Shooting - dream interpretation

I talked to a friend tonight, because last night I dreamt about shooting things again. Anytime something becomes a pattern in my dreams, I pay more attention. However, I don’t put much stock in standard dream interpretation. It seems odd that everyone would make the same associations between an object and meaning, especially when they can be so different.

But today, today is different!  What’s amusing is that I started this post a few minutes ago, before Carrie realized we didn’t buy cigarettes when we were out.  So I had to stop, and in the meantime discussed this with Carrie.  Thanks to that break, I actually had a breakthrough in understanding.  I’ll try to explain it here.

According to Jung, shooting represents your creative energy, and shooting  means you’re directing your creative energy into different areas in your life.  Unfortunately, in both dreams I had trouble aiming.  (see I Killed Holloway)  Ellen suggested that meant I needed focus, which makes sense.  So much sense that I can’t even remember my alternative theory.  And I’ve felt a complete lack of focus this week, due to the decisions I have to make.  Therefore, focus makes a lot of sense.

In trying to understand this sequence of dreams, I think I got stuck on seeing situations as literal, rather than symbolic.  For instance, perhaps shooting Holloway had to do with my desire to communicate better with her.  Except in the dream, I shot her accidentally, I wasn’t trying to shoot her at all.  And that’s when it hit me; she’s representative of my loved ones.  In trying to be a bit cautious, and make just the right decision for my loved ones and my self, I had lost focus.  That lack of focus inadvertently hurts them.

The same concept came up in last night’s dream.  It was again a combat type scenario, except this time I was trying to shoot down enemy helicopters.  But as things became more chaotic around me, my focus grew worse and I started to hit or almost hit my own people, which I believe were fighter jets in the dream.  So once again, my lack of focus was hurting those around me.

I can’t honestly remember a time when dream interpretation actually worked, but this feels right.  I laughed a lot when it hit me, which is usually a good sign.  In the end, all that matters is the meaning I take away from the dream anyway.  So not, I need to take heed.  I asked my soul to help me make a decision, and it has to some extent.  I need to stop being cautious, and just decide.  I really hate deciding, but I have to.  If I want to create the situations I need to get to where I want to go, I can’t change my mind all the time.  I need to decide the path I want, and create it.  Otherwise I’ll end up shooting my loved ones, and no one wants that!