In a Dream:Remembering having been somewhere you never were?

[Matchbook]

I couldn't think of how to name this thread, but let me explain: I have had several instances where I am dreaming, and I enter an area where I have a distinct recollection of having been there before. This even happens when I am lucid. Not long ago I became lucid while flying, and I flew low over this yard next to a house with a swingset and scrap in the yard, and I thought to myself "Hey, I remember being here!" which is strange because I've never seen a place like that in my life, but I didn't seem to realize that while lucid. This has happened more times than I can count. Do any of you know what to attribute this to? It could be that these are places from when I was a child, but I have an excellent memory for when I was young (remembering things from when I was 1 and vividly when I was 2), and I would think I'd remember some of these places. Some of the places I know I've never seen, because they are just too weird. Anyway, it's not a matter of simply accepting the area as somewhere I've been, it's actually that I am REMEMBERING these places, that is, until I wake up, and I'm like what the hell? Anyone else have these occurances, or have an explanation for it?

[queensofthestoneage]

It could be that you've been there in a dream or a lucid dream that you don't haven't recalled. Or (if you think there is such) your Dream Self has been there.

[MartinB]

Agreed. I get this quite often. I think I've been somewhere or done something before in the dream. I think that the most likely explanation is that I've done the thing before in a dream that I've since forgotten. I've had at least one dream not too long ago that made me remember a dream that I'd long forgotten that I'd had perhaps up to 15 years ago. I distinctly remembered the dream upon seeing a dinstinctive object in the dream that I'd encountered in a dream all those years ago.

[Mystical_Journey]

This also happens to me all the time, i remember being somewhere that i havent actually been before I wish i had a reason for the event, glad it also happens to other people, i embrace the feeling rather than ignore it - its like deja-vu sort of feeling with an air of familiarity.

[psychedelic]

Originally posted by Matchbook Anyone else have these occurances, or have an explanation for it? Leo Volont's Disengaged Dream Self provides one rather sensible theory.

[SantaDreamsToo]

its really simply that youve been there in a past dream, (I too have had this happen and I also remember my life vividly from childhood) last time this happend I quickly remembered that this was from a previous nightmare that I had and just walked away laughing that the place had scared me.

[kramari]

Happens to me often, once even help me realize that I'm dreaming...I saw this guy who I know only from my dreams once I figured that I had a LD.