Identical or strikingly similar dreams experienced by two or more people at or near the same time are call shared dreams. These dreams may have different meanings for the dreamers but will usually have some common experience or insight. These dreams seem to involve some type of telepathic experience. Sometimes one dreamer will awaken suddenly with a vivid thought of someone. There may be a clear dream or only an awareness of dreaming. At the same time, the other person will be dreaming of something that is related to each of them. Frequently, the two dreamers will share a permanent connection, even if they do not maintain personal contact.

In one example, the two people had similar dream content at the same exact time, but their personal experiences were very different. In another example, the two people has dissimilar dream content, although they were in each other’s dreams and they dreamed at the same time on the same night. These people were important to each other and each could specifically describe what the other one had taught them.

Another type of shared dreaming is when two people dream of similar content and dream symbols. This often reveals similar situations and emotional experiences but each will play out according to the individual’s life.