People and spirits sometimes come to us in dreams. These visitors are often welcome. Perhaps you have been comforted or aided by a beloved nighttime spirit visitor.
Emilie Corbiere recently wrote about the night-time visits of her mother:
“After my moms death, she came to me in dreams and it was like a wake up call. I woke up one morning like a totally different person. That same day, I made arrangements to leave that abusive situation and stay with family. I t was very difficult, don’t get me wrong. I left with no money, no job and just a duffle bag full of belongings but I had the love of my family to keep me going.
Now in the year 2011, I have been blessed with a wonderful family of my own, including a wonderful husband, who would never lay his hands upon a woman, and two beautiful boys. I know that my boys will grow up to never strike a woman and that makes me happy.
My mom still comes to visit every once in a while, in dreams and I’ll always remember the strength she gives me when times get tough.”
The Ancestors and spirits eagerly await our requests for dream comfort and aid. Simple rituals, tobacco ties, small alters all aid to convey our need and intent. Our open hearts and beautiful words and gestures express welcome and appreciation.
Other dream visitors may be unwelcome.Perhaps you have had the experience of someone unwanted coming to visit in your dreams. Maybe he or she arrived to demonstrate some power over you, or to make a demand. Like many events in life, there are also dream visits and visitors we are unsure of, not being able to comfortably categorize them as either good or bad.
Dream encounters based on abuse of power can feel profoundly threatening. Often, these dream intrusions can be addressed energetically. There are two aspects to this. The shamanic practitioner or energy worker severs any energetic links between the dreamer and the intrusive person or being. The second task belongs to the dreamer, who must carefully resist any temptation to reestablish those energetic links.
When the dream visitor is unwanted we may miss the mystery and power inherent in their visit. Fear may erase the awe we might otherwise feel. When the visitor is dear, we may arise with an aching, a longing, that is difficult to bear. We may also feel immensely grateful and deeply connected. These nighttime visions, these visits from spirit, welcome or not, point to a world much larger than we imagine in our everyday lives, and place those very lives in a new perspective.
Please share your thoughts and join the conversation!