Dreaming About a Dead Loved One? Here are 7 Spiritual Meanings

Although sleep has been proven to restore our bodies and minds, dreaming can also be advantageous. For example, it offers solutions or insight into the things that plague us, including losing a loved one. Our minds work through the events and stressors of our lives, the trauma we’re working to process, and the heartache of losing someone we dearly love. Unsurprisingly, questions or big emotions arise after these events, but spirituality has been known to offer comfort and support. Here are seven possible spiritual meanings when a loved one visits in a dream.

1. Dreaming Can Heal

One of the most common reasons for dreaming of a deceased loved one is that it’s a “measure of your grief.” In other words, repeatedly seeing someone you’ve lost is simply a coping tool to help you work through and process the heartbreak, as well as a reminder that the person mattered significantly to you. Furthermore, dreaming creates a private space where you can grieve and process the events, eventually accepting the person is gone. While painful or emotional, it will ultimately lead to healing.

2. Dreaming Means Remembering

Another major reason that someone might dream of a deceased loved one is because, subconsciously, they are afraid they’ll forget the person. On the other hand, dreaming of a loved one who’s passed away helps solidify their face and the sound of their voice, ensuring they’re never forgotten.

3. Emotional Manifestations

Similarly, dreaming of a loved one who has passed away may be a sign of longing or missing the person. Sometimes, these dreams occur around the same time as milestones or anniversaries and may occur annually. Dreaming of them in these times is similar to walking down memory lane, a chance to relive the happiness and connection I once felt on these memorable occasions.

4. Guidance

In life, it’s common to receive guidance, advice, or support from the people who love us most. Therefore, it should be no surprise that they may also be our teachers in the afterlife. Sometimes, dreaming of a loved one can be a means of seeing an everyday challenge from a new perspective or coming to a resolution. Some would say these dreams represent a “continuation” of their wisdom, warmth, and connection.

5. More than Guidance

Another heartwarming reason for dreaming of a loved one is that it offers “reassurance” in hard times. In parallel, a loved one may show up to give more than guidance. They may visit to provide comfort or reassurance during difficult times. Though these dreams can cause emotional disarray, they remind the dreamer they are not alone.

6. They Might Be “Haunting You”

Although the reasons listed above were uplifting and comforting, another reason a loved one might visit you is conflicts, and it is a little darker. Sadly, people pass away before we’re able to make amends after a huge blowout. Or before we’ve had the chance to tell them what they mean to us. Essentially, in another example of emotional manifestation, feelings of guilt may be a driving factor. Dreaming of someone after they’ve passed creates a space where the dreamer can clear their conscience.

7. Spiritual Connection

Lastly, people believe that dreaming of a deceased loved one is an opportunity to spend time together. It’s an opportunity to reconnect. Or a chance to be close and strengthen the bond. Although sometimes they can be abstract, they may bring about feelings of peace in your waking life. However, varying beliefs regarding the afterlife may influence how this reason impacts dreaming. Psychology Today notes that people who had strong beliefs regarding religion and death often experienced fewer “visitation” dreams. Moreover, it didn’t matter whether the dreamer was or wasn’t religious so long as they held strong beliefs regarding the topics. This lends weight to the possibility that having an open mind may be the ticket to seeing more of the people we’ve lost.

For centuries, people have evaluated the meanings of dreams, their symbolism, and how they pertain to everyday life. While people have varying beliefs, some believing holistic healing or spirituality is merely a placebo; others find great comfort in these practices during personal turmoil or hardship. Dreaming is just one of the many methods for gaining clarity, if not comfort in knowing the people we’ve loved, haven’t left us.

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