It seems there have always been wars between different people, with the first war in recorded history having been fought nearly five thousand years ago. There have been civil wars, and wars between tribes and countries. The 20th century saw two world wars.
War is on TV, in films, and on the news. Sometimes it feels impossible to avoid it. Therefore, it is no wonder images of war leak into our dreams since dreams are a way for the brain to process information from the day.
But what about when we haven’t been exposed to talk or images of war? What could give rise to such violent dreams? And what can they mean? In this article, we explore the meaning of dreams about war.
So read on to find out how you can interpret your dream about war.
Definition of War
The origin of the English word ’war’ is the word ’Werran’ from the old High German language. The original word means to confuse or to cause confusion. But, of course, wars cause more than confusion. They devastate people and nations.
War is defined as a conflict between groups of people and involves hostilities of considerable duration and magnitude. Their size and protracted nature set them apart from other conflicts such as rebellions or insurrections.
Dream About War Meaning
If you have dreamt about war, you might have woken up feeling anxious and troubled. Such feelings are natural after a dream of such physical and violent nature. You are also probably left questioning why you had a dream about war. Is it a bad sign or can a dream about war have a positive meaning, too?
What a dream about war means depends on the context of the dream. For example, were you on the winning or losing side? It also depends on how you felt in the dream. Perhaps you felt victorious or scared? Because dreams are reflections of our thoughts, we should also interpret them in the context of what is happening in our real life.
In a moment, we will look at the meaning of some specific war dream scenarios, but first, let’s focus on general interpretations. Sometimes we need to apply the general interpretations because we might not remember the details of the dream, only that there was a war.
1. You may feel anxious in your waking life
Are you in a phase in your life where you need to make an important decision but feel conflicted over the options? Perhaps there is something you want to do, like quit your job, but you are afraid of the consequences. This dilemma can cause anxiety, which is then reflected in your dream as a war.
The dream is telling you that the only way to reduce anxiety is to make a decision. You cannot stay at the crossroads forever. Listen to your instincts when deciding.
2. You are dealing with a real-life conflict
A dream about the war could be symbolic of a real-life conflict and tension. This can be a mental conflict related to values or opinions or a conflict you are having with your partner, relative, friend, or colleague.
The dream is a sign that you are suppressing your emotions about this conflict rather than trying to solve the issue. You need to be honest about your feelings, whether to yourself or the person you are having the conflict with.
3. You have repressed aggression
The dream’s meaning could be that you are feeling angry over something that happened in the past. However, you haven’t allowed yourself to express this anger. There is a danger that you will end up releasing this anger in the wrong way or towards the wrong person.
Does this resonate with you? Then the best thing to do is to address it before your anger boils over. If you have anger towards another person, seek to speak to them and explain your feelings. If the anger is towards you, you need to find a way to forgive yourself.
4. You feel a loss of control
When a country is at war, the people caught up in it have little or no control over what happens. Therefore, a dream about war can mean that you feel you are not in control of your life.
You might be facing a lot of challenges in your life and feel overwhelmed by them. You feel that you have lost control and don’t know how to overcome the obstacles. But the dream has a positive message, too. Despite the magnitude of the problems, you have not given up. Wars do not last forever, so persevere and one day your troubles will be over.
5. You need to pay more attention to your health
Have you been experiencing aches and pains lately, but ignoring them? Perhaps you have been saying to yourself that you’ll go to see the doctor if the situation doesn’t improve or when you have more time.
If that is you, then the dream is a sign that you need to pay more attention to your health. Your health is much more important than your work. You need to listen to the needs of your body and mind and if you are experiencing persistent symptoms, see a doctor without a delay.
6. You Have Experienced Physical Abuse
Sometimes such dreams can reflect real-life, physical abuse. The dream is a warning to you. You need to remove that person from your life. If you do not, you could put yourself in danger. It can signify the trauma and sadness the abuse has caused you.
If you can remember the details of your dream, you will find some common war dream scenarios interpreted below.
7. Running Away From War
Have you felt overwhelmed by problems in your waking life? If so, a dream where you are escaping war violence is a sign that you need relief from the problems, even if just temporarily.
You might have felt that you are chased by your problems, and they just keep rising, like an army. Unfortunately, the dream is a sign that you cannot escape the problems. The only way they will go away is when you understand and deal with the cause.
8. Fighting in a War
If you are an active participant in the war, then it may be a sign that you have repressed negative emotions. This may, for example, be anger towards the people around you. Perhaps you are feeling they are not supporting you in achieving your dreams.
The enemy in the dream may represent those people who are bringing negativity into your life. It may suggest that you need to distance yourself from those who discourage you and surround yourself with people who support you instead.
9. You Have no Weapons
Dreaming about standing in the middle of battlefield chaos with no weapons to defend yourself with is a sign that you feel vulnerable in the face of all the obstacles in your life. You feel that whichever direction you turn, there is another obstacle waiting for you.
The dream suggests you need to step back to gain a different perspective. It might even suggest that you need to take a break. Recharge your energy and then you can refocus on your goals.
10. You Win the War
Winning the war is a good sign. It means that you are at a point in your waking life where you will reap the rewards of all your hard work. There is success on the cards, which is not limited to professional life but will benefit your personal life greatly, too.
The dream may also be a sign that you should be open to new opportunities and new projects. You feel strong and ready to take on new challenges.
11. You Are Injured in the War
A dream where you get injured in a battle may suggest there is someone in the social circle you don’t trust. You fear they might deceive you. This could be perhaps a feeling that your partner may be unfaithful or that a friend or a colleague is being untruthful and only after their gain.
Before you jump to conclusions, you need to take a step back and analyze the situation. Are your fears based on facts or rooted in your own insecurities? Once you are clear about what is causing your feelings, you can deal with the situation appropriately.
12. You Lose the War
Unfortunately, this dream can be a negative sign. It can be a sign that all is not well in your relationship. Maybe your partner has qualities you cannot accept or they might take a lot more than they are giving back. Perhaps you quarrel a lot.
The dream may be a sign that you need to make a final decision about the relationship. Is your relationship worth fighting for or would you both be happier going separate ways?
13. You Die in the War
A dream where you are a war casualty may mean that you are battling with your past. Because past events and even traumas still haunt you, you cannot move forward in life.
The dream is telling you it’s not possible to escape the past. Instead, you need to face past events and learn to accept what happened. Perhaps you need to forgive yourself or someone else to move forward. Journaling, prayer, or meditation may help you make peace with the past.
Conclusion
While there are different types of meanings, only you know what the war dream’s meaning is because dreams are personal. Sometimes war dreams are a sign of inner struggles or external conflicts and a way for our subconscious mind to deal with them.
They can be a sign of a troubled past or a stressful period we are going through. Sometimes it can be a reminder to take better care of ourselves.
We hope this article has answered your questions on dreams about war. However, if you have further questions about war dreams, you can write them in the comments section.
Mr. Crisanto A. Cardano
Wednesday 5th of July 2023
Thank You for the interpretation of my dreams. I understand now the meaning of my dream. GOD Bless!!!