How should you discern dreams in regard to vocation? I have had many dreams that seem spiritually significant but I really don't know if you can trust them. I dreamed about pregnancy and having children when I was in high school and was told it signified giving birth to an aspect of yourself. What about dreams encouraging one towards the religious life? Should they be treated as a spiritual or psychological phenomenon? My parents were both in psychoanalysis for most of my childhood and adolescence and while I reject much of that whole "thing" I still question if we can interpret dreams as anything other than sub-conscious garbage. Then again, in Scripture and in lives of Saints we see dreams having extreme significance.
I'm wondering because I had a dream Friday that made question some decisions I have made. I woke and prayed, "Thy will be done, but..." and then gave the myriad of reasons why the situation the dream seemed to be leading me towards was not right for me. However, I know that my reasoning is inconsequential complared to God's will. But if I can just discount the whole thing as mental debris manifesting itself in familiar images I could save myself some angst.
Any thoughts or similar experiences?

Dreams are a common way God addresses man in the Holy Scriptures, and I daresay in the present day. Remember, though, that you are not always the one meant to interpret the dreams, which is a separate spiritual gift. If you have a dream, and you do not have an equally spiritual means of interpreting, pray and fast for guidance before you trust it, and make sure it is line with the teachings of Holy Mother Church.

Good point!

I see you're "crossing the Tiber."

At this stage in your life, get a notebook and start committing these dreams to paper. Don't try to interpret them. Since you're going through such a spiritual transition, your body and soul are trying to make adjustments. Once you've "reached the other shore," you could probably go back--after your First Holy Communion and Confirmation--and review the dreams and see exactly what those dreams meant.

HTH.

Blessings,
Gemma

Dreams could come from your own imagination or from God. But perhaps even from the devil. I think that like any thoughts or messages that come our way we have to carefully discern their source. I think it could be dangerous to rely only on your own judgement in this matter.
If you have a spiritual directoror confessor that you can talk to, this might be a good thing to dsicuss with him.

perfectly stated.



that is what i was going to say. the only way to be sure is to submit them to the judgement of someone who can help you to discern. i don't have significant dreams like this, but two of my family members do and i am convinced that God really does speak to some people through dreams. that being said, spiritual direction would be the way to go for something like this. a good spiritual director should be able to help you see clearly God's way of speaking to you and help you to know whether or not you should be paying attention to these dreams.