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Spirituality

Discovering the Spiritual Meaning of Dreams

Radiance Talley | Updated May 31, 2020

The views expressed in our content reflect individual perspectives and do not represent the authoritative views of the Baha'i Faith.

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Radiance Talley | Dec 26, 2019

The views expressed in our content reflect individual perspectives and do not represent the authoritative views of the Baha'i Faith.

Dreams – that prolonged activity we engage in every night – can have highly significant spiritual meanings if we pay attention to what they tell us. 

RELATED: A Spiritual Guide to the Dream World

I’ve had dreams that gave me insight into how to solve a problem, and others that warned me of a potential tragedy.

Four years ago, I dreamed that my father had a heart attack and died. While still in the dream, I “woke up” frightened and told my mother about it. To my surprise, she calmly responded, “Good, that means we can prevent it.” Then I woke up. Needless to say, I felt very confused and distressed. I told my mother everything, and to my shock and amazement, she said the exact same thing that her dream self had said: “Good, that means we can prevent it.” 

Clearly this dream was a premonition, because about a year later, my father had a severe hemorrhagic stroke. His doctor told my mother that his chances of surviving and regaining consciousness were slim. Someone with such a severe stroke would normally remain in a coma, and if they woke up, they would never be the same. 

Thankfully, my father did not die, but his condition was very serious, and he was in the hospital for an entire month. During that time, we experienced many miracles due to the power of prayer, because while he was sick, hundreds of friends, family and kind strangers around the world prayed for his healing. 

RELATED: Why I Believe in the Healing Power of Prayer

I firmly believe that all those prayers led to his full recovery. We may not have been able to prevent his stroke from happening, but we were able to prevent his death. This particular dream was an example of a true vision, because what I saw in my dreams occurred later in real life.

Abdu’l-Baha, the son of the founder of the Baha’i Faith and interpreter of the Baha’i writings, explained the three different kinds of dreams:

There are three kinds of dreams. One is a true vision, which is even as the morning light and has no need of interpretation. Exactly what is seen, the same thing occurs. But most people, generally, do not receive this kind of dream. In the period of every person’s life it may chance to happen that one’s heart and mind are free and clear of false suppositions. Then whatever the spirit discovers conforms to the reflection obtained. This is a true vision and needs no interpretation; it is reality.

The second kind of dream is that requiring interpretation, because the mind or the heart of the dreamer possesses false suppositions. When a spiritual journey is attained, it must be interpreted and false thoughts must be separated from spiritual discoveries. The soul is even as a fine white fabric. Any color that you add to it, it will receive, and this is real. However, if a color other than white is in the fabric, and you add a color, this is unreal. For example, if a yellowish color is in the fabric and you give it blue, it will become green. Then it is necessary to separate out the yellow until the blue is displayed. This is interpretation.

Another kind of dream is the confused dream. For example, during the day a man becomes engaged in a quarrel and dispute. Later, in the world of the dream, these same circumstances appear to him. This is a confused dream. It has no interpretation and contains no discoveries. Before the person dreamed, he was overcome with delusions. It is clear that this kind of dream bears no interpretation and is confused.

So, some dreams offer us true vision, some are confused, and some require interpretation. A dream that Abdu’l-Baha once had about his future death provides a great example of a dream that was interpreted by his loved ones incorrectly:

A few weeks later, whilst occupying a solitary room in the garden of His house, [Abdu’l-Baha] recounted another dream to those around Him. “I dreamed a dream,” He said, “and behold, [Baha’u’llah] came and said to Me: ‘Destroy this room.’” None of those present comprehended the significance of this dream until He Himself had soon after passed away, when it became clear to them all that by the “room” was meant the temple of His body.

Although Abdu’l-Baha understood the meaning of his dream, his loved ones could not interpret the dream correctly. Their desire for Abdu’l-Baha to stay alive and close to them may have clouded their understanding. So, they assumed that the dream referred to a physical location as opposed to Abdu’l-Baha’s physical body. Abdu’l-Baha passed away peacefully in his sleep soon after sharing that dream.

In the world of dreams, we visit a special place where God can give us not just foresight, but insight as well – if we have pure, detached minds and hearts. All we have to do is ask. Often, we can solve problems “in the world of the dream:”

How often it happens that man ponders a question in wakefulness, but he is unable to solve it. Then, in the world of the dream, it happens that the answer is discovered. Frequently such a dream is a true dream, inasmuch as that which is seen becomes manifested to the outer eye, requiring no interpretation.

For example, whenever my mom experiences writer’s block, she asks for inspiration before she goes to sleep. When she wakes up, ideas pour into her head and she knows exactly what to do. How exciting that the dream world can be of assistance to us, and that we can take steps to make our intention known! So, now that you know, what will you wish for in the world of dreams?

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Comments

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  • Ema Parkinson
    Aug 20, 2022
    -
    I had a dream someone I know was trapped and couldn't move or speak only grunt in pain while laying on t h floor there was smoke swirling on the side board when i managed to get inside, i was asking what happened where does it Hurt I managed to get them to their feet and they mumbled and I asked what say it again they mumbled again i said I dont understand what your saying and then they said clear and loud your not alone I went ice cold and couldn't move that's when I woke up and I ...was freezing cold what does this mean I was then petrified someone or something was in the house
    Read more...
  • Faith Isenough
    Jul 19, 2020
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    Dreams can easily be manipulated by bad spirits, so don't put stock in what they might mean. For many years, I was focused on religion as a quest, a pilgrimage, a constant striving to be closer to God. I was too open to things that I thought could bring me closer to Him, instead of focusing simply on my faith in Him. This left me vulnerable to a spiritual attack by an evil spirit. After this experience, I know that the devil and his demons exist, and that they strive to cause us pain. In my darkest moments, I called ...on Jesus for help; it was this asking him for help that saved me.
    www.spiritualattack.org
    Read more...
  • Chyanne Treen
    May 13, 2020
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    I had a very strange dream I would like to know if it has any meaning in this dream there is a person lying in a bed with no face I am sitting on top of this person crying and trying to help them then all of a sudden this golden Light that is almost blinding appears behind me this light makes me feel warm and tingly and happy and safe it puts my hands on this person's chest and tells me not to be afraid and to cast out the demons and then I woke up I have also ...been visited several times by a man named Ishmael
    Read more...
  • Billie jo Hutchinson
    Mar 3, 2020
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    Dreams of dead loved ones, but they were good dreams, dad gave me a big hug, and so didn't my stepbrother , we both have the same dad, then these little snoozes I take and it feels like someone is grabbing me (pulling) then I get chill after
  • Dec 27, 2019
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    I like the articles that Radiance writes. A true fan I am indeed. Well researched articles which are topics after my own heart dealing with the metaphysical
  • rodney Richards
    Dec 27, 2019
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    Radiance, Thanks for this. I wake up every morning knowing my dreams, sometimes crying, sometimes laughing, sometimes on the brink of sure death until I suddenly wake. Once I dreamed of 'Abdu'l-Baha greeting and hugging me, which was special. I love dreams and do not dwell on their meaning, knowing that a master interpreter of the spirit is necessary to interpret them. But I love their vividness and colors just the same. I do believe, as Shoghi Effendi's five steps to solving tough problems says, that "sleeping on it" will or can have positive inspirational results.
  • jack Price
    Dec 27, 2019
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    So I have nightmares all the time what does that mean
  • Mark David Vinzens
    Dec 26, 2019
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    That is the philosophy the great masters of India teach— that this world, this creation, is the dream of God. Just as when you are half awake and can see a dream and know you are dreaming, yet apart from it, that is how God feels this universe. On one side He is awake in ever new Bliss, and on another side He is dreaming this universe. That is how you should look upon this world. Then you will know why He created it, and you will not ascribe these dream conditions to your soul. If you pass through a ...nightmare, you know that it is no more than a bad dream. If you can live in the world in that consciousness, you will not suffer. (Journey to Self-Realization p.34)
    Read more...
  • Mark David Vinzens
    Dec 26, 2019
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    The whole world is a dream in God's Infinite Mind. The art is to be awake within the dream, to become a conscious dreamer and Co-Creator. Through spiritual awakening, the world becomes a happy dream.
  • Randy Burns
    Dec 26, 2019
    -
    Nice article! I have had similar experiences myself, I'm sure many people have.
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