People you know in your dreams

[Traveler]

I dream several dreams through the night and only remember bits and pieces of each. Most times they're lucid and every now & then I remember most of one dream. My main question is about the friends and people you know that show up in your dreams. Do you suppose these people have some spiritual connection with you and we're drawn to each other? There are several people I know who show up in my dreams regularly who I don't necessarily see or have any regular contact with. Is there something to learn from/with them? Is that a question I should ask guides or higher self? A couple of people I had a falling-out with but not all who appear in my dreams. Would they still appear if there were ill feelings between us? What would be the reason? Is it dependent on the individual circumstances with each person?

I had a very lucid dream several years ago in which Eddie Van Halen and I were out driving around having fun until Valerie decided it was time for Eddie to go home. We parted ways like old friends. Now, I like his music, have Van Halen CDs, I don't recall even listening to the music anytime during the day, or seeing him on TV. I certainly don't know him or Valerie. While writing this something popped into my head. A buddy of mine from my military days grew up in LA. He and I were best friends back then. He told me once he used to see Van Halen performing at parties in the LA area when he was in High School. A possible connection to 20 years ago? Maybe? Who knows?

What's everyone's views on the original question?

[cainam_nazier]

Well there are a few different reasons various people you know show up in your dreams and it really depends on what kind of dream you are having.  I would have to say that for the most part people you know show up in dreams because as your mind starts to fill in different dream characters it is easier to use people that you know.  There is no extra back story that needs to be created because, well, you know the person already.

The other main reason people you know show up in your dreams is because that person represents certain traits or causes a certain emotional response.  So depending on what emotion you are dealing with at the time you will see the people that help you to create that emotion in you.  This tends to be more the case with "famous people" because you don't really know them, you only know how that person makes you feel and what you think about them. 

Granted there maybe times when a person you know shows up in a dream because they are there to help you with something or for you to help them.  But I would have to say that is kinda rare. 

Of course the most basic answer to this is that durring some point of the day you had a thought, no matter how small, about one or more of the people that show up in a dream.   Basically the thought you had durring the day created the setting for the dream that night.

[Traveler]

It seems I probably need to examine my dreams more closely. Pick them apart noting each feeling and each circumstance. Reflect on the activities of the previous day and see what might relate to my dream. I wonder if, when lucid within a dream, I ask the meaning. Why the person is there. I suppose I'd get the answer. Or are some dreams purely for entertainment purposes?

[cainam_nazier]

Yeah, some dreams are just because or just for the fun of it. 

Honestly though it has never really crossed my mind to ask some one why they are there.......I just talk to them and try to figure it out myself......Now I kinda feel silly.

[Traveler]

Honestly though it has never really crossed my mind to ask some one why they are there.......I just talk to them and try to figure it out myself......Now I kinda feel silly.

I never thought of it before either.