What Does it Mean to Dream About a Dead Person Talking to You? Meaning, Warnings, and Advice

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Learn how to interpret your dreams and what messages you may be receiving
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Dreams about speaking to a person who has died are very common, whether you’ve lost someone recently or not. The grieving process is a holistic experience that expresses itself in many aspects of your life, even in your unconscious mind. These dreams are powerfully emotional and can leave you wondering: what did it all mean? This article will take you through all the different dream interpretations of speaking to a deceased loved one, from underlying anxieties to warnings to receiving messages from the dead .

Things You Should Know

  • Dreams where you speak to lost loved ones are a way for your mind to cope with grief.
  • The person in your dream can act as a symbol of changes in your life, or as a warning of danger.
  • These dreams can be reflections of your subconscious, or messages sent from the dead.
Section 1 of 4:

Possible Interpretations

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  1. The loss of someone you’re close to is devastating, so your mind needs time to heal. [1] Speaking to someone again in a dream can help you gain closure as you go through the grieving process.
    • Everyone mourns differently. If you’re having these dreams often or find yourself unable to move on, consider contacting a professional to talk to—you don’t have to do this alone.
  2. Dreams about speaking to a dead person can mean something in your life is coming to a close, but don’t be afraid, something needs to end for a new beginning to start. [2]
    • When you speak to the deceased in a dream, it is thought that they can be telling you that your life is shifting, you’ve reached your goals, or that something is coming your way.
    • Think about big life decisions you might be making soon. This dream could be a sign you’re ready to move forward with them.
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  3. Fear of dying is entirely natural, and if you’re scared or feel pulled toward the dead person, it may just be that. The person you speak to may not even be dead in the waking world in these kinds of dreams.
    • If your dream is a nightmare, it’s more likely to be a projection of your subconscious anxiety.
    • For example, if you’re also being chased during your dream, or find yourself trapped, that indicates a fear of death .
  4. Our relationships with people don’t end after death—they still have strong impacts on us. Some believe that this goes both ways, and a dream about speaking to a dead loved one can mean they need your help in the afterlife.
    • For dreams like these, especially if they’re recurring, it’s good practice to pay attention to what is said. Practice remembering your dreams by writing down everything you can in the morning, and reading your past dreams before going to sleep.
  5. Dreams about the dead are often regarded as omens, whether good or bad, and when someone is speaking to you it can be to try and help you before your situation turns bad.
    • When you wake up from a dream, take note of how you feel. If you're afraid or feeling apprehensive, the dream may have been a warning.
    • Watch out for other bad omens in your dream that signal danger, like teeth, sickness, and sabotage. [3]
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Section 2 of 4:

Meanings of Specific Dream Scenarios

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  1. This can mean many things. Like all dreams about dead people you know, it can be a way of your unconscious mind trying to help you through the mourning process. Following them helps you feel connected to them. If they’re luring you, however, some interpret that as foreshadowing impending trouble and death.
    • This dream can also symbolize fear of being alone.
    • Resisting following them could mean that you’re in a potentially dangerous situation but you’re going to get away unharmed. Exercise caution in your life, and keep your eye out for nefarious activities.
  2. This dream can go one of many ways. Receiving something from a dead person can signal bad luck coming into your life, but it can also mean you’re opening a new phase of your life and the deceased is offering you kindness and wisdom.
    • This dream could sometimes be interpreted as a specific warning of ill health or an upcoming death in your life. [4]
  3. If you eat or take food in a dream from someone who has died, this could be symbolizing your health taking a turn for the worse. Pay attention to your health and get check-ups from a doctor regularly. [5]
  4. This dream can indicate a couple of things. It can mean that you’re being manipulated in your waking life, or it can mean a decision you’ve made has had negative consequences in a relationship. [6]
    • To figure out which interpretation makes sense for you, think about how you feel when you wake up. If you feel guilty, consider the relationships you have and where you may have overstepped. If you feel hurt or worried, pay attention to other people’s intentions for you in the waking world.
  5. This dream is a sign of guilt and regret. Perhaps you’ve done something that you’re ashamed of, or you feel you have hurt someone. Make amends with yourself and others in the waking world.
    • In this kind of dream, the person you spoke to may not actually be dead. If they’re still alive, make up with them as soon as possible.
    • Taking responsibility for your actions will help soothe your mind and mend your relationships.
  6. Being touched in a dream could be symbolizing great achievements in your life. Coming from the deceased means that they’re giving you a gift. Pay attention to your work and career, and watch out for something good coming your way.
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Section 3 of 4:

Deceased's Identity Meaning

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  1. If you have a dream about your dead parents, you could be coping with their loss and trying to part ways with them subconsciously. [7] It could also symbolize a shift in your personality coming that they would approve of.
    • If your parents are still alive, this dream often means you’re afraid of losing them.
  2. Dreaming about a dead sibling often symbolizes rivalry or competition. This could manifest itself at work or in your personal life. If your sibling is still alive, think about your relationship with them. There is probably something between you that you need to mend .
  3. These dreams are often very traumatic, especially if you have had a child die. This death is a very difficult one to mourn, so this kind of dream is helping you move into a reality where you can accept your child’s death.
    • If you haven’t had a child die but you do have children, this dream represents the anxiety you have about their safety.
  4. A visit from a deceased relative outside of your immediate family is usually considered a good sign. This means that you are receiving a message from them, so pay attention to what they say. Practice dream journaling to help you remember.
  5. When you dream about talking to a dead friend, that means you’re trying to relive the time you had together. This is another kind of dream where you are trying to cope with your loss.
    • If your friend isn’t dead, take this dream as a reminder to check up on them. You’re missing the connection you used to have with them, so it’s time to reach out.
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Section 4 of 4:

Spiritual Meanings

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  1. Depending on your beliefs, your dream can mean many things.
    • In Islam, it is believed the dead can directly reach the living through dreams. When you meet someone, they’re really there talking to you and are trying to help you make peace with their death. [8]
    • Viewed through the lens of Hinduism, this sort of dream means the deceased has not ascended to heaven yet. Whoever is speaking to you is asking for your help to get over their death.
    • Christianity is a little trickier. Since the dead did not visit people in the bible (instead they were resurrected) some believe that there is no Christian interpretation of speaking with the dead in a dream. Others believe the person has come to help you with a problem you can’t solve yourself.
    • In Judaism, like Islam, when you see someone who has passed on in a dream, you’re really seeing that person. Speaking to them is considered a good omen.

Join the Discussion...

What does it mean if I keep dreaming about someone?
WikiLionRider329
24
WikiLionRider329
So I bumped into somebody last week and thought nothing of it, and boom, there they were in my dreams the last few nights. They really haven't be... Read More
1
Jason Zuk
Intuitive Psychic Medium
When people have dreams, there's probably a reason those dreams are connecting the people to one another. It's not just about the mind and it's n... Read More
WikiFawnSeeker950
1
WikiFawnSeeker950
In the past when I have dreamt about someone, I took it as a sign to reach out and check on them. The last time this happened to me I reached out... Read More
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  • Question
    What if the dead person in the dream is a completely made up person who you don't know?
    Community Answer
    If you weren't close to anybody who died, then your brain, when this type of dream comes up due to life circumstances like change, anxiety, etc, "fills in" the guilt and sadness associated with a deceased loved one with an imaginary person. A dream like this is telling you that you need to make an important decision involving a change or something else that needs to be done.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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  • Question
    Dreamt my late parents were painting their home walls with a mixture of pink and white. What is the meaning please?
    Community Answer
    That is probably a sign you want to change something in your life or a change is about to happen. In the dream, your deceased parents were alive and changing the color of the wall by painting over it. Also, dreaming about a dead person is another sign of wanting a change, since they're now dead, imagining them being alive is reflecting the past vs the future. When you dream about moments and people that now only exist in the past, it is a contrast to a new life.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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    Not Helpful 1 Helpful 7
  • Question
    What is the meaning of a dream where I talked to a dead person who was vomiting blood?
    Community Answer
    Blood in a dream often represents negative emotions or serious concerns about someone or something in your life. Vomiting up blood could symbolize "letting go" of something that is causing you severe pain or stress, someone is bullying you (in that case the blood represents negative words coming from their mouth) or a loved one is sick (if not dead). If the person is dead in reality, it could mean you are coping with their death.
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    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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      References

      1. ↑ https://dreamingandsleeping.com/dream-of-dead-person-talking-to-you/
      2. ↑ https://alicaforneret.com/dream-about-dead-bodies/
      3. ↑ https://www.astrologyanswers.com/article/bad-dream-omens/
      4. ↑ https://dreammeanings.net/blog/dreaming-of-a-dead-person/
      5. ↑ https://www.dreamsopedia.com/dream-about-eating-food-with-a-dead-person.html
      6. ↑ https://www.dabar.org/dream-of-dead-person-talking-to-you/
      7. ↑ https://alicaforneret.com/dreaming-of-dead-father/
      8. ↑ https://www.dabar.org/dream-of-dead-person-talking-to-you/

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