What does it mean to dream inside of a dream? 10 spiritual meanings

Dreams, whether they be nightmares or pleasant experiences, can be a source of confusion.

When you dream inside of a dream it is often the case that the inner dreams have deeper meanings and significance.

The idea of dreaming inside a dream refers to the phenomenon when you are having a sleeping and dreaming experience within another dream.

These surreal dreams can cause further confusion and anxiety for some people, but there are also spiritual meanings behind this kind of experience.

Let’s take a look:

1) You are deceiving yourself

When you dream inside of a dream, you might think you woke up when in reality, you are still sleeping.

In this dream scenario, you may find yourself living inside a fabricated reality.

You may be living in denial about an aspect of your life that needs to be confronted.

This can be a sign that you are deceiving yourself about a current situation or relationship.

Alternatively, this dream could represent a refusal to face an issue that has already been resolved.

You see, self-deceit is not as rare as we might like to believe. In fact, it is a human quality that we all share.

It is an act of self-preservation, which protects us from facing unnecessary truths about ourselves and our lives.

However, that’s not always a good thing.

Sure, it might be nice to not face uncomfortable realities about ourselves, but it’s crucial to our mental, emotional and spiritual well-being that we do so.

Think about it: do you want to live in a world of deceit, or would you rather face the harsh truth and be able to make actual changes?

In a dream of deceit, you are refusing to face your true nature and what is going on in your life.

In a dream of deceit, you are living in denial about the true nature of an aspect of your life.

You may be avoiding real changes or facing them head-on.

This could be a spiritual message that isn’t just referring to your dreams, but your waking life, too.

Get real with yourself: are you deceiving yourself about something that is hurting you?

Dreaming inside of a dream might also refer to your relationship with yourself.

You may be living in denial about a part of your personality or how you are actually feeling about yourself.

This could be a collective message about your mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

All it takes to clear up this confusion is to take a long, hard look at your life and see things for what they are as opposed to what you think they should be!

This message can be really helpful! Speaking of spiritual messages…

2) You are receiving too many spiritual messages at once

You may have a lot of signs from the spiritual world that you are receiving at once, and dreaming inside of a dream can be a result of this.

Be careful not to get too over-stimulated or you may become burnt out.

Dreaming inside of a dream is normal when you are receiving a lot of signs. You might want to get them out of your head.

Why does this happen?

Well, it’s probably not a surprise that dreams often carry messages from the spirit world for us.

Now: if there are too many messages, you might not suffice with having one dream, so you actually start to dream within your dreams, as well!

Why do you have so many spiritual messages trying to come through?

Well, most often, that’s because you have been ignoring a message for a long time and it is finally ready to be heard.

You may also be receiving a message that is life-changing for you, and it is not one you are prepared for.

You may need to come face-to-face with it, and here’s where dreaming inside of a dream comes into play. The message can’t be ignored anymore.

Oftentimes, you might already have an idea about what that message might be, you just don’t want to accept it yet.

If that’s the case, you might be dreaming inside of a dream trying to ignore it.

But maybe the message is one that you need to accept and, in a way, move on with your life.

Maybe this message is the very thing that will make your life better or make you happier or more fulfilled.

You just need to come to terms with this!

Is there something that’s been nagging in your subconscious, that you know you should be doing?

If so, your dream might be a representation of that.

However, if you ignore it and try to get rid of it by pretending that the message doesn’t exist, this could have negative consequences in the future.

Trust me, the messages we receive are always for our highest good, and sometimes, we are just too stubborn to see them.

However, if you can accept your spiritual messages, turn them into strength, and move on with your life, you will be a much happier person.

Speaking of receiving messages:

3) Someone is trying to send you a message

A dream within a dream can be used as a way of sending a message.

You might feel like you are dreaming within a dream, but it actually be someone trying to send you a message.

They might be trying to communicate with you through dreams or just sending you a message in a way that you will understand it.

Now: this can be confusing, especially when the dream doesn’t seem to make a lot of sense to you.

But if you figure out that the dream is actually a message, you might want to pay more attention.

Who could be sending a message to you? Is it a message from someone living?

What’s your relationship with this person?

What do they mean to you?

If this person means a lot to you, and they are sending you a message through dreams, then it might be worth listening.

Now: how do you figure out if someone is trying to send you a message? Well, this is where it all comes down to intuition.

Usually, when you dream about something, and it’s a message from someone you know, something about that dream will feel familiar and even though you can’t put your finger on it, you’ll know that it is from that person.

Maybe it’s the colors you saw in the dream or an object that you relate to that person.

If you want to receive the message, try to remember the dream.

Unfortunately, dreams aren’t always as clear as “Hey! Do this!” or “This is important!”.

Instead, they usually contain a lot of symbolism, and usually, the message is in the symbolism.

For instance, if a person you know dies in your dream, then you can probably assume that the person will not literally die, they might just undergo a personal change or distance themselves form you.

Again, this takes intuition and being able to read between the lines.

All of this is assuming you remember your dream.

A lot of people don’t remember many details, however.

The good news?

This is something you can practice!

You see, your brain doesn’t remember your dreams if it thinks they aren’t important.

If you make an effort to write down every detail you remember right after waking up, however, then you will train your brain to remember more and more details and to remember them in a clearer way.

In the process, you may realize more and more about your dream world. The key is to remember them and then be able to figure out what they mean.

And the good news? This dream might also be really positive…

4) Something positive is coming

If you are dreaming inside of a dream, it could be a sign that something good is headed your way.

Dreaming inside of a dream could be a sign that something positive is on the horizon.

When you dream inside of a dream, it might be a sign that something good is on the way.

This is especially true if the dream is positive or if it leaves you feeling relaxed or calm when you wake up.

Oftentimes, we worry that dreams are going to turn into nightmares or that the dream is a negative premonition.

This can actually cause us to get stressed out and this stress will emotionally affect us.

Sometimes, dreaming inside of a dream is just your brain letting you know that you shouldn’t get too worried about a negative thing in real life because something good is coming your way!

The spiritual world is trying to send you a sign to relax and let go of the stress in your life.

You might have been too uptight lately, worrying about anything and everything.

When you dream inside of a dream, it might be a sign that you should relax, let go and not worry so much.

If this isn’t the case, then maybe the dream is trying to tell you that your life is going to improve in some way or that things are going to be okay in general.

This is really positive, it means that you are on the right path!

Speaking of being on the right path…

5) You are experiencing spiritual alignment

Dreaming inside of a dream, especially if you are in control, can be an indication that you are experiencing spiritual alignment.

There are tons of ways in which we can receive messages from the spiritual realm and dreaming inside of a dream is just one of them.

But what does spiritual alignment even mean?

Well, something that has spiritual alignment means that the dreams you are having are coming from your higher self or your soul.

This can be a sign that the higher self or the soul is trying to communicate with you.

Usually, this occurs because you are about to undergo a major transition and some way in which you will be guided toward it.

You might get several dreams that seem to be from different parts of your brain and each dream will indicate a step in the process.

However, this also indicates that right now, you are exactly where you need to be.

If you are dreaming inside of a dream, it’s often a sign that your life is about to take a turn for the better.

Spiritual alignment can also occur during times of trauma or crisis and is then used as a way for you to find answers.

This isn’t always the case, but when it does happen, it can be extremely empowering.

You are aligned with your higher self and are receiving guidance directly from the spiritual realm.

This is why your dreams are so important, it’s because they are a direct line to your higher self.

In turn, your higher self will be giving you the answers to questions like “How do I do this?” or “Why am I having these feelings?” etc.

Really embrace this spiritual alignment and try to see where things will lead you.

Who knows, maybe you have gifts that you haven’t yet discovered?

On that note…

6) You have a special gift that you should use more

Dreaming inside of a dream can be a sign that you have a special gift that you should use more and that you are meant to help others with.

Simply put, if you are dreaming inside of a dream, it could mean that you have a special gift that you need to start using more.

This could be any number of things and it is important to pay attention to what you are dreaming about to determine what it is.

You see, everybody has certain abilities and gifts, but not everyone knows how to use their gifts.

If you have a dream about a specific ability or skill, then it could be an indication that you are meant to use that gift in life and for the betterment of others.

It doesn’t mean that you have to follow through with your dream, but it does mean that you are being given a sign to do so.

Now: those gifts can be anything from being super empathetic, to actually having a strong intuition, or maybe just the desire to help others.

Your dreams can be giving you a sign that you need to help others in your everyday life or something more specific, but it’s up to you to determine how best to follow through on the dream.

This is something I’ve had dreams of before that I have yet to act upon and it has always turned out well in the end.

This is why it is so important to trust your feelings when it comes to following up on your dreams.

The thing is, when you actually know what your gift is and how to use it, you will feel a deep sense of fulfillment.

This is a sign that you are using your powers for good.

Sometimes, we might not like using our gifts because we always thought they were weird or a weakness, when in reality, we were just misusing them.

It’s like how so many people are afraid to use their voices, only to realize that one day, they might influence a lot of people with their ideas.

You can’t let your doubts hold you back from following through.

Speaking of doubts…

7) You are struggling with anxiety

If you are dreaming inside of a dream, it could mean that you are struggling with anxiety.

Some people actually dream inside of a dream when they are feeling particularly anxious.

This is because a dream inside a dream can be a sign of overthinking and over-analyzing.

Try to get to the bottom of why you are feeling anxious.

You see, most of the time, the root of our anxiety is not actually our problems, but a deeply-rooted fear of not being able to trust ourselves.

When we dream inside of a dream, it often means that we are experiencing the feeling of overthinking our problems and then tackling them, so to speak.

When you accept that the world is incredibly uncertain and you will never be able to control everything, it’s easier to actually let go of your anxiety.

That doesn’t mean you are supposed to stop planning, but that you are supposed to let go of the fear that comes with not having a plan work out exactly the way you thought it would.

Trust me, you’ll figure it out as you go.

That actually brings me to my next point:

8) You need to slow down and breathe

Dreaming inside of a dream could be a sign that you need to slow down and breathe.

This is especially true if the dream is extremely busy or chaotic.

If you are dreaming inside of a dream and it is causing you a lot of anxiety or stress, it could be a sign that you need to take a step back and calm yourself down.

You see, our lives are often quite busy and hectic. In all that chaos, we forget to take a step back and get some perspective.

Take a moment to pause, breathe, and let things come to you.

Maybe you were so busy thinking about your schedule or running around like a mad person that you haven’t had the time to really be present in what you are doing?

It means that right now, it’s time for you to slow down, breathe deeply and get some perspective.

When you are always on go-mode, you feel as though you are being chased and that your life is moving too fast.

It’s almost as though you’re living life on auto-pilot.

You need to come back and focus on what is important.

Maybe it’s your health or maybe it’s something else, but spending time with yourself will help you get back on track.

Trust me, auto-pilot is not a great way to live your life – the years will go by and you won’t really notice.

When you actually take some time out of your day to slow down and return to the present moment, you realize how special life is, even on the most mundane of days there are things in your life that are amazing.

I’ve gotten so used to rushing around that it’s not even something that I notice anymore, but believe me when I say, a little time out can make you feel refreshed and rejuvenated.

Just be more present with the things you do, whether that’s noticing how the warm water feels while doing the dishes, or really savoring that cup of coffee in the morning!

Stopping for those little things can make one world of a difference!

9) You have hard work to do

Dreaming inside of a dream, especially if it is a recurring dream, could be a sign that you have hard work to do.

This could be something that you need to finish or an aspect of your life that you need to take care of.

If you are dreaming inside of a dream, it could be a sign that you have some important work to do in your waking life.

Now: more often than not, you’ll already know what you need to do to get back on track.

In this case, a dream inside a dream might just be a sign that you are trying to take care of things in your waking life and you’ll figure it out eventually.

You see, if something is important enough for you to dream about it, then it’s important enough for you to take action.

But sometimes, things are holding us back from taking important action.

Those things might be doubts, fear, laziness, or avoidance, but whatever it is, it might be holding you back and preventing you from doing what’s truly important.

For example, if you are stuck in a rut at work, dreaming about how much money you are making could be a sign that you need to take action and increase your productivity.

Dreaming about taking some time out in the office could be a sign that there is something holding you back from moving forward and taking care of yourself.

You see, you have a lot of potential, but it’s up to you to actually fulfill it.

The key is to reflect and really figure out what is holding you back.

Sometimes it’s something small, like your lack of motivation, or moving forward might be scary to you because you don’t want to leave the safety of your comfort zone.

If that is the case, this is your spiritual sign to get over it and get moving!

That might feel overwhelming though, which leads me to my next point:

10) You feel overwhelmed or confused about something

Dreaming inside of a dream could be a sign that you feel overwhelmed or confused about something.

Sometimes, dreaming inside of a dream can be a way for your subconscious to work through a difficult situation.

If you are dreaming inside of a dream, it might be a sign that you are feeling overwhelmed or confused about a current situation or relationship.

Simply put, it could be a sign that you are feeling confused or overwhelmed about something in your waking life.

It is important to remember that these dreams are often created by your subconscious and they do not necessarily reflect reality in a clear way.

That being said, they can still provide insight into your feelings and help you work through situations.

When you dream inside of a dream, you may want to write down what you are dreaming about.

This can help you gain insight into what is causing you to feel this way.

Figure out what is causing this much confusion and overwhelm in your life and then work on finding ways to deal with that!

I know, that is a lot easier said than done, but I am sure that if you give it some time and actually reflect on it, you will figure out solutions to all of your problems!

Life can be overwhelming from time to time, but this phase will pass and you will soon feel better again, I’m sure of that!

Final thoughts

In many cases, dreaming inside of a dream is nothing to worry about.

It is perfectly normal and many people experience it from time to time. When this happens, it is important to remember that these dreams are often created by your subconscious and they do not necessarily reflect your current reality.

That being said, they can still provide insight into your inner world and show you messages from the spiritual world.

The best thing you can do in that case is to read through these points and see if anything resonates with you right now.

If so, take some time to reflect on your life and use these tips here to work on whatever it is you are dealing with!