| The interpretation of dreams by dream
| |
| | meant to confuse and trouble the dreamer.
|
| experts may be almost as old as dreaming
| |
| | Dreams were so important that they often
|
| itself. We know that all humans, and
| |
| | dictated the actions of political and
|
| many animals, dream every night, and
| |
| | military leaders, affecting everything
|
| humans have always been fascinated to
| |
| | from the prosecution of a battle to the
|
| learn what causes dreams and what they
| |
| | outcome of a political decision. Dreams
|
| mean.
| |
| | were also thought to provide vital clues
|
| The interpretation of dreams dates back
| |
| | to healers, and they were used in the
|
| at least as far as 3000-4000 B.C. We
| |
| | diagnosis and treatment of all manners of
|
| know that because the interpretations of
| |
| | illness.
|
| dreams were recorded in permanent form on
| |
| | Dreaming was often looked upon by
|
| clay tablets. It is thought that many
| |
| | indigenous peoples as a way to commune
|
| primitive peoples were unable to
| |
| | directly with gods and spirits, and
|
| initially distinguish between the real
| |
| | dreams are still used in this way by
|
| world and the dream world.
| |
| | cultures around the world. Many people
|
| In many cases, these people looked upon
| |
| | believed, and some still do, that during
|
| the dream world as an extension of the
| |
| | dream sleep the soul leaves the body and
|
| physical world around them, and in many
| |
| | communes with the spirit world.
|
| cases they saw the dream world as more
| |
| | The Chinese were one culture who
|
| powerful than the waking one.
| |
| | believed that the soul left the body each
|
| Dream interpretation was such an
| |
| | night during dream sleep. They believed
|
| important field to the ancient Greek and
| |
| | that if the dreamer were suddenly
|
| Roman world that dream interpreters often
| |
| | awakened the soul may not be able to
|
| accompanied generals and other military
| |
| | return to the body. That is why some
|
| leaders into battles. Dreams were taken
| |
| | Chinese are still leery about the use of
|
| extremely seriously, and the Greeks and
| |
| | alarm clocks. This is just one example
|
| Romans in particular often viewed dreams
| |
| | of how ancient legends can linger into
|
| as messages sent by their gods.
| |
| | the modern world.
|
| Dreams also had a religious content in
| |
| | Some Mexican and Native American
|
| ancient Egypt, and priests their doubled
| |
| | societies share this ancient view of the
|
| as dream interpreters. Dreams were among
| |
| | importance of dreams, and share the
|
| the items recorded by the ancient
| |
| | belief in a separate dimension that is
|
| Egyptians in the form of hieroglyphics.
| |
| | visited during dream sleep. These people
|
| Those whose dreams were especially vivid
| |
| | believed that their departed ancestors
|
| or significant were thought to be blessed
| |
| | lived in their dreams, and that they were
|
| and were given special status in these
| |
| | able to take forms like animals and
|
| ancient societies. Likewise, people who
| |
| | plants.
|
| were able to interpret dreams were
| |
| | Thus dreams were seen as a way for them
|
| thought to receive these gifts directly
| |
| | to commune with their recent and ancient
|
| from the gods, and they enjoyed a special
| |
| | ancestors, and to gather wisdom and
|
| status in society as well.
| |
| | knowledge that would serve them in their
|
| There are over 700 mentions of dreams in
| |
| | waking lives. Dreams were also seen as
|
| the bible, and people in biblical times
| |
| | ways to gather information about their
|
| saw dreams as very significant. Dreams
| |
| | purpose or mission in life.
|
| and their interpretations are mentioned
| |
| | The respect for dreams changed radically
|
| in many of the most significant books of
| |
| | early in the 19th century, and dreams in
|
| the bible and other holy scriptures.
| |
| | that era were often dismissed as
|
| In many cases, dreams were often seen as
| |
| | reactions to anxiety, outside noises or
|
| a form of prophecy. People often
| |
| | even bad food and indigestion.
|
| interpreted their dreams as omens or
| |
| | During this period of time, dreams were
|
| warnings, and adjusted their activities
| |
| | thought to have no meaning at all, and
|
| accordingly. Dreams were often thought
| |
| | interest in dream interpretation all but
|
| of as omens from deities, as messages
| |
| | evaporated. This all changed, however,
|
| from spirits, or as messages from
| |
| | with the arrival of Sigmund Freud later
|
| departed souls. In some cases, dreams
| |
| | in the 19th century.
|
| were even seen as the work of demons,
| |
| |
|
