Gustavus Hindman Miller - 12,000 Dreams Interpreted: A New Edition for the 21st Century

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New material 2011 by Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. Portions of this book previously appeared in 10,000 Dreams Interpreted: A Dictionary of Dreams, published in 2007 by Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., previously published by Barnes & Noble, Inc., 1995 by Barnes & Noble, Inc.

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ISBN 978-1-4027-8417-0 (Trade Paperback)
ISBN 978-1-4027-9083-6 (ebook)

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Miller, Gustavus Hindman, 1857
12,000 dreams interpreted : a new edition for the 21st century / Gustavus Hindman Miller. Rev. and updated / by Linda Shields and Lenore M. Skomal.
p. cm.
Rev. ed. of: 10,000 dreams interpreted / by Gustavus Hindman Miller. 2007.
ISBN 978-1-4027-8417-0
1. Dream interpretation. 2. Dreams. I. Shields, Linda. II. Skomal, Lenore. III. Miller,
Gustavus Hindman, 1857- 10,000 dreams interpreted. IV. Title.
BF1091.M6 2012
154.6'3dc23

2011023587

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W HAT IS A DREAM? Is it somewhere we go to escape lifes ups and downs? Is it a prophecy of what is to come in the future? Or perhaps a message from the past, a long-deceased loved one reaching out from the misty depths of the spirit world? Or could it be the spirit world trying to warn or tell us something that we need at that moment for clarity? Might it be our subconscious mind, clarifying a problem in our lives or giving us a glimpse of future events to come? Or is it simply that pickle that we ate before bed?

The answer to all these questions is yes. In our waking lives, our brains subconsciously store information, events, and feelings as we go through our days and years. At the same time, we have a spiritual subconscious that is operating full-bore below the surface of our conscious, material life. The combined power of these dual consciousnesses emerges in our dreams. We may dream of a solution to a problem that has eluded us when awake. Or we might come up with a predictive vision, dreaming of an upcoming birth or death, celebration or sadness. We can even receive numbers to play games of chance. Sometimes there is no such voice behind the vision, and our dreams have no obvious rhythm or reasonwhich could be our pickle before bed dreams.

For most of us, dreams materialize in the form of a story. And, as with any story, there are components that together make up the whole, whether or not they make sense individually. A person, a house, a certain food, a strong feeling or emotionthese are some of the pieces of the whole. And though, while dreaming, we are immersed in this whole, often upon waking we can only recall a single item or fleeting feeling from a dream, our waking lives haunted by the ghosts of our night wanderings.

Sometimes it is not our days but our nights that are haunted by hazy visions of past events. Or certain dreams may recur night after night, telling us the same confusing story.

Though it may seem counterintuitive, such dreams can act as a kind of Band-Aid to keep our minds balanced. Some components of a such a dream are things wed like to forget but may need to bring up again and again, so that we can use the lesson in our waking lives in order to move on.

Sometimes people we dont know play starring roles in our dreams. Sometimes we see deceased loved ones, or friends, or even celebrities. These people could be really present in our dreams, visiting us or giving us messages. More often than not, though, they are spirit guidesethereal mentors or angels there to help us, giving us information and guidance that we cannot receive in our waking, skeptical state.

Thats where this book comes in. This dictionary has some twelve thousand definitions to help you interpret your dreams. With a little practice, interpreting a dream can be easy and enjoyable. Over time, you will find that you can interpret your dreams on an intuitive level, using this guide as a reference only when needed.

HOW TO DREAM

Everyone dreams. It is one thing that all human beings have in common. Its just that some of us cant remember our dreams upon waking, and so our waking perceptions tell us (wrongly) that we dont dream. Since dreams are not merely amusing fantasies, but can serve as strong tools to help you work out problems in your life, we suggest that you learn how to immerse yourself in your dreams and remember them.

Prior to falling asleep, try to clear your mind as much as you can. If you have a problem in your life, this is the time to think about it. You are not trying to solve it; just think about it and analyze some of the aspects of your dilemma. What are the elements of the problem, and how is it making you feel? Who is involved, and why? Consider these questions from an objective point of view, removing yourself from the issue, or you may very well find yourself obsessing about your problem instead of falling asleep. View the problem as if from a distance; you are merely observing what is going on. Dont think too hard or too long, and remember to keep the goal of solving it through your sleep foremost in your mind.

As you settle the pieces in place mentally, assure yourself: I will have clarity through my sleep. Then allow yourself to fall into sleep. You may have to do this several nights in a row, but eventually your dreaming mind will provide a solution to the problem. If you dont have a specific problem but are looking to see farther into your future, you can do the same exercise; just focus on what it is you want to know before you slumber. Your subconscious is taking in and processing tiny particles of information about the world around you all the time, without your even realizing it, and it can see the hidden connections and subtle indicators that your waking mind cannot. If you calmly and repeatedly direct your mind toward this purpose, your dreams will show you more than your eyes can see of what is to come.

TYPES OF DREAMS

Professional dream interpreters divide dreams into the following categories:

NIGHTMARES

The definition of a nightmare is in the mind of the dreamer. If you wake up frightened, then its a nightmare. While once believed to be the exclusive bailiwick of young children, nightmares are very realand very terrifyingto many, many people. But most of us focus on the feeling of fear were left with, rather than the details of the dream that created it. Understanding the components of the nightmare will give valuable insight into the underlying fears that give rise to these dream monsters. Indeed, many people who suffer from chronic nightmares are plagued by very real traumas in their waking lives, whether present-day or remembered. Uncovering and addressing these problems and getting help is the best way to banish nightmares, particularly those that make repeat visits.