Common Dreams Layout 2

Common Dreams Death

“I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone [just one grain, never more]. But if it dies, it produces much grain and yields a harvest.”
John 12:24 (AMP)

DEATH DREAMS

When dreaming of death there is often the deep feeling of loss associated with grief. On waking from such a dream, people often grapple first with the intense fear that someone may literally die. However, death in a dream is often a positive metaphor depicting the end of a chapter and the beginning of something new in your life. As in the Biblical account, death precedes resurrection; a seed is buried before it sprouts. Death can represent aspects of your life that have come to end, be it negative or positive. Perhaps it is the end of bad behaviour or a bad habit and the emergence of a new person.

To dream the death of someone specific might refer to an aspect of their character or attribute that may be lacking or repressed in your own life. Such qualities, particularly a positive trait, may not be dead but simply dormant, indicating the need to awaken an optimistic attitude, which may have been silenced by adversity and the hardships of life. 

If a child was to dream the death of his/her parents, it may indicate a growth in maturity and independence. The actual process of death is the passing from one stage or phase of life into a new one, and so it can easily symbolise transition—an indication of significant change. Perhaps a relationship has come to an end. Perhaps it is about relocation—moving house, moving to a new country, school or church, or even taking up a new position in ministry or career opportunity. 

More

  • Death of loved one
    It may have a literal meaning. Perhaps you are still grieving the death of a loved one. The regularity of such dreams often ceases as the grieving process matures. Alternatively, to dream the death of a loved one may literally mean you were unable to attend their funeral and you are still grieving this loss.
  • Your father dying
    Perhaps it represents the end of specific negative characteristics passed on from your father to you.
  • Death of a baby
    Once again, it is wise to consider if this sort of dream is an actual trigger, as in the dream may be attributed to the recent loss of an infant. Such a tragedy naturally evokes all the feelings associated with grief—despair, sorrow and at times confusion, and these could well come out in a dream. But it could also be symbolic. The death of a baby may represent a new project or venture that you birthed but was unsuccessful.
  • Your own death
    It is not unheard of for a person to be warned of danger in a dream, and so it costs nothing to consider your planned activities, particularly if you are planning a high-risk adventure. Take care. But just as likely, dreaming of your own death may symbolise a lack of motivation or loss of enthusiasm in your life. Perhaps you want to escape a commitment, relationship or arrangement. Consider whether this is a positive thing that will put you in a better place, or if it is a desire to run away from responsibility.
  • Someone else dies
    This is a common dream and might indicate the possible closure of a relationship, or alternatively, the need to awaken a certain dormant attribute represented by the person who dies in your dream.
    Relationships at work: You dream of the death of a work colleague. Perhaps you’re about to move interstate or take on a new position overseas. As a result some of the relationships in your day-to-day work life will come to an end.
    A person you have been dating: Perhaps you’ve broken up with someone you’ve been with for a while.
    Mentor: If your mentor, who is a symbol of wisdom, dies in your dream, perhaps it is a caution that you need to apply more wisdom to the decisions you make.
    Mother: If your mother dies in your dream it may indicate that you need to take up a more nurturing and caring approach. Perhaps you have been too harsh.
    As with any dream that has recognisable people appear in it, ask yourself what aspect of that person’s character is represented in the dream and in your life.  

Life Application

The sun sets then it rises, the tide goes out and then comes in, winter ends as spring begins, a seed dies and the tree grows. When something dies—a relationship, a career, a loved one—it need not indicate finality at all. It can be the close of one chapter and the beginning of a brand new one. Ecclesiastes 7:8 (AMP) points out that “…the end of a matter is better than its beginning.” The close of a season in your life usually makes way for the dawning of a new day; it can bring much promise, hope and positive change.

“There’s a trick to the ‘graceful exit.’ It begins with the vision to recognise when a job, a life stage, or a relationship is over — and let it go.  It means leaving what’s over without denying its validity or its past importance to our lives.  It involves a sense of future, a belief that every exit line is an entry, that we are moving up, rather than out.”
– Ellen Goodman