Exploring Visitation Dreams: Can Deceased Loved Ones Communicate with Us?
The Impact of Losing a Loved One
The pain of losing a loved one is something most people experience at some point in their lives. However, the impact of such a loss can often be more profound than anticipated.
Dreams of the Departed
Have you ever dreamt about someone who has passed away? While you may not have considered the significance of their appearance in your dreams, many people share the experience of encountering departed loved ones in their slumber.
Visitation dreams are what people have when they have visions of the deceased, according to Patrick McNamara, associate professor of neurology and psychiatry at the Boston University School.
According to Patrick McNamara, an associate professor of neurology and psychiatry at the Boston University School, these dreams are often referred to as “visitation dreams.”
“Dreams of the bereaved where the dead appear to the bereaved in dreams and look to be very much alive,” as McNamara puts it.
In these dreams, the deceased individuals appear vividly alive to the dreamer, as described by McNamara.
The Healing Power of Visitation Dreams
They aid in the process of healing from emotional trauma.
McNamara emphasizes that visitation dreams play a role in the healing process after emotional trauma, including the loss of a loved one.
“Now if I, an individual who studied dreams with a skeptical scientific cast of mind, could not shake the conviction that I had just communicated with my dead parents, how much stronger must be the conviction of someone with a less skeptical approach to dreams than me?,” McNamara writes.
McNamara himself had a visitation dream after losing his parents, leading him to believe in the possibility of communication beyond physical death, despite his scientific skepticism.
Studies on Visitation Dreams
Numerous studies have been conducted to better understand the phenomenon of visitation dreams.
A study analyzing the effects of mourning dreams was published in 2014 in the American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care.
This study, published in the American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care, examined the impact of dreams on the grieving process and found that dreams of the deceased are frequent and meaningful, contributing to healing after loss.
In 2016, a group of Canadian researchers examined the dreams of 76 middle-aged people who had just experienced a significant loss.
A separate study in 2016, conducted by Canadian researchers, focused on 76 middle-aged individuals who had recently lost a loved one. The results revealed that dreaming about the departed strengthened their belief in an afterlife and fostered a sense of connection to the deceased.
Characteristics of Visitation Dreams
According to her findings, there are four distinguishing features of a visitation dream:
Jennifer E. Shorter, a psychologist at the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, outlines four distinctive features of visitation dreams:
- The deceased appear as they did in real life, often healthier or younger.
- .The deceased often communicate their current state, such as expressing that they are fine.
- The dream’s meaning is felt more as a telepathic presence than a tangible one
- The dream state is typically peaceful and well-structured, exuding harmony.
Sharing Your Experiences
Have you ever dreamt of a deceased loved one? The significance of such dreams is subjective and personal to each individual.
Feel free to share your experience in our comments section, and please make sure to SHARE this article on Facebook if you think dreams can have meaning!
We encourage you to share your experiences in the comments section and share this article on Facebook if you believe that dreams may carry deeper meanings.