ABSTRACT
Our dreams at night can be a powerful vehicle for life-review, and later-life dreams may involve the same dynamics described by theorists of life-review, inspired by the work of Robert Butler. Dreams of life-review can convey a spiritual or existential dimension – addressing the question, what is the ultimate meaning of my life? Today, there are many who have lost traditional religious faith but are searching for a new approach to life, and dreams of life-review can offer such an approach. In this chapter we look at famous later-life dreams from films (Wild Strawberries and A Christmas Carol) and at actual later-life dreams that present recurring themes: impending mortality, disengagement from earlier roles and ego attachments, and gero-transcendence (Tornstam). The study of dreams can offer insight into the search for meaning in the second half of life.
