Sometimes our dreams are simple reflections of the day we’ve just lived. Other times, they reveal deeper fears, emotions, or unresolved thoughts. But what does it mean when someone who has passed away appears in our dreams?

These dreams are often connected to grief or to personal transitions happening in our own lives. According to Healthline, they are less about the person who died and more about the changes we are currently experiencing.

What matters most isn’t the dream itself, but how it makes us feel.

Rubin Naiman, PhD, a psychologist who has spent years studying sleep and dreaming, explains that dream interpretation is about understanding the message behind the imagery. “Dream interpretation,” he says, “enlightens us and expands our psychological awareness — offering an expansion of consciousness.”

From this perspective, dreaming of someone who has died may reflect internal shifts — emotional, psychological, or spiritual — and how those changes affect us.

There is ongoing debate among experts about what dreams truly mean. Some neuroscientists believe that during REM sleep, the brain performs maintenance tasks and that dreams are simply random images created in the process — essentially meaningless. Others strongly disagree, pointing to “dream cultures,” such as Indigenous Australian traditions, where dreaming is considered central to spiritual existence and personal identity.

Experts generally group dreams of the deceased into four main interpretations:

1. Processing grief
The most common explanation is that the brain is working through the pain of loss. These dreams may surface long after someone has passed, especially during emotionally sensitive periods.

2. Guilt or unresolved emotions
If there were unresolved conflicts or things left unsaid, the mind may create these dreams as a way of seeking closure or reconciliation.

3. Self-reflection
Dream analyst Lauri Loewenberg suggests that seeing behaviors associated with the deceased — such as addiction or certain personality traits — may indicate that we recognize similar patterns in ourselves.

4. A sense of visitation
Some believe these dreams represent a visit from the deceased, particularly when the person appears peaceful, healthy, or happy. If the dream leaves a comforting feeling, it may symbolize reassurance or a quiet “hello.”

Ultimately, dreams of those who have passed are deeply personal. Whether viewed through a psychological, neurological, or spiritual lens, they often carry meaning rooted in memory, emotion, and connection — reminding us that the bonds we form don’t simply disappear.