Dreams

Summary

Prior to the incarnation, the written Torah, and the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, God frequently utilized the prevailing ancient near east medium of dreams, visions, and prophets to direct redemptive history (e.g., Joseph, Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar). After Pentecost however, the fullness of truth has been revealed in Christ and preserved in The Church, relying on dreams for guidance is no longer necessary and opens the door to self-deception.

Discernment of Dreams

Though the Orthodox Church acknowledges that God can work through dreams and visions, it is not the norm, and it is with great discernment and caution that one should interpret or read-into dreams. Why the caution? Because deception is real, and even Satan can appear as an angel of light. 2 Corinthians 11.14 [^3]

St. Diadochos of Photiki writes: 'However, let us rather observe as a great value the rule not to believe in any dreams. For dreams are for the most part nothing but idols of thoughts, the play of imagination, or again, as I have already said, demonic sneering and mockery of us' (On Spiritual Knowledge ch.38, Philokalia).

St. Symeon the New Theologian writes: "Only those can have true vision in sleep (they should not be called dreams but visions), whose mind has been made simple by the grace of the Holy Spirit, and freed from the pressure of passions and from slavery to them. These are men whose only care is things Divine, whose only thought is of future rewards and blessings, whose life is above ordinary life, free of care, not dispersed, serene, pure, full of mercy, wisdom, heavenly knowledge and other good fruits tended in them by the Holy Spirit. In people who are not like this, dreams are disorderly and false, and everything in them is sheer deceit and illusion."

Sirach 34.1-7 continues the idea that dreams "give wings to a fools fancy."

A beautiful summary was written online by Fr. George:

We are told well and clearly in Holy Scripture how to be saved, but our limited and inquisitive little minds are not satisfied with this and want to know something more about the future from dreams. Is it not better for us to be guided by Holy Scripture and the advice of the Holy Fathers than to be carried away by dreams and put our trust in them? Lord, teach us to follow in each and every thing the path of Thy Commandments. "About Dreams" by Fr George of St. Andrew Greek Orthodox Church [^2]

St. John Cassian in Conference 2 tells the story of a Mesopotamian monk who practiced strict solitary asceticism for years, yet was led into tragic delusion through demonic dreams. The Devil first gained his trust by giving him accurate revelations over a long period. Once trusted, the devil presented a false vision: Apostles and Christian martyrs decaying in dark squalor, while Moses, the prophets, and the Jewish people rejoiced in radiant light. Believing he needed to follow the light to be saved, the monk abandoned Christianity, converted to Judaism, and was circumcised. [^4]

Dreams in the Ancient Near-East

Dreams were understood in the ancient near east (in general), to be the functioning of the nous, which is the capacity of a human being to see and comprehend the spiritual world, functioning while you sleep. This is strikingly different to how we see dreams today as our imagination wandering as we sleep. They thought that when you go to sleep and dream, you would enter into the spiritual world - similar to how prophets would receive visions. Dreams were therefor taken very seriously, therefor someone who could interpret dreams, would have been seen as a sort of prophet. [^1]

Sources

[^1]: Fr. Stephen De Young on The Whole Council of God [^2]: "About Dreams" by Fr George of St. Andrew Greek Orthodox Church [^3]: Saint Mary Magdalene Orthodox Church - Savannah Rincon [^4]: St. John Cassian in Conference 2