Grieving the loss of a loved one is a painful and challenging journey. The pain of physical separation can be overwhelming; the longing to maintain a connection beyond the tangible constantly grows. In this blog, we will explore a powerful way to achieve this connection with our dearly departed———through our dreams.
Signs of Visitation Dreams
Mysterious and untameable, dreams can become a sacred space where the deceased share their presence and offer comfort and tranquility to those they leave behind. Jennifer E. Shorter, in her study from the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, describes some common elements of visitation dreams:
- The deceased often appear healthy and radiant. They may not show any signs of illness, injury, or aging that they had before they passed away.
- The deceased brings a message to the dreamer. Most of the time, it is communicated telepathically instead of verbally.
- Visitation dreams feel very vivid and realistic.
- Visitation dreams help the dreamer with the grieving process or a deeper spiritual understanding.
The Power of Dreams
Dreams are usually considered a reflection of the mental, emotional, and physical state of the dreamer. Although there is no scientific evidence that the deceased can visit us in dreams, many people around the world have had experiences communicating with their deceased loved ones in this way.
While dreams can vary wildly, this powerful after-death communication occurs more commonly in certain types of dreams:
- Visitation dreams: This is one of the most common forms of after-death communication (ADC). In these dreams, your deceased loved ones can communicate with you verbally or non-verbally with a strong sense of love and peace. Typically, people wake up feeling as if their loved one had been physically there with them during their sleep.
- Message dreams: In these dreams, the person who passed away gives us information or sends us a warning. It seems that some people are naturally wired to be more sensitive and intuitive to receiving ADC messages. Our loved ones on the other side know this; they may come through to a more sensitive friend or relative, possibly asking them to deliver a message to someone that they couldn’t get through to directly.
- Reassurance dreams. After losing someone, the last thing we may feel is comfort or peace; however, these dreams can bring about those feelings. The departed loved one will give us messages of reassurance such as “I want you to know that I’m okay” and “I love you”. Also, they may ask for forgiveness or apologize for things they did in human form.
How to Cope With Visitation Dreams
Regardless of the form of communication, a 2021 study found that after-death communication is an overwhelmingly positive experience that can reduce grief and fear of death. For some people, however, it can be disturbing. Fortunately, if you are experiencing this, there is a plethora of strategies to help deal with visitation dreams.
Keep a dream journal
Writing down your dreams allows you to track patterns in them and helps prevent you from forgetting details, especially if they have messages from your loved ones.
Journaling using grief prompts helps you to understand your immediate post-dream emotional state. Prompts like: “Today I am really missing…”, – “The hardest time of day is…”, “A comforting memory of my loved one is…”, “To be more compassionate toward myself, I am willing to try…”.
Practice relaxation techniques
Practice relaxation exercises to gain a sense of stability and reduce feelings of tension fright or anxiety, which are frequent after-effects of a visitation dream.
Practice deep breathing. Start breathing slowly through your nose, and when your abdomen is fully expanded, breathe out slowly through your mouth. Repeat this several times until you feel calmer.
Practice meditation or yoga. These practices help clear your thoughts and focus on the present moment. This can help you to feel less anxious after a visitation dream. Take a few minutes each day to sit quietly, focus on your breathing, and relax your state of mind.
Share your dream with a loved one
Discuss this visitation dream with someone you love and trust. This will help you to feel some relief and realize that you are not the only one who misses this deceased loved one. Also, you can gain different perspectives.
Distract yourself with activities
If you can’t stop thinking about this visitation dream, try to distract yourself by engaging in activities that you like as well as connecting with friends, family, or a support group. Social support can help you during this hard journey.
Talk to a therapist or grief counselor
If you feel that this dream is overwhelming and too hard to deal with, look for professional help. This process is different for everyone, and it is fine to look for extra support. A therapist can help you to work through your feelings in a healthy manner.
Also read: Signs From Heaven: After-Death Communication Through Symbols
After-death communication through dreams is a unique personal experience for those seeking connection with their departed loved ones. Dreams become spaces where tears are transformed into messages of gratitude. The impact of these dreams is undeniable, showing us that love transcends boundaries between this world and the next.
At Tali’s Fund, we aim to provide support, understanding, and resources for families coping with the challenges of childhood rare brain cancers. To learn more about our initiatives visit https://talisfund.org/family-support/