Nearly all creation myths feature a chaotic void (Greek Chaos, Hebrew Tohu wa-Bohu, Chinese Hundun). Represents the necessary pre-creation state from which order emerges through divine action or natural law.

The collective unconscious in its undifferentiated state. Chaos represents the psyche before ego-formation, containing all archetypal potentials. Integration involves confronting this chaos to achieve wholeness (individuation).

The id's unorganized, instinctual energies before ego structures them. Primordial chaos symbolizes repressed primal drives (especially sexual/aggressive) seeking expression but causing anxiety when threatening conscious order.

The undifferentiated perceptual field before figure-ground separation occurs. Chaos represents the background from which meaningful patterns (gestalts) emerge through awareness. Dream chaos shows unfinished situations seeking closure.

The brain's attempt to process overwhelming, unstructured information or memory consolidation during REM sleep. Chaos reflects cognitive overload, schema disruption, or the mind modeling extreme uncertainty and possibility.

A cognitive model of ancestral environments' unpredictability. Dreaming of chaos may practice threat response to disorder or simulate creative problem-solving in novel situations, enhancing adaptive flexibility.

In Daoism, Wuji (無極) the undifferentiated void before Taiji. Chaos (Hundun) is not negative but the origin of complementary forces (Yin-Yang). Modern views see it as natural spontaneity (ziran) before human intervention.

In Hinduism, the cosmic ocean before creation, with Vishnu sleeping on Shesha. In Buddhism, it reflects the mind's fundamental emptiness (shunyata) before conceptualization. Chaos signifies potential for liberation from illusion (maya).

Ancient Mesopotamian Tiamat (saltwater chaos) battled by Marduk. In Zoroastrianism, Angra Mainyu's disorder versus Ahura Mazda's order. Modern Islamic Sufism views chaos as divine mystery (ghayb) before manifestation.

Greek Chaos as first deity, gap between earth and sky. Norse Ginnungagap, the yawning void. Alchemical prima materia—formless base substance. Romantic era saw chaos as sublime, inspiring awe beyond rational order.

Dogon mythology's Amma creating order from chaotic vibrations. Yoruba concept of ase (life force) emerging from primordial waters. Modern interpretations connect chaos to community disruption or ancestral memory of creation.

Various Indigenous creation stories (e.g., Navajo, Haudenosaunee) where beings bring order from watery chaos or darkness. Contemporary views may associate chaos with colonial disruption or ecological balance loss.