Artemidorus
Although in our modern era we equate dream interpretation with the work of Freud and Jung, there is a rich past concerning cultures that held dream interpretation in high regard.
Assyrians, Egyptians, Hebrews, Greeks and Romans were all convinced of the significance of the messages in people’s dreams.
Important decisions in the areas of politics, religious quests, economic decisions and personal decisions have rested upon interpretations of dreams. In our modern era inventors have stated they came up with their inventions through dreams and several Nobel Prize winners have said that their prize winning research was assisted through information they received in their dreams
Assyrians, Egyptians, Hebrews, Greeks and Romans were all convinced of the significance of the messages in people’s dreams.
Important decisions in the areas of politics, religious quests, economic decisions and personal decisions have rested upon interpretations of dreams. In our modern era inventors have stated they came up with their inventions through dreams and several Nobel Prize winners have said that their prize winning research was assisted through information they received in their dreams
One book on dream interpretation has been held in the highest regard from antiquity until the present time. The Oneirocritica is “the most comprehensive, the most sought after and the most quoted book to have been ever written on dream interpretation.”
Written in the second century A.D., the author of the book, Artemidorus, tried to impart to his son, and to anyone reading the book, the basic principles he followed to reveal the dreamer’s psyche and future. Artemidorus writes in his preface, “I have not relied upon conjectures here nor have I constructed a system of probabilities. My writing, is based on personal experience. I myself have observed in each occasion how these dreams have come true.”
Artemidorus writes about being well-acquainted with the works of Homer, Hesiod, Pindar, Euripides, Xenophon, Menander and many other great philosophers. Artemidorus makes it quite clear that, “besides consorting with the common and presumably illiterate diviners who practiced there trade in the marketplace, he had taken special pains to procure every book written on the interpretation of dreams from antiquity.”
What makes Artemidorus’s work really unique was his ability to place dreams in classifications. That is he recognized dreams that could be considered more general for all people’s dreams and those which were more personal and original. Those who have taken the time to study the Oneirocritica of Artemidorus realize his work is very rational and provides a practical approach to interpreting dreams.
Artemidorus was cautious regarding the superstitions and mysticism of his day and made an effort to assert that dreams were motivated by something within the dreamer. He did not discount messages from the gods but attempted to handle dreams in a more logical manner.
One of the primary reasons Artemidorus wrote his book was to help his son with dream interpretation, and in the fifth book of the Oneirocritica, he provides his son with dreams to help him practice his interpretations.
Written in the second century A.D., the author of the book, Artemidorus, tried to impart to his son, and to anyone reading the book, the basic principles he followed to reveal the dreamer’s psyche and future. Artemidorus writes in his preface, “I have not relied upon conjectures here nor have I constructed a system of probabilities. My writing, is based on personal experience. I myself have observed in each occasion how these dreams have come true.”
Artemidorus writes about being well-acquainted with the works of Homer, Hesiod, Pindar, Euripides, Xenophon, Menander and many other great philosophers. Artemidorus makes it quite clear that, “besides consorting with the common and presumably illiterate diviners who practiced there trade in the marketplace, he had taken special pains to procure every book written on the interpretation of dreams from antiquity.”
What makes Artemidorus’s work really unique was his ability to place dreams in classifications. That is he recognized dreams that could be considered more general for all people’s dreams and those which were more personal and original. Those who have taken the time to study the Oneirocritica of Artemidorus realize his work is very rational and provides a practical approach to interpreting dreams.
Artemidorus was cautious regarding the superstitions and mysticism of his day and made an effort to assert that dreams were motivated by something within the dreamer. He did not discount messages from the gods but attempted to handle dreams in a more logical manner.
One of the primary reasons Artemidorus wrote his book was to help his son with dream interpretation, and in the fifth book of the Oneirocritica, he provides his son with dreams to help him practice his interpretations.
The pictures above are of a copy of the 1539 edition of the Artemidorus book that we have in our library. This was the first printed book of dream interpretation. This book has been translated into English.
Many religious works contain numerous references to the importance of dreams. Many religious beliefs are based upon the dreams of the revelators and teachers of those particular religions. Dreams are a fascinating aspect of our human psyche. I remember reading, about 40 years ago, an article in a magazine that stated if you want to have dreams on your favorite topic then just read everything you can during the day on that subject and your dreams will continue on that topic. Yes, I am sure that you can stuff that into yourself and a majority of your dreams on that topic will be the result.
I know from personal experience that dreams are much more than just the ‘day’s residues.’ I had a profound experience with an American Indian when I was 24 years old who shared that my future guidance would come through my dreams. I remember thinking that would seem impossible since I did not recall many of my dreams and when I did remember them they were disjointed, silly and had strange combinations of objects.
One week after the experience I recalled my first dream. It took a week because I was so excited to have a dream that I couldn’t get to sleep thinking about going to sleep to have a dream. (Does that make sense?) Finally the first dream came through that I could recall and I was stunned. I decided to follow through with information from that dream and it has led me on an incredible journey. After that I had five dreams a night for six months on every phase of my personality. I was looking at myself from a different perspective.
After that period of time I began having dreams with places to go in the world to find particular lost or hidden papers and healing devices and I was also given phone numbers in other dreams. My dream would contain a phone number that I called upon awakening and received important information that I had not expected.
I keep a legal size yellow pad next to my bed with a pen to write. I wake up from the dream and just write without turning on a light. I move the pad up slightly to accommodate each line. If I am really tired I would write line upon line…that is not good. It did not take long before I had the habit of writing the lines down. JUST LIKE YOU WILL. Once I expected to have informative and prophetic dreams, they came. Many of my dreams provided information on future events.
Now this post is not just about my experience, it is about the potential that we all possess. I have worked with hundreds of people who have gone on to successfully work with their own dreams. No special systems or abilities needed. Just a desire to have a greater contact with your inner dream teacher and the sources of guidance around YOU. My awareness teaches that we all dream and we all have this direct contact through our dreams to our Creator. I have kept dream journals for nearly 35 years and recorded the results of my dreams.
Why not share some of the results of your dreams with us on this post. Please not the whole dream but the subject and the result. My first dream was, “You are not the source, Steve…you illuminate the pathway that others traverse toward the source.” So, I am not special in any way and We all have this gift within us.
There are many books on dreams but I would suggest, “Dreams your Magic Mirror,” by Elsie Sechrist; “Dream Power”, by Cynthia Richmond; and “The Interpretation of Dreams Oneirocritica by Artemidorus,” translated by Robert J. White.
To inspire and empower.
Many religious works contain numerous references to the importance of dreams. Many religious beliefs are based upon the dreams of the revelators and teachers of those particular religions. Dreams are a fascinating aspect of our human psyche. I remember reading, about 40 years ago, an article in a magazine that stated if you want to have dreams on your favorite topic then just read everything you can during the day on that subject and your dreams will continue on that topic. Yes, I am sure that you can stuff that into yourself and a majority of your dreams on that topic will be the result.
I know from personal experience that dreams are much more than just the ‘day’s residues.’ I had a profound experience with an American Indian when I was 24 years old who shared that my future guidance would come through my dreams. I remember thinking that would seem impossible since I did not recall many of my dreams and when I did remember them they were disjointed, silly and had strange combinations of objects.
One week after the experience I recalled my first dream. It took a week because I was so excited to have a dream that I couldn’t get to sleep thinking about going to sleep to have a dream. (Does that make sense?) Finally the first dream came through that I could recall and I was stunned. I decided to follow through with information from that dream and it has led me on an incredible journey. After that I had five dreams a night for six months on every phase of my personality. I was looking at myself from a different perspective.
After that period of time I began having dreams with places to go in the world to find particular lost or hidden papers and healing devices and I was also given phone numbers in other dreams. My dream would contain a phone number that I called upon awakening and received important information that I had not expected.
I keep a legal size yellow pad next to my bed with a pen to write. I wake up from the dream and just write without turning on a light. I move the pad up slightly to accommodate each line. If I am really tired I would write line upon line…that is not good. It did not take long before I had the habit of writing the lines down. JUST LIKE YOU WILL. Once I expected to have informative and prophetic dreams, they came. Many of my dreams provided information on future events.
Now this post is not just about my experience, it is about the potential that we all possess. I have worked with hundreds of people who have gone on to successfully work with their own dreams. No special systems or abilities needed. Just a desire to have a greater contact with your inner dream teacher and the sources of guidance around YOU. My awareness teaches that we all dream and we all have this direct contact through our dreams to our Creator. I have kept dream journals for nearly 35 years and recorded the results of my dreams.
Why not share some of the results of your dreams with us on this post. Please not the whole dream but the subject and the result. My first dream was, “You are not the source, Steve…you illuminate the pathway that others traverse toward the source.” So, I am not special in any way and We all have this gift within us.
There are many books on dreams but I would suggest, “Dreams your Magic Mirror,” by Elsie Sechrist; “Dream Power”, by Cynthia Richmond; and “The Interpretation of Dreams Oneirocritica by Artemidorus,” translated by Robert J. White.
To inspire and empower.
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