Holy Spirit

In Christian faith the Spirit of God, often depicted as a dove.

In the Christian faith the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, and together with the Father and the Son the third person of the Trinity. In the Bible the Spirit is described as breath, wind and fire: present from creation, when the Spirit of God hovers over the waters, to Pentecost, when the disciples are filled and tongues of fire rest on them.

At the baptism of Jesus the Spirit descends on him, according to the gospels, in the form of a dove. That is why the dove is the best-known symbol of the Holy Spirit. A dove in a dream is often read in the Christian tradition in that light: peace, purity, the nearness of God. Fire, wind and flowing water are also connected with the Spirit.

For dreams a text from Joel is important, which Peter quotes at Pentecost: in the last days I will pour out my Spirit on all people; your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions and your old men will dream dreams. For many Christians, especially in Pentecostal and charismatic churches, that is a reason to take dreams seriously as a possible way God speaks.

Other traditions are more reserved. The Protestant and Catholic traditions often stress that the Spirit speaks above all through Scripture, the community and conscience, and that dreams must be tested. The fruit of the Spirit, Paul writes, is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. A dream that leads to these is trusted sooner than a dream that sows fear or division.

On Dreamkin we respect those differences: the Christian readings mention the possibility that God speaks, and always point to discernment.