Edgar Cayce's Dream Interpretation Dictionary

[KristaNicole07]

Edgar Cayce's Dream Dictionary So I ran across this the other day, and was curious. This guy, Edgar Cayce, was/is a dream interpreter, and a supposedly good one at that. I've been really interested in dream interpretation lately, and I've always kind of shrugged these kinds of things off, because I feel like the best person to interpret your dreams is yourself, and there probably are few, if any, universal dream symbols. This dictionary, however, gives many different observed meanings for common dream symbols. However, some of them greatly contradict what I've learned. An example would be the appearance of a dog in your dream. I see dogs as symbolizing loyalty and friendliness. This is what Cayce says about them (it's kind of contradictory to what I was thinking): Dog 1. a nature or disposition that may not always be trusted (294-87). 2. that which is faithful and unfaithful (288-17). 3. that which is friendly or, if aroused, an enemy (294-97). 4. things going downhill-going "to the dogs" (294-97). Other possibilities: 1. aggressiveness. 2. Instinctive knowledge. 3. obedience. Some of the things he says, however, make sense to me. So what are your thoughts on dream interpretation dictionaries? Do you think that there are many universal symbols, a few, or none? Do you think this guy is a genius, or full of crap?

[Robot_Butler]

I think interpretation can only really be accomplished by the dreamer. This is a perfect example of why dream dictionaries don't really work. Dogs will mean very different things for someone who is terrified of dogs compared to someone who just got a new puppy they love. I think the whole idea is silly. In my opinion, the best way to help interpret another person's dream is by helping them figure it out for themselves.

[MiloC]

I think interpretation can only really be accomplished by the dreamer. This is a perfect example of why dream dictionaries don't really work. Dogs will mean very different things for someone who is terrified of dogs compared to someone who just got a new puppy they love. I think the whole idea is silly. In my opinion, the best way to help interpret another person's dream is by helping them figure it out for themselves. There are certain images that stir up thoughts and feelings because they relate to common human experience (Sun, Moon, Trees ... etc), otherwise poets and myth-makers would be useless and unintelligible to anyone but themselves. This is not to say that a symbol might not be very apt metaphor in a dream message because of its individual significance to the dreamer. One always has to bear this possibility in mind. But helping a dreamer to figure out a dream themselves sometimes involves connecting them to collective experience that is relevant to their individual experience and below the threshold of their consciousness.

[KristaNicole07]

Yeah, that's pretty much how I think about it. I was skeptical when I ran across this, but I do think that Cayce did leave some wiggle room in his interpretations, seeing as he has many possible representations of the same symbols. Many dream dictionaries say "This absolutely means this", which is total BS.

[underhiswing]

All dream dictionaries are of some use. Sometimes we need to see all the options before all of the pieces of the dream start to fit together well (as if it is done correctly, it will all fit together nicely). There are very common general symbolic meanings of most objects, and some of them are so universal that the meaning does not vary. But, the majority of the items are subject to the dreamers social environment. As an example, the "tent"...those of us in the USA would associate it with camping, but those in the middle east would think of "home". The "dog" would mean much more of a survival item to an Alaskan who needs them for transportation, than a scavenging dog that runs in a pack on a tropical island or in the remote mountains. Dream interpretation requires wisdom and careful thought. You have to put yourself into the dream of the dreamer you are trying to help, and you have to ask many questions. I don't agree that the dreamer is the best interpreter of thier dreams, because they are too close to it to see it for what it is, most of the time, and because most dreamers are not educated in symbolism, as real interpreters would be.

[travellight27]

I have great respect for Edgar Cayce and his writings. The book, "There is a River" I give credit to for taking me on a spiritual path. I think he was a man lightyears beyond his time on Earth. That being said, anything anyone has ever written , needs to be taken with a grain of salt, and taken in regard to the time it was written as well. I have found 3 dream books of current years that I can find no fault with, but again, symbols are Universal....BUT if someone has had an extreme up close and personal experience with any symbol, that magnetizes that symbol to a specific meaning, that symbol may relate a different meaning for them. The 3 books I think are worthy , and again, this is just from personal experience, yours may be different... 1. "Do You Dream"...Tony Crisp....may be out of print and hard to get 2. " Watch Your Dreams" ...Anne Ree Colton....geared for the more spiritual side of dreams 3. " The Mystical Marvelous Magical World of Dreams"....Wilma Tanner a great all round book that involves the spiritual, physical and mental

[travellight27]

Edgar Cayce's Dream Dictionary So I ran across this the other day, and was curious. This guy, Edgar Cayce, was/is a dream interpreter, and a supposedly good one at that. I've been really interested in dream interpretation lately, and I've always kind of shrugged these kinds of things off, because I feel like the best person to interpret your dreams is yourself, and there probably are few, if any, universal dream symbols. This dictionary, however, gives many different observed meanings for common dream symbols. However, some of them greatly contradict what I've learned. An example would be the appearance of a dog in your dream. I see dogs as symbolizing loyalty and friendliness. This is what Cayce says about them (it's kind of contradictory to what I was thinking): Some of the things he says, however, make sense to me. So what are your thoughts on dream interpretation dictionaries? Do you think that there are many universal symbols, a few, or none? Do you think this guy is a genius, or full of crap? ......one note....on Dogs as a symbol. Dogs in general represent our Friendships. "Friendships"....and as we all know that come in all kinds. Friendships are supposed to represent Loyalty, and so on, but in reality, they can mean users,givers,takers,whiners.....our friends come in all shapes, sizes, and reasons. So when a "dog" as a symbol shows up.....take note..."what color is it"..."What breed"....does the kind of dog make you think of a specific friend. A white dog can be representative of a good friend...and so on.

[KristaNicole07]

Travellight, I do agree that Cayce should be a very respected figure. I definitely agree that he was lightyears ahead of his time. That's why I looked at his dream dictionary, and I do think it has much more merit than others I have looked at. And dogs as a symbol of friendship...I can see that. I dream of dogs all the time, and I value my friendships with people very, very much. It's just hard for me to generalize things to the masses, I guess. *shrugs* Maybe I'll examine his dictionary a little more, see if I can find anything in my dreams and life that seem to match.