Out of body experience Dream Meanings

  1. Dream Encyclopedia
  2. Out-of-body Experience

Out-of-body Experience Dream Meaning: From 3 Different Sources

Example: ‘At about two or three in the morning my wife Brenda and I were suddenly awoken from sleep by a noise. As we lifted our heads to listen we identified it as the handle on our children’s bedroom door being turned.

The house only had two bedrooms, and the children’s room was directly opposite ours. Both of us had had the same thought—”Oh no, it’s the children again.” Much to our annoyance they had been waking in the middle of the night claiming it was morning and time to play. We had tried to suppress it, but here it was again.

As these thoughts went through our minds we heard the sound of feet clomping down the stairs. This was strange as the children usually stayed in their room. Brenda got up, de­termined to get whoever it was back into bed. I heard her switch the light on, go down the stairs, switch the sitting room light on, and I followed her via the sounds of her movement as she looked in the kitchen and even toilet—we didn’t have a bathroom. Then up she came again and opened the children’s door—strange because we had assumed it had been opened. When she came back into our room she looked puzzled and a little scared. “They’re all asleep and in bed ‘ she said. ‘We talked over the mystery for some time, trying to under­stand just how we had heard the door handle rattle then foot­steps going down the stairs, yet the door wasn’t open. Also, the door handles on our doors were too high for the children to reach without standing on a chair. There was a stool in the children’s bedroom they used for that, yet it wasn’t even near the door when Brenda opened it.

Having no answer to the puzzle we stopped talking and settled to wait for sleep again. Suddenly a noise came from the children’s bedroom. It sounded like the stool being dragged and then the door handle turning again but the door not opening. “You go this time” Brenda said, obviously disturbed.

‘I opened our door quickly just in time to see the opposite door handle turn again. Still the door didn’t open. I reached across, turned the handle and slowly opened the door. It stopped as something was blocking it. Just then my daughter Helen’s small face peered around the door—high because she was standing on the stool. Puzzled by what had happened, I was careful what I said to her. “What do you want love?” I asked.

‘Unperturbed she replied, “I want to go to the toilet.” The toilet was downstairs, through the sitting room, and through the kitchen.

‘Now I had a clue so asked, “Did you go downstairs be­fore?”

“Yes,” she said, “but Mummy sent me back to bed.” * (Tony C).

This is an unusual example of an out of body experience (OBE). Mostly they are described from the point of view of the person projecting, and are therefore difficult to corroborate. Here, three people experience the OBE in their own way. From Tony and Brenda’s point of view what happened caused sensory stimuli, but only auditory. Helen’s statement says that she was sure she had physically walked down the stairs and been sent back to bed by her mother. Tony and Brenda felt there was a direct connection between what they were think­ing and feeling—get the children back to bed—and what Helen experienced as an objective reality.

OBEs have been reported in thousands in every culture and in every period of history.

A more general experience of OBE than the above might include a feeling of rushing along a tunnel or release from a tight place prior to the awareness of independence from the body. In this first stage some people experience a sense of physical paralysis which may be fright­ening (see paralysis). Their awareness then seems to become an observing point outside the body, as well as the sense of paralysis. Then there is usually an intense awareness of one­self and surroundings, unlike dreaming or even lucidity. Some projectors feel they are even more vitally aware and rational than during the waking state. Looking back on one’s body may occur here. Once the awareness is independent of the body, the boundaries of time and space as they are known in the body do not exist. One can easily pass through walls, fly, travel to or immediately be in a far distant place, witnessing what may be, or appears to be, physically real there.

Sir Auckland Geddes, an eminent British anatomist, de­scribes his own OBE, which contains many of these features. Example: Becoming suddenly and violently ill with gas­troenteritis he quickly became unable to move or phone for help. As this was occurring he noticed he had an A and a B consciousness.

The A was his normal awareness, and the B was external to his body, watching. From the B self he could see not only his body, but also the house, garden and sur­rounds. He need only think of a friend or place and immedi­ately he was there and was later able to find confirmation for his observations. In looking at his body, he noticed that the brain was only an end organ, like a condensing plate, upon which memory and awareness played.

The mind, he said, was not in the brain, the brain was in the mind, like a radio in the play of signals. He then observed his daughter come in and discover his condition, saw her telephone a doctor friend, and saw him also at the same time.

Many cases of OBE occur near death, where a person has died* of a hean attack for instance, and is later revived. Be­cause of this there are attempts to consider the possibility of survival of death through study of these cases. In fact many people experiencing an OBE have a very different view of death than prior to their experience.

Early attempts to explain OBEs suggested a subtle or astral body, which is a double of our physical and mental self, but able to pass through walls. It was said to be connected to the physical body during an OBE by a silver cord—a son of life­line which kept the physical body alive. This is like the con­cept that the people we dream about are not creations of our own psyche, but real in their own right. Whatever one may believe an OBE to be, it can be observed that many people in this condition have no silver cord, and have no body at all, but are simply a bodiless observer, or are an animal, a geo­metric shape, a colour or sound (see identity and dreams).

The person’s own unconscious concepts of self seem to be the factor which shapes the form of the OBE. If, therefore, one feels sure one must travel to a distant point, then in the OBE one travels.

If one believes one is immediately there by the power of thought, one is there.

If one cannot conceive of existing without a body, then one has a body, and so on.

This approach explains many aspects of the OBE, but there is still not a clear concept of what the relationship with the physical world is.

The many cases of OBE which occur during a near-death experience also suggest it may be connected with a survival response to death; not necessarily as a way of trying to transcend death, but perhaps as a primeval form of warning relatives of death.

If there is survival of death, then the OBE may be an anticipatory form, or a preparatory condition lead­ing to the new form.

See hallucinations, hallucinogens.

Dream Source: A Guide to Dreams and Sleep Experiences
Author: Tony Crisp
To dream about an out-of-body experience (also known as astral projection), suggests that you are looking at things from a whole new perspective. You may be feeling liberated and free. Alternatively, it may indicate that you are physically or emotionally disconnected from those around you.
Dream Source: My Dream Interpretation
Author: myjellybean
When a person feels that they have stepped out of, or been separated from, their physical body and have the ability to travel to another location on earth or even to nonworldly realms, they are said to have had an out-of-body experience (OBE). An OBE can occur when a person is awake, or before, during and after sleep. It can also occur during times of stress, illness, trauma and fear, as well as being able to be induced by hypnosis and meditation. Also known as astral projection or travel, such experiences are believed to occur during sleep, as well as during times of great physical or emotional trauma. So if you had a dream in which you left your physical body, perhaps even watched your body for a while as you floated on the ceiling, and then flew up the stars and the moon or to a location miles away, you may not have been dreaming; you may have been traveling out of your body.

This isn’t as crazy as it sounds. Descriptions of OBEs, or of the separation of the consciousness from the body, have been recorded since ancient times. The ancient Egyptians believed in a life force, called ’ka’, which was independent of the body. Plato believed the soul could leave the body and travel, whilst both Socrates and Pliny gave many descriptions of experiences that closely resemble OBEs. The ancient Chinese thought that an OBE could be achieved through meditation, whilst tribal shamans, firm believers in body doubles, claim to be able to project themselves out of their bodies.

Common to most OBE experiences is the existence of a second body, described as a ghostly double of the physical body. It is usually invisible to the eyes of others, although it may be sensed or witnessed as an apparition. In some cases, a silvery cord connecting the astral to the physical body is reported and it is said that if this cord is severed from the body, death will occur. In this astral form, OBE travellers report floating around the earth or to an astral plane, claiming that they travel as fast as the speed of thought, feeling neither pain nor anxiety. Individuals claim that they leave their body through their head or simply rise up and float away. Re-entry occurs by simply re-entering the head or melting into the body. It is worth pointing out that even those who describe the experience as something fantastic that occurs during sleep are very specific in describing the experience as one which was clearly not a dream; and many stress a sense of feeling more awake than they felt when they were normally awake.

Despite the documented records of those who claim to have had an OBE, scientific evidence for the phenomenon remains inconclusive, prompting skeptics to argue that OBEs are nothing more than vividly fantastic dreams or altered states of consciousness.

Dream Source: The Element Encyclopedia
Author: Theresa Cheung

Body

1. Happiness, good business ventures.

2. Internal self and well-being (note condition of body). ... body dream meaning

Body Limbs

In a dream, the head and the brain represent man’s controller, strength, benefits, longevity, wisdom or power. One’s ears in a dream represent his wife, daughter, sister or aunt.

The eyes represent one’s faith, religion or children.

The right eye represents his son and the left eye represents his daughter.

The forehead in a dream represents one’s beauty, son, power, honor, wealth, leadership or the point of prostration in one’s prayers.

A wide forehead in a dream means prosperity, while a narrow forehead means tightness.

The eyebrows represent one’s protection or spiritual guardianship. As for the human nose in a dream, it represents honor, longevity and respect. Whatever comes out of one’s nose in a dream is good and whatever goes into it in a dream may not be beneficial.

A bleeding nose in a dream means receiving or giving money.

If one’s nose is cut off in a dream, it means circumcision, falling in rank, or it could mean his death. Inhaling water and clearing one’s nose in a dream represents someone who deceives his wife.

If a bird or an animal comes out of one’s nose in a dream, it means that a cattle, a pet, or a domesticated animal will give birth to its babies in such a house.

A large nose in a dream represents honor and respect. Smelling a nice fragrance in a dream means begetting a son, or it could mean relief from difficulties. One’s face in a dream represents his happiness or his sorrow. Seeing the forehead and the face in a dream means money, honor and a beautiful woman.

The earlock and the temples represent two noble and blessed daughters.

A bright face in a dream means glad tidings, while a yellowish face in a dream means bad news or miseries. Frowning in a dream means a misfortune. Ifa woman sees herselffrowning in a dream, it means the death of her husband.

The two lips in a dream represent one’s helpers.

The lower lip is stronger in meaning than the upper lip.

It is also said that lips in a dream represent one’s relatives.

The upper lip represents the male relatives and the lower lip represents the female relatives. Sealed lips in a dream mean difficulties or adversities.

The mouth in a dream represents a key, one’s livelihood, the conclusion of one’s life, death, illness, strength, a coffer, a marketplace, a door attendant, a chief minister, or a door.lfone’s mouth is sealed in a dream, it means a scandal. One’s tongue in a dream represents his or her translator.

A long tongued person in a dream may mean winning an argument, or it could mean innocence from allegation.

An elongated tongue of ajudge in a dream means clarity and justice.

A tied-up tongue in a dream means poverty, sickness, depression, a calamity, or it could represent an unworthy person. Having two tongues in a dream means praiseworthiness and acquiring two types of knowledge. Seeing what is inside one’s mouth in a dream means exposing one’s ills. Biting on one’s tongue in a dream means regret. Watching one’s tongue in a dream means protecting oneself from pitfalls. Carrying one’s tongue by hand in a dream means receiving indemnity for bodily injury or receiving blood money.

If one sees his throat blocked in such a way that he could not speak in a dream, it denotes his stinginess toward his own family. Ifone sees one of his limbs speaking against him in a dream, it means that someone will report him to the authorities or become a witness against him in court. Ifone sees himself in a dream riding over the shoulders of his enemy, it means that he will commit a wrongdoing or a shameful act.

If there is no enmity between them, and if he sees himself riding over the shoulders of a friend in a dream, it means earning something from him. Carrying something over one’s shoulders in a dream means debts.

If one sees himselfcarrying a hypocrite over his shoulders in a dream, it means that he may work in a lumberyard or carry wood to earn a living. One’s shoulders in a dream also represent his parents, brothers, partners, station, or beauty. Anything that affects them in a dream will manifest in any ofthe above. In a dream, one’s neck represents an embrace, a donation with terms, a legal will, or a conditional endowment.

The neck and the shoulders in a dream represent one’s trust or trustworthiness.

A healthy and strong neck in a dream means trustworthiness and ability to meet one’s obligations. Wounds, festering or purulence in one’s neck in a dream mean betraying God’s trust.

If one sees a nice bird sitting over his neck in a dream it means benefits or an alibi.

If it is not a gentle bird, then it becomes a bad omen, or a rebuke.

If one sees a necklace, a rope, a wire, or a thread around his neck in a dream, it means fulfilling one’s promise, acquiring knowledge and honor.

A long neck in a dream could mean four things, that is justice, leadership, attainment of one’s goals or calling people to prayers.

The left hand represents one’s helper, friend, savings, or a compassionate relative. Longhands in a dream represent a charitable person, or a capable one, and short hands mean the opposite. Long hands also could mean longevity, wealth, helpers, borrowing money, governing, fulfilling one’s commands, profits from one’s business or having business sense.

If one’s hand is cut off in a dream, it means the death of his brother, his father, his partner, or a close friend or his assistant.

If the right hand is cut off in a dream, it means a vow one takes to deprive someone from his rights. It also means loss of one’sjob or cuttingoffone’s blood ties, or it could mean that he has committed a theft.

If a righteous person sees his hand cut off in a dream, it means abstaining from wrongdoing or eschewing evil.

If one’s left hand is cut off in a dream, it means reestablishing his relationship with his family and rediscovering the benefits of good qualities.

If one’s hand is broken in a dream, it means an adversity, illness, loss of business, or loss of a dear person.

The cracking skin of one’s hands in a dream means loss of wealth. Stretched hands in a dream means ill caused by a close friend. Stretching one’s hands in a dream also could mean generosity.

If one’s hands are cut off without causinghim any pain in a dream, it means that he may fall in love.

If one sees his hands joined together in a dream, it means having a family reunion, or a wedding. Ifone’s hands are trembling in a dream, it means weakness, illness, old age or longevity.

If one’s hands feel dry in a dream” it means that such a person does little good in his life. Ifone enters his hand under his arm’s pit in a dream, then brings it out bright and radiant in a dream, it means that he will acquire knowledge and may develop wisdom. Otherwise, it could mean profits.

If he brings forth his hand from under his arm’s pit in the dream, and if it reveal a flame in his dream, it represents a manifestation of divine power and a blessed victory.

If one pulls his hand from under his arm’s pit and it brings forth water in the dream, it means that he will receive great benefits and growth in his life, or perhaps that a long awaited traveller will shortly arrive to his doorsteps.

If a right-handed person sees himself being lefthanded in a dream, it means hardships.

If one sees himself walking with his hands in a dream, it represents his dependence on a relative to provide for his needs.

If one’s hands say something nice to him in a dream, it means financial comfort. Ifone’s hand is cut-offin a dream as punishment for a sin, it could mean marriage, a bad wife, or lack of trustworthiness.

If one washes his hands with soap in a dream, it means that he will abandon something he initiated, or that his intention will not be fulfilled.

If a form of life or a good spirit comes out from one’s hands in a dream, it indicates benefits.

If such a life is a malignant one, then it means the opposite.

If one takes someone by the hand in a dream, it means that he will help him and save his life. Ifsomethingsprouts in one’s hands or if one’s hands turn into iron, or a vegetable in a dream, it means negative that is a brother, a sister, a partner, a son, a compassionate friend, one’s strength, wealth, leadership, money, proof, a craft, or work.

The condition in which the palm of one’s hand looks in a dream indicates the state of one’s health and fitness. Clapping one’s hands in a dream could either mean joy and happiness, or it could mean nothing. Wearing a glove in one’s hand in a dream means ceasing the course of wrongdoing. Slapping one’s own face with both hands means sorrow, sadness or calamities. Hitting the back of one’s hand into the palm of the other hand in a dream means separation. In a dream, the fingers of the right hand represent the daily five time prayers.

The thumb represents the pre-dawn prayer, the index represents the midday prayer, the middle finger represents the mid-afternoon prayer, the ring finger represents the sunset prayer, and the little finger represents the evening prayer. As for the fingers of the left hand in a dream, they are interpreted to represent one’s nephews.

To cross or intertwine one’s fingers in a dream means difficulties and poverty. One’s toes in a dream represent the beauty of his character and denote his straightforwardness. Any defect or crookedness in them in a dream will mirror in wakefulness.

If a toe or a finger is bitten or crushed in a dream, it denotes evil or perhaps an accident. Ifone sees milk coming forth from his thumb and blood coming forth from his index finger in a dream, it means that he will marry a mother, then will he marry her daughter, or it could mean that he will rape the mother, then her daughter. Crackingone’s fingers in a dream means exchanging bad words between relatives or being sarcastic or making fun of other people.

If one’s fingers are paralyzed in a dream, it means that he has committed an awful sin.

If one sees his right hand paralyzed in a dream, it means injustice toward a weak person or inflicting losses upon an innocent person.

If one’s left hand is paralyzed in a dream, it means the death of his brother or sister. As for the fingernails in a dream, they denote beauty, courage, strength, a religious covenant, or money.

If one’s fingernails are chipped, extracted, or broken in a dream, they means loss of money and strength.

If they look nicely clipped in a dream, they mean both spiritual and material benefits. Long nails at the point of a near breaking in a dream mean distress, sorrow, fears and depression.

If one’s nail becomes a claw in a dream, it means rising against one’s enemy and opposition.

If one does not have fingernails in a dream, it means bankruptcy. Ifone’s fingernails turn yellow, green or blue or if they are broken in the dream, it means death. Clipping them in a dream means dispelling calamities or distress.

If a thorn or a chip of wooden enters under one’s fingernails in a dream, it means loss of power or money.

If one sees himself in a dream knocking his fingernails against his teeth in a dream, it means committing a despicable and a loathsome act. As for seeing one’s chest in a dream, if one sees himselfhaving a broad and a nice looking chest (See Chest), it means repentance of a sinner, or being eager and willing to follow the truth and to comply with it, or to make easy what was earlier difficult. One’s breasts in a dream (See Breast) represent his daughter. Man’s breast in a dream means a woman, and woman’s breasts in a dream represents a man. Breasts in a dream mean five things a little boy, a little girl, a servant, a friend, or a brother. One’s abdomen in a dream means money, children, relatives or prosperity. Ifone sees his abdomen being cut open and washed, then stitched back to normal in the dream, it means blessings from God Almighty, forgiveness for one’s sins, and it could mean that one will receive spiritual guidance. One’s abdomen in a dream also denotes his good conduct, amiable character, blessed enterprises and protection from the evil of the accursed Satan.

If one sees a newborn son or daughter coming out of his abdomen in a dream, it means that such a child will be born and will grow to govern that household. As for one’s livers in a dream, they represent knowledge, money or children.

If a man of knowledge sees his livers flying away from his body like birds in a dream, it means that he will forget his knowledge, or if one has children, they may die, or perhaps the government may seize his property even if he has nothing.

If one sees himself eating his own livers in a dream, it means earning his livelihood.

If they are cooked in the dream, then they represent a lawful income, or they could mean gobbling the property of one’s own children. Ifa liver is removed in a dream, it means the death of a child. Removing a liver in a dream also could mean injustice. One’s kidney in a dream means having a good business connection, dispelling adversities, distress, trouble, safety from danger, a husband and a wife, one’s parents, or it could represent two lovers. One’s kidneys in a dream also represent a strong, courageous and a hard working man who serves someone in authority, or he may become a personal guard, or an assistant to the governor. As for one’s lungs in a dream, they represent joy, happiness, or sorrow. Donating a lung to someone known or unknown in a dream means receiving happiness in return. Eating a broiled lung of a domesticated animal in a dream means profits. Otherwise, it could mean acquiring unlawful money. Seeing one’s lung torn in a dream means nearing one’s death. One’s spleen in a dream (See Spleen) represents money. As for seeing one’s intestines in a dream, they represent earnings, leadership, a child, unlawful money, intercession, hatred, livelihood, work or they could mean changing one’s mind about doing somethingwhich could cause a disaster. One’s stomach in a dream represents longevity, livelihood or children.

A healthy stomach in a dream means enjoying strength and a long life.

The same interpretation is given to the intestines or the umbilicus or the navel and the three of them represent one’s relationship with his wife. As for the ribs (See Ribs) in a dream, they represent women.

The loins or the spinal column in a dream represent one’s progeny. One’sback in a dream (See Back) represents his strength, wealth, glory, fame, master, destruction, end, poverty, old age and burdens.

If one sees himself carrying a heavy load in a dream, it means that he is carrying his sins.

If he carries merchandise in the dream, it means debt.

If he carries woods in the dream, it means backbiting others.

If one sees himself carrying a dead person on his back in a dream, it means that he takes care of orphans. As for one’s heart (See Heart) in a dream, it means intelligence, vigilance, awareness, guidance, clarity and piety. One’s buttocks and the rear end in a dream represent his earnings,job and profits.lfone sees himselflicking someone’s rear end or buttocks in the dream, it means giving high praises to an unworthy and an impious person or commending him.

The male and female sexual organs in a dream represent a good father or one’s profession. What comes or goes into the male organ or woman’s vagina in a dream of good or bad will reflect in their lives. Seeing one’s penis in a dream means children, money, pride, state, or authority.

The testicles represent one’s livelihood, one’s daughters, protection and maintenance.

The meaning of the penis and the testicles may be transposed in the dream interpretation. One’s anus in a dream means a pouch, a store, a resting place, or a coffer.

The knee represents one’s capital or one’s attendance to his work and earning his livelihood. As for the legs, they too represent one’s capital, paying attention to one’s work and conduct. Man’s leg represents a woman, and a woman’s leg represents a man. Ifone’s leg turns into wood or iron in a dream, it means that he will fail to earn his livelihood. One’s feet represent his parents, his livelihood, a journey or his wealth.

(See Feet; Foot).

If one foot is broken or cut off in a dream, it means either the death of a parent or loss of half of one’s capital.

If one’s feet turn into iron or copper in a dream, it means longevity.

If they turn into glass in the dream, they denote his short life.

The human bones represent his livelihood, religion, glory or money. Collecting bones in a dream means saving money.

The bone marrow in a dream represents hidden money, good awareness, patience and gratitude.

The veins and nerves in a dream represent one’s clan, modesty and progeny. As for seeing the human skin in a dream, it means ornaments, presiding over others, a veil, blessings, livelihood, provisions, life and a garment.

Also see Aorta; Face; Finger; Five fingers; Gall bladder; Heel; Jugular vein; Marrow; Nails; Palm; Pluck; Spleen; Teeth; Tongue; Tooth... body limbs dream meaning

Dead Body

To see a dead body in a dream can be symbolic of spiritual death or someone who has been attacked by Satan, Ps. 110:6... dead body dream meaning

Body Odor

To dream of having B.O.

(body odor) suggests you are experiencing some overwhelming anxiety, stress, fear, or nervousness in your life.

The dream may be a reminder that in order to achieve your goals, you will have to put in a lot of effort and struggle. This dream is also common when the dreamer is sick, especially with a cold or the flu.

If somebody else has B.O. in your dream, you might have hand to stand up for yourself recently in an uncomfortable situation. Or, a certain unpleasant memory is trying to come to the forefront.... body odor dream meaning

Body Parts

The parts of the body all have meanings based on the basic functions of those parts.

The feet represent feeling grounded, while the toes are about maintaining balance.

The legs connect with freedom, choice, and movement.

The knees are the symbolic home of humility, subservience, and / or surrender. They are also the place where you hold your fears.

The hips are the center of the core and therefore represent the integration of systems and all the elements of your life that have to interact with one another in order to function.

The ribs are about vulnerability and protecting yourself from emotional pain.

The ability to withstand pressure and fulfill the needs of others is associated with the shoulders.

The arms are the structures that allow you to take action and accomplish your goals and desires, while the hands give you the creative ability to do so.

The individual fingers are how you relate to details and life’s complexities.

The spine is your moral center and where your values are located.

The neck, though a part of the spine, has the distinction of providing you with discernment and choice.

The skull is related to your beliefs, ideals, and opinions, and the bones that support your face connect with community and the desire to connect with others.... body parts dream meaning

Body Lice

(See Nit)... body lice dream meaning

Body Snatcher

(See Grave digger; Exhume; Grave)... body snatcher dream meaning

Filthy Body

(Dirt; Filth) Afilthy body in a dream represents a sinful person, while a dirty face in a dream means a rare art.

(Also see Filth)... filthy body dream meaning

Hair Of The Human Body

It symbolises a man’s assets.

If he has merchandise or crops, it will increase or decrease according to the amount of hair he had seen.

If he sees the hair shining he will become a destitute if he is wealthy. Or he will become wealthy if he is a destitute; if he is perturbed, he will become pleased; if he is ill, he will be cured; if he is in debt, it will be paid.... hair of the human body dream meaning

Human Body

(See Body’)... human body dream meaning

Leaving One’s Body

Leaving one’s body in a dream means that changes will take place in one’s status, marriage, or property.... leaving one’s body dream meaning

Limbs Of The Body Becoming Glass

If any of the limbs becomes glass, the person has a very short life span.... limbs of the body becoming glass dream meaning

Limbs Of The Body Becoming Iron

If a person sees his arms, calves of the legs, clothes etc. Becoming iron it means he will attain along life.... limbs of the body becoming iron dream meaning

Rubbing Oil On The Hair, Beard Or Body

Normally oiling of the hair, beard or body suggests beauty and elegance. But if excessive oil is seen flowing on the face or clothes, it suggests grief and sorrow.... rubbing oil on the hair, beard or body dream meaning

Body Armor

This is symbolic of a well-protected Christian, Eph. 6:13 ... body armor dream meaning

Lower Body

Be sure that no actual stomach problems exist.

See Sexuality, Toilet, Stomach, Belt.... lower body dream meaning

Body Bag

Dreams of a body bag represent a cover up for a death, ending or releasing process. Perhaps breaking up is hard to do, so you’d rather not face it.... body bag dream meaning

Body Piercing

Because metal is a conductor of energy, heat and power, dreams of piercing one’s body signifies the desire to amplify power or rank within a social circle.

The significance of the piercing is based upon which part of the body is pierced.... body piercing dream meaning

Body Builder

To dream about a body builder suggests you are frustrated about your lack of progress in your social ambitions.... body builder dream meaning

Body Hair

To dream of finding hair on some unusual part of your body promises a steady increase in material wealth.

If you dream of being extra hairy or covered with hair, you have acted immorally. Something that you recently did goes against your own values or the decent standards of others.

If you dream of having hairy hands, beware of using lies against someone who doesn’t deserve it. Also see “Shaving” and “Waxing”... body hair dream meaning

Body Part

The main function of the body part (such as hands “handling situations” or teeth “biting off more than you can chew”).

Something the body part allows you to do, or a way it allows you be (such as a joint representing your ability to be flexible, compromise, or adapt to different circumstances).

A characteristic of the body part (such as a soft lap representing comfort, or an elbow representing an “elbow nudge” to pay attention).

Consider the body part’s context in the dream and what stood out about.

See also the specific body part.

See also: Body Parts (the category)... body part dream meaning

Water, Body Of

A body of water such as an ocean, lake, or pond can represent: The context of your life, “your world,” or the setting and situations within which the your life takes place.

Your emotions or inner state (turbulence, tranquility, etc.).

The unknown.

An area that you feel holds secrets (perhaps within yourself).

Swimming or floating in a body of water can represent freedom from your usual limitations or stresses.

A body of water rising over your head (or you being pulled under water) can represent a feeling of overwhelm or “trying to stay afloat” in real life.

A calm body of water can represent peace or relaxation.

For more clues, consider the context and condition of the water.

See also: Water; Waves; Flow or River; Swimming; Floating; Underwater; Flood; Pool... water, body of dream meaning

Physiological Effects On The Body While You Dream

THE BRAIN STAYS ACTIVE. The brain is as active while you dream as it is when you are awake. The body may show physiological signs when you are in dreaming, such as rapid, irregular, or shallow breathing, an increase in heart rate, or a rise in blood pressure.

YOUR MUSCLES FREEZE. A little known fact is that when you dream, the large body muscles, like in your arms and legs, become immobile, as a temporary state of paralysis.

THE DREAMING AND WAKING STATES CAN OVERLAP. Though waking and dreaming are separate states of awareness, their boundaries are not always distinct and there can be a few rare moments of brief overlap. If you accidentally wake up at the end of a dream but are not yet quite awake—which can happen during an intense or scary dream—the effect can be startling. Your mind may still be partly lodged in the dream and yet partially awake. You may notice that you can’t move, an experience people often cite with trepidation. Not being able to move during a dream is normal. The paralysis vanishes when the dream ends or as you fully awaken. This is simply an overlap experience between waking and dreaming.

YOU DO NOT SLEEPWALK WHILE HAVING A DREAM. A common misconception is that people sleepwalk because they are acting out a dream. Not so. Because your arms and legs do not move when dreaming, you cannot physically act out your dreams. People who sleepwalk are not actually dreaming, even though they may report vivid images. Sleepwalking is a type of sleep disorder that most often occurs during deep-sleep, which is stage three, the deepest phase of sleep.

THE BOUNCE-BACK EFFECT. If you lose or reduce your “dream time” for even one night due to a lack of sleep, the next time that you sleep, you will experience extra dreaming time, until you catch up. This bounce-back effect restores the missed dream time, an effect that highlights the importance of dreaming as a built-in, physiological mechanism.... physiological effects on the body while you dream dream meaning

Postures, Movement, Body Language

Even in everyday life, the way we hold and position our body, the inclination of chest and head, the movement of hands, are a means of com­munication.

The apparently intuitive information in some dreams, when investigated, can be traced to an unconscious insight into the language of the living body. We all have this ability to understand body language, but it seems to be some­thing which is inherited from past times before verbal lan­guage. It therefore remains a largely unconscious ability. In our dreams, however, it is a major factor in how the dream is structured.

If you cannot find a satisfying description below, imagine yourself making the movement or posture in the dream to see if you can define what the feeling quality is, or what you are saying non-verbally. It can often be of value to make the movement or take up the posture physically instead of in the imagination. By comparing the movement/posture with an­other one, it can help to clarify its quality.

Example: Marilyn was expenencing emotional pain con­nected with her impending divorce. Marilyn had dreamt of seeing a dinosaur standing in her path, devounng all who approached it. We explored it by having Marilyn find a body posture and movements which for her expressed the feeling of the dinosaur. In doing so Marilyn did not sense anger or aggression, but she did feel like a predator which always had to take to gain her own needs. This feeling immediately re­minded her of her family life as a child. She remembered when she was sent shopping as a very young child of three or four; as well as buying what she had been asked, she pur­chased some sweets for herself. When she arrived home she was treated as if she had done a terrible thing, and that was where she began to feel like a predator. It seemed to her as if her own needs were always gained at the expense of someone else.

‘With this awareness, she could now see that the dinosaur standing iti her path clearly related to her present situation. Bargaining to gain a realistic share of the house and property jointly owned by her husband and herself, felt to her as if she were gaining her needs at his expense, like a predator. That made her feel so awful, she was almost ready to allow her husband to take all, leaving her without house or money to start again. Her awareness of where the feelings arose from, and the unrealistic pan they played in her life, allowed her to relate to the situation with less pain and more wisdom’ (from Mind and Movement, Tony Crisp). ... postures, movement, body language dream meaning

Body Paint

To dream of body paint, whether on you or someone else, suggests that you are too easily offended by criticism about you.... body paint dream meaning

Body Swapping

If you dream of swapping minds/bodies with someone, it symbolizes that you are trying to understand that person better. You may envy something about them and want it for yourself, or you may be trying to “get inside their head” so you can figure out why they are acting a certain way in real life. This dream can also represent the wish to be someone else, especially if you are feeling stressed.... body swapping dream meaning

Chest (body Part)

If the person who dreams of the chest of a woman is a man, the image could indicate his need for tenderness and understanding. However, if a woman has this dream, it could be a symptom of early pregnancy. On the other hand, keeping in mind that we breathe through the chest, the dream could be referencing the central point of our lives. (See BREASTS)

A beautiful, healthy chest is a sign of happiness; of great dimensions,

economic debts.

Chestnut It is a fruit related to winter and scarcity, suggesting the idea of foresight. Formerly considered suitable food for the dead, the chestnut is representative of long life, health, and protection. Some Nordic traditions advise to always carry one in your pocket, renewing it each year as a talisman of good luck and a charm against diseases.... chest (body part) dream meaning

Nail

(body part)

The external aspect of a person’s nails says a lot about that person’s physical and mental health. So, dreaming of dirty and bitten nails evidences poorly controlled anxiety. If, on the contrary, the nails are well taken care of, it indicates that you know how to control your nerves and that you have a strong enough will to succeed in your objectives.... nail dream meaning

Left And Right Side Of The Body

Typically, the left side of the body represents feelings, intuition and the irrational, whilst the right side suggests the rational and logical. The left side is also associated with maternal influence, and the right with paternal.... left and right side of the body dream meaning

Body Wisdom

If you look at the body in your dreams as a representation of your life and potential, the images can translate into a view of your current well being. Don’t worry overly about dreams that seem to be a kind of warning; instead try to be honest with yourself, put the pieces of the puzzle together in your mind and begin to make positive changes.... body wisdom dream meaning

Exposed (body)

A part of the body that is exposed could represent: Vulnerability.

Obviousness or a desire for attention from others.

Aggressive intimacy or an attempt to act too familiarly with others.

Casualness, a relaxed mood, or a lack of concern about appearance.

See also: Naked; Underwear; Body Part; Cold; Discovering; Exposed (Object)... exposed (body) dream meaning

Journeys Out Of The Body

Some of the earliest research into OBEs was conducted by Frenchman Yarm Louis Forham (1884-1917), who believed that everyone was capable of astral travel in a variety of guises, recording his observations in Practical Astral Travel. Forham claimed to have made astral visits to a woman he later married and to have experienced astral sex. Between 1902 and 1938, Englishman Oliver Fox took research into OBEs one step further when he claimed to have succeeded in inducing OBEs with lucid dreaming (see INTRODUCTION). He published his discoveries in 1920 in the journal English Occult Review and later in a book, Astral Projection. A fellow Englishman and OBE investigator, J. H. M. Whiteman claimed to have had thousands of OBEs, sometimes in the form of a woman or a child, between 1931 and 1953, which he described in The Mystical Life.

Robert A. Monroe (1915-1995), former television executive of Westchester County, New York, attracted widespread interest in OBEs from both the public and the scientific community when he published his account of OBEs in Journeys out of the Body (1971). His interest in OBEs had been triggered in 1958 when he began having spontaneous OBEs in his sleep. In his book, he described the experience as follows: "In 1958, without any apparent cause, I began to float out of my physical body.

It was not voluntary; I was not attempting any mental feats. It was not during sleep, so I couldn’t dismiss it as simply a dream. I had full, conscious awareness of what was happening, which of course only made it worse. I assumed it was some sort of hallucination caused by something dangerous—a brain tumor, or impending mental illness. Or imminent death. It occurred usually when I would lie down or relax for rest or preparatory to sleep—not every time but several times weekly. I would float up a few feet above my body before I became aware of what was happening. Terrified, I would struggle through the air and back into my physical body. Try as I might, I could not prevent it from recurring."

In his books, Monroe sets out an astonishing range of experience, some of which was unpleasant and involved meeting entities or thought forms that attacked him. He also described an overwhelmingly powerful energy: meeting the astral forms of other humans and sexual experiences on the astral level. He outlines his belief that there were various levels of existence in the OBE state. Locale I is earth, the here and now. Locale II is the infinite astral plane where everyone goes to sleep and dreams, and where countless entities exist. <p>Locale III transcends space and time and is a parallel universe. In his writings, Monroe described a technique for triggering out-of-body states and here is a brief description of it:

  • First lie down in a darkened room in a relaxing position.
  • Loosen your clothing and remove all jewelry.
  • Enter a very relaxed state and consciously tell yourself that you will remember everything that happens to you.
  • Begin breathing through your half open mouth.
  • Concentrate on an object.
  • When other images start to enter your mind, just passively watch them.
  • Try to clear your mind and observe your field of vision through your closed eyes.
  • Do nothing more for a while.
  • Simply look through your closed eyelids at the blackness in front of you.
  • After a while, you may notice light patterns.
  • When these cease, you will enter a state of such relaxation that you lose all awareness of the body.
  • You are almost in the state where your only source of stimulation will be your own thoughts.
  • It is in this relaxed and refreshed condition that out-of-body journeys are triggered.
  • To leave your body, think of yourself getting lighter and of how nice it would be to float upwards.
  • With sufficient practice, Monroe claims that a wide variety of experiences can occur.

If Monroe’s theories are correct, the implications for dream interpretation would be enormous. Even though surveys suggest that one quarter of the population believes they have had an OBE, recent research on OBEs has been inconclusive. This may be because OBEs vary from individual to individual. Laboratory tests have been equally inconclusive, even with individuals who claim to be able to project out of body at will. Tests with animals have been a little more promising, with kittens showing a change in behavior during out-of-body efforts to comfort them; skeptics, however, argue that this was achieved through telepathy or clairvoyance. Although OBE’s cannot be disproved, to date there has been no solid evidence that anyone has actually left their body during sleep or while dreaming.... journeys out of the body dream meaning

Not All Dreams Are Dreams: Mystic Experiences Remembered As Dreams

Not All Dreams Are Dreams. Because a dream is a bridge between your nightly thoughts and your waking mind, author Stase Michaels suggests that a dream is your only vehicle of memory during sleep. If you have a mystical experience at night, you remember it as a dream because a dream is your only vehicle for memory at night. Though the argument of whether that is so is circular and speculative, anecdotal accounts are ripe with mystical dreams that are experienced as real events—often more real than can be captured by words. Mystical events remembered as dreams have their own signature and flavor, as explained in the following sections.

MYSTIC EVENTS HAPPEN MORE FREQUENTLY DURING SLEEP. Mystic and spiritual experiences tend to occur at night for several reasons. First, logic is placed on hold as you sleep, allowing the mind and soul to explore deeper depths and recesses of awareness. Second, there are no demands, no need for food or drink, and no enticements from electronic toys. As you drift into a peaceful sleep, your unfettered spirit is free to confer with the soul and explore what else is out there. Can anyone prove that mystical events take place during sleep? No, but dream enthusiasts regularly record fascinating examples, like the following.

DIVINE GRACES OFTEN HAPPEN DURING SLEEP. Some dreams are not dreams; they are experiences of divine grace. Whether you actively seek a blessing or it arrives as an unexpected gift, the divine hand at times sprinkles love, healing, and transformation as you sleep. As the New Testament bible phrase goes, “Seek and you will find, ask and you will receive.” One way to recognize a dream that is a sprinkle of divine love is by the results. The dream brings a jolt of energy that leaves no doubt you have been touched by amazing grace. You feel a combination of shock, upliftment, joy, and transformation, though a precise description is beyond words, say those who have had this experience.

DREAM EXAMPLE 1 OF DIVINE GRACE IN A DREAM: CALL IF YOU NEED ME. A young woman drew on her deep faith as she struggled through a difficult job situation. Focusing on her work, she tried to keep a good attitude despite the constant bickering among her coworkers. However, by evening, she often collapsed into tears. One night she dreamed that she was flying through the air on a carpet. As a soft evening breeze flowed through her hair, the carpet landed on a mountaintop. A beam of light appeared from the sky, revealing a phone number in gold letters, one at time, with the numbers 777-7777. As each seven appeared, she was zapped with energy and joy. She felt as though her cup of love was overflowing, and then she woke with a start.

Recognizing seven as a mystical number in many traditions, she knew that God had smiled on her efforts to remain positive in a difficult situation. From that day forward, she sailed through her work days, shrugging off the discord. To her astonishment, within six months the troublemakers had left and were replaced by new associates who had kind and positive personalities. The unseen hand not only bestowed a healing grace on her, in a dream, but its effects also spilled over into her life, transforming a difficult workplace into a pleasant environment.

DREAM EXAMPLE 2 OF DIVINE GRACE IN A DREAM: JUST ASK. Over a one-year period, a man fervently sought to renew his spiritual path and experienced several dreams of amazing grace. These divine zaps encouraged yet shocked him, leading him to wonder if his night-time experiences were a fluke or could happen to anyone. One night, he prayed, “God, if someone seeks your favor, do you always respond? Are you really there?” That night a booming voice answered in a dream, “If you or anyone wants my help, you just need to ask.” Like a strong wind that makes its presence felt, the message left him uplifted and joyous beyond words.

The Great Spirit had answered his question, leaving no doubt that God invites anyone to communicate and to ask for what they need. Such graces are often remembered as dreams. Some dreamers recount a direct physical healing; others speak of emotional healing in a dream as an answer to their prayers. Dreamers with these experiences describe feeling embraced by a divine love so strong that their lives are permanently altered. Most have a hard time finding words for their experience. However, all agree that there is an astonishing healing effect of the “love that surpasses all understanding” which they experienced, and say that it does not dim with time.

NIGHT MEETINGS WITH THOSE WHO HAVE PASSED ON. Loved ones who have died often appear in the dreams of family members and friends. The body of the deceased loved one often appears younger, whole, and full of life. Some say hello, others simply smile. Such nocturnal contacts hint that life is eternal. The encounters feel real and bring joy and consolation to the dreamer.

If your heart remains connected to a deceased loved one, they may say hello in a dream communication soon after passing or sometimes, years later. Such a visit by a deceased love one is remembered as a dream and may be a response to your feelings of loss. The person visits to assure you they are still alive in eternity, and in spirit. Such across-the-veil meetings are consistent with teachings about heaven and the afterlife that most religions mention but do not describe in detail.

Many believe the next realm of life is not far away in time or space, which allows loved ones who have passed on, to drop by. Mystics suggest that a bond of love makes it natural for a departed loved one to touch base from time to time, and bridging the gap between from afterlife to the dreamer is easiest during sleep.

DREAM EXAMPLE OF A CONTACT WITH A DECEASED LOVED ONE: TREAT HER RIGHT. Most dream visits by the dearly departed are marked by few words, though on occasion the deceased person may speak up. A striking example came from a father who died suddenly, about two years before his beloved daughter’s wedding. A few weeks before her wedding day, the groom, who had never met her dad, told the bride’s family about a dream that startled him. He described a dark-haired man with high cheek bones who said, firmly, three times, and each time louder than the last, “Take care of my daughter!” By the third time, the young man stammered, “Yes, sir,” in response, in the dream.

The family laughed, recognizing the man in the groom’s dream as the bride’s father who had passed on. The dream brought back fond memories of how protective her dad had been toward his baby girl. Leaping across the veil, her dead father introduced himself to the groom. Though the husband-to-be was a fine young man, he reminded him that he wanted the best for his little girl. When there is love, family ties are eternal.

ASTRAL TRAVEL DURING DREAMS. Mystics claim that the soul can leave the body at night, during sleep, to take short jaunts. The experience is called “astral travel,” also known as astral projection or an “out-of-body” experience. During astral travel, the sleeping body stays put while the soul soars out into the world and beyond, remaining connected to the body via a mystical thin, silver cord. The silver cord allows the soul to find its way back to its sleeping body.

TYPES OF ASTRAL TRAVEL. Anecdotal accounts report astral treks that give glimpses of other heavenly realms. Or, they can be journeys related to near-death experiences whereby a person dies or comes close to dying, visits the afterlife, but revives and lives to relate their experience. Astral travel can also happen during sleep—as a dream that is a mystic experience—remembered as a dream.

ASTRAL TRAVEL DREAMS. Some dreams of soaring down familiar streets at night, high above trees or buildings, may be experiences of astral travel. Ditto for dream scenes of enthusiastic chats with friends or associates that continue conversations that may have begun earlier in the day or renew a friendship, as a chat between friends. Astral travel dreams often depict real streets, people, and places that you recognize, and when you return from such night travels, the body may feel a jolt as it lands.

DREAM EXAMPLE 1 OF ASTRAL TRAVELS: A NIGHT VISIT WITH A FRIEND. A young woman who was concerned about a friend’s health dreamed that she was flying through the air and hurtling over familiar city landmarks during the night. Fully aware of where she was, she soaked up the scene of glowing streetlights and deserted city roads. She arrived at her friend’s home. Watching as the friend slept peacefully, she was assured that her friend was okay; the dreamer had accomplished her mission. She then realized that she had been away from home for a long time and was separated from her body. The awareness made her wake up with a jolt, as if her soul had landed back in to her body with a thud.

DREAM EXAMPLE 2 OF ASTRAL TRAVELS: A NIGHT STUDY SESSION. Teachers with an interest in dreams report dream experiences of “night study sessions.” Such dreams depict conversations with enthusiastic students that are a continuation of a topic that began in class, earlier in the day. The dreams feel real, like experiences of astral travel shared by a group, spurred to gather once again because of a mutual enthusiasm for a topic.

DREAM EXAMPLE 3 OF ASTRAL TRAVELS: JOURNEYS TO DISTANT LANDS. Dreamers report jaunts to distant lands to visit loved ones for a brief soul connection. Such an experience is common among twins separated by distance, or between married couples where one spouse is on deployment in a distant land. Details of conversations that take place during such a night visit may be forgotten, but the intense awareness of the connection they made with a loved one remains.

UNCHARTED TERRITORY. Such examples suggest that astral travel can be initiated by a concern for a loved one, a shared enthusiasm, or a longing for a loved one. Such heart links may initiate astral travels that are remembered as dreams. Mystics have described such experiences for centuries, which leave some to wonder how much we have yet to learn about uncharted soul horizons.... not all dreams are dreams: mystic experiences remembered as dreams dream meaning

Anesthetized, Cold Or Dead Body

The image of an anesthetized body can represent a deadening of feeling, or a loss of passion and creativity in waking life. The same meaning applies to coldness of the body, with the implication of emotional coldness, lack of enthusiasm or distancing oneself from others.

If the coldness is in the lower part of the body, this suggests sexual coldness and again, lack of passion. Coldness in the chest (heart) suggests lack of feelings or feeling cold towards someone.

Cold feet indicate a fear of doing something or indecision. The image of a dead body in a dream depicts feelings and potential to which we have not given expression in daily life.... anesthetized, cold or dead body dream meaning

Diseased, Dismembered, Injured And Deformed Body

If the body is diseased in a dream, this suggests a sickness of attitude or it could simply indicate extreme emotional and physical fatigue. A dismembered body indicates emotional and mental distress; perhaps you are tearing yourself apart over something or someone, or your life is falling apart. Half a body dream images suggest a lack of balance in your life between your outer and inner life.

If the top half of your body is missing, this indicates lack of reasoning and emotional intelligence.

If the bottom half is missing, this relates to loss, or denial of instincts and sexuality.

If the body is injured or you see injuries, this suggests emotional scars or hurts, or repressed anger.

If the body is cut open, this indicates a vital change within yourself or the release of emotional tension.

In times past, such dreams were interpreted as the release of ‘evil spirits’, hence the association of a sometimes painful release of tension.

Loss of limbs in a body usually indicates a sense of inadequacy, sometimes connected with the limb that is lost. For example, loss of legs could suggest an inability to stand up for yourself or someone dependent on you. Loss of an arm could indicate an inability to influence other people, or to give and receive.

If your body is burnt in the dream, this suggests an emotional scar, and if the burn is painful, this suggests that you are relating to this hurt in an unhelpful, self-destructive way. If, however, the burning isn’t painful, it has a more positive interpretation: feelings of potential and new beginnings.

Marks on the body in a dream suggest things you carry with you in life, or experiences that have marked you.

If your body is crawling with maggots, this indicates the need to cleanse your body of toxins, infection or resentment. A murdered body in a dream represents aspects of your life that you find hard to deal with, such as anger towards a family member. Sometimes such anger may be a way of avoiding the real issues involved and, if this is the case, the dream murder may show how you feel about being ‘murdered’ by lack of love or trust.

If you are pulling things out of your body in your dream, this suggests growing self-knowledge; you are becoming aware of thoughts and emotions of which you were previously unaware.

See also SICKNESS AND HEALTH.... diseased, dismembered, injured and deformed body dream meaning

Loss Of Body Parts

Because the body often represents the self, loss of body parts or injuries to your body in dreamland can symbolize the emotional pain of losing parts of yourself. A dream that some part of your body is amputated can leave you with a feeling of irreplaceable loss. Such images may refer to the loss of a loved one but they can also appear when what you have lost is less tangible—for example, the love or respect of someone or your own self-respect. Psychologists give the name‘fragmentation’ to the process when you give up parts of yourself in order to fit in with or please others. This is something we all do, but if your own true nature is overly censored, the unconscious may send out warning signals about what you stand to lose by the denial of aspects of yourself.

Dreams in which you lose a hand or a foot,are missing an internal organ or have a body part disappear or fall off are therefore often signs that some part of your potential is being lost due to the path you have chosen. The common dream of losing teeth may reflect waking problems but can also symbolize loss, the break up of relationships, moving house, moving away or any other change which involves the ending of one phase in life and the beginning of another.

If the teeth become loose but stay in your mouth choking you, this could mean that you are holding something back or keeping your thoughts and feelings to yourself; the price is some form of damage to yourself. A dream in which you lose your virginity is a reflection of the loss of childhood innocence. What have you lost recently in waking life that has damaged your previous system of beliefs? See also BODY; SICKNESS AND HEALTH.... loss of body parts dream meaning

Mind, Body, Spirit

Dreams focusing on the Zodiac or other ancient mystic arts, such as alchemy or Tarot, have much to say about the human condition.

According to Jung, you are tapping into what he called the‘collective unconscious’ when mystical images surface in your dream. The collective unconscious refers to that part of a person’s unconscious mind which is common to all human beings and which arises through our shared instincts, experiences and culture. It contains forms, archetypes or symbols that are manifested by all people in all cultures. They are said to exist prior to experience, and are in this sense instinctual.

In addition, ancient mystical symbols can also show scenes, facts or situations that reveal your everyday worries. Bear in mind, too, that the child within each of us might see almost any process of life as mysterious. In addition, love has what some call a mysterious magical quality, as we often feel completely changed when its spell is upon us.

Remember that a dream can unify your body, mind and spirit. It provides a means for self-exploration. When mystic or magical symbols appear in your dream they are often a clear reference to your aspirations and the underlying— some might say spiritual—forces of your being.

See also RELIGION; SPIRITS AND GHOSTS; SURREALISM AND FANTASY... mind, body, spirit dream meaning

Near-death Experience

A near-death experience (NDE) is a phenomenon reported by people who have been declared clinically dead by medical experts, or passed close to death through accident or illness, but are later revived. They report an altered state of consciousness in which they feel they are traveling through a tunnel towards a warm and bright light or they are floating above their body watching medical efforts to revive them.

Intriguingly, near-death reports from different cultures around the world are generally consistent and in many instances are identical to the features of the post-mortem state that is described in the Tibetan Book of the Dead. There is also a marked similarity between NDEs and reports of the inner journeys of shamanism, astral travel and out-of- body experiences.

The term ‘near-death experience’ was coined by American doctor Raymond Moody in the 1970s to describe the phenomenon outlined above. Prior to publication of Moody’s book, Life After Life in 1975, NDEs were not openly talked about; once the book came out, more and more people began to talk about them. By 1982 a Gallup poll suggested that as many as eight million Americans had had some kind of NDE. Moody and a number of other NDE researchers, such as Kenneth Ring, a psychologist and founding member of the International Association of Near Death Studies at the University of Connecticut, were able to identify a number of traits common to all NDEs, even though the experience was always unique to each individual. They concluded that in a NDE, people typically experience one or more of the following phenomena in this sequence: a sense of leaving the material world behind or an out-of-body experience in which they feel they are floating above their bodies looking down; cessation of pain, a feeling of great calm and peace; traveling down a dark tunnel towards a light at its end; meeting spirit beings, many of whom are dead friends and relatives; meeting a spirit guide who takes them through their life story and puts their life into perspective without any negative judgment; and, finally, an abrupt and sometimes reluctant return to life.

The great majority of NDEs are described as being positive and uplifting; around three per cent are described as negative or frightening. Almost anyone can have the experience and it is not limited to those who have religious beliefs, although many people who have experienced a NDE do become more religious or develop a spiritual belief system afterwards. Almost all say they lose their fear of death, this being replaced by a strong belief in an afterlife. Many discover a meaning and purpose to their lives that they may have previously lacked. In some cases, the NDE leaves a person with heightened intuitive or psychic powers.

Even though millions of people claim to have had an NDE, it is impossible for researchers to prove scientifically that the experience is genuine. Evidence is therefore based entirely on anecdotal reports.

According to skeptics, the NDE is a dream or hallucination caused by, amongst other things, a lack of oxygen, the release of the body’s natural pain killers called endorphins and increased levels of carbon dioxide as the brain dies. NDEs were reportedly reproduced by Ronald Siegel, a researcher at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine, when LSD and other drugs were administered. NDE supporters stress, however, that drug-induced hallucinations and NDEs are totally different things. Such explanations also do not take into account the fact that many people brought back to life can give accurate accounts of their resuscitations, of medical procedures carried out on them or report conversations they overheard at the time they were allegedly dead. This suggests that some part of consciousness can separate from the body at death. There is no doubt that the near-death experiences are supported by impressive documentation and, for believers in them, these reports constitute a very powerful argument for the existence of an afterlife.... near-death experience dream meaning


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