Portland 9/1/2015 8:12:29 PM
Violence In Dreams Can Symbolize A Constructive Assault, Says Dream Analyst David Rivinus
Violence in a dream is usually a symbol for harm being done,
says dream analyst, David Rivinus. But unlike real life, in a dream this is not
necessarily a bad thing. “It depends on who or what is being assaulted,” says
Rivinus. “There is an aspect to the psychology of violence that goes beyond
injury; it includes a sense of defiling.” In a dream, this defilement can be a
metaphor for something positive.
“Suppose a dreamer is addicted to drugs,” explains Rivinus,
“but his efforts to break the habit have been unsuccessful.” If the dreamer
dreams of being the victim of some kind of violence—especially degrading
violence—it could be a warning about the effects of the addiction; the dreamer
is, literally and figuratively, being beaten up by his habit. Such a warning
can be invaluable.
Instead, what if the dreamer is successfully overcoming his
habit. “If he has a dream in which he sees his drug pusher being pummeled, this
could be the most positive dream possible, even though it is violent,” says
Rivinus.
According to Rivinus, violence in dreams is common. “The
main thing to remember is that dreams are almost always about the dreamer’s own
internal conflict,” he says, “and it depends on what the conflict is about.”
Rivinus says that it is also important to remember that all
characters in a dream are symbols of some part of the dreamer. “That includes
the so-called bad guys or perpetrators in dreams. They are almost invariably a
symbol for some aspect of the dreamer himself,” he says. To a person trying to
end an abusive drug habit, a pusher would quite possibly represent that part of
himself that is the actual addiction. Hence, to see it violently defeated is a
good thing. “In this case the violence is simply a statement of how hard it has
been for the dreamer to overcome his addiction.”
Upsetting dreams can be powerful and usually contain
messages of vital and immediate concern to the dreamer. But when they are acted
on constructively, they can bring profound relief and resolution.
David Rivinus is the author of the book “Always
Dreaming” published by Ozark Mountain Publishing. He is a dream analyst with
over three decades of experience. He has lectured, held workshops and
facilitated dreams internationally. For more information, go to
www.teacherofdreams.com