Mice and rats are prolific creatures, who reproduce abundantly and thrive abundantly all
over the world. They are intelligent, resourceful, and stealth, all of which has enabled them to thrive, sometimes unfortunately as an invasive species. Whether you see them or not, there are likely to be some somewhere nearby wherever you go.
In the past few months I’ve had several encounters with rats and mice. One afternoon this summer while walking my pups, I saw one lying next to a house. She was alive, but I knew she was resting there to die. The next morning I saw that she had passed. Around that same time, one of my cats, Apollo, had brought me a dead mouse or small rat at four in the morning. A second one that must have been injured had crawled into the heating vents and died. Again about a week ago, Apollo brought me another one early in the morning. (Though I appreciate his loyalty to me, I’ve asked him to please not bring them from the garden to the bedroom any more!)
Mama, don’t you like the mousie I caught for you?
At this point I had not yet decided to write about the mouse and rat, but then I read that one of the sacred creatures of the Ancient Greek god Apollo was the mouse, symbolizing his omnipresent abundance (the Sun). The mice were also the food for the snakes that belonged to the Pythia, the oracular priestess at Apollo’s temple at Delphi. I was also reminded that Ganesha, the Hindu god of removing obstacles and of abundance and intelligence, rides a mouse or rat. The mouse and rat also represent desire, greed, and always craving new tastes/things to eat and new experiences. With the rat as his vehicle, or vahana, Ganesha is seen as having the wisdom to ride his senses and having control over his desires and cravings.
And then just last night I dreamt about rats: In the dream I went into a (unknown) bathroom to take a shower. I turned on the water and only then noticed a dead rat over the drain. Then another one ran out from behind the tub and hid under a cabinet. I saw a plastic bag I could use to remove the one in the tub, but did not know how to remove or catch the other one.
Most of my mouse and rat encounters in the conscious realm and in the dream world have involved death. I do not have any sense of “doom and gloom” from these experiences, nor do I feel that they are portending a death or ending in this instance. Death is a transition, and it signifies a time of a new cycle, new beginnings, and evolution. This is a time of transition into greater expansion, growth, and abundance.
In summary the Mouse and Rat symbolize:
- Abundance
- Expansion
- Fertility
- Wealth
- Determination
- Intelligence
- Conservation
- Resourcefulness
- Voraciousness
Through the Peacock's Eyes 
Mice and rats. I am so glad that you brought it up. I only like them as vahana.
As for dead ones. Have you checked to see if there is any “negative” energy in the area where you found (or dreamt) them?
Oh, there is definitely a lot of negative energy history (and now) here. I’m currently living in the family home and don’t have any other option (sensing and hoping that will soon change – the transition!). I do make sure I regularly cleanse my personal space though as well as the rest of the house when I can.
Yes, better as safe as possible than sorry or ill-ease.
Indeed! 🙂
Thank you for taking animals not so often brought up in this context. There is a synchronicity as I had recently seen a cute image of a rat in an energy transmission meditation and an exactly similar one in the media the next. In the media text rats were referred to in a negative sense, but in the meditation it was neutral, referring to the healing issues at hand in a more collective sense (yet seeing it invited me, too, to ponder what rats mean to me in different contexts).
If I´d see an unwanted rat in a dream and indoors (= uninvited guest), I´d check if I have taken on the burdens of others or other negative energies in my energy field, and the ability to say no, and related issues.
The first sentence was meant to be: Thank you for including…
Thank you for sharing your rat experience and synchronicity! I am still pondering the dream, but definitely it is part of my feeling of greater expansion – part conquering desire/fear (dead rat) and part continuous growth (other live rat).
You´re welcome! When I first saw your post I immediately saw the synch, but wasn´t in a writing mode then. (And well, maybe the intuitive timing of sharing it was better, who knows. :D) And thanks again for sharing your dreams, I´m always fascinated by them and your interpretations.
Thanks! I had to think about what you said about intruders/uninvited guests. Since I feel we live here with nature (even in a big city), not separate from it, I don’t feel that there was any intrusion. Also there have always been mice in/around this very old house. I used to talk to them as a child. 😀
Sounds good!
I myself notice that some of my basic fears tend to get amplified when I read the media (but I know how to clear the energies, and they would´t get amplified if I hadn´t them myself, so in one sense they are “invited” by me). There is a part in me, which relates to rats with fear.
I reread the latest comment of mine, and am sorry that it might not be very clear for I seem to have taken too many shortcuts in it. 😀 Have a great day!
No worries, I can “read” the energetic meaning and emotions sent electronically too, besides the actual words. 😀
Hmm..the rat being hungry for new experiences and all reminded me of myself! I was born in the year of the Rat…am a Water Rat!
An interesting lesson. Here at the DogDaz Zoo, you will only find the nose and whiskers of mice. The cats seem to not like that part for some reason. MOL
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Perfect! This was what I needed to read, as we have trapped and released 3 mice in our home so far since we started construction on an addition that will be my healing space.
Excellent! Namaste _/l\_
I have no fear of mice or rats..i don’t really want them in my house or close because they attract snakeys 😦 field mice are the cutest little things and my son had a pet rat Chino who was very sweet…a lovely bloggie post 🙂 hugs Fozziemum xx
Thanks Bev!
Thank you 🙂 🙂
In Buddhist thought, the rat is considered the wisest of animals, for he was the first of the animals to arrive to pay homage as Buddha Shakyamuni lay on his deathbed.
Thank you for adding this! Namaste _/l\_
Like Linda I am also a Rat. Not a fan, but I think mice are cute. However while studying Biology I saw why they are so dangerous, the virus they can carry is airborne from the poop and deadly. Symbolically, hmm never given them much thought, even though as I say I am a Rat, I would have rather been a Snake as my initials are, SSS. lol
Thanks for sharing that~
You’re welcome! Do you know what type of Rat you are? Water, wood, metal…?
I want to say wood but I am uncertain.
If the year ends in 0 it is Yang Metal.
If the year ends in 1 it is Yin Metal.
If the year ends in 2 it is Yang Water.
If the year ends in 3 it is Yin Water.
If the year ends in 4 it is Yang Wood.
If the year ends in 5 it is Yin Wood.
If the year ends in 6 it is Yang Fire.
If the year ends in 7 it is Yin Fire.
If the year ends in 8 it is Yang Earth.
If the year ends in 9 it is Yin Earth.
Fire 1957
As long as they are not in my house. I think they are cute in the woods. I can see why they would symbolize your desires. Very interesting and informing post!
Thanks Brenda! Yes, I prefer them to not be brought inside!
I have had an aversion to these creatures, along with roaches, spiders, snakes, and bees. Yet I was born in the year of the Rat and many of its charactersitics suit me. I really enjoy these posts Julianne, keep them coming !
Namaste
I hope these posts are helping you face your aversions! 😉