Amanda,
Not a problem with the date. Dreams do not take a holiday and when possible I wish to help in understanding what they may be trying to convey and the message they have to offer.

As with all dreams there would be two discernible interpretations to every dream. The personal aspect to this dream may involve recent waking experiences having to do with 'old ladies' and young men, especially 'foreign' acquaintances. It could be focusing on religious experiences or related religious experiences of people you know or have met. That would be something only you would know and a need to examine the past several days to determine what may fit with this part of the dream as well as the whole dream.

As for the deeper aspects in the first part of the dream, here is what I see that may fit.
The old lady may represent your maturing self {getting old}, an aspect of life you have recently given thought to {dating}. The idea of getting old isn't something you relish. But because you do identify with this gender aspect there are brighter days than the other possibilities {the masculine gender}.
The younger guy would be an 'immature' masculine aspect. The drugs and alcohol would represent not controlling who you are, negative aspects to what you would unconsciously {basement} consider to be something contrary to your true self.

The rest of the dream, in the context of having two interpretations, seems to be more focused on recent waking experiences although the deeper aspects are there also. I say this because of your age and the aspects that seem to fit with personal experiences more so than the deeper issues that an older person's dreams would be more focused. But I will provide my thoughts on the possible deeper aspects.

The deeper aspects may have to do with inner conflicts, possibly related acceptance from others as to who you are. The Middle Eastern men vs Jewish men would be a conflict of consciousness, perhaps real in your waking life but also representing aspects about your own identity {other people accepting who you are}. There may be elements of religion involved. But the conflict of identity, as represented by Yusuf Islam {Cat Stevens} seems to be the central issue. {Yusuf Islam/Cat Stevens has just recently returned to singing his old songs after having denounced that aspect of his life as unacceptable due to his changed religious ideas of Islam}. Just as Yusuf, you too may beginning to accept aspects of yourself as the true self {as the dream states 'EXACTLY like Yusuf Islam'}. But you are in the early stages of this acceptance. Hugging him would be embracing your true self.

The 'well respected matriarch of the clan' would be that feminine aspect probably related to the older lady in the first part of the dream {keep in mind that unknown or unrecognized people in a dream most often represent aspects of yourself, the males as well as the females}. But once again we see the opposites {representing opposites, or conflicts within yourself}, the matriarch of the clan of Islam vs being the mother of the young Jewish guy.

The need for a positive recognition by this other part of yourself {wiser, mature self} may be the central conflict the dream is trying to address. In your waking life you may still be 'shopping' for a real identity {a normal phase in life for a young person}. You are 'dating' the possible aspects of that identity but have yet completely embraced who you really are. The outer conflicts that have to do with that identity lay all around you {the shooting, shells laying all around}. Again Yusuf would represent your true self {corresponding to a masculine aspect that you possess} and the need/desire to embrace/ hug him would be the need/desire to embrace your true self.

The final act in the dream {every dream is an 'act in a play' of your life} there is an 'assassination' of the acceptance of who you are {shooting Yusuf in the head}. The unconscious aspects, those deeper fears that you may not admit to or recognize in your conscious life would be represented by the two black men who shoot Yusuf. There may be times when these aspects 'gang' up on you and you do actually shed tears. The emotional toll may at times overwhelm you.

As for the masculine aspects of the dream. That would be aspects related to identity that is in conflict. That is not as easily to determine, other than gender aspects {masculine identity vs feminine identity}. If you are the same Amanda who posted dreams earlier this year {same age, different locations} then you will most likely recognize the relationship. If not then we would need to identify what masculine aspects that are in play in your life.

As for teh waking experiences that are being addressed in your dream. Look at personal relationships and experiences from the past several days and see where the characters may fit. Then apply those aspects to you personal life and see how they fit. Again, the recent personal experiences are something only you can know about. Dreams will reveal the deeper aspects to a point they can be interpreted, at least along periphery boundaries that the dreamer can recognize from an interpretation. Hopefully some of the ideas I have presented will help you recognize the associations in your life.

Have a great Thanksgiving.

Jerry

Age & Gender & Location {Required}: 60 Murfreesboro, Tn

Have You Posted Before? Date of Last Post {Use Search and Your Post Name to Help Find Last Post} Male

How Did You Find the Dream Forum? Yes