeling that the turtle was a benevolent creature.  Then I see that the turtle's attacker is actually a giant centaur-type creature (much shorter, fatter and meaner). My protests have turned his attention towards us.  He begins to pursue us.  We run the opposite direction, back the way we came, until we pass the entrance to the path.  The centaur cannot follow us past this point.  We are safe.

My answers will be in capital letters, since I do not have the option to type in a different colour.  It is always easier if I take a dream point by point and comment on each aspect.

This dream seems pretty archetypal, but I can't quite make sense of it yet.  Any ideas? (And I don't think the snakes have anything to do with sex issues.)

SNAKES CAN HAVE MANY MEANINGS, SEX IS JUST ONE OF THEM, WISDOM IS ANOTHER, BETRAYAL YET ANOTHER.....

I'm with one or two other people going down a road into the woods.  We seem to be in a vehicle at first, though later on foot.  

WHO WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE?  A VEHICLE REPRESENTS A PERSON.  IF IT WAS YOUR VEHICLE, AND YOU WERE DRIVING, THEN YOU WERE IN CHARGE OF YOURSELF HERE.  IF SOMEONE ELSE WAS DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE, THEN IT MEANS YOU WERE ACTING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OR MANIPULATION OF SOMEONE ELSE.  IF YOU WERE DRIVING SOMEONE ELSE'S VEHICLE, THEN IT MEANS THAT YOU WERE INFLUENCING OR MANIPULATING SOMEONE ELSE TO GO INTO A CERTAIN DIRECTION....

We pass a carriage that has no driver.  I consider trying to gain control of it, but decide against it.  

A PERSON WITHOUT DIRECTION, YOU CONSIDER TO TRY AND HELP OR ADVICE THIS PERSON BUT DECIDE NOT TO INTERFERE.

Then we pass two horses running in the opposite direction.  

HORSES ARE PURE SPIRITS, AND REPRESENT LIFE ENERGY.....IF THEY WERE RUNNING IN THE DIRECTION YOU WERE COMING FROM, YOU SHOULD TAKE NOTE!  YOU JUST HAD A SENSE THAT WHATEVER ROAD YOU AND YOUR FRIEND EMBARKED ON, COULD BE DANGEROUS TO YOUR OWN LIFE ENERGIES.

I start to notice snakes along the path - in the trees.  Then I see one giant snake covering the path.  I consult with my fellow travelers about moving the snake or getting by it somehow.  

TREES AND FORESTS REPRESENT COMMUNITIES, BUT ALSO NATURE, LIFE AND STABILITY.  THESE COMMUNITIES OR THIS COMMUNITY IS FILLED WITH TREACHEROUS ENTITIES, AND THE GIANT SNAKE COVERING YOUR PATH IS A NEGATIVE ENTITY TRYING TO PREVENT YOU FROM PERSUING YOUR PATH.  (AN EXAMPLE IN REAL LIFE FOR THIS SITUATION IS PERHAPS A DEVELOPER WANTING TO BUILD IN A PROTECTED AREA, AND PREVENTING NATURE LOVERS FROM ATTEMPTING TO STOP HIM)

Just then I hear a creature shriek in pain.  I turn around to see a giant turtle (as big as a car).  

THE CLASSIC SYMBOL FOR MOTHER EARTH IS A TURTLE....

He's had something sprayed in his face.  I assume that one of my traveling companions has taken it upon himself to begin removing all the creatures from the path with some sort of chemical spray.  I protest vehemently at this, feeling that the turtle was a benevolent creature.  

ONE OF YOUR FRIENDS ATTEMPTS TO TAKE DRASTIC MEASURES IN ORDER TO REMOVE THIS OBSTACLE IN YOUR PATHS, AND YOU MISTAKENLY FEEL THAT HE HAS HARMED SOMETHING (OR SOMEONE) WHO DID NOT DESERVE RETALIATION.

Then I see that the turtle's attacker is actually a giant centaur-type creature (much shorter, fatter and meaner). My protests have turned his attention towards us.  He begins to pursue us.  

THE TRUTH COMES OUT AND THE REAL CULPRIT BEHIND THE INJURY OF THIS INNOCENT PLACE/PERSON BECOMES KNOWN.  HE, HOWEVER ALSO IS ALERTED TO YOUR PRESENCE AND BEING THE MEAN SPIRIT THAT HE IS, HE GIVES CHASE.  YOU REALIZE THAT YOU ARE NO MATCH FOR HIM AND DECIDE TO RETREAT TO SAFER GROUND (A MORE STABLE SITUATION PERHAPS?)

We run the opposite direction, back the way we came, until we pass the entrance to the path.  The centaur cannot follow us past this point.  We are safe.

BY RETREATING PAST THE POINT OF ANTAGONISM, HE STOPS PERSUING YOU AND YOU REALIZE THAT YOU ARE SAFE....


THIS DREAM MAY BE RELATED TO SOMETHING THAT HAS ALREADY HAPPENED TO YOU, SOMETHING THAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW, OR IT MAY BE A PREMONITION.

THINK CAREFULLY ON WHAT ROADS YOU PLAN TO EMBARK IN THE FUTURE, WHAT DESCISIONS YOU PLAN TO MAKE AND WHO YOU PLAN TO INVOLVE IN THEM.  DO YOUR HOMEWORK! LOL....AND BE CAREFUL, YOU MIGHT BITE OFF MORE THAN YOU CAN CHEW....


love and rainbows

Raka

Thanks so much.  You pulled out some major things that hadn't occured to me.



This is a great analysis.  On further consideration, I think this carriage represents my own life, not someone else's.  I've felt rather directionless for several years now, primarily in the area of career.  



This is very helpful too.  I took the horses to simply be dream foreshadowing - warning of the treachery ahead.  But your interpretation feels correct.  Taken with the image above of the riderless carriage, maybe I could surmise that the dream is warning that it's my aimlessness that's squelching my life-force energies.  This is instructive in one sense, yet frustrating in that I don't quite know how to get back on track.




That's really interesting.  One of the major things I've been struggling with lately is my desire to get out of the concrete jungle and live more connected to nature.  I manage to keep a pretty impressive vegetable garden, but still, I feel that being stuck behind a desk for eight hours a day is taking a toll on my spirit.  I've actually been dreaming (figuratively speaking) about moving to South America and working a small farm, especially considering the economic malaise that's coming to the US soon.  (If anyone is in the dark about this, PM me for info).  Maybe this would put the rider back on the carriage.

Thanks again for the fantastic interpretation.