The search for a shared practice of storytelling around which a popular study of cognitive narratology might form need look no further than our nightly experience of dreams. Dreams and memories are inseparable, complicating and building upon one another, reminding us that knowledge of ourselves based on our memories relies upon fictionalized narratives we create for ourselves. Psychologists refer to confabulation, the creation of false or distorted memories about oneself and the world we inhabit, albeit without any conscious intention to deceive. This process and narrative, inherent in the dreamlife of all people, is at odds with the daily menu of cultural myths and politicized fictions fed to the Western world through print and social media, and for which there is constant divisiveness and disagreement. Cognitive Narratology and the Shared Identity of Myth uses insights gained from the scientific study of dreaming to explain how the shared experience of dreamlife can work in service to the common good. Primary texts and literary works, chosen for their influence on contemporary thinking, provide a rationale and historical background: From Artemidorus (a professional diviner) and Aristotle; to the Church fathers Tertullian, St. Augustine, Gregory of Nyssa, Sinesius of Cyrene; to The Wanderer (Old English poem) and Chaucers Book of the Duchess; to Coleridges writings and R. L. Stevensons A Chapter on Dreams; and to twentieth-century dream theory, and dream use in film. The purpose is to enable readers through subjective self-analysis to recognize what they share with their fellow dreamers; shared identity in formation of a shared act of dreaming creation is a universal across centuries and throughout Western culture, albeit currently misrepresented and rarely acted upon.

"An ideal bedside book"
'Sunday Times'

DO YOU WANT TO KNOW THE SECRETS OF YOUR DREAMS?

You remember them, talk about them, worry about them, but how much do you actually know about them? Dreams are an important part of your life, and now this handy dictionary can help lead you through the maze of your psyche. Organised from A-Z, this accessible guide will let you know whether you are due a run of luck, or whether it would be better to just stay in bed!

"A practical, comprehensive guide"
'Cosmopolitan'

"Marvellously comprehensive"
'Daily Express'

"Addictive bedtime reading"
'Daily Telegraph'

A step-by-step guide to building lucid dreaming skills and using dreamwork for personal development and transformation * Provides an extensive inventory of beginning, intermediate, and advanced tools and practices for meaningful lucid dreamwork and shows how dreams can shape our conscious reality if we incorporate them into waking life * Offers guidance to help you overcome mental or physical obstacles, including ways to stop sleep paralysis * Examines supplements to aid lucid dreaming practice and increase the vividness and recall of dreams Dreams offer a gateway into our psyche. Through lucid dreaming--when you have conscious awareness during sleep--you can access and interact with the subconscious mind for greater self-awareness, personal development, and transformation. In this step-by-step guide to dreamwork, Lee Adams provides tools and techniques for encouraging, remembering, and using lucid dreams for personal growth as well as how to have big dreams that leave a lasting impact. Beginning with an overview of the history of lucid dreaming, he shares tried-and-true foundational practices to get you started--practices for before sleep, during sleep, and after dreaming. Drawing upon Jungian depth psychology, recent research in neuroscience, and years of personal dream practice, Adams then offers an extensive inventory of intermediate and advanced methods to support meaningful dreamwork, such as the Wake Induced Lucid Dreams technique (WILD), where you fall asleep while conscious and transport your active awareness into a dream state. He also explores dream companions, symbols of the unconscious mind, dream interpretation, and working with the shadow side of the self. He examines how dreams can shape our conscious reality if we incorporate them or their symbols into waking life. He offers guidance to help you overcome any mental or physical obstacles you may encounter, including ways to stop sleep paralysis. He also examines supplements to aid lucid dreaming practice, improve dream recall, and increase the vividness of dreams, such as Alpha-GPC, 5-HTP, Silene undulata, Mugwort, the mushroom Lion's Mane, and Galantamine. With this practical guide, you can ignite your mind's capacity to wake up to your own dreams and restructure your world to be more attuned to your deeper self.

A guide to dream precognition and its implications * Outlines a set of clear principles to help guide dreamworkers, illustrated through real precognitive dream experiences * Shows how to detect precognitive dreams through their characteristic features, explaining how dreams relate to memory and why dreams about future experiences are often symbolic or distorted * Explores the mind-blowing implications of precognition for our lives, including how our present thoughts actually shape--or shaped--our past Once only the stuff of science fiction, evidence has grown that precognition--glimpses of your future in dreams and visions and being influenced subtly in waking life by what is to come--is real. Your future thoughts and feelings shape who you are now. And your present thoughts and feelings shape--or shaped--your past. In this accessible exploration of precognition, precognitive dreamwork, and a radically new biographical sensibility, the Long Self, that precognition awakens us to, Eric Wargo shows how dreamworkers can play the role of citizen scientists, adding to our understanding of this fascinating, almost unexplored dimension of human life. Wargo outlines a set of clear principles to guide dreamworkers, each illustrated through real dreamers' experiences. Drawing on psychoanalysis and contemporary sleep science, he explores how precognition relates to memory, explaining why dreams of future experiences are often distorted and what those distortions probably mean. He discusses never-before-described dream features, including "time gimmicks" (symbols hinting at time distortion) and "calendrical resonance" (the tendency of dreams to foretell experiences exactly a year or years later). He describes why an understanding of precognition augments Jung's theory of synchronicity by highlighting our own role in producing meaningful coincidences in our waking lives. He also shows how precognition manifests in other states of consciousness like lucid dreams, out-of-body experiences, trance states, sleep paralysis, meditation, and hypnagogia. We are at a major turning point in science's understanding of time, causality, and the self. We are more than who we think we are from moment to moment--we are our past, present, and future simultaneously. When we understand this, a dream journal becomes a personal time machine, with mind-blowing discoveries in store for the traveler.

This is a comprehensive dream book that teaches you how to use your dreams to get what you want out of life. In addition, dream expert Kelly Sullivan Walden explains: how to enhance your dream life, tricks for remembering your dreams, how to heal yourself and others through your dreams, the truth about erotic dreams and much more.

An exploration of the wakeful character of the dream and the dreamful character of wakefulness. Dreams have attracted the curiosity of humankind for millennia. In A Dream Interpreted Within a Dream, Elliot Wolfson guides the reader through contemporary philosophical and scientific models to the archaic wisdom that the dream state and waking reality are on an equal phenomenal footing-that the phenomenal world is the dream from which one must awaken by waking to the dream that one is merely dreaming that one is awake. By interpreting the dream within the dream, one ascertains the wakeful character of the dream and the dreamful character of wakefulness. Assuming that the manner in which the act of dreaming is interpreted may illuminate the way the interpreter comprehends human nature more generally, Wolfson draws on psychoanalysis, phenomenology, and neuroscience to elucidate the phenomenon of dreaming in a vast array of biblical, rabbinic, philosophical, and kabbalistic texts. To understand the dream, Wolfson writes, it is necessary to embrace the paradox of the fictional truth-a truth whose authenticity can be gauged only from the standpoint of its artificiality. The dream, on this score, may be considered the semblance of the simulacrum, wherein truth is not opposed to deception because the appearance of truthfulness cannot be determined independently of the truthfulness of appearance.

The Dream Gate expands the dream territory beyond the bed chamber to embrace the experiences of spontaneous visions, active imagination, trance, hypnosis, and pre- and postsleep adventures, shining light on the abundant benefits found within the rich dream landscape. Written by a dream specialist with 20 years' experience as a psychologist and holistic healer, this book offers sound reason to look at dreams as important messages from the Unconscious, presenting a sensible method of uncovering hidden dream messages empowering the dreamer to see beyond waking mental blocks and puzzling life problems. Moving through The Dream Gate aids each to better remember, record, and understand dreams to expand waking consciousness and achieve success in waking reality. Additionally, it offers tools to help each create an individual dream dictionary based on personal history and unique memories. Opening The Dream Gate is entering a life of pilgrimage. Its guidance will remain through a lifetime of dreams expanding consciousness and awakening deep respect for our alternate reality, the realm of dream.

Psychologist Gendlin (Behavioral Sciences, University of Chicago) comes from Carl Rogers's circle. Following Focusing (Everest House, 1978), this book shows how Gendlin's method of tapping the body's responses can be applied to the understanding and appreciation of one's dreams. He implies, rightly, that there are many ways of interpreting dreams, based on various theoretical approaches, each with its own validity. Yet, what really counts is the dreamer's somatic response to questions raised or interpretations suggested; the body has the answer, preverbally as it were. One can feel the author's respect for the privacy of the individual and for the message of one's inner nature. Simply and clearly written, this will be useful both for the lay public and therapists.

Ever dream that you were flying? Or being chased? Do you wake up and wonder 'what did that mean'? Dream Decoder presents 60 of the most common dreams, explaining what your unconscious mind is telling you, and what events or situations in your waking life might inspire certain dreams. This improved self-awareness can be used as a tool to deal with challenging emotional situations or life choices. Each card shows an atmospheric illustration of an archetypal dream on one side and common interpretations on the other. Includes tips on how to use the cards and optional games for one or more people.

Dreams have shaped the spiritual history of humankind. Jacob's ladder dream, Joseph's dream verifying Mary s virgin pregnancy and Herod s plans to destroy the child, Muhammad s night journey dream, Vishnu s divine dream of all creation, Siddhartha Gautama Buddha s auspicious dreams on his journey to enlightenment the pervasive power of the sacred dream is well documented throughout the scripture and lore of virtually all the world s religions.

This fascinating introduction to sacred dreams those in which the dreamer experiences the immediate presence or communication from the Divine celebrates the dream experience as a way to deepen spiritual awareness and as a source of self-healing. Designed for the novice as well as the experienced sacred dreamer, it provides a four-step sequence to help the reader through the sacred dreaming process: Entering sacred dream space Dreaming as a sacred experience Interpreting the dream as sacred art Using sacred dream work as a means for spiritual growth and personal fulfillment

Each step explores historical and cultural dream work methods and rituals, and provides interesting religious background references as well as guidance for incubating sacred dreams. It includes step-by-step exercises for specific sacred dream techniques and practices, such as: the Shamanic method of slipping through the portal between sacred visions and sacred dreams, Tibetan Bon lucid dreaming technique, "rehearsing" the sacred dream, sacred dream body mapping, sacred group dream work and more."

Falling, flying, making love to a stranger, being naked in public – we’ve all woken up, wondering ‘Why did I dream that?’ In this lively and thorough guide to the world of night time fantasies, nightmares, and visions, dream specialist Gayle Delaney helps readers interpret, understand, and direct their dreaming. Drawing together dream history and the latest techniques, she lets readers in on the most fascinating new thinking about dream interpretation and explains how the ancients used and understood dreams.Delaney shows readers how to live their dreams and direct what they dream about and when. She also offers a complete resource guide of ‘dream-y’ books and tapes, study groups, and web sites. From a fascinating survey of dream history – Aristotle to Jung – to the stunning new ways business, arts, science, and health care use dreamwork today, Delaney presents an enchanting – and practical – dream ‘bible’ sure to find a place on the shelf of every curious, fascinated dreamer.

Integrating traditional dream analysis with family psychology, clinical science, and parapsychology, Edward Bruce Bynum, Ph.D., ABPP, details how our personal unconscious is interwoven into our larger family unconscious. He shows how these dreamlife connections and patterns are as old as humanity itself, exploring ancient dream traditions from around the world. He explains how the dreamlife of a family can be viewed as a shared field or hologram, where each family member is enfolded into the dreams of the other members. This shared reality reveals itself in family and personal illnesses, in nightmares and unusual dreams, and during critical times such as crisis, pregnancy, conflicts, and medical emergencies. It also reveals itself in cases of simultaneous shared dreams and telepathic and precognitive dreams, explaining why so many people have dreams in which a family member appears to say good-bye, waking the next day to discover the same loved one has passed away.

The Dictionary of Dreams provides the necessary tools to interpret almost every dream object and its hidden meaning to better understand what your subconscious is telling you. Dreams can be fun and adventurous, but also frightening and distorted, and still again, they can be an endless combination of both. From spitting teeth out (a sign of aging), to creepy, crawly spiders (a sign that one feels like an outsider), dreams can mean much more to us once we learn how to decipher their hidden meanings. Whether positive or negative, The Dictionary of Dreams gives you all the tools, symbols, and their true meanings to translate our cryptic nightly images. Starting with selections from classic texts like Interpretation of Dreams by Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis, and 10,000 Dreams Interpreted by Gustavus Hindman Miller, one of the first authors to complete a thorough study of all the symbols that appear in our dream-scape, this updated edition features revisions (such as the addition of cell phones, computers, televisions, and more) of Miller's original interpretations to bring the book up to speed with our modern life. Elegantly designed and beautifully illustrated, the Complete Illustrated Encyclopedia series offers comprehensive, display-worthy references on a range of intriguing topics, including birthday astrology, techniques for harnessing the power of dreams, flower meanings, and the stories behind signs and symbols.

Dreams are an integral part of who we are and carry valuable messages. They can reveal our true selves, unmasking our fears, hostilities, hidden talents and desires. Enabling us to explore and learn from hidden aspects of the psyche, dreams can teach you a lot about yourself and others, helping you with problems and guiding you throughout your life. This book gives advice and guidance on exploring and interpreting your dreams, and using them for personal and creative development. It includes: - The place of dreams in human culture - How to prepare for, and how to record your dreams - Dream analysis, including common dream types and the strange but powerful world of symbolism - Advanced dream exploration, including joining a dream group and working with others. Contents: Illustrations and tables; Preface; Exploring your dreams; 1. Learning about dreams; 2. Preparing for dreams; 3. Analysing your dream; 4. Exploring dream symbolism; 5. Seeing your dream as a mirror; 6. Using your dream for healing; 7. Creating a dream dictionary; 8. Exploring some common dream types; 9. Expanding your dreams; 10. Working with other people; A short dream dictionary; Glossary; Further reading; Index.

Based on ancient traditions and wisdom from around the world, In Focus Dreams teaches you how to understand your dreams and tap into their power in order to conquer your fears and improve your life. This accessible and beautifully designed guide includes a frameable poster of the most common dream symbols and their meanings. Dreams can titillate or terrify, but most of the time they baffle or bewilder. This must-have handbook explains their scientific and personal importance and offers the keys to unlock their secrets. An easy-to-use directory of symbols points to the true meanings of dream objects and includes modern items such as smartphones, computers, and other technology. To help you access the transformative power of your dreams, you'll discover: the history of interpreting dreams essential sleep hygiene principles how to create a sleep sanctuary effective relaxation practices the benefits of essential oils and aromatherapy how to work with a dream journal tips for better dream recall the power of lucid dreaming All of which will help you achieve better sleep, physical health, and emotional well-being. If you love thinking about and sharing your dreams, this book will give you all the tools you need to talk meaningfully about them. Combining elegance and expertise, this is your essential modern guide to an ancient tradition. The In Focus series applies a modern approach to teaching the classic body, mind, and spirit subjects. Authored by experts in their respective fields, these beginner's guides feature smartly designed visual material that clearly illustrates key topics within each subject. As a bonus, each book includes reference cards or a poster, held in an envelope inside the back cover, that give you a quick, go-to guide containing the most important information on the subject.

Edgar Cayce (1877-1945) has been called the "father of holistic medicine" and the most documented psychic of the 20th century. For more than 40 years of his adult life, Cayce gave "readings" to thousands of seekers while in an unconscious state, diagnosing illnesses and revealing lives lived in the past and prophecies for the future. According to Cayce, when it comes to intuition, we are our own best psychics, and one way to hone these abilities is through a better understanding of our dreams. What are dreams? Are they a series of unrelated, unfinished thoughts from the day, or do they provide a portal into the deeper subconscious, helping you to investigate all the important matters in your life? By following Cayce's techniques of dream interpretation, you will be able to learn what dreams are and how you can better access, understand, and work with them.

Bestselling author Ted Andrews helps us stimulate greater dream activity, experience the power of lucid dreaming, discover controlled out-of-body experiences, awaken our inner selves, and much more. Using dream totems and mandalas, exercises in metamorphosis, and ancient dream guardians, this guide to dream alchemy presents the process of becoming a shapeshifter-someone who can shift between the waking and dreaming worlds. When we control the dream state, we can unveil our inner potential, clear the debris from our subconscious, and be inspired to reshape our lives for a better future.

How to Catch A Dream is the ultimate toolkit to become a lucid dreamer to create a happier and more fulfilling waking life. 'Theresa Cheung shows us that the way forward is to understand that consciousness/spiritual awareness is the fundamental ground of all experience.' DEEPAK CHOPRA Dream expert Theresa Cheung gives you everything you need to dream bigger and better in just three weeks. Week One: Dream Seeker Everybody dreams, but not everybody remembers them. Not only will week one help you to recall your dreams, it will also help boost your creativity and encourage healthier sleep hygiene for a dreamy night's sleep. Week Two: Dream Deeper Now your dream recall will be more consistent and you'll be aware of how linked your waking and dreaming lives are. Now it's time to dive deeper into your intuition and start trusting yourself more. Week Three: Dream Catcher By week three you will be sleeping better, dreaming bigger and feeling more connected to yourself. Equipped with this knowledge and understanding, it's time to 'wake up' in your dreams. Theresa will guide you through what happens when you become a lucid dreamer and show you that you have the power to influence your dreams, making anything possible. Transform your life, begin to heal and go on a journey of self-discovery with How to Catch a Dream.

VINTAGE MINIS: GREAT MINDS. BIG IDEAS. LITTLE BOOKS. Have you ever dreamt you were naked on stage, or woken having failed an exam? In these fascinating, pioneering essays, Sigmund Freud plunges into the recesses of our minds, and awakens the hidden meanings behind our most typical and surprising night-time fantasies. From dreams of violence and death, to the more prosaic moments in our dream-life, Freud shines a light on the darkness we are often happy left consigned to night. Selected from the books The Essentials of Psycho-Analysis and The Standard Edition of the Complete Psychological Works of the Sigmund Freud, Volume IV: The Interpretation of Dreams (First Part) by Sigmund Freud