Sooner or later, everyone experiences the heartbreak of losing someone they love — it’s an inevitable part of life. Yet, the loss of certain people leaves a deeper scar than we could ever imagine.
Have you ever dreamed of someone who has passed away? The reason they appear in your dreams might carry a meaning you’ve never considered before.
Losing a loved one is incredibly difficult, and everyone handles grief in their own way. Some cry for days, others withdraw and grow quiet, and some try to avoid the subject altogether, pretending to be fine on the outside. But one common experience that many people share is dreaming about those who have died. These dreams can feel startlingly real — and may hold emotional or even spiritual significance.
When we dream, it’s our subconscious mind that takes over, sorting through emotions and memories we might not fully process while awake. So, what does it really mean when a deceased loved one visits us in a dream?
According to Patrick McNamara, an associate professor of neurology and psychiatry at Boston University School of Medicine, these experiences are known as visitation dreams.
He explains, “Dreams of the bereaved where the dead appear to the bereaved in dreams and look to be very much alive.” In other words, these dreams are thought to be moments when those who have passed on come to us, appearing just as they once were.
McNamara, now 67, is a neuroscientist who writes about the science and mystery of dreams for Psychology Today under his blog name, Dream Catcher. Over the years, he has explored the meanings behind different types of dreams, and according to him, visitation dreams often have a psychological purpose — they help us process grief and cope with the pain of loss.
In one of his own writings, McNamara shared a deeply personal experience after the death of his parents. He described having a vivid visitation dream in which they appeared to him. The experience left such a strong impression that it challenged even his own scientific skepticism. “Now if I, an individual who studied dreams with a skeptical scientific cast of mind, could not shake the conviction that I had just communicated with my dead parents, how much stronger must be the conviction of someone with a less skeptical approach to dreams than me?” he wrote.
McNamara isn’t the only one fascinated by these powerful dream experiences. Over the years, several studies have examined their significance and emotional impact.
In 2014, the American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care published a study exploring the role of “grief dreams.” The findings revealed that dreams of deceased loved ones are not only common but can also be deeply meaningful and emotionally healing.
The study identified several recurring themes in these dreams — such as re-experiencing past memories, seeing the deceased free from illness, revisiting moments surrounding their death, or witnessing them in an afterlife where they appear peaceful and content. In many cases, the deceased seemed to communicate messages of reassurance or love to the dreamer.
A 2016 study from a team of Canadian researchers supported these findings. They analyzed dream experiences among 76 grieving adults and discovered that 67.1% of participants said their dreams of the deceased strengthened their belief in an afterlife. About 70% described these dreams as true “visitations,” and 71% said they felt more emotionally connected to their lost loved one afterward.
Psychologist Jennifer E. Shorter of the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology in Palo Alto, California, has also studied this phenomenon in depth. In her work titled Visitation Dreams in Grieving Individuals: A Phenomenological Inquiry into the Relationship Between Dreams and the Grieving, she examined the emotional and psychological patterns tied to dreams of the deceased.
According to Shorter, visitation dreams can occur shortly after a person’s death or even years later, and they tend to share four key characteristics:
- The person who appears in the dream looks the way they did when they were alive, but often healthier, younger, or more radiant.
- The deceased usually communicates some kind of reassurance — often saying they are fine or at peace.
- The message feels telepathic rather than spoken aloud, as if it’s felt rather than heard.
- The overall atmosphere of the dream is calm, comforting, and peaceful, unlike ordinary dreams which can feel chaotic or fragmented.
For many, these dreams feel less like imagination and more like a visit — a bridge between the living and the departed, offering comfort and closure when it’s needed most.
Have you ever dreamed of a loved one who has passed away? What did it mean to you? Share your experience with us in the comments, and pass this article along if you believe that dreams can hold deeper meaning — perhaps even a message from beyond.