Meeting up with the dead

[bettedaviseyes]

this is an intresting subject i had a dream my nana who past away 2 years ago god bless was calling me marie i remember saying nana its me and she said i know then once again called me marie i told my sister about it and the werid thing was that her and my other sister was going to see a psychic called marie werid eh?

[sweetpea]

when I was growing up me and my nana always used to say we would meet up when she was dead right until her last breath we used to say 'see you at the other side'. I feel she is right beside me all the time.

[goldenguernsey]

I often dream of those past over, especially if I want to ask them something or know something. They never let me down, even if what I see seems random on awaking, it always makes sense in the cold light of day

[Penelope Pitstop]

Interesting thread. I've had some pretty weird happenings at the time of loved ones passing away - I wasn't with them at the time.

My Dad passed away last year, I've been hoping he would be back to visit...but alas nothing yet...I live in hope.

[Devilledcashew]

For my first post on the Org I humbly offer the following thoughts and observations on dreams.

It would seem to me that dreams often reflect our current concerns and anxieties. Dreaming is a kind of thinking, usually during sleep.
Children under the age of ten seldom dream. Blind people do not dream in colour. They dream of sounds and tastes and smells. Many blind people commonly dream of bumping into things or losing their guide dog. Not surprisingly, creative people can have creative dreams, which can help them at work in their waking life. Some people do not dream at all and suffer no mental or physical disadvantages as a consequence.
The evidence seems pretty convincing that only humans dream, which kicks into touch the idea that dreaming has any evolutionary adaptive function.

What seems to be complete nonesense is that dreams: have a problem-solving function, can predict the future, clear out redundant memories from the previous day, are useful indicators for unrecognized physical illness or that they fit in a recognized code of mystical symbols.
There are people making a living from peddling this rubbish, but they are modern day snake-oil salesmen.

Dreams may well be a series of scenes and feelings commonly occurring in the mind during sleep, but, they mean nothing and as far as the scientific community is concerned, they are just involuntary things that happen to us when we are relaxed and external stimuli have been cut off.

Thanks for listening.

[Penelope Pitstop]

Hello, and welcome.

[gleeber]

Dreams may well be a series of scenes and feelings commonly occurring in the mind during sleep, but, they mean nothing and as far as the scientific community is concerned, they are just involuntary things that happen to us when we are relaxed and external stimuli have been cut off.

Welcome to the org DC

I'm not sure what scientific community you allude to but I doubt very much that the branch of science that deals with individual psychology would write off the importance of dreams so quickly.
Dreams have been called the royal road to the unconscious and unless you disregard the evidence to an unconscious part of the human personality it would be nothing short of folly to ignore them as a source of information to better understand the human dilemma.

[scorrie]

The evidence seems pretty convincing that only humans dream,

My cat dreams. She chatters and twitches in her sleep. One day she was lying fast asleep, as happy as Larry, on our bed, before becoming agitated and eventually waking up hissing and swiping at fresh air. I had to talk to her for a while to reassure her that whatever had upset her was only a dream. There is no other rational reason that would explain her becoming upset while lying in complete safety and comfort.

On a personal note, my own dreams are very vivid and complex. They run to a very long sequence of events and many of them have been way more wonderful than anything I have experienced in life. For a start, I can fly and take off directly upwards, sometimes to incredible heights above the planet. Strangely enough, I can never run with any speed at all in my dreams. I have spoken to my Father on numerous occasions since his death 18 months ago, the recurring theme being him turning up at my Mother's house and me being the only person who realises he shouldn't be there. I have also met and had a dram with several other deceased persons. I even met Jesus on one occasion, despite not being at all religious. Jesus beckoned me to kneel at his feet and must have got me on a "going" day because I complied. He placed his hand on my head and it was a warm and reassuring feeling, although it had no effect whatever on my status as an atheist. I can almost always work out why certain people or events have appeared in my dreams and I believe that the brain does a bit of "file moving" and general house keeping when we are asleep. I noted that Jesus did not speak to me throughout the dream and believe that this is because I have never heard his voice. His image remains the same but many actors have played the part, bringing different voices to "The Man", had I heard his real voice I am sure my brain would have "made" Jesus speak to me during our meeting. I cannot say what purpose dreams serve, other than observing that there are times you are glad they are over but in most cases mine are a positive and enjoyable experience, often incredible in the realism of all five senses.

[wifie]

Welcome Devilledcashew! I too would disagree and say that dogs dream - you see them chasing things in their sleep!
I usually enjoy my dreams and some can be extremely vivid! Like scorrie some are more enjoyable than life itself but some you wish to wake up from! I often feel I know I am asleep but cannot escape whatever it is that upsets me!

[Haweswater]

Some fifteen years ago we lost a close friend to illness. Before his health failed he served with Loganair as a captain flying inter-island routes. For a spell before that he had been a first officer based in Glasgow, where he came to know a number of other flight crew with other companies.
A couple of days following his death, a pilot was walking through the terminal at Glasgow Airport when he met our mutual pal who seemed as 'large as life' (like he was both in personality and stature) and looking the picture of good health. Realising that he had been unwell the chap asked him as to how he was keeping. The response was positive and cheery and after the exchange of some banter both went on their way.
Something, however, struck the man as being 'odd' and on turning around he could find no trace of our friend.
Only when he returned to his office and mentioned the meeting with other staff was he informed that he must have been mistaken as our mutual friend had died only two days before.
The incident was later retold during an STV documentary on the 'unexplained'.
Knowing our pal as he was, a man with a tremendous sense of humour and enthusiasm for life and his flying career, such an encounter did not surprise me in the least. In some ways the whole thing was particularly ironic as the dear departed friend would have been the first to laugh such an incident off as being down to 'not taking enough water in the dram..!'
We will never quite know the full truth behind such matters (at least not in this world) and I'm therefore quite content to simply live with them - enriching our lives as they can often do.

[David Banks]

For my first post on the Org I humbly offer the following thoughts and observations on dreams.


The evidence seems pretty convincing that only humans dream, which kicks into touch the idea that dreaming has any evolutionary adaptive function.

If I may add an anecdote. One day, my dog had an exciting day chasing rabbits and one hare. That evening, lying sound asleep on his side in front of the fire, he dreamed of his exciting escapades, complete with moving his legs in a running motion and yipping like little war crys.
From then, I have been convinced that dogs, not just humans can experience dreams.

[Aaldtimer]

From then, I have been convinced that dogs, not just humans can experience dreams.

Oh yes David, mighty chases, and not only that, bad dreams...wakening growling at some unseen foe!

[David Banks]

The evidence seems pretty convincing that only humans dream, which kicks into touch the idea that dreaming has any evolutionary adaptive function.

Welcome to the org!

I would be interested in the sources of your "evidence"

-- only because, I vividly recall my dog in Scarfskerry having one very exciting day out roaming the village with me. He sprung a hare and had a good long chase.

That evening, in his usual four-paws-up sleeping posture, he relived his experience yelping as he had done during the real pursuit, and moving his legs/bending his back in his "flat-out" speed running action. Good thing he was on the floor.

If that wasn't dreaming, then . . . . but the evidence will have to be convincing!

[rich]

Great TV show DEAD LIKE ME.
It's about Grim Reapers. (Soul gatherers)
If it's available in the Benighted Kingdom give it a try.

[crayola]

Great TV show DEAD LIKE ME.
It's about Grim Reapers. (Soul gatherers)
If it's available in the Benighted Kingdom give it a try.

The figures demolishing Pennyland Church looked remarkably like this depiction of a reaper.



It's rare that one sees reapers in such numbers in Thurso, I believe this was a once in a lifetime opportunity.