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This is something that's been bothering me for a long time. I had brushed it off as a sort of bad dream but now that I've heard of other experiences similar to mine, it's hard to believe that what I had expereinced was merely a figment of my imagination. Please be open minded, I don't exactly know what the heck I'm talking about yet, but surely someone might have some answers for me.
Tonight on my way home from the family Christmas party, my cousin and I start having deep conversations about spirituality. Granted, she is the only other person in my family besides myself that practices magic. She suddenly started talking about her dream, which was an experience in what she believed to be "Purgatory", which, according to Catholic belief, is a place that is neither heaven, nor hell. A place where souls are "purged" of sin and face final judgement. (Note: I am not Christian in anyway.)
She started describing it as a long road, where every house looked the same and everyone was miserable because they all did the same thing every single day. She said that she started "going with the flow" and doing what they were doing, until she decided that she couldn't take it anymore. She started yelling at everyone, saying that "maybe you wouldn't be so miserable if you did something about it!" She then proceeded to mention a woman with no emotion who she felt inclined to help, and after she touched the womans hand, the woman showed expression, guided her to a light and told her to come with her before she disinigrated. My cousin didn't really mention anything more, other than that there was a lesson she was supposed to learn. She can't remember exactly what was said to her, but it was something along the lines of, "if you want change, you have the power to change things."
I then remembered I had a somewhat similar dream in a similar setting. And, quite honestly it's a little hard to forget. I remember waking up in a house that wasn't my own, with a family who I've never met. They seemed rather... robotic. Like, they were being controlled or something. I decided to take a walk, which isn't really uncommon for me to do, however they sent the "nanny" to watch over me. I didn't like this so I made efforts to lose her. Eventually I did, and found a random dirt road that lead to a hill. I being curious, decided to climb this hill. What I came to discover was miles upon miles of destruction; burnt and crumbled buildings, fires burning big and bright, a sea of corpses. I panicked, tripped, and fell back down from where I came. When I stood back up, I was holding the skull of a human baby. Obviously distraught, I began to scream at everyone, questioning why no one was doing anything about it. As I started gathering a few people to show them what lied beyond their little neighborhood, a bunch of soldiers started to surround me. All I remember then is more yelling and a woman who I suspected was behind it all. I was so upset that I woke myself up, screaming "These people have a right to know!"
Typically I'd play it off as some kind of bad dream... but what threw me off was my cousin's response after I told her. "Huh... so that's what's over the hill?" At this point, all color from my face was gone. She then told me that she thought about climbing it but something told her not to. She says it was because no one else seemed interested in it, my guess is good instincts. I then remembered that her experience came with a lesson learned, mine didn't. After a while we concluded that it was either a lesson of truth, or a vision of destiny (having potential to become a person in power as a powerful and true leader. Or merely a lesson of being truthful, no manipulation or deceit), although nobody gave me a parting message like the one she recieved.
But my question is this... was it a dream? Are the similar settings a coincidence? Or did we really visit another realm and experience life lessons through spirits? She believes it was "Purgatory". I'm not sure what to believe (curse my analytical mind). What are your opinions?