But there is a recent knowledge I could add to this. From my therapy sessions I learned that direct interpretations, even when they come from your own mind, may be very far from your issues or thoughts that may have produced a dream (in case it really is a subconscious experience at least partially). I have found very unusual multi-tier connections between events and my panic attacks, that I could never interpret myself into in a straightforward way. If you're familiar with chess, it feels like your mind looks several moves forward and wide, but a conscious interpretation is just a take on direct attacks.
https://inthewilderless.substack.com/p/against-dream-interpr...
https://inthewilderless.substack.com/p/towards-dream-intuiti...
(Note: I was quite familiar with "imaginal meditation" when I first found this post, so to me this made a lot of sense and was immediately applicable. But I hope and think that it is even if one is not familiar with those practices)
This is just what kinda popped into my mind. Nightcap guru (from the other top post) suggested this:
> This dream likely symbolizes a feeling of helplessness and vulnerability in your current life.
> The indifferent people in the dream could represent a lack of support or understanding from those around you. The figure with the knife symbolizes someone or something that is causing you fear and anxiety. By taking the knife away from them and carving crosses onto their knees, you are asserting your power over the source of your fear and taking control of the situation. This dream could be interpreted as a sign that you have the strength and courage to overcome whatever is causing you fear and anxiety.