Dreams

[blackribbon]

I don't normally dream or at least, remember my dreams. When I do, they kind of tend to stick with me, almost haunting me at times. At one time in my life when I had spare time, I used to use a dream dictionary and was amazed how accurate some of these dreams correlated to real life. So then I started looking up other peoples dreams because I assumed that it was a mind game and that I could twist every interpretation to some situation in my life. What I found is that other people's dream interpretation were very unique and often very specific to their lives and they did not fit my life, no matter how hard I tried to prove my theory that this is what was happening. Then I got on with the rest of my life. Got busy and again, seldom had significant dreams.

Last week, a facebook friend posted a dream that was bothering her. I didn't have time to look it up then but did a few days later. It was a freaky dream with details that didn't seem to have any connection but as I looked up each significant detail of the dream, it matched a specific situation in her life and told a story.

So last night (well, afternoon), I was so tired from an completely exhausting week, I slept for 12 hours straight and woke up feeling strangely good after having a strange dream. I decided to look it up even though there was really only one aspect of the dream that stood out enough to look up. WOW, the dream dictionary had a full page of specific details about that one key point of my dream and they all mean something to me. Even more it was a dream of hope...hope for change and that something better will happen...even though I went to sleep totally defeated and about ready to give up all hope of anything good happening anymore.

The Bible talks about God giving messages through dreams so I don't believe that this is "evil". I don't see it as fortune telling but rather maybe as the minds way of working through details of daily life. The fact that there appears to actually be a "language of dreams" is something kind of fascinating and maybe evidence that our souls speak a different language than our brains. Maybe at times, God speaks to us through our dreams.

What do you think?

 

[Servant68]

My best friend back in Arizona and a very spirit-filled Christian is a dream interpreter. He was always hounding me to tell him my dreams.

I remember that dreams with buildings or structures were about your family. Just before the divorce and during the process, I would have a lot of dreams about buildings being damaged or trying to get my kids out of a damaged building.

My friend told me that I was seeing my family being torn apart due to divorce and that I was most concerned about protecting my children from the effects. He said they were very therapeutic.

Dreams are the mind's way of processing emotional trauma or simply just stuff you haven't given enough thought to during your waking hours.

As far as there being any prophecy involved, a year or so before I got divorced, I had a dream about a woman. It wasn't sexual, but it was one of intense love. I would dream of embracing this woman and feeling nothing but total love for her. I never would see her face, only the top of her head as her face was buried in my chest during an embrace. From that, I knew she was a brunette, was probably around 5'5" to 5'7". I also woke up one time mumbling her name. I couldn't quite make it out but I thought it was Camilla, or Camille, or Carmen, or Karen... I don't know.

Anyway, I had a couple of dreams about this woman while I was married. Talk about feeling guilty...

But the truth was that I was in an unhappy marriage with a woman who didn't love me or respect me and who I did not love, but I respected her enough to remain faithful and not seek out an extra-marital relationship to fulfill my intense desire and need for a deep and loving relationship.

So I don't know if the dreams about "Camilla" were just my subconscious mind's way of dealing with the impending emotional tsunami of divorce, or if it was God reassuring me that one day I would find true love and that He has someone perfect for me to love and cherish.

Either way, I have never met someone name Camilla. I did meet a very beautiful Hispanic woman named Carmen a couple of months ago, but then found out she was a lesbian, so...

And I was introduced to a sweet brunette Christian woman named Claire a couple of weeks ago...

So I don't know; I certainly think God uses dreams for multiple purposes. I have not had a prophetic dream, but every time I meet a dark-haired girl with a name that starts with a C or a K, I think, "could this be the one?"...

 

[Victory-N-Christ]

Okay. I'll share one dream that was prophetic. About 5 years ago I dreamed that I was harvesting big ,leafy, dark green cabbages from a field in the backyard of a prosperous man.It was a sunny day so the field was illuminated by a strong golden radiance and I could smell the hot cabbage leaves and a strong pungent odor of fertilizer. Well about a month later I received a windfall of money from a source that had been holding out on me. So I know that dream was about money and me working to harvest the cabbage meant that I had been putting in some work negotiating with the financial source. The prosperous man represented the wealthy company from which the money flowed.

 

[God's Post-It Note]

I don't normally dream or at least, remember my dreams. When I do, they kind of tend to stick with me, almost haunting me at times. At one time in my life when I had spare time, I used to use a dream dictionary and was amazed how accurate some of these dreams correlated to real life. So then I started looking up other peoples dreams because I assumed that it was a mind game and that I could twist every interpretation to some situation in my life. What I found is that other people's dream interpretation were very unique and often very specific to their lives and they did not fit my life, no matter how hard I tried to prove my theory that this is what was happening. Then I got on with the rest of my life. Got busy and again, seldom had significant dreams.

Last week, a facebook friend posted a dream that was bothering her. I didn't have time to look it up then but did a few days later. It was a freaky dream with details that didn't seem to have any connection but as I looked up each significant detail of the dream, it matched a specific situation in her life and told a story.

So last night (well, afternoon), I was so tired from an completely exhausting week, I slept for 12 hours straight and woke up feeling strangely good after having a strange dream. I decided to look it up even though there was really only one aspect of the dream that stood out enough to look up. WOW, the dream dictionary had a full page of specific details about that one key point of my dream and they all mean something to me. Even more it was a dream of hope...hope for change and that something better will happen...even though I went to sleep totally defeated and about ready to give up all hope of anything good happening anymore.

The Bible talks about God giving messages through dreams so I don't believe that this is "evil". I don't see it as fortune telling but rather maybe as the minds way of working through details of daily life. The fact that there appears to actually be a "language of dreams" is something kind of fascinating and maybe evidence that our souls speak a different language than our brains. Maybe at times, God speaks to us through our dreams.

What do you think?

One of the ways God speaks to people is through dreams. Dreams God gives are in vibrant color and are symbolic. When interpreted correctly they give advice, warning, and God's plans for our life. The problem is people look at interpretations given by secular thoughts rather than God's thoughts. Secular thoughts say "it's how you are feeling or what you are going thru or what you ate or some such external stimulus. And they have 1 flatline meaning. God's interpretations are intrinsic. They have multiple layers and are revelatory. satan can also give dreams. They are dark, and in black and white. All dreams from God are colorful but you only remember the colors, people, or things that are important to the interpretation. When you start going to tarot reading, palm reading etc you have gone over the line. That is going to demonic forces to get the answers (which of course aren't completely truthful) and God forbids that.

 

[blackribbon]

One of the ways God speaks to people is through dreams. Dreams God gives are in vibrant color and are symbolic. When interpreted correctly they give advice, warning, and God's plans for our life. The problem is people look at interpretations given by secular thoughts rather than God's thoughts. Secular thoughts say "it's how you are feeling or what you are going thru or what you ate or some such external stimulus. And they have 1 flatline meaning. God's interpretations are intrinsic. They have multiple layers and are revelatory. satan can also give dreams. They are dark, and in black and white. All dreams from God are colorful but you only remember the colors, people, or things that are important to the interpretation. When you start going to tarot reading, palm reading etc you have gone over the line. That is going to demonic forces to get the answers (which of course aren't completely truthful) and God forbids that.

Who said anything about going to a tarot card reader (and I would never have thought to go there for a dream interpretation)? I have a dream dictionary that just tells what different things tend to symbolize. Where do you go for a Biblical dream interpretation? I'd never make a life decision based on a dream but I am amazed how many dictionary interpreted dreams match my real life.

 

[Ubuntu]

@blackribbon, I won't attempt to say anything about the nature of the dreams you and your friend had, the following is a general observation...

I believe that the vast majority of dreams (99.9%) have a natural origin, and it’s well known that dreaming plays an important part in the consolidation our our memory. However, some people do certainly experience supernatural dreams from time to time. Supernatural dreams can come from God, but the devil is also able to give people dreams.

The dreams that come from God contain some kind of confirmation that they come from him, but despite their obvious supernatural nature they also frequently require an interpretation.

However, I don’t think we should spend time and effort trying to decipher common dreams. Nor do I think that we should consult dream dictionaries, I think they are simplistic at best. Now, don’t get me wrong, dreams come in many shapes and archetypes, and they are to some degree manifestations of our subconscious desires and personality traits. Even “natural” dreams can therefore be very intriguing, and they occasionally appear to reveal thing about our own psyche. But I don’t think there is some kind of universal “language” of dreams, a common set of symbols that can be interpreted using a dictionary.

In fact, dreams are often manifestations of our fallen nature, and I think we'll be disappointed if we constantly search for evidence of a hidden and sacred meaning in our dreams. In the words of the prophet:

“The human mind is more deceitful than anything else.
It is incurably bad. Who can understand it?”

That’s why I think that we safely should forget our dreams unless they are unmistakably supernatural. Yes, dreams can be vivid and impressive, but their emotional impact is no proof of their trustworthiness.

 

[blackribbon]

@blackribbon, I won't attempt to say anything about the nature of the dreams you and your friend had, the following is a general observation...

I believe that the vast majority of dreams (99.9%) have a natural origin, and it’s well known that dreaming plays an important part in the consolidation our our memory. However, some people do certainly experience supernatural dreams from time to time. Supernatural dreams can come from God, but the devil is also able to give people dreams.

The dreams that come from God contain some kind of confirmation that they come from him, but despite their obvious supernatural nature they also frequently require an interpretation.

However, I don’t think we should spend time and effort trying to decipher common dreams. Nor do I think that we should consult dream dictionaries, I think they are simplistic at best. Now, don’t get me wrong, dreams come in many shapes and archetypes, and they are to some degree manifestations of our subconscious desires and personality traits. Even “natural” dreams can therefore be very intriguing, and they occasionally appear to reveal thing about our own psyche. But I don’t think there is some kind of universal “language” of dreams, a common set of symbols that can be interpreted using a dictionary.

In fact, dreams are often manifestations of our fallen nature, and I think we'll be disappointed if we constantly search for evidence of a hidden and sacred meaning in our dreams. In the words of the prophet:

“The human mind is more deceitful than anything else.
It is incurably bad. Who can understand it?”

That’s why I think that we safely should forget our dreams unless they are unmistakably supernatural. Yes, dreams can be vivid and impressive, but their emotional impact is no proof of their trustworthiness.

Since we know so little about the "thinking" mind, I don't think that we can just poo poo what the dream dictionaries say. I certainly wouldn't base my life off of them but I think they may have a key to helping us decipher the unconscious mind. It would be on par with the study of body language or facial expressions...and all other forms of unspoken communication. And nonverbal forms of communication is supposed to be over 90% of all communication. To be part of our subconscious mind does not mean that it is spiritual communication but maybe just self-awareness. Why is it too hard to consider that people may all dream in the same "language" since dreams are pictures and experiences and not words?

 

[exitstageright]

All of my dreams,that I can remember,were in English. Well,in one dream,my Singles'Pastor was praying.I could not understand him.But,he was speaking in the cadence and the rhythm of the Lord's Prayer. The words then began to sound like French words. In real life,my Singles' Pastor told us that he used to live in France. I was aware that he used to live in France,before I had this dream.
By the way,maybe deaf people only dream in pictures and experiences,and not words.

 

[blackribbon]

All of my dreams,that I can remember,were in English. Well,in one dream,my Singles'Pastor was praying.I could not understand him.But,he was speaking in the cadence and the rhythm of the Lord's Prayer. The words then began to sound like French words. In real life,my Singles' Pastor told us that he used to live in France. I was aware that he used to live in France,before I had this dream.
By the way,maybe deaf people only dream in pictures and experiences,and not words.

Is your dream narrated or do you look at a tree and just know it is a tree...and language isn't necessary? And how do you know that you dream in English if our spirits speak some other language that we are fluent in?

 

[exitstageright]

Is your dream narrated or do you look at a tree and just know it is a tree...and language isn't necessary? And how do you know that you dream in English if our spirits speak some other language that we are fluent in?

Well.my dreams are in English.Because, I can understand what the people are saying. And,the people,in my dreams,can understand me. Many of my dreams are lucid dreams.

For example,in one dream,I was on Mission Street in San Francisco,which is about 4 miles west from the house,that I grew up in. Now Candlestick Park,where the 49ers played,was a mile east from the house where I grew up,making Candlestick Park,about 5 miles east of Mission Street.Someone,on Mission Street,told me,"You are going to be late for the 49er game" The time was 12:55 pm.The games, usually start at 1:00 PM. I told the person,"No,I am not going to be late for the game."The person then asked me."How?"

I replied,"Because,this is a dream.And in dreams,we are not subject to the laws of physics.Therefore,I will fly to the game!" So,I started to run very fast,while putting my hands out in front of me,just like Superman.So,I flew,just like a jet,to Candlestick Park,and made it before the football game started.
Yes,for me,lucid dreams are the best dreams. Maybe this has a lot to do with my creative and imaginative mind.
Now,as far as spirit dreams are concerned.In one dream,someone at church,said to me,"Speak!" I immediately started to speak in a language the I had never spoken in before.I said,"Sor corro sorro my cit!!"Well....at least that was what is sounded like to me.
The ironic thing,in real life,at church,is someone was trying to get me to speak in tongues.But I was not able to speak in tongues. Afterwards,He told me that the reason I cannot speak in tongues,is that I have to "turn my brain off." But,God did not give everybody the spiritual gift of speaking in tongues.

 

[Ubuntu]

@blackribbon

A few thoughts… A universal “dream language” isn’t possible, simply because we are different, our mental associations aren’t the same.

One example, say that I and a friend of mine had an identical dream… In this hypothetical example we both dream that a pigeon came from the sky and landed on our heads. As a Christian such a dream would have strong religious (and positive) connotations to me, if I were to “interpret” it as a symbol I would be tempted to understand it as a symbol of the Holy Spirit. (And I see that “dream dictionaries” typically interpret doves as a symbol of “peace, tranquility, harmony, affection and innocence.”)

However, my friend would read such a dream in the exact opposite way. This is not something I’m making up, I actually have a friend who has a deep phobia against birds in general and doves in particular. She is extremely scared of them, she freaks out if they come anywhere near her.

Needless to say, if my friend dreamed about a dove landing on her head, it would most likely be a freakish nightmare. To her, doves represent her greatest fear.

In other words, there can be no “neutral” dream language, simply because we are so different and because we have such different experiences in life. For a person who has been in a car crash, dreams of driving would mean something different than to a person who is a car enthusiast and spends days working on his veteran car.

*

A general observation about “dream dictionaries”… They are typically deliberately broad and vague, much like horoscopes in magazines. I’m no saying that there is nothing at all to be learned from dreams, but I would personally stay away from dream dictionaries. They are simplistic at best, and deceptive at worst.

 

[blackribbon]

Dream dictionaries are not like horoscopes. They don't predict anything nor pretend to do. They are like a word dictionary. In reality, words aren't tangible either...they are representations of thought. So the English word "silly" is now defined very different than it was during Shakespearean times. Our spoken language is fluid and constantly changing. It is not a set in stone reality like a tree is always a tree regardless of what word we use to describe it....the tree doesn't change because the word describing it does.

Now, you believe that it is impossible for us to have a universal dream language but it is possible for two people to have EXACTLY the same dream? Wow! (not even sure how you would determine two dreams were identical and if they were, I'd believe that dream was most likely a message from God, not really just a dream).

I firmly believe that we have an internal language that we are born with...all babies babble identically...and then the sounds that they hear around them develop different areas of their eventual developed language patterns and into the one that they eventual change to for their spoken language. To say that babies have no language because they can't speak is to say that babies can't think...and they very much think, have opinions, and desires with no actual spoken language to communicate them.

I believe that we are all born thinking in the original language made by God...the language that was spoken in the Garden of Eden and the language that we can speak to God with...and the language we will all speak with when we cross over from this life. Just because we don't recognize that we change languages in our heads does not mean that we don't. If it is an innate language, it would be a natural switch over with no awareness that we flopped languages. I have never struggled to "find a word" in my dreams like I do in real life.

And we often dream about things that scare us in real life or don't scare us in real life...but they don't affect us in the same way while sleeping. So your friend who dreamed about birds but is terrified about birds in real life, could very easily have a peaceful dream about birds and you could have a terrifying one...one terrifying enough to even start fearing them in real life. And just because you see a bird, does not mean the dream interpretation for both people is the same ... because one bird might be peacefully present while another bird might be dead or swarming something...which would be two different interpretations.

To underestimate the importance of our dream world (subconscious thought) is to say that we do not really exist when we sleep. However, it is not considered to be psychologically health to never dream so there must be a component of sleep and dreaming that is vital to our mental health. To believe that dreams never have any relevance because they are not part of our conscious life is sort of assuming a lot. That could also be extended to say that our spiritual life doesn't exist because it can't be seen or measured either. Humans are much more than a body. We are a mind, thoughts, and a spiritual side that no one has yet to really be able to measure. Our sleep/dream life is 1/3 of our entire life ... and yet, you believe it has no significance.

 

[MustardSeeed]

It wasn't sexual, but it was one of intense love. I would dream of embracing this woman and feeling nothing but total love for her. I never would see her face, only the top of her head as her face was buried in my chest during an embrace. From that, I knew she was a brunette, was probably around 5'5" to 5'7". I also woke up one time mumbling her name. I couldn't quite make it out but I thought it was Camilla, or Camille, or Carmen, or Karen... I don't know.

I'VE HAD A DREAM LIKE THIS. I don't even consider it a dream ... it was more than a dream. I have never experienced the type of love I felt that night - like you said a non-sexual type love. It was SO real. I woke up with tears! That's how strong the feeling was ... In my dream I also couldn't see the persons face but I do remember some features. If I could sum up the dream in one word I would say it was about protection... but what I felt was love and adoration. I've prayed so many times to have the dream again but I never have . This was around 8 years ago that I had such a dream and I've never forgotten it

 

[Servant68]

That's very cool!