Special Dream: Personal Accounts After the Death of a Loved One » (Second edition)

Luellen Hoffman is an adjunct professor at George Mason University and the recipient of the Chairman’s Award VNU/Nielsen Business Media for her outstanding people and communication skills. She lives in Fairfax, Virginia.

Exploring the world of special dreams—clear, unforgettably vivid encounters with loved ones who have died—this unique collection shares the personal stories of those who have experienced them, including the author herself, and reveals the distinct qualities surrounding this phenomenon. After an introduction that examines whether or not the contact is real and a questionnaire to determine if readers have had any themselves, more than 80 poignant stories offer comfort to mourners, detailing the special bonds between the dreamers and grandparents, parents, siblings, in-laws, children, spouses, and friends.

Foreword Alan Drymala 9

Introduction 13

Part I Dream Research

1 What Makes a Special Dream Unique? 19

2 What a Special Dream Is and Is Not 25

3 Identifying Other Unusual Dreams 27

4 What Defines Death? 32

5 Questionnaire: Have You Had a Special Dream? 36

6 Too Soon to Share 39

Part II Dream Stories

7 Dreams of Grandparents 47

8 Dreams of Fathers and Mothers 75

9 Dreams of Brothers and Sisters 103

10 Dreams of In-Laws and Other Family Members 117

11 Dreams of Spouses 126

12 Dreams of Sons and Daughters 136

13 Dreams of Friends 144

14 Exceptional Dreams 163

Conclusion 167

Notes 169

Resources 170