To dream of war has a deep symbolism, much deeper than two enemies clashing. War is the essence of human nature, it is when some parts of ourselves fight with each other. Reason vs. emotion; what I want vs. what I need; what is comfortable vs. what is uncomfortable. We fight daily battles within ourselves.

Check out more details below to help you understand what you dreamed.

REFLECT ON THE CONTEXT OF DREAMING OF WAR

• Are you effectively participating in the war by being part of one of the conflicting sides?
• How do you react to war? Do you just observe and not take sides, do you try to negotiate peace, or do you further inflame the hatred between the parties?
• Does one side die or is annihilated in some way?

REFLECT ON WHAT YOUR UNCONSCIOUS MIND MAY BE SIGNALING WHEN YOU DREAM OF WAR

• Do you find yourself in doubt or paralyzed by the options to be chosen? Are you angry with everyone and everything, letting the dogs loose, precisely because you are undecided? Is this internal battle (about which decision to make) getting you down?
• Are you constantly attacking people, or are you repressing your anger and aggressiveness for fear of sparking conflict with others?
• Can you define what you are avoiding? Or rather, what are the divergences you are feeling, thinking, wanting? Do you want to end your relationship and, at the same time, don't want to end it? One side of you wants to change jobs and the other side wants to stay in the same place? Try to be very honest with yourself to detect these ideas, these desires, these conflicting emotions.
• How about writing about these two sides that are fighting inside you or in your outer life?

Understand possible applications of dreaming of war:

TO DREAM THAT YOU DEFEND ONE SIDE THAT IS FIGHTING

If you are in a war and defending a side, it will be important to realize which side it is. What is most evident in the behavior, appearance or objectives of the side you are on? Do the same for the opposing side. With this awareness, you will know if the side you are defending is healthy and valid, and you will realize if, in your daily life, the way of acting associated with this side inthat you find yourself is being constructive, productive, and satisfying for your life.

From this exercise, you can better know how to direct your life, taking into consideration the behavioral tendencies associated with the other side. Let's suppose that on the side you defend are the leaders, the more active and dynamic people. And on the other side are the more passive people, who don't take the initiative. It could be that your dream is showing you the importance of taking aassertive, courageous, daring, and capable of making his own decisions.

Of course, the side you are on will not always be the most appropriate, which is why it is important to understand what is striking about each pole in this war and why you are leaning more toward one than the other. This is how you will know whether to stay there, change, or adjust both polarities.

TO DREAM THAT YOU ARE NOT TAKING PART IN WAR

It could be that your reaction to war reflects your everyday attitude to internal and/or external conflicts. If you are not participating in the conflict, but just observing it, it could be that you are avoiding the discomfort of making decisions, displeasing people, and negotiating agreements (with yourself and with others).

TO DREAM THAT ONE SIDE LOSES THE WAR

If one side participating in the war is killed or annihilated, observe if you are not repressing within yourself certain attitudes, values and behaviors associated with the losing side. Is it really worth not giving vent to this side in your daily life? Or is it better to adjust your way of acting to try to integrate the energy represented by the losing side?

INTERNAL CONFLICTS INTERFERE WITH EXTERNAL ONES

We reproduce externally our internal conflicts, which are human predispositions, through conflicts with our parents, colleagues, government, and with social values. When this takes on greater proportions, it is reflected in wars between countries or within the country itself (such as a civil war, even if it is not declared).

That being the case, if we come to terms with these conflicting parts within us, are we contributing to lessening the wars outside of us? I believe so, and Gandhi - directly involved in the conflict between India and England - confirms for us, "Be the change you want to see in the world."

Thus, in order to deal more wisely with your internal warfare (and external conflicts), it is fundamental to understand the root cause of these clashes, the conflict between the conscious and the unconscious. One of the best explanations of this primordial clash (from which all the others are reflections) is this excerpt taken from the book "The Search for the Symbol: Basic Concepts of Analytical Psychology",by Edward C. Whitmont:

" The conscious and the unconscious If they have to fight, at least let it be a fair fight, with equal rights for both sides. Both are aspects of life Consciousness must defend its reason and protect itself, and the chaotic life of the unconscious must also be offered the opportunity to be attended to - as much as we can bear. This means open warfare and open collaboration at the same time. Evidently, this is how human life is supposed to be. It is the old game of hammer and anvil: between them, the patient iron is forged into an indestructible whole, an "individual". That's roughly what I mean when I talk about individuation process."

UNDERSTANDING DREAMS CAN HELP END INTERNAL WARFARE

From Jung's point of view, we only become a complete individual, that is, with our own referential, centered and guided by the indications of the wise part of our deepest self (also called Self), when we know how to deal with this eternal and constant conflict between the conscious and the unconscious.

Understanding the messages of dreams and having the personal strength to consciously make, in our day to day life, the changes suggested by their possible meanings (coming from this unconscious sphere of our nature) is one of the most useful instruments to establish agreements in our personal wars.

Hence the importance of paying close attention when we dream of these conflicts, clashes, and confrontations. The dreams may be pointing to the need to reconcile these divergent facets of our personality.

MAKE AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES

To achieve this goal, it is essential to reflect on each side that is at war. One of them refers to which types of attitudes, behaviors, beliefs? And the other? One needs to give in, the other needs to predominate, but this dynamic cannot repress any of these polarities. For example: when we are angry and want to fly into the jugular of the partner, the client or theWe try to come to terms with it, expressing it as a constructive will that goes after goals, respects the values, personality, and timing of the other person, and positions itself with assertiveness.

This is the big secret to dealing with dreams with war: not to devalue any of the sides, and try to integrate them in a cohesive, courageous and mature way. This is how we take fruitful steps in our individuation process.