Thanks to a friend named Liza for interpreting my nightmare and giving me a new insight! Here's her interpretation: Pt 1: Dream Interp ------- First thing you gotta know before I give ya the rest: Everything I have written are only possibilities based on what is available to me through a few dream interp sources and my intuition. I really feel you are the only one in the world who knows what vibes with you or not. In that note, feel free to drop what doesn’t match your feelings! To conquer the recurring nightmare you are having, I feel it is vital to understand what your subconscious is trying to communicate through this nightmare. Then the nightmare will be presumably discontinued. Nightmares may be a response to real life trauma or situations, and they are considered to be part of a category called post traumatic stress nightmare (PSN). Something terrible may have happened to you a long time ago or recently that your mind is working really hard to resolve. Nightmares also might happen when we have ignored or refused to accept certain life situations on a regular basis. Pt 2:: Dream Interp ------- Most of all, I believe nightmares are a sign that there is a fear that needs to be acknowledged and confronted. Let us tackle these moments of intense fear head on with some triggers: The chase, blood, being caught or being discovered, witnessing friends being brutually murdered, not being able to see the killer's face 1. The Chase: When you dream that you are being chased, it could mean that you are avoiding a situation that you do not think is able to be defeated or conquered. It also could be a sign of insecurity. There could be also unexpressed and unacknowledged anger being manifested in this killer on your part. There is also a fear of being attacked which all of your friends and you have displayed. The dirt and rough road also may represent the consequences of choices made in your life, and possibly also how you have chosen to live your life. Or you feel everybody is out to get you, too. I feel there's another fear of being consumed by your anger and injuring others around you with it, and there is a need to run away from it all so it won't harm you and everyone. But everyone still gets killed anyway, and this approach seems to serve no one. 2. Blood: Seeing some in your dream could represent life, love, passion as well as disappointments. If you are bleeding, it could mean that you are being emotionally drained or just exhausted. Other friends bled, too – emotional draining for them, too, to be on the run as it would be for you. Running out of gas reinforces that possibility. Energy is fuel, and you have your spirituality as your fuel. Just whom or what is draining you? Old ways that don’t serve you anymore, or others who might be “energy vampires” and feed off you through certain dramas/situations? Pt 3 Dream Interp ------- 3. Shotgun: To see a gun may show aggression, anger and potential danger. Are there issues of passiveness/aggressiveness and authority/dependence? Power. There are ways to wield your personal power. You have a choice of how you can deal with situations and people: Do you choose to make people feel like they are walking on eggshells around you or do you choose to look at it as something to be learned from? The theme of this nightmare seems to be about possible growth being bought on by a change in how you look at yourself and others and situations. The rest will take care of itself tomorrow! An example: Buddha was asked by somebody about creating world peace, and he responded that one had to create inner peace first. 4. Road: It may symbolize your sense of direction and pursuit of your goals. A killer on a road may show there is an obstacle that needs to be overcome at this time. Dirty and rough were how you described the road – is there confusion with the choices you are making or you have to make soon? Wait! You noted a few trees by the side of the road: Symbols of new hopes, growth, and desires. There are strength and stability. Focusing on that self development and individuality, huh? Perhaps instead of focusing on one path too much, you gotta look at both sides for growth and strength. Pt 4: Dream Interp ------- 5. Friends: They may be symbols of aspects from your personality that you have ignored but you are ready to let parts of yourself back in your reality. Pay attention to the relationships you have with your friends in the nightmare – and how they interact with you. The first couple who bit the dust – the male aspect did not trust you to keep them safe in your vehicle (presumably your body), so it took the female aspect that it is partnered off with. It could be the ego with his partner inner child. I do not have much knowledge on this part. Maybe self esteem and confidence? Also, killing your friends may mean you are trying to reject some of yourself… before you get hurt badly. Gotta be tough without some of your aspects you consider to be your weakness so you won’t get hurt again. BUT, a part of you doesn’t want to get rid of them in the end: You warned them to hide so they won’t get killed, too. 6. The sun: Possibly peace of mind, enlightenment, tranquillity, fortune, goodwill, wonderful energy, good omen, and insight. This is a positive thing to see in your dream. You have mentioned a few times noticing the sun, and that it made it hard for you to look at the killer’s face. There may be an element of self worthiness – you might feel you don’t deserve something great such as peace or joy, and are punishing yourself. Therefore, that may be the reason you are avoiding some issues within. Pt 5: Dream Interp ------- 7. Death: Death may mean changes, and transformation for the better. You mentioned having a sense of peace and fear at the same time when you anticipated being killed, and got killed. It may mean the end of old beliefs, old patterns, self destructive habits, or even an old security blanket, and imply a new beginning of realized lessons and new perspectives on life and your spirituality. I believe you already have the strength which was shown as a few trees by the road. You’ve had a glimmer of what can happen. To die a good death and to be renewed, you may also have to forgive yourself and let go of what you have been holding onto for a long time. Time for healing is at hand. 8. Golden and tall grass: Protection? The kind of natural and built in defensive mechanism that is slowing you down? 9. Junkyard of Construction companies: Where you took your last stand with the killer may indicate an area in your consciousness that needs some “cleaning up” or “fixing up.” You may be hiding in leftover materials that you once used to build with, but knocked them down and made a yard where you could dump unwanted elements whenever you needed to. This also may symbolize what you have planned and hoped for, and you were working on making them come true until perhaps something bad happened that made you drop everything except these beautiful dreams to think about from time to time. Pt 6: Dream Interp ------- 10: Crying: It may show that you are releasing negative emotions that were more likely caused by some real life situations or an inner conflict. I believe if you had this at the end, despite all the horrors in the beginning – you are regaining some emotional balance and finding a way to safely vent your fears and frustrations that may have been ignored or repressed in the waking life. There may also be a feeling of helplessness and difficulties and frustrations in trying to communicate with others, and nobody gets you. Perhaps this dream is telling you to be more vocal and work harder on making yourself understood in words that others are familiar with. 11: Finally, the killer pointed at your chest – where the seat of your heart would be, and he shoots it. Perhaps you are trying to destroy or suppress a part of yourself that might hold all the answers because there is a fear of letting go of everything including a good security blanket and going into unknown and unfamiliar territories. Ever heard of the saying about following your heart? Conclusion of my Interp ------- 12: In conclusion, I feel there is a lot of anger in this dream – and I have always believed anger comes from the feeling of being betrayed or violated. It is a natural self defensive response to a violation. I think it’s normal, and that we all have those! Sometimes we have grown up with certain ideas of how to express our anger that may not be the best for us and others. Have you noticed some recurring patterns with how you express your anger and frustration with others, and how others have reacted? There may be a lack of communication or misunderstanding on all parts. Others may even not realize what your boundaries are, and they have stepped in a minefield without meaning to. If it is about boundaries, it may be helpful to use others’ languages to describe your boundaries so they will be given the choice to honor them or not. It is also possible that from some bad experiences that you have learned to suppress some of yourself (the killer vs the friends) so you won’t feel pain and that horrible violation again. That has worked until now? There’s always a time for everything, huh? No worries! That is also why you must find a way to forgive yourself, and free yourself from the last step or chapter so you can begin another new chapter as an author. There are ways, and the dream gave you a few of them: Plug up the leaks that are making you feel emotionally drained, release through venting (crying, etc) in your own safe space and at your own pace. Your dream is telling you to look for gifts in both sides, too. Where there is darkness, there is always light. It is an incredibly personal dream. I feel honored to know that part of you and I wish all the success to you! May you get an endless supply of animes for the rest of your life.