Table of Contents
Introduction 13
"To Sleep Perchance to Dream" 16
Overview of This Book 17
What You Will Learn From This Book 17
Chapter 1 Why Do We Dream? 25
The Science of Dreaming 26
The Purpose of Dreams 32
Case Study: The Serious Business of Dreams 37
Common Dream Themes 39
Dreams Never Type-Cast 50
Chapter 2 Dream Interpretation Through the Ages 51
When Did Dream Interpretations Begin? 52
The Meanings of Dreams Through the Ages 54
Different Cultural Ideas About Dreams 58
Case Study: East Meets West 61
Chapter 3 Pioneers in the Field of Dreams 65
Josef Breuer 66
Sigmund Freud 67
Carl Gustav Jung 71
Frederick "Fritz" Perls 75
Edgar Cayce 77
Ann Faraday 79
Other Pioneers 80
Alfred Adler 81
Calvin S. Hall 82
New Frontiers 84
Case Study: Still Influenced by the Dream Pioneers 88
Chapter 4 Common Types of Dreams and What They Mean 95
Flying Dreams 96
Falling Dreams 99
Dreams that Make You Anxious 104
Naked Dreams 108
Dreams About Examinations 109
Dreams About Running Late 111
Dreams About Missing the Bus, Train, or Plane 113
Lost Dreams 113
Dreams About a Desired Lifestyle or Wishes 115
Nonsense Dreams/ Weird Dreams 117
Dreams About Losing Your Teeth 118
Dreams About Losing Something of Value 120
Dreams About Bathroom Accidents 121
Recurring Dreams 123
Chapter 5 Psychic Dreaming 129
ESP Dreams 130
Case Study: Influencing Versus Controlling 134
Reincarnation Dreams 140
Dreaming of Those Who Have Crossed Over 142
Chapter 6 Religious Dreams 147
Saints and Symbols 148
Good Versus Evil 152
Chapter 7 Nightmares: Your Very Own Horror Show 155
Violent Dreams 156
Dreams About Death 158
Animal Attacks 160
Paralysis in Dreams 162
Falling Dreams 163
Stopping the Nightmares 165
Chapter 8 Mysterious Dreaming 167
Continuation Dreams 168
Double Dreaming 169
Lucid Dreaming: Knowing You Are Dreaming While Dreaming 172
Astral Dreaming 177
Dream Puns 182
Case Study: The Possibilities of Lucid, Astral, and Psychic Dreaming 186
Chapter 9 Creating the Right Dreaming Atmosphere 189
Creating the Right Sleeping Environment 190
Suggestions Before You Go to Sleep 193
Asking Your Subconscious a Question 194
Asking Your Subconscious for Help 196
Taking Your Dreams Seriously 200
Chapter 10 Harnessing Your Dream Power 201
Acknowledging Your Personal Power Over Your Dream State 202
Case Study: Work, Practice, Effort, and Patience 205
Keeping a Dream Journal 207
Learning the Lessons 214
Conclusion 217
Only the Dreamer Can Interpret the Dream 217
How Dreams Lead to Greater Self-Understanding 219
Appendix: The Universal Language of Dreams 221
Dictionary of Common Dream Symbols 222
Glossary of Dream Terms 269
Bibliography 273
Author Biography 277
Index 279