Since time immemorial, dreams have been one of the most fascinating and enigmatic experiences of the human condition. Every night, we enter them, abandoning conscious reality to immerse ourselves in a world where the improbable becomes possible, and where time, space, and the laws of logic dissolve in a chaotic dance of images, emotions, and symbols. In dreams, we converse with loved ones who are no longer with us, fly through unreal skies, or face deep fears in scenarios that exist only in the mind. However, despite their deeply personal nature, could dreams hold a much greater power, capable of transcending the individual and connecting people in ways we do not yet fully understand?
This book, Connected Dreams: The Secret Power of Shared Dream Experiences, delves into one of the most intriguing phenomena in human history: the possibility that dreams, under certain circumstances, can be shared between individuals or collectively influence our cultures, societies, and worldviews. Since the earliest civilizations, humanity has sought to understand and decode the language of dreams. The ancient Egyptians viewed them as divine messages, the Greeks as omens of destiny, and many indigenous societies considered them portals to other planes of existence. Beyond their symbolic interpretation, these dreams also influenced collective decisions and the course of societies. Kings, warriors, and prophets relied on nighttime revelations to guide their steps in times of uncertainty.
Throughout the pages of this book, we explore fundamental questions that lead us to rethink the boundary between the dreamlike and the real: Is it possible that dream experiences can be literally shared between people, whether through emotional connections, shared environments, or, in the near future, through the use of emerging technologies? Can dreams, with all their apparent disconnection from reality, influence creativity, innovative ideas, or social movements that change the course of history? And more importantly, what does modern science tell us about this mysterious phenomenon?
History has witnessed moments when dreams had an unexpected collective impact. Great leaders, artists, and visionaries have confessed that some of their most important creations or decisions emerged from dream experiences. Writer Mary Shelley, for instance, dreamed of a creature made from fragments of corpses before conceiving her most famous work, Frankenstein. Salvador Dalí turned to his dreams to fuel the surrealism in his paintings. Even military and political leaders have claimed to receive guidance through their nocturnal visions in moments of crisis. But what happens when more than one person dreams the same thing? Throughout this book, we will analyze documented cases and scientific theories proposing that, under certain circumstances, shared dreams could be a manifestation of something much deeper: a collective subconscious that, as Carl Jung proposed, connects all human beings through universal symbols and archetypes.
This subject, which has been relegated to the margins of science for centuries, is beginning to resurface today thanks to advances in neuroscience and technology. Recent research is uncovering how the brain, in a state of sleep, communicates at levels we still do not fully understand. Meanwhile, developments in brain-machine interfaces suggest a not-too-distant future where dream experiences could be monitored, recorded, and even shared between individuals. Will it someday be possible to "read" the dreams of others or transmit them consciously, as if they were text messages exchanged between sleeping minds?
