What Does Dreaming of a Crab Mean?
Traditional Interpretation
In traditional interpretation, especially in Ibn Sirin's readings, the crab mostly points to a harsh-tempered, difficult person, or to indecision, toil, and financial strain in some matter; that said, catching a crab may be interpreted as overcoming an obstacle or an enemy, and eating crab meat as abundance earned through effort and hardship.
Psychological View
Psychologically, the crab, with its backward walk and the hard shell that protects it, can reflect a person's need to put up defenses, a clinging to the past, or a feeling of being unable to move forward, of being caught fast; it can be read as a symbol of suppressed resentments and of a guarded, closed-off state of mind.
By Context
According to Ibn Sirin (traditional)
Points to a stern, difficult person, or to the toil endured because of setbacks at work and at home; even so, it can be a herald of a gain to be earned through future effort.
For a Single Person
Interpreted as a jealous, controlling person who questions everything; it carries a warning that a period of inner unrest may be endured with this person, and that stepping away from them may not be easy.
For a Married Person
Can point to the strain of living with a stubborn, quarrelsome, or intensely jealous spouse; to unrest in the marriage and the desire to find a way out of this tension.
Seeing a Red Crab
Interpreted as someone who appears friendly on the outside yet harbors other intentions within, supposedly close but potentially harmful; it evokes the need to be cautious with one's inner circle.
Catching a Crab
Can indicate giving no opening to ill-intentioned people at work or in a relationship, and overcoming an obstacle or a rival.