Without giving a straight answer, it seems useful to point out that the faculty of the mind to create an image based upon collections of incoming data, our "imagination", is the tool by which past lives are generally "seen". We feed it some impressions, and residual qualities in us that arrived through prior interactions add to them to more or less re-create the past. There is always a little "noise", but also a lot of truth.

Given those ideas, if you use use any meditative technique to focus on the "familiar strangers" and start getting a consistent scenario, you'll be able to answer your own question. For example, you might be interested i Bruce's Afterlife Knowledge book and CD set, that can, if used properly, lead you into that space. Alternatively, you could seek out a past life therapist and ask them to guide a regression to the source of the dream content, but that's less fun.

dave

I'm new here - so I hope that this message is fitting for this subject.  It's just that the mention of dreams suddenly urged me to share an experience that occurred only yesterday.
My mother died just over 3 weeks ago and as we were so very close (she also being my best friend) obviously the grief is horrendous that I feel.
However yesterday whilst 'watching' tv for no apparent reason I suddenly drifted into a day dream that was so incredibly evocative it was almost redolent.  I had a 'vision' suddenly of the most peaceful English village set in 50s/60s with a quiet road leading down to the sea - and on either sides of the road were the most lovely 'chocolate box' houses I have ever seen.  I imagined myself walking down the road and a tea shop with an old fashioned 'Cream Teas' sign outside was on the left of the road on the pavement.    I walked into the cafe and could almost smell the aroma of strong tea and scones!  To my amazement I saw my mother (who was 83 when she died) sitting at a table on her own looking exactly as she did 30 years or so ago - only a lot healthier!  I imagined myself sitting down - and although I was still stunned - she wasn't in the slightest bit surprised.  She told me she had been waiting for me - I said 'that must have been a long time' - she answered 'no - not at all - I arrived here yesterday - and I knew you would be here today".
I finally came to 'my senses' and was so stricken by the seemingly reality of the daydream - that I just broke down and cried. 
You see my mother and I live(d) in England. It was always my mothers wish to oneday live by the sea in such a place.  Naively or not I took this place as her chosen 'heaven'. 
Maybe it was wishful thinking - maybe just part of the grief pattern - but I wasn't asleep when this 'dream' came to me - and I was so overwhelmed whilst the 'daydream' was upon me - and it was so real.
I don't know if anyone else has had anything like this happen to them.....

Hi, Dream. Just reading what you posted moved me even more.  The experience you had is so beautiful.  I have read about others having this type of experience or very similiar to yours.  It reminded me of a college course I took that covered some of this, along with OBEs ect.  Very exciting.   I openly accept that every moment has a purpose and everything IS reality.   L

George, I feel these are either people you know from past lives or people you know in your many multidimensional lives that are going on now. I often, just as I am dropping off to sleep, start having conversations with people that I don't know in this life.

Dreamgirl, yes I feel this was a valid vision of your mother now and you are so fortunate to have had this and KNOW that she is doing fine. I send you my condolences and love.

Much Love, Mairlyn