Can Inner Guidance Come Through Dreams?

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Guest Post by Linda Wilken

Dreams. Some people contend that these are what life is made of. But there are some who say that dreams are simply the effects of a bit of indigestion, or situations from earlier in the day being worked out. Others say that we’re actually living in the dreamworld and that there is a reality beyond us greater than we know. yet others say that dreams are a bridge linking different realities.

There are so many viewpoints about the nature of dreams. The funny thing is, all viewpoints are correct because of how we experience the dream worlds ourselves. And because of our state of consciousness. The question is whether or not we can give credence to the power of dreams. The good news is that our perspective about dreams can change based on our personal experiences. Here is a story about how one dream helped me broaden my outlook on dreams.

One morning, I luxuriated in what I call “the in-between state.” Neither fully awake in the corporeal realm nor fully immersed in a deep sleep, I was not bound solely by the rules of the physical world. Later that day I would be going to an appointment to see my healthcare provider. But for now, I floated freely—devoid of stress, worry, and hardship, enjoying this rare state of consciousness. I had a few more moments before I needed to start getting ready for the upcoming day.

That’s when I heard a compassionate voice. It in no way frightened me. With the most profound love, it simply said, “Ask Dr. J (name changed) to check you for pneumonia.” Period. No further explanation. No hint about how I might have contracted pneumonia. No reassurance that I was going to be OK. But that one sentence bolted me into an upright position and kicked me out of the in between state—and bed—more quickly than I would’ve liked. There’s no question that the unusual encounter rattled me a bit.

Just for the record, my mind had a heyday with this “little” experience. As I showered, I chewed and chewed away at this idea that I might have a serious health condition: “There’s no way you have pneumonia. You have no symptoms. You just imagined the voice. You know that Jim Henson (the famous creator of the Muppets) just recently passed away because of undiagnosed walking pneumonia. But it doesn’t mean that you suddenly have it. You’re just being a hypochondriac. It was only a dream.” 

I consciously worked on calming myself as I slipped into the driver’s seat of my car. The uncertainty of what to say to Dr. J weighed on me. I knew that he had some experience with dreams, but I didn’t want to come across as neurotic by saying that I wanted him to check me for pneumonia based on information I received in a dream. Yes, I believed in the reality of dreams and in inner guidance. But I certainly did not want to appear irrational—or a hypochondriac—to someone I respected and considered rather brilliant.

The appointment with Dr. J started out routinely. And then ended routinely. I just couldn’t bring myself to mention anything about the inner experience I’d had. He was instructing me on my at-home care as I slid from the treatment table to the floor. That’s when I received a strong inner nudge to tell Dr. J about my dream. But the problem promptly intensified: if I told him about the dream now, it would certainly make him late for his next appointment; and it would be my fault.

Because of my hesitation to say anything during the appointment, guilt now compounded my indecision to say anything before I left. It was a “do or die” moment. Something—a newfound courage?—made me throw caution to the wind. I set my belongings back on the chair, took a breath, and said, “I know this is going to sound crazy, but would you please check me for pneumonia?” 

Whether Dr. J took me seriously or was just humoring me, I may never know. But he asked me to get back on the treatment table. And he checked me thoroughly. When he came around in front of me, I don’t know whose eyes were wider when he said, “Linda, it would appear that you have pneumonia.” And it was the silent variety—aka walking pneumonia. He immediately put me on a strict regimen and health plan, which I followed to a tee. With his excellent help, I recovered.

It truly could have been a “do or die” moment for me had I not followed through on my dream. One factor that opened me up to the possibility of having an inflammatory lung condition was the timing of Jim Henson’s death caused by walking pneumonia. I did not own a TV at the time, but somehow I heard about his passing a couple of days before my appointment. It was as if that news had been highlighted with a bright light, and it made an impression on me more than most news generally does. 

Some people call this Golden-tongued Wisdom. I believe this Golden-tongued Wisdom helped me more readily accept the dream voice’s instructions, though I still needed to work through my fears and doubts. This entire experience strengthened not only my belief in the reality and power of dreams, but also my resolve to follow through on inner guidance. And, I gained the wisdom to not let my fears stand in the way of taking another step towards spiritual freedom.

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Linda Wilken

Following a childhood dream to discover a way to live among the clouds, Linda Wilken worked as a flight attendant for nearly twenty years. Currently, she volunteers as a pianist in the surgical waiting area of a hospital, observing and studying the ways sound soothes, opens, and rejuvenates patients and family members on a deep, deep level. Throughout her life, Linda has worked as a musician, artist, and writer. However, Linda most identifies as Soul.

Feature image is by Claude Gruffy.

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