A Brief History Of Dreams And Their Interpretation

The interpretation of dreams by dream experts may be almost as old as dreaming itself.  We know that all humans, and many animals, dream every night, and humans have always been fascinated to learn what causes dreams and what they mean.

The interpretation of dreams dates back at least as far as 3000-4000 B.C.  We know that because the interpretations of dreams were recorded in permanent form on clay tablets.  It is thought that many primitive peoples were unable to initially distinguish between the real world and the dream world. 

In many cases, these people looked upon the dream world as an extension of the physical world around them, and in many cases they saw the dream world as more powerful than the waking one.

Dream interpretation was such an important field to the ancient Greek and Roman world that dream interpreters often accompanied generals and other military leaders into battles.  Dreams were taken extremely seriously, and the Greeks and Romans in particular often viewed dreams as messages sent by their gods. 

Dreams also had a religious content in ancient Egypt, and priests their doubled as dream interpreters.  Dreams were among the items recorded by the ancient Egyptians in the form of hieroglyphics. 

Those whose dreams were especially vivid or significant were thought to be blessed and were given special status in these ancient societies.  Likewise, people who were able to interpret dreams were thought to receive these gifts directly from the gods, and they enjoyed a special status in society as well. 

There are over 700 mentions of dreams in the bible, and people in biblical times saw dreams as very significant.  Dreams and their interpretations are mentioned in many of the most significant books of the bible and other holy scriptures.

In many cases, dreams were often seen as a form of prophecy.  People often interpreted their dreams as omens or warnings, and adjusted their activities accordingly.  Dreams were often thought of as omens from deities, as messages from spirits, or as messages from departed souls.  In some cases, dreams were even seen as the work of demons, meant to confuse and trouble the dreamer.

Dreams were so important that they often dictated the actions of political and military leaders, affecting everything from the prosecution of a battle to the outcome of a political decision.  Dreams were also thought to provide vital clues to healers, and they were used in the diagnosis and treatment of all manners of illness.

Dreaming was often looked upon by indigenous peoples as a way to commune directly with gods and spirits, and dreams are still used in this way by cultures around the world.  Many people believed, and some still do, that during dream sleep the soul leaves the body and communes with the spirit world.

The Chinese were one culture who believed that the soul left the body each night during dream sleep.  They believed that if the dreamer were suddenly awakened the soul may not be able to return to the body.  That is why some Chinese are still leery about the use of alarm clocks.  This is just one example of how ancient legends can linger into the modern world.

Some Mexican and Native American societies share this ancient view of the importance of dreams, and share the belief in a separate dimension that is visited during dream sleep.  These people believed that their departed ancestors lived in their dreams, and that they were able to take forms like animals and plants.

Thus dreams were seen as a way for them to commune with their recent and ancient ancestors, and to gather wisdom and knowledge that would serve them in their waking lives.  Dreams were also seen as ways to gather information about their purpose or mission in life.

The respect for dreams changed radically early in the 19th century, and dreams in that era were often dismissed as reactions to anxiety, outside noises or even bad food and indigestion. 

During this period of time, dreams were thought to have no meaning at all, and interest in dream interpretation all but evaporated.  This all changed, however, with the arrival of Sigmund Freud later in the 19th century.  Sigmund Freud stunned the world of psychiatry by stressing the importance of dreams, and he revived the once dead art of dream interpretation.


By  Rusly Abraham

Dreams of Falling

Dreams where you are falling are some of the most commonly reported dreams there are, and such dreams are one of the leading causes of sudden waking from a dream.
First, let’s begin by dispensing with the myth that if you hit the ground in your dreams you will die.  There are plenty of fully alive human beings who have reported hitting the ground during their dreams of falling.  The fact that these people were around to report this situation is proof that this legend is merely that – a legend.
Dreams of falling are most often interpreted as an indication of unresolved fears, anxieties, instabilities and insecurities.   The person who experiences recurrent dreams where he or she is falling may be feeling overwhelmed by and unable to control certain situations in his or her waking life. 
For instance, the dreamer may feel that his or her home or work life is out of control, and that he or she is unable to remain on top of the situation.  This kind of generalized anxiety can easily manifest itself in a dream where he or she is out of control, such as a falling dream.
Falling often represents a loss of control, or feelings of helplessness on the part of the dreamer.  After all, when you fall, you have no control over your direction or your pace.  This feeling of being out of control and falling often represents similar feelings in the dreamer’s waking life. 
Therefore those who are troubled by such dreams should be encouraged to examine their life for the source of anxiety and fear, and to confront the situation head on.  Doing so often results in a lessening or even an elimination of dreams of falling.
Dreams of falling can also represent a sense of inferiority or a sense of failure in your personal or professional life.  This fear could be a fear of failing in school, failing at your job, losing your social status, or failing in a relationship. 
People experiencing these situations are often troubled by dreams in which they are falling.  These dreams of falling can represent a perceived failure to measure up to expectations, or a fear of losing your status, losing an important person in your life, or just a generalized fear or failure.
The strict Freudian interpretation of a dream of falling was that such a dream indicated that the dreamer was contemplating giving into a sexual desire or sexual impulse.
Dreams of falling are most likely to take place during the first stage of sleep.  That is because dreams at this stage are often accompanied by spasms of muscles in the arms, the legs or even the whole body.  These sudden muscle contractions are known to science as a myclonic jerk. 
The dreaming mind can interpret these muscle spasms as falling, and thus incorporate falling into the dream state.   Often when dreamers experience this myclonic jerk, they awaken at feeling their body twitch.  This fast reaction is part of the evolutionary mechanism that allows us to be awakened quickly in the presence of a threatening environment.
Those who do biblical and religious interpretations of dreams often see falling dreams as meaning that the dreamer is taking his or her cues from the world of man instead of turning to God for guidance and advice.

By  Rusly Abraham
ruslyabraham@gmail.com

Dreams of Flying

Dreams of flying may well be the most common of all dreams.  Dreams of flying often fall into that special category of dreams in which the dreamer realizes he or she is dreaming.  These dreams, called lucid dreams, are some of the most fascinating to both dreamers and dream researchers alike. 
Dreams of flying are often described as joyful, fun and exhilarating, and flying dreams are often among the most pleasant dream experiences.
Dreams where you are flying easily, soaring over the landscape and enjoying the serenity often mean that you feel on top of the situation and in control of your life.  Flying dreams of this nature are often a nighttime manifestation of the feeling of rising above it all and being in control.  Often dreamers are able to control where they fly in their dreams.   Being able to control where you fly, how fast you fly and how high or low you fly is often a representation of a strong sense of personal power.
The flip side of that happy scenario are dreams in which the dreamer has difficulty remaining in the air, or dreams where you are unable to fly and begin to fall to earth.  These types of flying dreams can represent a lack of power, and an inability to control your personal circumstances.  Often people going through situations where they feel powerless will experience these negative kinds of flying dreams.
Obstacles like power lines, mountains and trees in a flying dream can be dream state manifestations of actual barriers in your waking life.  For instance, if you feel that roadblocks are constantly going up in your life, you may see these roadblocks manifested as trees, mountains, power lines or other hazards in your flying dream.  Identifying the barriers in your life, and overcoming them, can remove these barriers from your dream state as well as your waking life.
Often the dreamer will experience fear while flying, or be afraid that he or she is flying too high.  These types of dreams are often representations of fear of challenge, or fear that you cannot succeed.
Dreams of flying are some of the most interesting types of dreams for dream researchers and psychologists.  Unlike dreams of being naked, dreams or running, dreams of falling and other common dreams, flying dreams represent an ability that humans do not have in their waking lives.  Anytime someone dreams of doing something they do not have the ability to do, it is of interest to dream researchers.
Dreams of flying can represent yearning, or striving to be better.  They can also be manifestations of feelings of power, or in some cases feelings of lack of power.  The ability of the dreamer to take control of the flight in his or her dream can be an exhilarating experience, and provide the dreamer with a feeling of power than can last into his or her waking life.
No matter what the dream of flying represents, it remains one of the most fertile fields in the world of dream interpretation.  There are many reasons to dream of flying, and many ways such a dream can play itself out.  Chances are that dreams of flying have been around as long as humans have been dreaming, and that they will continue to be around for millennia to come.