How dreams speak An interactive journey into your subconscious

In this gorgeously illustrated guide, artist Chilton breaks down the science of dreaming and the history of dream philosophy, and analyzes dozens of common dream symbols. The book begins by outlining the types of dreams one can have, and explains why a certain type may appear based on the stage of sleep and mental state of the dreamer. The largest portion of the guide is devoted to interrogating common symbols, everything from avocados to zombies. Readers will learn what it might mean if they dream of hats, dolphins, flying, illness, parades, pregnancy, teeth, and more. Each explanation is paired with follow-up questions for readers to reflect on why a symbol appeared at a certain time. Chilton emphasizes the importance of a conscious effort to remember dreams, and the advantages of dream journaling. Keeping a record of dream patterns, symbols, and imagery has made Chilton a more imaginative visual artist and a more open-minded human being. How Dreams Speak begs to be revisited, again and again, any time readers find themselves mystified by their sleeping subconscious.

Drawing on a spectrum of sources and personal experience, Chilton, an artist and leader of journaling workshops, provides an informative primer on plumbing dreams for their deeper meanings, inspirations, and possible portents of the future. The initial chapters include a brief discussion of theories proposed by sleep science and psychology to explain the reason for dreams and their implications for the psyche; there's also an interesting overview of eight basic types of dreams. Chilton deftly veers between academic theories and more mystical concepts. She gives tips for increasing the frequency and intensity of dreams, keeping a dream journal, recognizing symbols, and analyzing dream imagery. The book's tools for dream interpretation include brief guides to numerology, the esoterics of color, and metaphoric meanings of people and animals. Chilton interprets, in-depth, more than 120 major dream themes and symbols, arranged alphabetically and cross-referenced. She also supplies questions with which readers can further explore the relevance of their dreams' images, sounds, or feelings. VERDICT The casually interested or fledgling practitioner of dream interpretation will find this charming compendium a worthwhile introduction to this subject.--Janet Tapper, formerly with Univ. of Western States Lib., Portland, OR