Dream interpretation book
A dream interpretation book is an oneiromantic tool which is formatted as a sort of dictionary listing different things which might appear in a dream alongside their symbolic meanings. These were popular over a long period of time, and on several occasions were used as miscellanea for other divinatory books.
Entries are often sorted alphabetically, but also may be sorted by element, category of thing (birds, beasts, objects, etc), or by sign of the Zodiac.
In antiquity
The history of dream interpretation books spans thousands of years and reflects the evolving beliefs, philosophies, and psychologies of various cultures.
The earliest known dream interpretations appear in Sumerian and Akkadian texts which viewed dreams as divine messages: either omens or instructions from gods. Kings from this period often employed dream interpreters (similar to priests or shamans).
In ancient Egypt, dreams were believed to be visions from gods or the spirit world. The Ramesside Dream Book (c. 1275 BCE) is the earliest surviving dream interpretation book. It contains over 200 dreams with meanings labeled as “good” or “bad.” Dreams were sometimes recorded on papyri or amulets for protection or insight.
Roman era
During the Roman era, dreams were still considered messages from the divine, especially from gods like Apollo.
Artemidorus Daldianus, a 2nd-century Greek author, wrote Oneirocritica, the most influential dream interpretation book of antiquity, analyzing dreams in detail and offering symbolic explanations (e.g., snakes, flying, death). His book was practical and grounded in observation of people’s lives.
Islamic world
In early Islamic society, dream interpretation was widely studied and respected. Ibn Sirin (8th century) was the most famous dream interpreter. His book The Interpretation of Dreams (Ta'bir al-Ru'ya) collected and categorized dream symbols, often blending spiritual and psychological insights.
It became a cornerstone in Islamic dream theory and was widely copied.
Psychoanalysis
In 1900, Sigmund Freud published The Interpretation of Dreams, a book which revolutionized dream theory. Freud hypothesized that dreams were not divine messages, but psychological products, full of symbolic meanings. He introduced the concept of analyzing dreams to determine underlying issues such as:
- Wish fulfillment
- Repression
- The unconscious mind
Carl Jung
Carl Jung, a student of Freud, developed a slightly different theory. He saw dreams as tools for self-discovery and integration of the unconscious (archetypes, shadow, etc.). Jung wrote extensively on dream analysis and his works have become foundational in analytical psychology.
He also saw the tarot as a tool for transformation and integrated his dream concepts into tarot imagery.
Examples of dream books
- The Royal Book of Dreams by Robert Cross Smith
- The Interpretation of Dreams by Sigmund Freud
- Man and His Symbols by Carl Gustav Jung
- The Dream Dictionary by Eric Ackroyd