FaceThyFear Guide to Dreams: Understanding the Unseen

Introduction

Dreams are more than just random images flashing through our minds at night. They are windows into our subconscious, mirrors of our past, and sometimes, messages from something greater than ourselves. Whether you are in recovery or simply seeking deeper understanding, this guide will help you navigate the world of dreams, their meanings, and how to use them as a tool for self-discovery and growth.

I’ve had recurring dreams since childhood, some coming back years later, completely forgotten until I relived them. I’ve had lucid dreams that felt real as life itself, where I controlled my actions and questioned reality. And I’ve had using dreams—haunting, hyper-realistic experiences where I woke up in a panic, thinking I had relapsed. Dreams have always been a significant part of my journey, both in addiction and in recovery. Understanding them has given me insight into my subconscious and spiritual self.

Recently, a friend of mine reached out because he was having intense, recurring dreams involving his deceased grandparents. He felt like they were trying to tell him something, but he couldn’t understand what. Some nights, the dreams were peaceful—his grandparents were just living their lives. Other nights, disaster struck—his house was breaking apart, and the energy shifted into something unsettling. These dreams had been following him for years but intensified when he moved to a new place. He wanted answers, clarity, and relief from the overwhelming feeling that something was trying to reach him from beyond.

His experience made me realize just how deeply dreams can impact our waking lives, especially when they feel like messages we can’t quite decode.

1. Why Do We Dream?

Dreams serve many purposes. They can be a way for our minds to process emotions, store memories, or even prepare us for challenges ahead. Science explains dreams as the brain’s way of making sense of our daily experiences, while many spiritual traditions see them as a form of divine communication. The truth may lie somewhere in between.

Common Types of Dreams:

• Lucid Dreams – Dreams where you become aware that you are dreaming and can sometimes control the events.

• Recurring Dreams – Dreams that repeat over time, often signaling unresolved emotions or patterns in life.

• Prophetic Dreams – Dreams that seem to predict future events.

• Using Dreams – Common in recovery, these dreams involve relapsing or engaging in past addictive behaviors.

• Nightmares – Intense, fearful dreams that may reflect trauma, stress, or deep-seated fears.

Some dreams are just our minds sorting through the day, but others feel different—more vivid, more urgent, more real. If you’ve ever woken up feeling like a dream was trying to tell you something, you’re not alone.

2. The Psychological Meaning of Dreams

Freud’s Perspective: Dreams as Unconscious Desires

Freud believed that dreams reflect our hidden desires and suppressed emotions. If you dream of deceased loved ones, it may mean there is unresolved grief, guilt, or feelings that you have not fully processed. A crumbling house, in Freud’s view, could symbolize personal instability or deep-seated anxiety about a major life change.

Jung’s Perspective: Dreams as Messages from the Unconscious

Carl Jung saw dreams as symbols from the collective unconscious, where archetypes (universal symbols) communicate messages. A house represents the self, so a dream of a house breaking apart could mean your sense of identity is shifting or you are experiencing inner turmoil.

If a deceased loved one appears but does not speak, Jung might interpret this as a sign that your subconscious is trying to reconnect with their influence in your life—perhaps a lesson they taught you is still relevant.

Modern Psychology: Dreams as Emotional Processing

Modern research suggests that recurring dreams often reflect unresolved stress, trauma, or major life transitions. If your mind is trying to process something difficult, it may keep bringing the dream back until the emotion is resolved in waking life.

3. The Spiritual Meaning of Dreams

Messages from Deceased Loved Ones

Many spiritual traditions believe that dreams of deceased family members may be visitations rather than just memories. Some interpretations include:

• If they do not speak: It may symbolize unresolved emotions, or they may be trying to communicate something beyond words.

• If they appear peaceful: This is often interpreted as a sign that they are at peace and watching over you.

• If they appear distressed: Some traditions believe this may indicate the need for prayer, healing, or a message that something in your life needs attention.

Disaster Imagery: A Spiritual Warning or Renewal?

In many belief systems, dreams of disasters (like a house breaking apart) symbolize a spiritual shift. It may mean that old aspects of your life are falling away so that something new can take their place. Some Indigenous and Eastern traditions believe that destruction in dreams signals a necessary transformation, pushing you to release negative energy or embrace change.

Religious Perspectives on Dreams

• Christianity: Some Christians believe that dreams can be God’s way of sending a message, much like in the Bible when Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams.

• Islam: Islam teaches that true dreams can be a form of divine guidance, and seeing a deceased loved one may be a reminder to pray for them or seek spiritual clarity.

• Buddhism: In Buddhist traditions, dreams are often seen as reflections of the subconscious rather than direct messages from the dead, encouraging self-awareness and meditation.

• Indigenous Beliefs: Many Native American and African traditions view dreams as direct messages from ancestors and spirits, offering guidance or protection.

4. How to Interpret Your Dreams

If you are experiencing recurring dreams or feel like your dreams are trying to tell you something, here are steps to interpret them:

1. Keep a Dream Journal – Write down every detail you remember, including feelings and symbols.

2. Look for Patterns – Are the dreams happening at specific times in your life? Are certain emotions or people always present?

3. Compare Psychological and Spiritual Meanings – Consider both scientific and spiritual perspectives to find what resonates with you.

4. Pray or Meditate for Clarity – If you feel your dream is spiritual, set an intention to receive guidance.

5. Take Action – If a dream keeps repeating, ask yourself if there is something in waking life that needs to be addressed.

Final Thoughts: Dreams as a Tool for Growth

Dreams are powerful. Whether they reflect your inner struggles, serve as warnings, or connect you to something beyond, they should not be ignored. Learning to understand them can bring healing, self-awareness, and even spiritual connection.

Takeaways:

• Dreams are personal – Their meaning is unique to you.

• Recurring dreams highlight unresolved emotions – Whether psychological or spiritual, they are a call to pay attention.

• Dreams may have messages – From the subconscious or from the divine, symbols can guide you.

• Keeping a journal helps – Track your dreams to understand them over time.

• Seeking guidance is okay – If a dream is too much to handle, talk to someone.

If you can see it, then you can reach it. Pay attention to your dreams—they might just show you the way.

FaceThyFear

"You can’t put a shark on a leash."