Have you ever had a dream specifically about your transitioning?

[KathyLauren]

I almost never remember my dreams, so I don't really know.  As far as I can recall, I haven't.

But, when I was a kid, in all my daydreams, I was a girl.  You'd think that that would have been a clue, but I overlooked it for many decades.  Maybe I assumed that everyone had daydreams like that.  Or maybe I suspected that they didn't, but that that made it all the more important never to talk about it.

[Sephirah]

Have you ever had a dream specifically about your transitioning or your desired future transitioning?  Perhaps what life would be like, an event, a realization, body transformation, etc? 

Did your dream come true, at least in part?

No. I have never had a dream about being trans, or transitioning. My most vivid dreams are all being... just me. And it was the most natural thing in the world. One such dream caused me to look into stuff and join this site. I can still remember it. My original username here, Leiandra, came from the name of a ship in my dreams. An old, 18th century schooner. Proper sailboat.

I suspect that is because I was a navy gal, so I have a special association towards ships and boats. I still remember the dream, even though it was like 18 years ago at this point. I was doing the whole Kate Winslet deal, arms out on the bow. Feeling on top of the world. It was so vivid. And the name just stuck with me. Not long after that, I came here. It affected me so deeply.

[ChrissyRyan]

You are one special gal Sephirah.

Chrissy

[Sephirah]

You are one special gal Sephirah.

Chrissy

You're sweet, Chrissy but nah. I am just someone who hangs around like that patch of mould on the wallpaper you don't even see.

You are all the special ones. I mean that. I just poke my nose in from time to time. <3

[ChrissyRyan]

You underestimate yourself.

Chrissy

[Sephirah]

You underestimate yourself.

Chrissy

Hon, the wealth, and depth of knowledge... kindness, empathy and understanding I see every time I come here... I don't think I do. I see new people every time I come here, giving of themselves to not make someone feel scared. Not make someone feel alone, and unsure. You most of all. If you can give a good word to someone, you give it freely. And... the staff here are some of the kindest, gentlest, most encouraging people I've ever met. They aren't on a power trip. They just want to make everyone feel welcome, and safe.

These days, that's a very rare thing. I kind of did my thing maybe 10 years ago. I paid my dues and put in the work you folks put in now. I don't have really the energy anymore. But I am so so so glad there are people to take up that mantle and take the site forward. I keep stopping by because it's a habit I cannot break, lol. But you all are special. You are the people who keep this site running, and have done for like 20 years now.

I love and am proud of everyone here. <3

[ChrissyRyan]

Keep on returning!


Chrissy

[Sephirah]

Keep on returning!


Chrissy

Haha, yeah. Can't get rid of me that easily. <3

[ChrissyRyan]

Haha, yeah. Can't get rid of me that easily. <3

I see.  Okay!

[ChrissyRyan]

I still have dreams about being born and raised as a CIS female.

[D'Amalie]

No. I have never had a dream about being trans, or transitioning. My most vivid dreams are all being... just me. And it was the most natural thing in the world.

Never have had a dream where trans was an issue, or gender one way or another.  I dream only when I'm getting over 6 hours sleep at one go, a rarity.  My dreams are in sepia tones or brilliant color.  One or the other. I do have the sense of not wanting to be discovered as a rule in my dreams though.  Situations are well defined, just a feeling about wanting to be left in peace, to my own devices.

[ChrissyRyan]

It is very good to be able to get enough sleep, whatever that would be for you.


Chrissy

[Lori Dee]

I have never had a dream about transitioning.

When I was much younger, I had dreams that I believe were memories of past lives. The reason I think that is because they were very different from the way a dream "looks" or is experienced. They seemed more real, like a memory, and they all were recollections of how that life ended. What I find intriguing is that in some, I was female (a high priestess within a society like the Aztec or maybe Mayan culture), in one I was a young boy, and in another an adult male who was piloting a small spaceship. So these were all events during different time periods, or possibly alternate realities. I seemed to be most comfortable as the high priestess, despite the outcome of the dream.

Vivid imagination? Maybe. But I can't shake the feeling that these events really happened.

[Mrs. Oliphant]

When I was much younger, I had dreams that I believe were memories of past lives.

Thanks, Lori, for bringing this thread to my attention. Many of the previous posts were, well, dream-like in their beauty poetic presentation (and thanks ChrissyRyan for beginning the topic). Dreams led me to even consider transitioning but, similar to your description, Lori, I am still uncertain if I am dreaming about who I am or who I once was. Are they dreams or distorted memories of a previous life? I don't know. But I do know I feel more comfortable, more complete, expressing myself as, what was your word? transfeminine (with or without the asexual limiting factor--I'm still working on that one, too). Hopefully, others will respond to this intriguing question: what is/was the role of dreams in their transition?

[Sephirah]

I have never had a dream about transitioning.

When I was much younger, I had dreams that I believe were memories of past lives. The reason I think that is because they were very different from the way a dream "looks" or is experienced. They seemed more real, like a memory, and they all were recollections of how that life ended. What I find intriguing is that in some, I was female (a high priestess within a society like the Aztec or maybe Mayan culture), in one I was a young boy, and in another an adult male who was piloting a small spaceship. So these were all events during different time periods, or possibly alternate realities. I seemed to be most comfortable as the high priestess, despite the outcome of the dream.

Vivid imagination? Maybe. But I can't shake the feeling that these events really happened.

I have had this exact same thing. Only really one dream. But one recurring, very vivid dream. I'm almost convinced it's a memory. I have had regression Hypnotherapy before, but I don't trust it. Because I know how it works and how easy it is to put suggestions in people's heads. Hypnosis can be funny... and dangerous. I've made cis men think they were women before. And it's quite staggering how real it is for people. Suggestion is a powerful tool. I don't... I am not convinced the "therapy" part of it is as legitimate as people claim it is.

Dreams are the playground of the mind. A way to experience without the Vulcan in us getting in the way. Where we swim in the deep ocean rather than flounder among the waves.

[Lori Dee]

I am not convinced the "therapy" part of it is as legitimate as people claim it is.

It is, but what you see on a stage is not true hypnotherapy. I was certified in the U.S. and the U.K. in Hypnotherapy. The therapy part comes from psychological counseling, no different than talking to a psychologist. Hypnosis is used to augment that counseling. That is very helpful with patients who are resistant for whatever reason, especially those who have suffered trauma.

It can be very helpful if your hypnotist is well-trained. Many are not. They may be familiar with hypnosis, but do not necessarily specialize in it. Always be careful about who you let into your mind.
  

[Sephirah]

It is, but what you see on a stage is not true hypnotherapy. I was certified in the U.S. and the U.K. in Hypnotherapy. The therapy part comes from psychological counseling, no different than talking to a psychologist. Hypnosis is used to augment that counseling. That is very helpful with patients who are resistant for whatever reason, especially those who have suffered trauma.

It can be very helpful if your hypnotist is well-trained. Many are not. They may be familiar with hypnosis, but do not necessarily specialize in it. Always be careful about who you let into your mind.
  

You're right, it isn't. Knowing what I know... I am not sure I would trust anyone to get into my mind. For both our sakes, lol. But then I have trust issues so take all that with a grain of salt.

[Lori Dee]

But then I have trust issues so take all that with a grain of salt.

Same here. I tried having a colleague use hypnosis to help me quit smoking. He lived in London at the time, so we scheduled a Zoom call. He said he didn't think he was getting through because of my resistance. I said, "But I WANT this! I'm not resisting." He said the problem was that I knew the techniques so well, I knew how to defend against them. His suggestions were just bouncing off a steel wall. 

[Sephirah]

Same here. I tried having a colleague use hypnosis to help me quit smoking. He lived in London at the time, so we scheduled a Zoom call. He said he didn't think he was getting through because of my resistance. I said, "But I WANT this! I'm not resisting." He said the problem was that I knew the techniques so well, I knew how to defend against them. His suggestions were just bouncing off a steel wall. 

Yeah I get this. For me it's not someone else being able to do stuff like that. I've done autohypnosis and meditation for like 20 years. I know how it all works. The trance state is an old friend. It's how I keep sane. If you want to quit smoking, move to the UK. You literally can't afford to smoke, lol. Or drive a car.. or.. well... anything, lol.

[Sephirah]

The only really vivid dream I had related to this was with regard to the first screen name I used here. Leiandra. I keep it as my email address. And I still remember it to this day. Was my name for a while. Before I decided it wasn't. For reasons.

It was the name of an 18th century ship. One of the British fleet's sailboats. In that dream I was christening the ship, like the monarch does in the UK with every new launch.

"May God bless her, and all who sail in her"... followed by a hearty CRACK of a bottle of alcohol on the hull. I still remember it to this day, it was so vivid and clear. But then a lot of my dreams are like that. Some are like Michael Bay movies in my brain. I've thought about keeping a dream log here but it would just be too weird, lol.