What if a Dream is more than just a Dream?

Ok from what I've learned about ATS starting a thread is in part akin to an informal poll for other people to contribute to. So here is my experience and question...

I awoke from a hideous nightmare two nights ago about aliens.
I was standing in my dream bedroom, at night, in front of some vertical lourve window panes that were open. I could feel the night air on my skin, and felt calm and relaxed. I decided to close the windows for the night, and so I pushed the windows closed gingerly ready to turn in for the night. As I did so, the reflection from outside changed to reveal two alien humanoids walking towards me from the outside of my property.

One was huge and topped well over 6ft, the other was much small and would have been between 3ft and 4ft tall. Both slender. The tall one had elongated hands, or appeared to be disproportionate.

It took me several long seconds to get over the shock of what I was seeing. I opened and closed the windows several times, each time the image of the two aliens would disappear when I opened the windows, and reappear instantly as I closed them. It came to me, all of a sudden as knowledge seems to in dreams, that somehow the window being closed allowed me to see what was really there, as opposed to my regular vision without the windows closed. (Kind of like a spectacles for a person whose vision is impaired without them).

All at once panic set in, and I stared at the two slowly approaching figures with fear. Their pace remained unhurried but determined to reach me. And again unknowable information descended upon me, and I "knew" I had to call out for them to leave me alone, or they would come to collect me. But as I tried desperately to scream out for them to stop, or no, etc, my entire face became frozen stiff in paralysis.

Now this has happened to me in dreams before, so I'm fairly sure the paralysis is part of waking oneself up.

I did wake seconds later yelling "Go Away!" with an angry determined voice.

So tell me, could a dream be more than a dream? I have had many vivid dreams that appear to be more than just the subconscious mind throwing random visuals at me while asleep.

I have heard of precognition in a dream. But could dreaming be a form of "astral" travelling? I often feel a rushed sense of returning at the end of my dreams.

Thoughts? Similar experiences? Worst nightmares?

reply to post by azurecara


Try this. Before you go to bed tell yourself you are going to look in a mirror in your dream to see what you look like. It might not work the first night but if you keep doing it eventually you will see yourself in a mirror in your dream.

I did this once I was suprised at what I saw, pleasantly actually but it a fun game to play in your sleep. Do you know while your dreaming that you are are dreaming? You can and do leave your body during sleep. Trying doing it while you're awake because you can do it then too I've been told.

You're dream hmmm Well evidently the aliens are something that you fear... so lets call them fear. As long as your window is closed you're not fearful. But when you open it the thing that you're afraid of is outside. The dream could represent you're closing your door on other people because of your fear of getting hurt? Did anyone speak in your dream? Any time someone speaks to me in my dreams or rather talks in my ear I know that I need to pay attention that it will have some meaning for me. I have prophetic dreams at times but I don't have the time to really keep a dream diary. Some day soon maybe I'll get the chance to play in my dreams some more and record what happens regularly.

Yes dreams could very well be something else.

there is the possibility that we travel in some form or manner that we are yet to discover, but there is the possibility that as our physical self lives and learns during our waking hours, then so must our mind or soul/spirit, whatever you want to call it.

You are aware that you were dreaming and were able to interact and manipulate the dream itself. This is called 'lucid' dreaming. You have no reason to feel any fear or danger. With practice you will find tat you can stop the dream, rewind it and play again to change certain points or actions hat seem to b going the wrong way.

Regarding the beings you feel were approaching, this may be a message from yourself rather than an alien race, but who knows?

You could attempt to find out...some dreams tend to re-occur, especially if it is something of importance or relevance at any particular time.

Next time, take a cance and try to have a chat, see what's said... you never know

Thank you! I have never heard of the mirror suggestion, I will definitely try it soon. No one spoke to me in my dream, as all the other people in my house were fast asleep.

Yes, I think the aliens were more of a metaphor for the "unknown and unseen" - which is quite a disturbing thought.

I knew when I had woken, that I had received a massive adrenalin 'fight or flight' response to this dream and that I had massively over-reacted to the scenario.

It was as though I was learning that the only Real thing I had to fear, was fear itself.

reply to post by Extralien


I have noticed quite frequently in my dreams that my expectations in a dream will often be interpreted by the characters in my dreams. By this I mean, that without words the 'people' or the 'scenery' in my dream will respond to whatever my expectations are - if I expect a sink to suddenly start pouring out blood because paranoia has overtaken me, then the sink will give a cough and start to pour blood. (Sorry if that's rather graphic, but the mundane dream events do not often linger in my mind).

Frequently in my dreams the characters (be they real people I know, or a facsimile of them, or strangers) will respond to my unvoiced expectations. Often with quite a visible reaction - as though my expectations are an unexpected deviation from a script I am unaware of. I can remember facial reactions and body language in these 'dream people' that range from slightly disappointed, to resigned. I'm not entirely sure I'm making any sense here...

Imagine a scenario, whereupon you have entered a room with two or three charactes. And upon entering, you are suddenly ill at ease, and this feeling quickly develops through edgy into quite alarmed (usually for no obvious reason). At which point, although I am certain that I have not let my alarm 'show' on my face, the characters in the room will react and then strange and alarming things begin to manifest in the dream. Characters can abruptly turn "evil", things begin to become "twisted".

I have often wondered why these dream people would react with this mixture of surprise, disappointment, occasionally alarm.

And yes, I have incredibly vivid dreams - precious few of these are within my control. I have had enough experience to know that when you are within a dream, the reality around you is very convincing. It is incredibly hard to distinguish that you are actually dreaming unless something highly illogical jolts you into awareness.

Any futher thoughts are very welcome. Thank you both for your replies, they have given me much to mull over.