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Symbolic dream image: Scissors
Dream Symbol

Dreaming about Scissors

Blades gleam in the half-light, poised to sever what binds. Scissors in dreams slice through comfort, demanding choice and change.

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boundary individuation purification

What Does Dreaming of Scissors Mean? The Scissors Dream Symbol Explained

To dream of scissors is to encounter the archetype of division. Scissors appear when the psyche senses a need for boundary—to cut away what no longer serves, to end relationships or habits that stifle growth. This act is not mere destruction, but a sacred discernment, echoing the biblical sword that divides truth from illusion and the Buddhist wisdom that severs attachment. The sharpness of scissors in your dream reflects your readiness to make difficult decisions, to step into individuation and claim agency over your path.

Transformation Through Release

Scissors also symbolize purification and transformation. Spiritually, they are tools of renewal, clearing space for the new by removing the old. In Hindu and Islamic traditions, scissors cut karmic ties and resolve lingering disputes, urging you to release burdens and embrace justice. If the scissors are dull or broken, notice feelings of powerlessness or unresolved conflict—your soul may be calling for deeper release. In every cut, there is the promise of rebirth: what you let go of now becomes the fertile ground for your next becoming.

Interpretations Across Lenses

Biblical interpretationExpand

While scissors are not explicitly mentioned in the Bible, their symbolic function aligns closely with biblical motifs of discernment, division, and purification. Scissors in a dream may represent the spiritual act of separating oneself from sin or harmful influences, echoing the 'sword of the Spirit' (Ephesians 6:17) and the 'Word of God' that 'divides soul and spirit' (Hebrews 4:12). The act of cutting can also be likened to the pruning described in John 15:2, where God removes unfruitful branches to foster spiritual growth. Thus, dreaming of scissors may signal a divine prompting to exercise discernment, eliminate spiritual hindrances, or undergo a process of sanctification.

While scissors are not explicitly mentioned in the Bible, their symbolic function aligns closely with biblical motifs of discernment, division, and purification.

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Buddhism interpretationExpand

In Buddhist symbolism, scissors represent the cutting of attachments and desires, which is central to the path toward enlightenment. The act of cutting signifies the severance of ignorance (avidya) and the illusions of the ego. Scissors may also symbolize the discerning wisdom that distinguishes between wholesome and unwholesome actions, aiding the practitioner on the journey toward liberation from suffering.

In Buddhist symbolism, scissors represent the cutting of attachments and desires, which is central to the path toward enlightenment.

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Cultural interpretationExpand

Culturally, scissors are associated with both creation and destruction, being used in crafts, tailoring, and various rituals. In some traditions, scissors are believed to ward off evil or, conversely, to bring bad luck if misused (such as gifting scissors, which is thought to 'cut' relationships). Dreaming of scissors may reflect societal attitudes toward change, separation, or the need for precision and control in one's life.

Culturally, scissors are associated with both creation and destruction, being used in crafts, tailoring, and various rituals.

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Hinduism interpretationExpand

In Hindu dream interpretation, scissors may symbolize the act of cutting karmic bonds or samskaras (mental impressions). They can indicate the need to sever ties with past actions or relationships that impede spiritual progress. Scissors may also be associated with the goddess Kali, who wields cutting instruments to destroy illusion and ignorance, representing the transformative power of divine intervention.

In Hindu dream interpretation, scissors may symbolize the act of cutting karmic bonds or samskaras (mental impressions).

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Islam interpretationExpand

In Islamic dream interpretation, scissors (maqas) are seen as instruments of separation and resolution. According to classical sources like Ibn Sirin, dreaming of scissors may indicate the resolution of disputes, the fair division of inheritance, or the separation of truth from falsehood. Scissors can also symbolize justice and the equitable distribution of responsibilities. A broken pair of scissors, however, may point to unresolved conflicts or an inability to bring closure to a matter. The dream may thus urge the dreamer to seek justice, resolve lingering issues, or sever ties with detrimental habits or relationships.

In Islamic dream interpretation, scissors (maqas) are seen as instruments of separation and resolution.

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Psychological interpretationExpand

From a psychological perspective, scissors in dreams often symbolize the power to make decisions, establish boundaries, and separate oneself from unwanted aspects of life. They may reflect a desire to cut ties, end relationships, or remove obstacles. Both Freud and Jung associated cutting instruments with the processes of separation and individuation. Dull or broken scissors may indicate feelings of powerlessness or frustration in effecting change, while searching for scissors suggests a lack of agency or resources to enact desired changes.

From a psychological perspective, scissors in dreams often symbolize the power to make decisions, establish boundaries, and separate oneself from unwanted aspects of life.

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Spiritual interpretationExpand

Spiritually, scissors are seen as tools of transformation and purification. They symbolize the removal of attachments, beliefs, or relationships that no longer serve the soul's growth. The act of cutting is a ritual of release, clearing space for renewal and new energy. Scissors may also embody the dual forces of creation and destruction, both essential for spiritual evolution and rebirth.

Spiritually, scissors are seen as tools of transformation and purification.

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Frequently Asked Questions

To dream of scissors actively cutting is to witness your soul’s yearning for discernment and liberation. The act of cutting signifies a conscious or unconscious desire to sever ties with what no longer nourishes your growth—be it a relationship, habit, belief, or emotional burden. This is not an act of violence, but of sacred clarity: a ritual of purification that clears the path for renewal. The sharper and more decisive the cut, the more ready you are to claim your own agency and step into a new chapter of your becoming.

Scissors embody the paradox of division and creation. Their presence can evoke fear, as they herald endings and the unknown that follows. Yet, they are also instruments of empowerment, offering you the chance to set boundaries and reclaim your autonomy. This duality mirrors the archetypal sword that separates truth from illusion—scissors in your dream ask you to wield discernment with courage, knowing that every ending is a prelude to transformation and rebirth.

Dull or broken scissors symbolize a blockage in your ability to enact necessary change. Spiritually, they reflect feelings of powerlessness, unresolved conflict, or an inner reluctance to let go. Your soul may be signaling that deeper release is needed—perhaps old wounds, karmic ties, or lingering disputes are weighing you down. The dream invites you to seek healing and restoration, so that you may reclaim your capacity for sacred discernment and move forward unburdened.

Scissors are the psyche’s tool for establishing boundaries. When they appear, your inner world is calling for separation from energies, patterns, or people that encroach upon your well-being. This is the archetype of individuation: the courageous act of defining where you end and others begin. Dreaming of scissors is an invitation to honor your own space, to cut away what drains you, and to protect the fertile ground of your becoming.

Yes. In many spiritual traditions, scissors are seen as instruments of justice, used to resolve disputes and sever unjust ties. If you dream of scissors, your soul may be urging you to address situations of imbalance, to cut through confusion or deception, and to restore harmony. The dream is a call to act with integrity, to release what is unfair or burdensome, and to create space for truth and equilibrium in your life.

Every cut made by dream-scissors is a ritual of release and rebirth. By letting go of what no longer serves, you create the emptiness necessary for new growth. The transformation is both emotional and spiritual: as you sever attachments, you purify your inner landscape and prepare for renewal. The dream promises that in relinquishing the old, you become fertile ground for your next becoming—each act of release is a step toward your truest self.