Dreams often break basic rules of the reality we are in. Physical rules. When you can fly freely in the dream world, or when you have magical powers or mythological or fantastic creatures appear, we are talking about a fantasy dream.
In this type of dream, it is quite common to observe other types of dreams appearing intertwined, especially mission dreams. It is quite common (at least in my dreams) for fantasy elements to appear as part of the mission, as an inherent law of the world in which the mission occurs. On many occasions, the fantasy elements are very powerful and full of symbolism.
To identify this type of dream is very easy: if at some point something happens that supposedly the laws of physics that you know make impossible, it is probably a fantasy dream.
Does a dragon appear? Fantasy dream. Do you fly? Fantasy dream. Do you have more powers than Harry Potter? Fantasy dream.
Now, I would like to point out that a fantasy dream occurs when the fantastical elements are fully integrated into the dream narrative. If what you have is a dream in which you see something fantastic that you saw in a series, read, or heard about, then it would be more of a recycling dream. Therefore, even if it has a fantasy element it is because the information you received that day incorporated it.
In another possibility, the fantastic element has been generated spontaneously in the dreamer’s subconscious. If in the middle of a dream a marvelous, out-of-this-world element appears and has an important dynamic in how the dream unfolds then it would be this type of experience.
Dreams of this type involve a powerful symbolism since they present situations that usually refer to a great deal of energy, of power. The fantasy elements make the psyche’s task of displaying information in an iconic, eye-catching, and entertaining way more flexible.
