When people lived in small hunting and gathering groups, sharing dreams was common practice. It was a way people could empathise with the feelings of others and had a stabilising effect on the community with other creative activities such as singing, dancing and telling stories (Wax, 2004). We might still share dreams with people that are close to us but creativity gives us the opportunity to connect with others through dreaming which although is very personal to the individual is also something universal.
Wax, M. L. (2004). Dream sharing as social practice. Dreaming, 14(2-3), 83–93. https://doi.org/10.1037/1053-0797.14.2-3.83
