Happy Samhain! 
In time for this night of remembrance, I wanted to share something that feels especially fitting: dreaming of someone who passed away.
Have you ever dreamed of a deceased loved one and woken up feeling like you had actually spent time with them?
I’ve been researching dreams about dead relatives, and I kept coming across the term visitation dreams. I found some interesting research, spiritual interpretations, and a simple practice for anyone who wants to explore this through dream work.
What Are Visitation Dreams?
Visitation dreams are dreams in which someone who has died seems to return for a visit. Some people interpret them as spiritual encounters, perhaps a deceased relative offering comfort, guidance, or simply letting us know they’re still around.
Patrick McNamara discusses this experience in The Cognitive Neuroscience of Religious Experience. He describes how some people feel completely convinced that their deceased loved one was actually present, sometimes speaking, embracing, or communicating with them.
Interestingly, a 2014 study of 278 bereaved people found that 58% reported dreaming of their deceased loved ones. The dreams included happy memories, seeing the person free from illness, and receiving what felt like messages from them.
And 60% of participants felt their dreams had influenced their grieving process.
I find it fascinating that these experiences can feel so meaningful, regardless of whether we understand them as spiritual encounters or our minds processing memories and grief.
Why Do Dreams of Deceased Loved Ones Feel So Real?
In Dreaming Beyond Death, Kelly Bulkeley and Patricia Bulkley explore visitation dreams across different cultures and historical periods.
They describe emotionally intense dreams in which deceased loved ones appear to offer reassurance, guidance, or sometimes warnings.
From Dreaming Beyond Death by Kelly Bulkeley and Patricia Bulkley.
What interests me most is that these dreams aren’t necessarily strange or fantastical. Sometimes the person simply appears healthy and happy. Other times, you might have an ordinary conversation or receive a hug.
And then you wake up, perhaps feeling comforted, surprised, or even sad that the encounter has ended.
If you have one of these dreams, here are a few things worth considering:
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The person’s appearance: Did they look younger, healthier, or different from how you last remembered them?
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Their message: Did they say something meaningful, or was their presence enough?
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Your emotions: Did you feel peaceful, happy, frightened, or confused?
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Your current life: Is something happening that reminds you of this person or the advice they used to give?
I think these details are more useful than looking up a fixed meaning in a dream dictionary.
Is Seeing a Dead Person in a Dream a Good Sign?
One common question is whether dreaming of someone who has passed away is a good omen or a warning. I wouldn’t automatically interpret it as a bad sign.
In some spiritual interpretations, seeing a deceased relative happy or healthy means they are at peace. A conversation might represent ancestral guidance, while a comforting embrace could be understood as reassurance. But these are interpretations, not rules.
A Simple Practice to Dream of a Deceased Loved One 
I also found a lovely exercise in Clare R. Johnson’s book Elixir of Sleep, involving a small bedside altar and setting an intention to dream of a loved one or ancestor.
From Elixir of Sleep: Practical Solutions for a Good Night’s Rest by Clare R. Johnson.
Here’s a simple version inspired by her practice that you can try for Samhain or any night.
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Create a small altar. Place a photograph of your loved one beside your bed, along with an object that reminds you of them. You could use an LED candle to illuminate the space.
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Remember them. Before going to sleep, spend a moment thinking about their voice, their smile, or a happy memory you shared.
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Set your intention. You might quietly say: “Tonight, I welcome a peaceful dream of you. May our memories bring comfort and love.”
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Fall asleep naturally. Imagine being together again, perhaps somewhere familiar. Don’t force anything. If the exercise brings up difficult feelings, it’s perfectly fine to stop.
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Keep a dream journal. When you wake up, write down anything you remember, even if it’s just a feeling, a place, or a fleeting image.
Have you ever dreamed of someone who passed away? Did it feel like an ordinary dream, or was there something about it that made you think it was a visitation? I’d love to hear your experiences and interpretations!
