I had a dream about someone from my past who has passed away. In the dream, he was sitting at a bar, and I was overjoyed to see him. I ran up, hugged him tightly, and told him how much we all miss him. He began sharing reasons for why he left, and it felt so real and heartfelt.
What’s interesting is, I’ve had visits from him in my dreams before, and it’s always a pleasant surprise. This time, as we were talking, I realized I was dreaming. I even said to him, “It’s so nice when I see you in my dreams.” But the moment I said “dreams,” I felt myself being pulled away—backwards and upward—out of the dream.
I woke up right after that. It’s like whenever I acknowledge that I’m dreaming, the dream seems to push me out of it. Or maybe I wasn’t meant to hear his response at that moment. As I was being pulled away, I glanced at him apologetically, and he just smiled back as if to say, “It’s okay, nice to see you too.”
Even though it ended abruptly, it was still such a comforting dream.
Dreams about loved ones who have passed often feel deeply real and comforting because they connect us to our memories and emotions. Your recognition of the dream while it was happening and the subsequent “pulling away” might symbolize the boundary between the dream world and waking life—acknowledging the dream can sometimes disrupt its flow.
The fact that he smiled as you were leaving suggests a sense of peace and reassurance, as though he wanted to remind you that his presence, even in dreams, is meaningful and intentional. These recurring visits could be your mind’s way of processing grief or maintaining a connection with him, offering you comfort and closure.
Cherish these moments—they’re like gentle reminders that love and memory transcend even the boundaries of waking life.
