Friends beheaded in my dreams

[Shoshana]

The history of Church approved apparitions has proven you wrong on that one Shoshana.

Because at many of those apparitions of our Lady, the Devil has in fact “appeared” as an angel, the BVM, and others.

Also, when St . Padre Pio was a child, he recorded in his memoirs that the Devil appeared to him as a man dressed as a priest.

So if the Devil can do that when we are awake, then he most certainly can also do that while we are in the dreaming state.

When one is awake is one thing then when one is asleep! Sure the devils masks himself as an angel of light etc during ‘apparitions’ and visions. There is need for great discernement when all this happens…and it happens more often then you thinK…as I beleive you believe.

It is different when we are in a sleeping state…for some reason there is no need to ‘hide’ himself as it were…he is a wiley little guy I tell you. It is a fact that all people dream whether they remember them or not. So, why would he bother hiding himself when all humans expreience nightmares that have nothing to do with him although everything is blamed on him. Portraying himself as he really is or a bad nightmare may not make too much difference in one person. Little is he aware that the more we grow in Jesus the more we are aware of his presence. Not all nightmares are demonic by nature. Sometimes it is just the subconscious calling out for attention for any particular ‘evil’ part of our own selves. And believe me that exists also…one who poo-poos this idea is in danger of the subconscious becoming dominant. We all have a shadow part of us…and through direction and sometimes psychological help, this can be taken care of. When one bring everything into the Light, lessens the power it has…whatever it is.

And soemtimes nightmares are caused by a physical reason…exhaustion, indigestion, etc. One must know one’s self extremely well and have grown in discerning our dreams and what they mean is an ongoing…a process that I am still in…

And praying for the people in the dream is a good idea but asking the Lord to give you a more direct message in your dream is quite feasible…as I have experienced myself enough times…

 

[hasikelee]

It is different when we are in a sleeping state…for some reason there is no need to ‘hide’ himself as it were…he is a wiley little guy I tell you. It is a fact that all people dream whether they remember them or not. So, why would he bother hiding himself when all humans expreience nightmares that have nothing to do with him although everything is blamed on him. Portraying himself as he really is or a bad nightmare may not make too much difference in one person.

I don’t know. I think the way this Marian figure has appeared, and melted into “something” or “someone” is much more frightening than if satan simply showed up and said “hey, it’s me.”

You mention that an evil symbol or being is the evil part of me, but I am bothered by this as the Marian figure is definitely a separate entity trying to get me. I don’t know necessarily that it’s the evil one coming after me. Just some kind of bizarre thing/person. Certainly the scariest thing I have seen in my life. What makes it so scary is you see this stunningly beautiful, angelic woman, then the woman does something suddenly and horrifyingly (such as beheading, or lighting you on fire) then her features, just her features, melt a little and you see something…else…then it all melts away like ashes.

This figure is nothing normal to me. My only doubts EVER to our Holy Mother Church have been from seeing this figure. I actually stopped wearing my scapular and praying the rosary the last time this happened because I was afraid of a panic attack whenever I glimpsed Her image on the scapular.

So here it is happening again and I am feeling very unhappy about the prospect of sleeping.

 

[FiremanFrank]

When one is awake is one thing then when one is asleep!

It is different when we are in a sleeping state…for some reason there is no need to ‘hide’ himself as it were…

Sorry, but I know of nothing in my reading of Christian Mysticism that would support your claim.

Absolutely nothing.

Therefore, I find that it is extremely dangerous on your part to be suggesting that Satan can not/would not mask himself in a person’s dreams.

So please Shoshana, if you can not substantiate something with proof by way of Christian Mystical Theology, always err on the side of safety.

That is, assume that Satan can manifest himself to a person under ANY FORM WHATSOEVER (whether that person be in a waking statem, or in a dream state).

Without theological proof, it would be profoundly foolish to do otherwise (the equivalent of possibly inviting oneself into Satan’s hands).

***Beware On Matters Of Spiritual Warfare Of Being Lured Into The Following One’s Own “Feelings”.

That Is Extremely*** Dangerous !

 

[Shoshana]

My dear friend…please do not become anxious. I think it would be unwise to continue but to only ask that you seek a priest or counsellor to help you out. If this is bothering you this much, maybe walking with someone through this would be a good idea. You can still pray for guidance from God…and if need be to grant you peace until you find someone to help you. Mmy prayers are with you and also my affection. God bless…

 

[FiremanFrank]

You mention that an evil symbol or being is the evil part of me, but I am bothered by this as the Marian figure is definitely a separate entity trying to get me.

Actually, I am finding it quite hard to make sense of that person’s interpretation.

I would avoid it if I were you.

As I said before …

It seems that the “beheading” simply implies their pride being cut down.

And nothing more.

So pray over it, and let it go.

***ALWAYS pray for Mary’s intercession!

ALWAYS pray the Rosary!

ALWAYS seek Her heavenly graces!***

 

[FiremanFrank]

My dear friend…please do not become anxious. I think it would be unwise to continue but to only ask that you seek a priest or counsellor to help you out. If this is bothering you this much, maybe walking with someone through this would be a good idea. You can still pray for guidance from God…and if need be to grant you peace until you find someone to help you. Mmy prayers are with you and also my affection. God bless…

I am anxious because you are providing DANGEROUS advice!

Why ask for a priest or counselor when all I asked is that you provide some proof from Mystical Theology for you claims?

Once again, making the statements that you did are spiritually dangerous.

If you continue to make haphazard claims on the mystical, then I must intervene to protect the other people on this forum from you misdirections.

Like I said, either provide proof for what you have said, or admit in loving humility that you have made claims to things for which you have no authority whatsoever.

Pray and think hard about what I have said.

You are following false ideas and need serious correction, so I am trying to help you!

 

[CatholicMC]

hasi,

I sometimes have very distturbing dreams. And this might sound callous, but a Jesuit told me to “cast aside everything that hinders my relationship with God.” Basically having total indifference and balance with everything. If these dreams cause you to fear and do not bring you closer to God then they probably should be cast aside.

This is not to say that dreams do not have meaning, as we see in the bible God speaks to various people at different times through dreams.


God will lead you and I will pray for you. Do not be afraid…I know how hard it can be with these types of things, trust me on that one.

 

[Shoshana]

Dear hasi…Do you read a lot…I am more than willing to mail you 4 books that I have in my possession. They all deal with the Church Fathers and the Christian view of dreams and dreaming. Please let me know and I would be more than willing to mail them to you as my gift to you…
Dreams…a way to listen to God
Dreams…Gods forgotten language
God, Dreams abd Revelation…a Christian interpretation of Dreams
Dreams and healing…a syccint and lively interpretation of Dreams

You can PM me your address and they will find their way to your house. Although it may take a while because I am from Canada. Ma you experience Gods blessings…

 

[guanophore]

Yes, I have talked with several people in real life regarding Catholicism, spiritual issues and Mother Mary, and those people have showed up in the dream. That is why I thought it was simply my mind working through it and not some significant message.

Why can’t both of these things be true? Why wouldn’t your mind have to work even harder to comprehend a significant message?

 

[guanophore]

I really appreciate your (name removed by moderator)ut, but I am very confused. For example, I have been in a relationship for 5 years so I am not falling in love. Do you mean falling in love with sin or with a new part of my life?

And what does the analogy of the beachball mean?

Dreams speak in the language of symbol, and we often have difficulty understanding them because we don’t speak the language well. We tend to literalize the message, instead of embracing it as we do a symbol. I do not mean to say that you must be falling in love, but just that “losing my head” is a frequent experience of person’s in that particular state. This is sometimes reflected in dreams in a literal way like you describe. It could be that you will need to lose your head to fall in love with Mary!

 

[guanophore]

Hasikelee:
First, I would take Water’s advice. Pray, asking the protection of the Blessed Virgin and your guardian angel.
Then go to a priest and ask about this.

The design on the circular object worries me. The dragon is traditionally a symbol of the devil. And as Water said, that does not sound like anything the Blessed Virgin would do.

I think the advice to pray is always good, however, most priests do not have any training in dream work, and are not very helpful on that point. Sadly, this thread of mysticism has been lost in the Western Church. I do not think it is appropriate to compare the image or actions of the image in the dream to our waking understanding of the Blessed Virgin. Most likely, the dream figure is a representation of the dreamer’s own psyche acting this way to communicate important information to the dreamer about he state of the soul.

 

[guanophore]

I really appreciate your (name removed by moderator)ut, but I am very confused. And what does the analogy of the beachball mean?

Emotions, like floatation devices such as beachballs, are designed to float upon the surface of life. However, we all hide at least some of our feelings. Sometimes we hide them from ourselves, and when we do that, our dreams let us know. Such disturbing images are usually our inner unresolved issues trying to manifest themselves to us so that they can get back out onto the surface. The more one forces a floatation device under water, the more force presses against it until it eventually leaves control and emerges with a great expulsion. This can happen in waking life by manifesting as an emotional meltdown (or tirade) and in dreams with disturbing images. It could be your beachball trying to get up to the surface.

 

[guanophore]

So much of what has been said here is exactly what I would have said, so I won’t repeat it. Personally, I see nothing evil about the dream, though it is disgusting. Sometimes we need to get disgusted or disturbed in order to shake us out of our complacency.

I just wanted to add in that I have a sort of gift for dreaming, just like I have a gift for singing or teaching. I have extraordinarily vivid dreams and I remember many of them. Since my adolescence I have asked God to use my dreams to speak to my heart in a way that I might listen. During the day I’m a much lesser listener.

Your dream sounds like God speaking to your heart. I think the interpretations here are sound, but the main thing is for you to ask God what YOU need to learn from this.

I also suggest writing down the images you remember with as much detail as you can remember. Leave nothing out. If you noticed it in the dream (the color of a bush in the background, for example) write it down. Add to the writings if you have the dream again or if you remember more. Keep what you have written someplace and come back to it in about a month. I always found that my dreams, from a symbolic point of view, spoke to exactly what I was experiencing at the time, even if I couldn’t see it in the moment.

Always pray before you go to sleep, asking God’s guidance and the protection of His holy angels. Perhaps He has found a way to get your attention to matters that you are not seeing during the day.

Many blessings, and a restful sleep, if that is what God wills.

Gertie

This is so true about not judging the contents of the dream as good or evil. The images must be taken into prayer. I would say that every correct interpretation of the dream will contain the experience of metanoia (conversion). I think one of the main purposes of the dream is to reveal to us the hidden thoughts of our own mind (as stated in the Book of Daniel) so that we can come closer to the Lord.

 

[guanophore]

I don’t know. I think the way this Marian figure has appeared, and melted into “something” or “someone” is much more frightening than if satan simply showed up and said “hey, it’s me.”

One of the most helpful ways of looking at the dream is to appreciate that everyone and everything in the dream is you. Each person and element represents your own soul. It’s your dream, after all, you are the one producing all of it. It is scary because intuitively you recognize that there is someone or something in yourself acting this way.

You mention that an evil symbol or being is the evil part of me, but I am bothered by this as the Marian figure is definitely a separate entity trying to get me. I don’t know necessarily that it’s the evil one coming after me. Just some kind of bizarre thing/person. Certainly the scariest thing I have seen in my life. What makes it so scary is you see this stunningly beautiful, angelic woman, then the woman does something suddenly and horrifyingly (such as beheading, or lighting you on fire) then her features, just her features, melt a little and you see something…else…then it all melts away like ashes.

If you have given your life to Christ, and are in His grace, then evil will not inhabit you. However, as we are continually being conformed into the image of Christ, any unchristlike attitudes and elements within our psyche are in constant need of weeding out. The dreams reveal to us what stands between where we are now, and His holy Presence. Evil can enter into the dream, but it does not have to come from inside the believer. When we dream, we plug into the collective unconscious where our psyche can access all kinds of elements, good and evil. There, we also get figures from the communion of saints as well. This figure represents a feminine aspect of your personality that you don’t recognize, but that is operating flagrantly.

This figure is nothing normal to me. My only doubts EVER to our Holy Mother Church have been from seeing this figure. I actually stopped wearing my scapular and praying the rosary the last time this happened because I was afraid of a panic attack whenever I glimpsed Her image on the scapular…

This fear and panic demonstrates how important and essential it is for you to work with this image. She is coming to you in your dream to tell you something that is essential for you to integrate for your personal growth.

So here it is happening again and I am feeling very unhappy about the prospect of sleeping.

Get a copy of John A. Sanford’s book from half.com on Dreams and Healing. This will give you a lot of practical advice on how to work your way through this, and give examples of other dreamers having a similar experience.

Pánta dé dokimázete Tó kalón katéchete 1 Thess 5:21

 

[guanophore]

Actually, I am finding it quite hard to make sense of that person’s interpretation.

I would avoid it if I were you.

As I said before …

It seems that the “beheading” simply implies their pride being cut down.

And nothing more.

So pray over it, and let it go.

***ALWAYS pray for Mary’s intercession!

ALWAYS pray the Rosary!

ALWAYS seek Her heavenly graces!***

I agree that taking off the head is not necessarily “evil”. However, there are many things in the head that interfere with finding faith in addition to pride. Thinking too much can do it too.

 

[Shoshana]

Get a copy of John A. Sanford’s book from half.com on Dreams and Healing. This will give you a lot of practical advice on how to work your way through this, and give examples of other dreamers having a similar experience.

Hasi, I have offered to give you this very same book that guanophore is advising…thank you guanofore, you write very well…

 

[Shoshana]

I agree that taking off the head is not necessarily “evil”. However, there are many things in the head that interfere with finding faith in addition to pride. Thinking too much can do it too.

I do not know if he is implying anything i said but I never maentioned anything evil at all in the dream! FiremanFrank is causing confusion…

John Sanford also states that anything evil would show itself as such…I, too, have said the very same thing. I do not find anything evil in her dream at all…no dragon nor beheading…

So I too would advise the very same book I offered…actually all four would be good to read!

 

[guanophore]

I don’t know. I think the way this Marian figure has appeared, and melted into “something” or “someone” is much more frightening than if satan simply showed up and said “hey, it’s me.”

You mention that an evil symbol or being is the evil part of me, but I am bothered by this as the Marian figure is definitely a separate entity trying to get me. I don’t know necessarily that it’s the evil one coming after me. Just some kind of bizarre thing/person. Certainly the scariest thing I have seen in my life. What makes it so scary is you see this stunningly beautiful, angelic woman, then the woman does something suddenly and horrifyingly (such as beheading, or lighting you on fire) then her features, just her features, melt a little and you see something…else…then it all melts away like ashes.

This figure is nothing normal to me. My only doubts EVER to our Holy Mother Church have been from seeing this figure. I actually stopped wearing my scapular and praying the rosary the last time this happened because I was afraid of a panic attack whenever I glimpsed Her image on the scapular.

So here it is happening again and I am feeling very unhappy about the prospect of sleeping.

Well that sums it up pretty well! You shall know them by their fruits. If the fruit of that figure is to separate you from your faith and your practices of devotion, there is more evil in that figure than in the little dragon!

 

[guanophore]

Yes, there is nothing evil about the dream, but there is a definite indication of the fight of good vs. evil in the dream (the crucifix in the person’s hand over the image of a moving serpent is pretty self-explanatory).

As I said before, this dream goes way beyond mere “psychological” interpretations. This one means something more. It is definitely spiritual in nature.

So he shouldn’t listen to any “psycho-babble” as it regards this dream.

Yes.

In one of my 4 dreams of Christ, Jesus specifically told me to write down what He was about to tell me. So yes, if one senses that a certain dream is special, then they should write it down.

Once again, true. Objects, their colors, location, etc., are very important in trying to understand these special dreams.

Dreams that continually repeat themselves is a message of the importance/urgency of what that dream symbolizes.

10 years ago I had nightly dreams of tidal waves that lasted for 6 months. Then, my whole life was literally turned upside down. “Wiped out” from top to bottom.

Another time while I was at work, I dreamt 3 times in a row in one evening that there was a reported structure fire. I shrugged it off upon awakening, ready to leave the firehouse and go home with the arrival of the next shift.

As I was pouring a cup of coffee, the station’s alarm went off and yes - we had a structure fire. And it was in the same area of the city that it appeared to me in my dreams.

But I had fought many fires w/o having dreamt about them first, so why now this time? Well, I got hurt at this one. I was out of work for 2 months.

Next time, I’ll pay closer attention when I have a dream that repeats itself like that …

Seeing that I had not asked God for these type of dreams, but they were still coming to me anyway - I now sprinkle my bed and pillow with Holy Water every night, saying:

• God,
  watch over me when I sleep,
  and watch over what I dream,
  and through them,
  allow me to understand your Holy Will,
  to do your Holy Will,
  and to obey your Holy Will.

Amen.*

There are many layers to dreams, just as there are many layers to scripture, andother kinds of revelation. There are personal meanings, and larger spiritual messages, often in the same dream. One way to tell if you have the interpretation of a dream right is if it brings about metanoia. If change and repentance results in a more holy walk, you got it right.

 

[guanophore]

Sorry, but I know of nothing in my reading of Christian Mysticism that would support your claim.

Absolutely nothing.

Therefore, I find that it is extremely dangerous on your part to be suggesting that Satan can not/would not mask himself in a person’s dreams.

That is, assume that Satan can manifest himself to a person under ANY FORM WHATSOEVER (whether that person be in a waking state, or in a dream state).

I agree with you that evil can show up in waking life or dreams in a variety of forms, and may not be immediately recognizable as such. The spiritual warfare is alive and well in the sleeping, as well as the dream state. I am wondering, though, why you are cautioning about the posibility that satan may not be able to manifest himself to a person. What about him manifesting himself in the desert to Jesus after His baptism? I have been studying dreams in the lives of the saints, which is one thing that brought me to this thread here. There are many testimonies of encounters with evil, as well as holy.