Punching people in dreams?

[Jarrod]

I think when not physical - stick to the non physical. I control elements in my dreams and I use them when I can. Airbender style... though this was before the cartoon actually came out!

What a cool idea.  That's sounds like a really fun thing to do if I find myself lucid dreaming, see what element I feel most comfortable manipulating.

And on the original topic of the thread, about a week ago I had a dream in which someone was being very menacing in a psychotic creepy way, standing in my doorway and not going away and smiling at me all crazy and evilly.  I kept striking them but no matter how hard I thought I hit them it had no effect.  He just wouldn't move.  He went away and came back a couple times and the last time I just stabbed him.  I guess that was unexpected because he did react to that and I was able to push him out the door.  I don't think it ended it though because I remember running from him at some point after that.  Haha 

[Rudolph]

Stookie's comment is closest, so far, I think.

It is a reflection of a feeling of impotence. Effort being made is not moving one any closer to the goal. Good intentions and well motivated actions seem to go awry. A solution is to change one's habit patterns a little and try a new approach. Pick a short term achievable goal and do what it takes to make it manifest.

Once we get good at this the dream state becomes the opposite. A young man might find himself wielding an automatic weapon and firing at people and the degree to which the targets are being destroyed there is a reflection of one's self image of strength and power.

I knew one young man who came to me for a dream interpretation that had him very worried. He was concerned that he might be turning into to some kind of a mass murderer. I asked him if he had recently been through an ordeal or had done well in some sort of test. His face lit up and a calm look of self satisfaction spread across his face. His companion was nodding vigorously. I told him  not to worry and it was just his subconscious crowing a little. Both were very relieved.

Now the other condition of the thalamus clamp down mentioned here plays into this too. Trying to move underwater is often part of the dream image presented when one is transitioning to a Lucid Dream state or even an outright OBE. It is a sign that waking efforts and practices are at least helping with a little progress. The fighting scenario combined is just the dream state doing double duty - high efficiency in self training -- multi-tasking. Trying to run or swing punches underwater would be a little of both of the elements I've mentioned here.

These problems are all good problems to have.

Well done, people.

[Pharoah]

Just thought I'd chime in and add another penny to the "OMG I GET THIS TOO" jar.  Any attempt at any act that I consider to be physically violent is just a complete waste of time in dreams.  I find that when I try to punch or kick someone/thing it's as if I'm just reaching my arm forward to touch it lightly.  The whole swing + impact is so light and ineffectual it's almost an affectionate gesture, lol.  I do however recall having one dream when I was in high school where I punched a kid in the face.  It was so raw and powerful; felt amazing. It was the dream equivalent to me (all 105 lbs of me, so, not very strong) punching an egg with all my strength in waking life.  Bones shattered, blood sprayed, etc.

Good times...

[Jarrod]

When I used to have this a lot kicks would have full effect but punches would be weak and useless.

[Lizelle]

Well, I DO hit people in dreams, on rare occasions when I have to defend myself. I actually broke my toe once when the "kick" turned real. OUCH!!! (we have strong plaster walls, almost like rock) One hell of a way to wake up! I guess the paralysis failed. Normally I don't flail about.