Logically our cast of dream characters will consist of recognizable friends and family members. These can be those who are in our daily lives, people we might not have seen for quite some time, or even persons who have passed away. Some readers here have indicated that they don't recognize anyone in their dreams. I would think this would be unusual, but not out of the question.
For the most part I think that the majority dream about people they know. This would make more sense from the standpoint of dream meaning and interpretation since specific people in our lives represent particular emotions or circumstances in our daily life. For example we might dream about a boss who might evoke feelings of incompetence or nervousness within us. Or dreaming about a parent or grandparent might instill a sense of security of comfort.
Different people can represent different things in our dreams. Strangers more likely serve the capacity of threats to our well being or merely "extras" in a dream movie. People we know have meaning to us and would be the natural characters to accompany us in the dream stories that are extensions or interpretations of our waking life stories.
Do you usually recognize the characters in your dreams? Are your dreams populated mostly by friends or family? Do the people you know who are in your dreams typically evoke the same emotions each time you see them in your dreams?
As mentioned on Letter E, many of the people in my dreams are strangers in unfamiliar, to me, dream settings. I don't feel threatened by them, but more llike a mystic looking into their future or past, through a crystal ball.
ReplyDeleteI also mentioned in Letter E the wonder of dreaming about my loved ones who have passed on. Those dreams are fleeting, magical and treasured. I try really hard to remember them so I can relate them to my sister...who also is often visited by our loved ones in dreams.
Thanks Arlee, for this 'Dreamscape Series'. I am enjoying your interpretations and elements and those of your commenters. It is enlightening to be able to analyze my dreams.
Sue at CollectInTexas Gal
AtoZ 2015 Challenge
Minion for AJ's wHooligans
I feel that same sense of comfort most of the time from the appearance of those who have passed on. I also have dreams primarily populated by strangers or by people I know but not in the way I now know them---usually from younger days.
DeleteThanks for reading and commenting.
Lee
I recognize the people in my dreams, definitely, even if they are just in the background and not playing any particular role. Sometimes they are people I know and other times actors or musicians I like. Before the internet, I used to dream a lot about the 'kids' that moved away during elementary school, probably because I never got any closure with their departures. Of course FB & Classmates helped toward that end.
ReplyDeleteI often feel that I should at least 'know" the background players even if I don't remember who they were after I awaken.
DeleteLee
Oddle enough, most of my dreams are occupied by strangers. Occasionally someone I know is in them, but I know that more by feel than by sight. Weird, huh?
ReplyDeleteJohn Holton
Blogging from A to Z 2015 Cohost
The Sound of One Hand Typing
It may not be as strange as you think. I've heard others indicate this in the comments. And I too have had that sense that a character is someone I know but they seem different like perhaps they look like they did many years ago.
DeleteLee
I'm not dreaming. At least I don't think I've been dreaming for a long time. Maybe I've been dreaming about not dreaming if that makes any sense?
ReplyDeleteThanks Arlee ... I like about 'extras in a dream movie'. For me there are extras, the unknowns and whatever those unknowns are portraying are in part reflections of me I suppose. Mostly they're people I know, even if dead ...
ReplyDeleteI rarely dream about people I know and yet these strangers can be very close to me in the dreams. I'm rarely afraid of anything or anyone in my dreams and have only had maybe three nighmares in my entire life and I usually dream every night if I get enough sleep. Some nights I only sleep 2-3 hours, so if I dream I never remember those. My dream time is usually in the early mornings - between 3 and 8 AM.
ReplyDeleteI dream a lot of bizarre things and have kept a dream journal for decades. One thing I have noticed a lot is dreaming about crowds. Usually wherever I am, there are tons of people around.
I'm only doing one dream post in the challenge this year.
I'm very interested in this subject. I really don't kmow how you find the time to post on three blogs for the challenge. One is keeping me busy and I scheduled all mine ahead of time too.
Sunni
http://sunni-survivinglife.blogspot.com/
As mentioned for "A" I dream about my daughter, always younger than she is ALOT. Maybe subconsciously I wish she was younger. I rarely dream of strangers.
ReplyDelete