Intruders in dreams

[Ginger Maynor]

I believe I have had visitations by those who have passed in dreams. Each time the dream has been very vivid, vibrant colors swirl, and I have even at times "felt" the person physically when I have held their hand and smelled their cologne. At times, I even felt overwhelming love and joy emanating from them, that I was sure this individual was coming from a place not of this physical world. I was never afraid.

I had a dream recently that was different from that and has left me questioning what exactly it was. It was my dad who passed recently. Our family had several conflicts. I had distanced myself from my entire family for my own peace of mind and wellbeing. I stopped talking to my sister several years ago, but still remained in contact with both parents but less frequently. Anyway, my dad never understood me. He frequently called me angry and accused me of hating the whole family. He never understood the wrong-doings he did or what others had done to cause me to move away. He died without us ever having any reconciliation on any of these dynamics. When he died, I told him in my mind that I hoped he finally understood me now, but if not then he could just stay away from me forever.

In my dream, I saw my dad standing across a room and wearing clothes I was very familiar with him frequently wearing. He looked tired and sad and was bent over. I told him to come over and he said across the room that I had told him to stay away. I told him we could talk and to meet me in the corner. We met in the corner and all he said was "so much pain". I took his hand and saw an image of our two hands joined in a ball of light. I hugged him and could feel his shoulders. I felt so happy to see him and I said I was glad he came through to me. Then that was over.

I woke up feeling like this was not actually my dad. I thought it was some other intruder masquerading as my dad. I felt manipulated. I did not want this individual to appear again. I really thought if my dad came through to me, I would know it without question.

Two nights later, I was dreaming and out of the corner of my eye I saw him again wearing the same clothes from the earlier dream. He just appeared by my side. I just said "No". Then he went away. Again, I did not feel like this was my dad. I did not feel the love and joy that I felt in past visitation dreams. It was not vivid. It was just bland.

He has not appeared since and I am grateful for that. Has anyone experienced similar? How do you know for sure when a visitation in a dream is real?

Thank you.