Well

A well is a symbol for the feminine principle. It represents the psyche, the womb; contact with the underworld.
Often wells contain magic waters, and are healing and/or wish fulfilling.
A closed well is a symbol of virginity.

Common meanings as a symbol:

Depth and the Unconscious Wells symbolize hidden depths—what lies beneath the surface of consciousness. Descending into a well represents journeying inward to access buried truths, memories, or aspects of the psyche.

Source and Sustenance As a water source, wells represent life itself, nourishment, and what sustains communities. A village well symbolizes shared resources and collective survival, while a dried well suggests spiritual or physical depletion.

Truth and Wisdom The phrase "truth lies at the bottom of a well" captures how genuine understanding requires looking deeply. Wells symbolize reservoirs of ancient knowledge, wisdom traditions, or insights accessible only through effort and descent.

The Feminine and the Womb The well's circular opening and deep interior evoke feminine symbolism—the womb, fertility, and generative power. Many cultures associate wells with goddess figures and the life-giving feminine principle.

Portals and Thresholds Wells serve as liminal spaces between worlds—entrances to the underworld, fairy realms, or other dimensions. Wishes cast into wells acknowledge this boundary-crossing quality.

Memory and the Past Wells hold what has sunk down over time. They symbolize accumulated experience, ancestral memory, or the past's influence on the present. Drawing from a well means accessing what previous generations have contributed.

Isolation and Entrapment Being trapped in a well represents imprisonment, helplessness, or being cut off from the world above—emotional isolation or feeling stuck in dark places.

Renewal and Transformation Descending into a well and returning suggests death and rebirth, the hero's journey into darkness that precedes enlightenment or renewal.

The well ultimately symbolizes that the most vital resources lie deep within, requiring courage to access.