Dreaming of a Dead Person Talking to You (2024)

Co-authored byKari Samuelsand Carmine Shannon

Last Updated: January 28, 2024Fact Checked

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   The dream could mean you miss someone who passed away. 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.
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   Your dream can be signaling the end of a phase in your life. 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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   The dream can be manifesting a fear of death. 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.
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   The dead may have come to ask you for advice. 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.
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   Some think this kind of dream could be a warning of danger. 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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   The person asks you to follow them 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.
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   The person gives you something 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]
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   You dream about eating with the person 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]

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   You argue with the person in your dream 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.
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   You dream the dead person you’re speaking to is angry at you 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.
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   You’re touched by a dead person in your dream 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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   Parents. 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.
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   Siblings. 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.

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   Children. 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.
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   Relatives. 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.

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   Friends. 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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1. Most spiritual traditions have a way to interpret dreams about the dead. 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.

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