The Dictionary of Dreams: Every Meaning Interpreted

531 Pages·2017·4.28 MB·english

by  Miller

the
d i c t i o n a ry
of
drea m s

the
d i c t i o n a ry
of
drea m s
Over 1,000 Dream Symbols,
Signs, and Meanings
© 2017 by Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc.
First published in 2017 by Wellfleet Press, an imprint of The Quarto Group,
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This edition published in 2022 by Wellfleet Press, an imprint of The Quarto Group,
142 West 36th Street, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10018, USA.
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copyright or otherwise, arising from the contents of this publication. Every effort has been made to ensure
that credits accurately comply with information supplied. We apologize for any inaccuracies that may have
occurred and will resolve inaccurate or missing information in a subsequent reprinting of the book.
Selections in this edition are from:
“Dreams” by Henri Bergson, published by B.W. Huebsch, New York, 1914.
The Interpretation of Dreams by Dr. Sigmund Freud, Ll.D., an authorized translation of the third edition with
an introduction by A. A. Brill, Ph.B., M.D., published by The Macmillan Company, New York, 1913.
10,000 Dreams Interpreted, or What’s in a Dream: A Scientific and Practical Exposition by Gustavus Hindman
Miller, which also appeared under the following title: Dreams: Their Scientific and Practical Interpretations,
published by T.W. Laurie, London, 1910.
The Witches’ Dream Book and Fortune Teller: Embracing Full and Correct Rules of Divination Concerning Dreams
and Visions, Foretelling of Future Events, Their Scientific Application to Physiognomy, Palmistry, Moles, Cards; Together
with the Application and Observance of Talismen, Charms, Spells and Incantations by A.H. Noe, published by
Henry J. Wehman, New York, 1885.
Additional material contributed by Linda Shields, Prudence J.M. Theriault, Jessica B. Casey, Francesca
DeVito, Viki L. Robinson, and Dr. Kimberley Smith.
Art © 2017 by Alexander Ushkevish Karnoff / Creative Market. All rights reserved.
Created by Warren Street Books
All art by Alexander Ushkevish Karnoff © 2017 Creative Market
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Group, Attn: Special Sales Manager, 100 Cummings Center Suite 265D, Beverly, MA 01915 USA.
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
ISBN: 978-1-57715-284-2
ebook ISBN: 978-0-76037-385-9
Cover Design: Andrea Ho
Cover Illustration: Sosha Davis
Library of Congress Control Number: 2021948493
Printed in China
CONTENTS
Foreword
6
Introduction

8
PART I: UNDERSTANDING DREAMS
The Top-Ten Most Common Dreams and Their Meanings
12
Selections from “Dreams”
15
Selections from The Interpretation of Dreams
22
PART II: KEEPING A DREAM JOURNAL
How to Keep a Dream Journal
36
PART III: DREAM SYMBOL DICTIONARY
Introduction to Dream Symbols
44
Contributor Biographies
520
Index
522
FOREWORD
By Linda Shields
People often contact me asking me what stress are an excellent example of the
a specific dream meant. But I have found brain attempting to make sense of the ev-
in my years of experience and study that eryday issues confronting us. Fear-driven
the interpretation of someone else’s dream dream scenarios, such as drowning, falling,
isn’t so black and white, as dreams are very running, being chased, and being unpre-
personal and have a lot to do with what pared for a test, are, more often than not,
is going on in one’s life, past and present. also connected to the every day. By exam-
Most important, dreams are a meeting ining these types of dreams more closely,
place of the subconscious and the spirit we may find the answers we need to deal
world, leading to levels of personal inter- with our stress and face our fears.
pretation and even problem solving.
I also believe that dreams are a place
When our dreams are trying to work out where we can connect with a more spir-
issues we are facing in our daily lives, such itual side of ourselves. I have found that
as career, family, romance, financial strug- certain symbols have meanings beyond
gles, etc., I believe that this is our subcon- the realm of psychology and thus enter the
scious trying to make sense of these things realm of the spiritual.
or attempting to figure out the puzzle
pieces placed in front of us. Water is always a very potent dream symbol,
and is often associated with emotion and the
For example, stress and fear usually induce unconscious. There are a number of ways in
strange dreams related to the subcon- which we view water in dreams. For example,
scious. We don’t let go of stress easily; we if the water is clear, this suggests a positive
hold on to it, struggle with it, and often outlook; if the water is murky, this suggests a
don’t share it. The dreams that result from problem or confusion. Transportation is also
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a powerful symbol. Whether it be a car, boat, The other thing I often tell people is to
plane, train, or rickshaw, it usually represents recall entire dreams. Don’t just look up the
escape or change, both on a spiritual and psy- one symbol that made an impression on
chological level. you; instead, try to remember your dream
as thoroughly as possible. Write down ev-
Our belief in animals as spirit symbols dates ery element of it. Look up the meaning of
to the dawn of civilization, with different each symbol that is part of the dream and
animals having different meanings. For piece it all together. Try to make a story of
example, a cardinal represents someone who it—this way you can have a better under-
has passed on and is watching over us. standing of what your subconscious, or the
spirit world, might be telling you.
I also believe that dreams are a place where
we can connect spiritually with those who This book is an invaluable resource. It
have left us. Dreaming of those who have is the first book to combine some of the
passed on is always a very powerful moment, most important writings on dreams from
no matter the relationship we had with them both the world of psychology and the
in life. Are we feeling nostalgic, or longing spirit world. Included are classic selec-
for them, or are the departed trying to tell tions from dream experts Sigmund Freud
us something? Are they merely trying to tell and Henri Bergson, a wonderful section
us they are still with us? Are they trying to on dream journaling, and concluding
comfort us? Warn us? This is the next stage with an expanded and updated version
of understanding our dreams—connecting. of Gustavus Hindman Miller’s classic
text, 10,000 Dreams Interpreted, updated to
Death and birth are subjects people often include fifteen thousand different dream
bring up to me. In the spiritual world, to interpretations.
dream of death is to know that there will
be the birth of something new, a transfor- Learning to pay more attention to your
mation, or a rebirth. To dream of a birth is dreams will put you in touch with your
to know that death or the end of something hopes, fears, desires, and worries, as well as
is coming. Determining the spiritual side of connect you more to your spiritual self
such a dream versus the confronting of cur-
rent fears or worries is up to the dreamer. Enjoy discovering this huge and important
world awaiting inside!
The one thing I tell everyone who talks
to me about dreams is this: keep a journal
or notebook and a pen by your bed, and
write your dreams down as soon as possi-
ble, while they are still fresh in your head.
Doing so is an invaluable tool, both on a
psychological and spiritual level.
7
INTRODUCTION
Since the beginning of time, people have Valley, New York, area—consulted numer-
debated whether the dream world we ous recently published psychology and sym-
inhabit while sleeping is an alternate reality bolism texts to distill the current wisdom
or just our brain’s way of dealing with the about the meanings of the most common
everyday problems and struggles of life, dreams people experience. Walking naked
and, sometimes, its more pleasant attri- in front of people? Not being prepared for
butes. A number of symbols have even the big test? Falling? These are all com-
spanned centuries, taking on spiritual as mon dreams. The section then moves on
well as practical meanings in our current to selections from the revolutionary essay
lives. In this ambitious dream book, some “Dreams” by the French philosopher and
of the most important dream texts, along thinker Henri Bergson. Bergson’s ideas
with new and updated material for the were incredibly influential in the first half of
modern era, have been assembled into the twentieth century, impacting an entire
one volume. Now, readers can accurately generation of psychologists and dream-in-
decode the meanings behind their nightly terpretation specialists, and he was awarded
musings with more than fifteen thousand the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1927. He
dream symbols interpreted, making this was the first major thinker to lecture on the
one of the most definitive books on the subject of dreams, long before Sigmund
subject. Freud. Bergson attempted to understand
this netherworld and make sense of it in
Our dream journey begins in Part I, with modern times. After Bergson, the section
the ten most common dreams people concludes with Sigmund Freud, who needs
experience. In this essay, Prudence J. M. little introduction. An Austrian neurologist,
Theriault—a certified hypnotherapist and Freud was the founder of psychoanalysis.
popular advice columnist in the Hudson He became a doctor of medicine in 1881,
8