Death

What does it mean to dream about death, or to be visited by someone who has died?

Warning from a dead friend…

Dream: In my dream I got a warning from a dead friend telling me to tell my brother to be careful. What does this mean?

DreamsMaster: Dreams have many layers of meaning, and I don’t rule out the possibility of spirits communicating to us through our dreams. Regardless if this message came directly from your dead friend or if this friend in the dream is symbolic, it’s quite possible that you intuitively sense your brother is in some type of risky situation, and the dream is sending you a message to take action to protect him.

On a symbolic level, your deceased friend could be a shadow figure, a part of you that may be somewhat hidden from yourself and that you’ve projected onto this friend. For example, in your waking world you may be reluctant to confront others, but this friend or shadow represents a side of you that has the courage and assertiveness to speak your mind. Think about how you would describe this friend, what personality traits you would ascribe to him or her. Then, consider how you identify with those traits personally, and this may help you understand why this particular friend has appeared in the dream. Warning your brother on behalf of this person could be a way of drawing courage of your own to approach him about a situation you perceive to be risky or threatening.

Your brother in the dream may be literal or symbolic as well. On a literal level, as mentioned previously you may be intuiting that your brother is indeed in a precarious situation that you feel the need to warn him about. If it doesn’t feel like it fits that your brother himself needs to be warned, then it’s possible your brother may be a symbolic representation of yourself or someone else in your life. Just as suggested you do with the friend, think about how you would describe your brother, and then consider where in your life you identify with him and may need to be cautious yourself.

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Giving a eulogy for my mother…

Dream: I dreamt I was giving a eulogy for my mother. I did the introduction of her brothers and could not continue. A friend held me and I woke up actually crying.

DreamsMaster: Such heavy grief. As distressing as this dream is, it is actually very healing, as we must feel in order to heal.

If your mother is deceased or has been recently diagnosed with a terminal illness, the dream could be a literal channel for your grief and loss.

If your mother is alive and well, then the dream may symbolize the end or death of your old relationship with her. It’s also possible that your mother in your dream represents a part of you that identifies with her, perhaps a part that you’ve lost touch with and miss dearly.

A takeaway from the dream could be to go ahead and actually write that eulogy for your mother, if you haven’t already. Say everything that needs to be said – acknowledge all she’s accomplished in her life and what she’s meant to you. Allow your feelings to pour out unfiltered and without judgment.

This is a very important dream on many levels – honor it by taking action.

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Digging a grave…

Dream: I had this dream about digging a grave. What does this mean?

DreamsMaster: There is clear symbolism in this dream, though the actual meaning is up to you to determine. Consider these possibilities…

To dream about digging a grave could mean something has died and you are laying it to rest. It may be an end to a job or a relationship, or it could be that some part of you has died, such as a sense of freedom or an old self-image.

Also, the saying “You’ve dug your own grave” comes to mind, used when someone is responsible for his or her own downfall or ruin. If you’re familiar with this figure of speech, then consider if it may hold some truth for you – have you “dug your own grave” or done something you fear will be “the death of you”, figuratively speaking?

Dreams of one’s own death almost always reflect the fact that we have reached the point of being willing to relinquish our old roles and self-images, and for this reason these are often the most important dreams of all.
– Ann Faraday, The Dream Game

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Felt a presence in my room…

Dream: This morning I woke up when I felt a presence in my room. A set of arms pulled the covers over my shoulders and then they hugged me. When I woke up there was no one there in the room. I wasn’t scared but felt a presence in my room…a sweet secure presence almost smiling. What does this mean?

DreamsMaster: This sounds like a visitation more than a dream. Did anyone close to you pass away recently? Or, did the time of the dream correspond with an anniversary of someone’s death?

Not everyone believes in such a thing as visitations, but I’ve personally had a similar experience and others have confided in such experiences as well. When they occur, I consider them a gift and don’t go into interpretation the same way as I would a dream. So from my perspective, I’d say you received a very special gift.

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Funeral for my parents…

Dream: I dreamed of being in a funeral for both my parents. I was so much weeping in pain and much more for the mum. I lost my parents 7 (dad) and 15 (mum) years ago respectively. Please let me know what would this mean to dream this now.

DreamsMaster: Something is going on in your life at this time that is triggering this grief reaction.

It could be an anniversary, birthday or family holiday. For example, in the US, the observance of Mother’s Day occurred this past month, which could have been a trigger depending on your location and culture. It could also be a recent death or funeral of someone you know or that you heard about in the news. You may not have consciously connected the event to your personal loss, but the sleeping mind makes the connection for us.

Another possibility is that you may be dealing with some intense challenges in life right now, and the child inside may be particularly craving the comfort and security that your parents may represent, especially your mum.

Grief comes in waves. Sometimes the ocean is raging, other times calm. Although the grief in the dream was painful, it was clearly necessary. So, even if the immediate message in the dream isn’t clear to you, trust that the dream itself was healing.

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