Sunday, February 3, 2002		Dream Theme

Dreaming of war
Vinaya Katoch Manhas

MANY would tend to confuse the symbolic significance of war in dreams with the significance of seeing violence in dreams but this is not true. Whereas violence is related to emotions, war has more to do with the act of war as such. The dreamer may see guns firing or men armed with weapons riding on horses or elephants, but violence or bloodshed as such may not be a part of his dream.

As per Indian thought to see war in your dream is not a good omen. If you are in business, such a dream foretells lots of difficulties and stiff competition. From the point of view of your family it is indicative of some mishap that shall destroy the peace and tranquility of the family. Should you see yourself fighting then you shall face a lot of opposition and lack support from friends, relatives and neighbours. Should you win the war then you shall win over your enemies and competitors. But if you lose then defeat and sorrow shall come your way.

As per western thought dreaming of war foretells unfortunate conditions in business and much disorder and strife in domestic affairs. For a woman to dream that her husband or lover has gone to war means that she shall hear something that may cast a slur on his reputation. Should you dream that you have won a war then your business shall do fine and your domestic life shall be harmonious.

Psychologically speaking, seeing war in dreams always denotes a conflict. It means that you need to be more conscious of the effect of your actions and words on others. It could also be our subconscious telling us that the conflict we seem to have entered into is the result of deliberate action on the part of someone else rather than a spontaneous act on your part. War is ultimately a means of dealing with destruction and disorder. The outcome of the war indicates the establishment of order which takes place after some time. Thus seeing war in dreams is an indication of the natural process of conflict resolution that takes place within us.

A woman of 52, a retired army officer’s wife, would often dream of her husband going to a war and coming back badly wounded. What she did not understand was why she got this dream even after he had retired from the Army. The reason lay in the fact that her fear was very deep rooted. Some particular experience in her life may have made her fear losing her husband. War seemed to her the most likely event that could turn her fear into a reality. The recurrence of the dream even after her husband’s retirement means that she still has not been able to get over the fear of losing him.