The butcher has spiritual connotations with the Grim Reaper and death. The meat cleaver can be taken to represent the scythe. As people become less accustomed to seeing a traditional butcher, such an image has not so much relevance. We may need to become aware of a destructive ? or rather divisive - streak in ourselves, one which at the same time has particular skills. We see the butcher as one who mutilates, but provides for us at the same time, and this is reflected in dreams when he appears as someone who separates the good from the bad. He may also be a destroyer.