Dream about dead friend?

Question

I lost a friend over twelve years ago. We were really good friends in high school, but had lost contact after I went to college. He died while I was in college. (I'm 33 now.)

From time to time, I've had dreams about him. Last night's dream was particularly lucid.

I dreamed that I was in my home town's gym at a basketball game. I was walking somewhere, and passed him. He looked the same age as when he died. I turned around because I *knew* he was dead.

He also turned around and had a big smile on his face. He said, "Hi Stacy."

I replied. "Hi Mike.. I think I must be dreaming because you're no longer here." He laughed and said, "You are. But I thought I'd say hi." I started tearing up (both in the dream and real life) and we hugged.

I woke up, my face covered in tears and very shaken.

Answer 1

It probably means that you really miss him or will soon contact him by dieing.  

Answer 2

You missed him or from what you said; he could have  contacted you.

Sometimes spirits come back to see or contact their loved ones

Answer 3

If you dream of a person who has died a long time ago, then it suggests that a current situation or relationship in you life resembles the quality of that deceased person. The dream may depict how you need to let this situation or relationship die and end it.

To see your dead sibling, relative, or friend alive in your dream, indicates that you miss them and are trying to relive your old experiences you had with them. In trying to keep up with the pace of your daily waking life, you dreams may serve as your only outlet in coping and coming to terms with the loss of a loved one.

To dream that you are in a gymnasium, indicates that you need to apply what you learned and incorporate what you already know into your daily life.

To see a basketball in your dream, suggests that you need to make the first move. You also need to concentrate and be more focused in your goals.

To dream that you are crying, signifies a release of negative emotions that is more likely caused by some waking situation rather than the events of the dream itself. Your dream is a way to regain some emotional balance and a way to safely let out your fears and frustrations. In our daily lives, we tend to ignore, deny, or repress our feelings. But in our dream state, our defense mechanisms are no longer on guard and thus allow for the release of such emotions.

To wake up crying, represents some suppressed hurt or previous trauma that is coming up to the surface. You can no longer suppress these emotions. They need to be dealt with head on.

To dream that you are hugging someone, symbolizes your loving and caring nature. You are holding someone or something close to your heart. Alternatively, it may indicate your need to be more affectionate.

Lucid dreams give us the ability to control our own dreams and steer them toward the direction we want.  In the lucid state, we are more willing to confront threats and as a result, become more self confident. When we achieve lucidity, we can use it as a tool to improve our sports game, to rehearse a speech, to fulfill our fantasies, or to solve a problem in our waking life. In fact, some athletes utilize their lucid dreams to practice their tennis serve, golf stroke or bat swing. Even in our day to day life, we can use lucid dreams to ask  the boss for a raise, prepare for a first date, overcome phobias,  get over  writer's block, etc. The application of lucid dreams is limited only to your imagination.   Lucid dreams can help us visualize and rehearse the event in our minds before it actually occurs.

Because brain activity during the dream state is the same as during a real life event, what you "learn" or "practice" in your lucid dream state can be seen as training and preparation for the real thing in the waking world.  Our neuronal patterns are already being conditioned.

At least half of all adults have had at least one lucid dream in their lifetime. Many have reported having lucid dreams without even trying. Often flying is associated with lucid dreams.  However with practice, lucid dreaming can be learned and can be achieved at  your will.