(2) The conflict may be within you, between opposed forces in the psyche. An obvious candidate is a clash between what you want to do and what you feel you ought to do. In this case, bear in mind that conscience is usually socially constructed and consists of the prohibitions and ideals that were imprinted in your psyche in your early years. Conflict between society’s moral demands and the individual’s wants or natural needs is probably at least as old as human history, and perhaps there is no complete solution: some degree of compromise may be inevitable. Do not assume, however, that social norms are always right. It may be that your conscience (super-ego) is an unreasonably severe one, perhaps the product of severe restraints in early childhood or a repressive religious upbringing. In any case, the conflict needs to be sorted out, and quite often this means allowing natural drives a little more expression.
(3) The conflict may be between what we are in fact and what we are potentially. Jung sees conscience as the voice of an inner wisdom that will lead us to our true selfhood. vSeen in this way, conscience keeps conflict alive in the psyche, not only between social morals and inner wisdom, but also between the actual conscious ego and the fully developed and integrated self. It would seem that the only satisfactory way out of these conflicts is to accept your ‘destiny’ - by which I mean, not some fate over which you have no control, but Nature’s plan for you, reflected in your fundamental individual constitution and offering the greatest possible self-fulfilment if you will only go along with it.
(4) If the conflict symbolized is between conscious ego and unconscious, the aggressor in the dream fight will probably represent the part of you that is demanding release from the dungeons of the unconscious. It will not hurt you unless you deny it expression. Identify it, and then welcome it as a talent or energy that can contribute to your well-being. Change the conflict into a dialogue, a respectful exchange between your conscious mind and your unconscious.
NB Where there is an unresolved inner conflict, there is a tendency to project the unconscious protagonist on to other people, often with dire consequences in personal relationships.
(5) More specific inner conflicts are those between opposite psychic qualities or forces, such as masculinity and femininity, thinking and feeling. (On ‘superior5 and ‘inferior5 functions) See also Brother / Sister, section (4). [1]
Vision: You are watching a fight: conciliatory words will defuse the tension between other people. Fighting on a battlefield: adversaries, enemies, hate, or envy make your life difficult, but you are able to defend yourself successfully. Witnessing a fight: don’t use the old saving: “living well is the best revenge” as a motto for your life, because: “those who laugh last laugh best!” See Beating.
Depth Psychology: Dreaming about fighting reflects the difficulties you have in balancing conflicting personality traits. Decide which you want to nurture and which you want to minimize—it will restore your peace! [2]