Deceased family members and friends may return to us in dreams as a form of after-death communication. Dreams of the deceased vary based on the bereaved’s stage of grief and mourning, the length of time since the loss, the type of death, and the relationship with the deceased.
The four most common types of dreams within which after-death communication takes place are:
- Visitation dreams in which the deceased come back to tell us they are ok;
- Message dreams are those in which the deceased tell us something, give us information or send a warning;
- Reassurance dreams provide console and comfort to the bereaved;
- Trauma dreams can be nightmares involving the deceased but may facilitate healing by helping with the pain of the loss.
These types of dreams tend to have a narrative quality and the meaning of the dream is also quite apparent to the dreamer. The dream imagery is also described as having a very vivid ‘realer than real’ special quality, making them distinguishable from the majority of other dreaming experiences.
When the dreamer awakens, the feelings invoked by the after-death communication dream are carried over into waking awareness and remain strong and easy to recollect many years later. Exploring the personal meaning of the dream for the bereaved person who has them can help with the process of grieving which can also last for a period of time.
References:
A full list of references is available in the Reference Material section.
- Bulkeley, K. and Bulkeley, P. (2005). Dreaming Beyond Death – A Guide to Pre-Death Dreams and Visions. Boston: Beacon Press.
- Fenwick, P. and Fenwick, E. (2008). The Art of Dying. London: Continuum.
- Mendoza, M. (2008). We Do Not Die Alone. Georgia: ICAN Publishing.
