Dreaming about someone who has passed away can be rather disconcerting. According to popular belief, any form of contact with a deceased individual in a dream, be it having a conversation or simply listening to them, is believed to foreshadow unexpected news or significant alterations in one’s life.
However, this interpretation might give one pause, as it suggests that the appearance of a departed person in a dream implies that they have not yet found peace. And religious texts often recommend performing additional rituals to fulfill their wishes.
From a psychological perspective, dreaming about a deceased stranger might signify the end of a particular phase in one’s life. It could be related to “dead” emotions and severed social connections.
Nevertheless, if the person you dream about is a dear one who has recently passed away, there’s no need to be overly alarmed. It merely indicates that you are still processing the grief, which is a perfectly normal reaction.
You might feel demotivated, as if you’re treading on thin ice, and as if no matter how hard you strive, you can’t seem to progress in life. Thus, the deceased person in your dream could symbolize a part of yourself that you’re ready to let go.
There are various interpretations depending on the context of the deceased person’s appearance in the dream:
- If the person is still alive in reality and participates in the dream without a major role, the dream is linked to a hidden or suppressed love for that individual, accompanied by other highly disturbing or intense emotions.
- If the departed person plays a prominent role in the dream’s events and you attempt to help them, it suggests that you feel as if there was something left unresolved between you and them during their lifetime.
- If the deceased tries to offer you advice, it indicates that you are in need of guidance, security, and comfort in your waking life.
Perhaps your dreams are a manifestation of your feelings of helplessness and isolation. A dream where a ghost provides direction can be surprisingly comforting.
In a 1992 study on this topic, four types of similar dreams were categorized. In the first type, the dreamer is astonished to see the deceased alive. These dreams, sometimes referred to as “resurrection” dreams, accounted for 39% of the research participants’ dreams. They involve a form of denial of a loved one’s death.
The second type, which made up 23% of the dreams in this category, is when the dreamer receives guidance from the departed. These usually occur a significant time after the loss and evoke positive emotions, signifying that the dreamer has come to terms with the tragic event.
The third type of death-related dream is one in which the deceased bids the dreamer farewell and assures them that everything will be okay. In the study, 29% of the participants reported having such dreams.
The fourth and final type is where the dreamer contemplates their own existence while thinking of the deceased loved one, giving the dream a philosophical undertone. These dreams constituted 18% of all cases.
Consequently, when you dream about a departed person, your subconscious is attempting to deal with loss and pain. But it’s also possible that you have already begun to accept the passing of a loved one and have gained wisdom and a sense of protection from such dreams.
Regardless of the findings, these dreams don’t occur extremely frequently. So, it’s important to pay attention to them and try to understand what they might be revealing about your current mental state.