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