Brother-in-Law with Murderous Intent

(Saturday, August 20, 2016) moon: waning gibbous Aries / tarot: two of pentacles

I fell back asleep after this dream, which was incredibly vibrant, but has faded because of my sleep pattern:

Chris and I are at home. Others may be with us. Our brother-in-law (married to Chris’ sister), a wild and violent man, tells us he will assassinate Chris. Following the dark threat, he stalks out of our house, into the night.

I feel terrible shock and fear. I have no doubt the man is a murderer. Even so, I look about the comforting interior of our house. It is a beautiful and eccentric environment, full of unusual color combinations and well-loved art. It’s a bit like our living house, but more so. To the next level. Like a painting by the surrealist Leonora Carrington.

It is time for me to go to work, so I travel the rather long distance to the office. I settle in, and the murderous brother-in-law reappears, amplifying his threat against Chris.

I know it is urgent that I buy a gun. It is urgent that I get home as quickly as possible, before my brother-in-law harms Christopher. A few of my coworkers want to help, and we leave the office together.

I make a quick purchase of a very deadly handgun. Large, heavy, powerful. We all jump into my car and speed onto the highway together. The clock is ticking, every second is critical.

The murderer is following us. We decide to pull off the road, to try to trick him into a situation that we control. We run over hilly, green terrain, into a thick woods. As he searches for us, I point my handgun at his chest, but either I miss or the gun doesn’t go off. I realize I have never shot a gun in my life and cannot expect to aim with any success. In a stand-off, I will be the one killed, not my opponent.

We decide to flee the forest, to rush back to the house. Once home, I run from lovely room to lovely room, calling Chris’ name. No answer. Finally, I stumble into a bedroom and find him dead on the floor, a bullet through his heart.

Instantly, I perceive a second, overlapping layer of the dream. No bullet has pierced his heart. Chris rises up from the floor to greet me, as if waking from a nap. Is he a ghost? Or a sentient being?

Day notes:

The tarot card was accurate: two of pentacles is about balance. I fell out in Chaska today and now can barely walk on my right foot.

I know there is an episode in this dream where I notify the police and ask for protection, probably on my way to the office. I don’t remember their response. It seems they do not help. But I can’t be sure. 

Members of my not-so-close family are angry and destructive. It’s Chris’ birthday next week and I have been wondering if his sister will bother to mail a card.

Another dream with contrary content: the house is inspiring and evolved, the distant relations are dangerous and full of hate. 

What to do when I retire? I have thought about selling the Wayzata house (too big!) and buying a tiny one or two bedroom house in the city, plus a small adobe in New Mexico. But these dreams of my present house seem to be telling me it is important to stay where I am. There is more here than I realize on a conscious level.