In the weeks after my father passed, I found myself sitting with him at a TWA departure gate in some nondescript, silvery gray airport.

He didn’t say anything, and little happened in the dream.

After a second dream of waiting with him at the TWA gate, the symbolism suddenly hit me. The TWA gate stood for “Trans World Airlines,” the most appropriate airline for the recently deceased to trans-fer from the world of the living to the world of the dead.

Looking back, I now see how this dream symbolically reflected my inner emotional processing of my father’s transition. He sat at the gate with apparently nothing left to do, except for me to accept his journey.

Though some might wonder if the spiritual essence of my father sat with me in these dreams, it seems to me that I sat with a dream figure, a symbolic projection of my mind.

In lucid dreams, when I realize that I dream, I have an advantage. I can consciously engage the deceased dream figure, and see how it responds.

So, how can we reasonably differentiate a dream symbol of the deceased with that of a possible visitation? The following points may help highlight subtle distinctions that differentiate a dream symbol from a possible visitation:

1) Active versus static dream figures.

If the deceased dream figure initiates action or seeks to contact us or show us something, then it suggests a possible encounter with the person’s spiritual essence. But if the deceased dream figure sits like a potted plant, as my father did at the TWA gate, then the lack of purposeful activity suggests a symbolic projection of one’s mind.

2) Knowledgeable dream figures.

If the deceased dream figure comes with a message, warning or advice (in person or by phone), then it suggests a possible encounter. Interestingly, Frederick van Eeden, the person who many believe coined the term “lucid dreaming,” recounted an experience where a deceased brother in law warned him of an upcoming financial loss, which van Eeden later experienced. If the dream figure seems to lack new or novel information, then it may suggest a symbolic projection.

3) Physical appearance.

When we encounter the deceased, do they look younger, more vital and healthier than when they passed? Or do they reflect their appearance when last seen (for example in a state of ill health and decline)? When I see my maternal grandmother in a dream and she seems in her 30s (while I only knew her in her 70s and older), it suggests the dream figure has acted to re-cast themselves as they prefer to be seen instead of as I recall them. This observation seems to indicate a dream figure independent of my thinking or memory, which leads me to assume a dream visitation.

4) Eye contact.

When we engage others, we often look them in the eye. The eye-to-eye contact often helps us see their response or sense of inner activity. If we recall a dream of the deceased and their eyes seem active and lively, it suggests an encounter. If they fail to look us in the eye or seem to stare passively into space, it is more likely a symbolic projection.

5) The dream occurs during grieving—or long afterwards.

If the dream appearance of the deceased occurs during the time of active grieving, it may simply reflect the inner work of processing our emotions. In contrast, if the deceased appears many years later (after the normal mourning process has ended) and perhaps seeks us out or shares information, this is more suggestive of a visitation encounter.

In lucid dreams, it seems easier to determine a dream figure’s status, especially if we thoughtfully interact with the deceased dream figure, judge their awareness and test their responsiveness, knowledge and behavior. We can even ask them questions and obtain information outside of our knowing, which we can later seek to validate. Processing all of this information should help clarify the nature of the encounter.

Dreamers and lucid dreamers must take care to examine personal assumptions and beliefs when engaging the deceased. Avoid getting trapped by strong beliefs on either side of the after-death question, and simply investigate with an open mind.

By investigating, observing and questioning with a curious heart, we can become more insightful explorers of the mysterious realm of dreaming.

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Relephant Read:

The One Trick Every Lucid Dreamer Should Know.

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Author: Robert Waggoner

Editor: Toby Israel

Image: Samuel Zeller/Unsplash

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