Theory:Precognitive dreaming

Main Article Theories about Precognitive dreaming Main Discussion

The following fan theories are about Precognitive dreaming.

For help on adding theories, see the help section.

Theories

Theory	Citations	Notes
Angela's ability is not actually seeing the future, but "traveling" through dreaming. i.e. Time travel, Space travel, or Dream travel.	None.	+ When Peter met Charles Deveaux through dreaming, it's not the "future" but its the "past". - Peter may have used space-time manipulation in combination with precognitive dreaming. + In the Angels and Monsters episode, Arthur Petrelli can see Angela and touch her physically. - Arthur appears to have obtained telepathy, and likely use that to invade Angela's dream. + In the Eris Quod Sum episode, Angela talked to Gabriel through his dreams. - Arthur could have been pretending to be Angela in Gabriel's dream.
Angela lost this ability when Arthur touched her in one of her dreams, which caused her coma.	None.	+ Angela had gone to coma, right after Arthur touched her. - In the Eris Quod Sum episode, Angela used her ability to communicate with Gabriel. + It might not have been Angela that appeared to Gabriel in his dream.
Precognitive dreaming is different from the precognition that was once held by Isaac Mendez.	None.	+ Angela dosen't paint the future, she mearly sees it. - Isaac saw the future as well, he simply chose to paint what he saw while doing it. + Precogs such as Isaac, Peter, Sylar, and Usutu (and Matt, on one occasion) have always had their eyes turn white when they activated their ability. We have not seen Angela's eyes when she uses her power, obviously because she is sleeping, but we have seen Peter's, and they are completely normal. + Angela does not appear capable of performing any actions in the real world while using her ability, but Isaac had the awareness to select different colors and paint what he saw.
Precognitive dreaming is not a literal vision of the future, just a interpretive foreshadowing of what's to come.	None.	+ Peter did explode, but not the way he foresaw it. + All of the characters that appeared in the vision, were at Kirby Plaza. However, they weren't there in same manner as they were in Peter's vision (i.e. different actions, clothes, positions, etc.) + Nathan stood closest to Peter and was incinerated in the vision; in reality, he was closest to Peter, as he flew him away and he got horribly burned.
With experience, the user of this ability can see what will be and what could have been.	None.	+ Angela knew that Future Peter already changed his future to an alternate one. - She also said quite clearly "the only future I've seen is the one caused by your being here."
Precognitive dreaming isn't the ability, it's a side effect of always having a feeling of what the future is going to be like.	None.	+ Angela seems to have a pretty good grasp on what the future is like and how it will be affected. It's hard to believe that having one or two somewhat vague dreams every so often would have good grasp on what the future would be like. • Angela appears to have had the ability for many years and likely has much experience in interpreting her dreams.
Precognitive dreaming is actually a byproduct of empathic mimicry.	None.	+ Being an empath means to connect with people on an emotional level. Theoretically, Peter and Angela could subconsciously absorb a person's memories, personalities, motives. While sleeping, the brain subconsciously puts together everyone's goals and motivations, allowing the person to dream a situation that is the result of everyone that person has connected with. - Angela told Future Peter that he absorbed the ability from her. + She could've been lying. - Peter had never met Claude, Niki, D.L., Micah, or Hiro before his dream in Fallout and Angela had never met Niki, Tracy, or Barbara (as adults) before her dream in The Butterfly Effect.