Dream vignette of reporter Don Fraser, as recounted and published by Joshua Black in his e-newsletter Grief Dreams

Don Fraser recounted a story of dreaming of the deceased. In 1998, his mother (Mary) died from brain cancer in Ottawa. Before the loss of his mother he received notification that he would be starting a new job and would be leaving Ottawa, heading for St. Catharines. He described how he was stressed over the move and starting a new career. He was set to start the job the following week when his mother died. Don stated he was a total mess before he had this dream. The dream he had was very short, maybe 15 seconds, but it had a positive impact on his grief journey. It occurred just two days after his mother died. In the dream he was at his family cottage in Gracefield, Que. He used to have wonderful times there with his family. Don described how he started to walk with his mom (Mary) on a ridge at his aunt’s cottage. The imagery was shockingly vivid and realistic. Don stated, “It didn’t feel like a dream. It was like walking into a 3D movie.” There was a bright light surrounding him when his mother said, “I know it’s been a terrible time. Things are going to be OK for you, your brother and your father. I’m OK now. Don’t worry about me, I’m fine.“Don expressed that he was very calm and relaxed in the dream when she was saying this and he wasn’t crying. When he awoke from the dream he had a sense of complete relief and felt OK with death as a natural part of life. He had the feeling of being refreshed and relieved. He was able to move and start his new career with ease. Don stated that “the experience shocked me to my core” and “it is the most profound experience in my entire life.” Don stated that at the time of the dream he did not have any religious beliefs and did not believe in anything mystical. He believed in the scientific method above all else, and this dream experience has sat in his mind untouched by time, surrounded by mystery. Don lost his father (Donald) two years ago, and didn’t get a dream after he died. He stated he was closer to his father than his mother. So why did he have this dream of his mother and not his father?