Dreamwalking

Tel'aran'rhiod chapter icon

Not to be confused with the ability to have prophetic dreams known as Dreaming.

The Talent to enter Tel'aran'rhiod at will, Dreamwalking, is an ability unrelated to the One Power found in both channelers and non-channelers. The terms "Dreamwalker" and "Dreamwalking" are not always capitalised.

Talent Definition and Abilities

Dreamwalking is related to, but distinct from, the Talent of Dreaming via Tel'aran'rhiod. Not all Dreamers can Dreamwalk and not all Dreamwalkers are Dreamers, although the latter is "generally" the case.

Experienced Dreamwalkers also have the ability to enter the dreams of others, though doing this is extremely dangerous. They can also drawn into the dreams of others against their will, but only where the Dreamwalker is untutored or in very exceptional circumstances. Egwene asks the Wise Ones about this when she is pulled into Gawyn's dream. Bair says that "Leaving the dream of someone who hates you, or loves you...is like trying to climb from a deep pit with sheer sides." This is the reason why the Wise One Dreamwalkers do not attempt look at the dreams of Sevanna or the Shaido Wise Ones or the dreams of their husbands.

Channelers have the ability to ward their dreams and the dreams of those around them from such invasions. The Forsaken have said such wards can be broken, but the results of such a break is unknown. Lanfear told to Rand after he learned how to ward his dreams that "I can break through your warding. You would not like it."

While both men and women are capable of Dreamwalking, it is very rare among men. Although several Wolfbrothers have the ability to enter Tel'aran'rhiod, this a very recent phenomenon and can still be considered a predominantly female Talent.

Aiel Dreamwalkers

Dreamwalkers Amys, Bair and Melaine by Ariel Burgess

The Aiel Wise Ones are known to use Dreamwalking as a method of communication between the clans. At the beginning of the books, there were only four Aiel Dreamwalkers: Amys, Bair, Melaine and Seana. Seana was killed by a Draghkar at Cold Rocks Hold, reducing the number to three.

Aes Sedai Dreamwalkers

In the White Tower, the Talent of Dreamwalking is so rare that it considered all but lost. According to Moiraine Damodred, the last known Dreamwalker in Tar Valon was almost a thousand years ago. This is likely the Amyrlin Doniella Alievin, who died in 363 NE.

Egwene al'Vere in tel'aran'rhiod

In conflict with this being the last Dreamwalker is Corianin Nedeal, who died in 526 NE. Verin calls her a Dreamer, and says that "a Dreamer.. - a true Dreamer - can enter Tel’aran’rhiod". Bair also says the Tower "has not produced a dreamwalker in nearly five hundred years". This would doubtless be Corianin. Regarding Verin's mislabelling, the Wheel of Time Companion notes that Aes Sedai occasionally (although rarely) refer to Dreamwalking as Dreaming. On the other hand, Corianin was in possession of a Sleepweaver and studied many others. It is possible that the Wise Ones may not know of the existence of such ter'angreal and Corianin was instead only a Dreamer. Either way, Dreamwalkers are extremely rare among Aes Sedai.

Egwene al'Vere is the Tower's first Dreamwalker in the modern era. With no Aes Sedai to teach her, she was forced to seek the teaching of the Aiel Wise Ones.

Forsaken Dreamwalkers

Moghedien, known to be a true Dreamwalker. Art by Seamus Gallagher.

Little is known concerning the Forsaken and their connection to the World of Dreams. It is clear that every one of them can enter Tel'aran'rhiod in the flesh through channeling a gateway, but the number of them that can actually dreamwalk is unknown. While Lanfear and a number of others showed the ability to enter other peoples personal dreams, it is not clear if she was present in the flesh. The most is known about the Forsaken Moghedien, she is clearly a full Dreamwalker. Suffering several defeats in the World of Dreams, each time she was found sleeping while in Tel'aran'rhiod.

Just because it is not known who among the Forsaken are Dreamwalkers, does not mean they are helpless in the world of dreams. Each of the Forsaken is extremely familiar and experienced with manipulating Tel'aran'rhiod to their will. Lanfear claims particular authority over Tela'aran'rhiod among the Forsaken, though Moghedien, who is weaker than Lanfear in the waking world, may actually outstrip her there.

Lanfear/Cyndane tried to lure again Rand in a dreamshard and then she spent most of the Last Battle waiting for her moment of revenge and glory.

Ishamael/Moridin showed to be a proficient dreamwalker. In the first books he lured and endangered Rand, Mat and Perrin in the World of Dreams. Later he met or punished cruelly many Darkfriends in what were his dreamshards.

Mesaana fought her last battle against Egwene in the World of Dreams.

During the Last Battle Graendal/Hessalam damaged severely the forces of the Light lurking in the dreams of the great generals, compelling them to bring their armies to disaster (probably she broke the ward that Aes Sedaai as Siuan put on her Warder Gareth Bryne).

Wolfbrother Dreamwalkers

Perrin Aybara by Ariel Burgess

Along with the gift of running with wolves, a Wolfbrother gains the ability to practice a form of Dreamwalking. There are only three Wolfbrothers that we know of; Perrin Aybara has shown a goodly mastery of Tel'aran'rhiod as Young Bull, though Noam, known as Boundless in the Wolf Dream has also shown great facility as a Wolfbrother Dreamwalker. We have no idea how well Elyas Machera, the third Wolfbrother, functions in the Wolf Dream, having never encountered him in that realm.

A Wolfbrother also has the ability to talk and commune with fallen wolves who live on in Tel'aran'rhiod. Though such skills have never been practiced by Dreamwalkers other than Wolfbrothers that we know of with one exception, it seems likely that they also could interact with the fallen wolves were they so disposed. Slayer can. And when she existed in Tel'aran'rhoid Birgitte Silverbow was able to interact with her fellow Heroes of the Horn such as Gaidal Cain when they, too, no longer walked the earth so there is no reason to consider them, or any other visitor to that strange realm unable to interact with wolves if they had any interest in so doing, and if the wolves had any desire to reciprocate the interest.

Later Perrin learned the same ability of Isam/Lord Luc to step in and out in the flesh from the World of Dreams.