We all dream, though some people say they don’t remember their dreams. Some dreams are pleasant, some are strange, and some are scary. Some are crystal clear, and some are so nebulous that it’s hard to even explain them in words. Some make you wonder what that dream was all about, or if there was any kind of message in there somewhere for you.
But what if a dream of your loved one who has passed away is so clear and tangible that you could swear it was really them?
I have heard about these kinds of dreams from others and read about them in books. And I have had a few of them myself. Who’s to say if it was really your loved one? In my opinion, if you felt their hug, looked into their eyes, heard them speak, and felt that eternal loving connection, then it was them. So easy for the naysayers to say it was nothing but a dream, but the experiencer is the only one who knows how it felt.
Here is my recent dream:
I was in a nondescript space, standing, looking straight ahead at what I would describe as fog with a light behind it. I was aware of a table off to my right with a radio on it. The voice from the radio sounded like my 24-year-old son, Eric, who had passed away almost 6 years ago. I said, “Is that you? Is that you?”
Still in the dream, I suddenly I felt a strong presence behind me that was undeniably Eric. He had a huge presence, bigger than life. I felt him wrap his arms around me, then place his hands under my armpits and I knew he was going to lift me up, almost like a male dancer would do with a ballerina. I said to him, “If that’s really you, then when you lift me, hold me there up at the top for a little bit.” Immediately he lifted me up and held me there, and I knew it was him. As I remained suspended in the air, the rush of euphoria was immeasurable, the bliss eternal.
After a few moments, he gently placed me back on the floor. I turned around to hug him. Even before I put my arms around him, he put his arms around me, and we hugged. I could feel his body. I was so filled with joy to be with him. After that we began to talk about different things, and though I don’t remember the exact conversation, we were together in a place beyond this time and space.
I woke up gently, softly, with an unmistakable sense of peace. I didn’t want to move, to let that feeling slip away. I knew that eventually I would have to begin the human realities of the day ahead of me. But I wanted to keep this feeling of Eric with me. The connection was strong. I had just been with him. And in that waking moment, all was well.
I have had so many other dreams as well. And I have heard from Eric’s siblings and friends about the time they have spent with Eric in their dreams. I have documented every dream, each one bringing me immense joy and comfort, each one resonating deeply within me, affirming the truth that his love for us continues just as much as our love for him continues.
The connection with our loved ones in spirit is eternal. We feel the grief as we miss their physical presence, but knowing they are always with us can bring about hope for a way to continue to live in a way that honors them. By Dolores Cruz
Thank you for sharing such a profound, beautiful and personal experience with Eric💙🦋 my comment was deleted at Facebook and I sent you the message by text. It was strange.?
Thank you for sharing your experiences with us. I too have had dreams such as this, where they are all too real…….down to where I could smell my son’s hair, the whole scent of him, the way his hands felt. Every part was right and exactly the way I’ve known it to be his entire life. I’ve also had several dreams of him as a child, and I can’t help but think that this is me experiencing him and me in another time space reality. Our science tells us that past, present and future are all happening at the same time. So it seems possible that during sleep we could access any one of those times. All I know is that each time I have one, it is truly a gift to be with my child…….one I am so thankful for. I too wake very slowly, hanging on to every millisecond of pure joy I feel being in his presence, acknowledging what just occurred and thank him for it before opening my eyes and leaving that space. 💗
Suzan, thank you so much for your lovely comment. 🙏🏼
Kristen, what beautiful dreams you have had with your son! And yes, I know that in the greater reality, all time happens at once, so we do have access to past in our present moment. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts.
Dolores, this is incredibly beautiful. the moment where you asked him to hold you at the top and he did.. I got chills reading that.
I hear about these dreams all the time from the families I work with. one father told me his daughter came to him in a dream and they were just sitting on their back porch together, not talking, just sitting. he said he could feel the warmth of her shoulder against his. he woke up crying but for the first time in months they were tears that felt more like gratitude than pain.
people are so afraid to talk about these experiences because they think theyll be told its just their brain processing grief. maybe it is, maybe it isnt. but does it really matter? if it brings comfort, if it helps someone feel less alone in the dark, then its real enough.
Kristen your comment about smelling your sons hair hit me too. the sensory memories are the ones that stay the longest. thank you both for sharing these.
Karen, thank you so much for your comment. It’s true that whether it’s the brain or a true visit, the main thing is all the comfort the dream brings us. The connection helps us cope. 🙏🏼