Almost everyone experiences the heartache of losing someone close to them during their lifetime.
But sometimes, the passing of a particular person hits deeper than we ever expected.
Have you ever had a dream about someone who has passed away? You might not have thought much about why they showed up in your sleep, but it could hold meaning.
People cope with loss in many different ways. Some cry for days, some go completely quiet. Others push through like nothing happened. But one thing that connects many is this:
The memory of loved ones often shows up in our dreams.
Our subconscious plays a major role in what we see while we sleep — and if you’ve ever dreamed about someone who’s no longer alive, it might be trying to tell you something.
🕊️ Can the Dead Reach Out to Us Through Dreams?
According to Patrick McNamara, a professor of neurology and psychiatry at Boston University, what many people experience are known as “visitation dreams.”
He describes them as:
“Dreams in which those who have passed appear alive and well to the person grieving their loss.”
McNamara, who frequently writes under the name Dream Catcher for Psychology Today, has studied dreams extensively. He believes these dreams often serve a clear purpose — they help people process emotional wounds and find closure.
💬 A Personal Story of Connection
McNamara has shared his own story of having such dreams after the loss of both parents. Despite being a scientist trained to question everything, he admitted feeling convinced that he had communicated with his deceased parents in a dream.
He wrote:
“If someone like me — skeptical by nature — couldn’t shake that feeling, imagine how powerful that dream must be for someone more open to the idea of spiritual connection.”
📊 What the Research Says
He’s far from the only one exploring this subject.
A 2014 study in the American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine explored how dreams during grief can affect healing. It found that:
“Dreams of the deceased are quite common, deeply meaningful, and can assist with emotional recovery.”
Dream themes included:
Happy memories with the deceased
Seeing them healthy again
Messages from the other side
Visions of peace and comfort
Another 2016 Canadian study looked at 76 middle-aged adults who had recently lost someone close.
Over 70% said their dreams felt like visits from the deceased
67% said those dreams increased their belief in an afterlife
71% felt more connected to the person who had died
🧠 A Psychologist’s Take
Dr. Jennifer E. Shorter, a psychologist at the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology in California, also examined these types of dreams.
In her work titled “Visitation Dreams in Grieving Individuals”, she noted that these dreams often share four unique characteristics:
The person appears as they did in life, but often younger or in perfect health
They communicate a simple message — often saying they’re okay
Communication feels more mental than verbal, like telepathy
The atmosphere is calm, structured, and peaceful
🌌 Have You Had One?
If someone who has passed has appeared in your dreams, it might be worth asking:
What did they say or do?
How did the dream make you feel when you woke up?
Is there something unresolved between you?
Whether you see it as a psychological experience or something more spiritual, dreams of the departed often reflect love, memory, and healing — all things that remain even after loss.
