Customer Reviews

The Waking Dream: Unlocking the Symbolic Language of Our Lives

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This book represents the best, most comprehensive, exposition of the symbolist world view in a single volume. Infact, if I wanted to truly understand the deep, fundamental roots of mysticism or occultism, this is the book that I would read first. Symbolism stands in contrast to stark materialism in that it assigns inherent Meaning to the world. Symbolism holds that this physical, material world is the lowest level of reality and not it's totality, as "science" would have us believe. The lower levels merely reflect the archetypical currents, patterns, and laws of the higher: "As above, so below." To personally validate this mode of thinking in one's own life is to experience permanent mind shift. You never see creation as dead, sterile, and meaningless again. What more can one ask of a book or a teaching?

This book changed the way I see the world around me. It's one of those rare books that effectively help make sense of the "sublime" natural of reality. Books like the Celestine Prophecy try in their new-age way to address this concept of symbolic language around us, but this book is not fluff; it marries the esoteric with psychological principals, and does it in a demonstrably REAL way.

Fantastic reading. Buy it now.

Ray Grasse clearly outlines many thought processes which open the reader's mind in several fields of metaphysical studies. The reading level is some what high, so a good base of study on archetypes, Eastern theology, and all around understanding of the Crusades of the Light Warriors are helpful. Great book. A must have for reference and study.

Mr.Grasse brings to light the realization that everything that could ever be known or felt is a symbolic event. The issue of synchronicity and correspondences are age old understandings of how the system works. It is the way we perceive ourselves and our world. His work is extremely well researched and documented. Soon you realize that you too are a meaningful participant in an on-going synchronistic event.

In "The Waking Dream" Ray Grasse explains the nature of symbols, cycles and synchronicity. He calls himself a symbolist: "The symbolist standpoint considers life to be a living book of symbols, a sacred text that can be decoded." I enjoy working with the idea that our everyday waking life can be interpreted just as symbolically as our dream life to gain expanded information and personal growth. This book will be on the recommended list for every astrology, tarot, and metaphysical class I teach.

The Waking Dream

Ray Grasse

Ray Grasse's "The Waking Dream" seems to take pages right out of my life. If you are one of those who sees symbolic reference in incidence and coincidence, this book is you. Grasse calls us "symbolists". For years I have been impressed with the subtle genius of the universe. Like the time I hit my brakes on black ice, and could neither stop nor steer, while on the radio Ian Anderson piped "Skating Away"; or the time when driving to Lake Ontario, an ex-girlfriend asked her kids, "Would you like to take a trip to Florida next summer?" A street signed loomed closer, reading "Mart's Way". Of course, I knew that this woman intended to take a trip with an old boyfriend named Marty, which was, in fact, her very intention, as I learned later. Or, perhaps I will encounter a particular word several times throughout the day or week...not just any word, but some unusual word. Or the night my cousin, at 17, died as a result of trauma, and coincidentally a lightning strike caused a complete blackout in my town. These are but a very few instances that come to mind, real life examples of the kind of material found in Waking Dream.

Grasse does not even question whether universal subverse exists, he approaches Waking Dream as if underlying meaning were a given fact. If we approach life accordingly, we can begin the real work of unravelling life's "omenological" roadmap. The interconnectedness of things will not just abound, it will be impossible to avoid. Rejoice in renewed faith!

The most useful book on the hermeneutics of the living universe I have ever read. Extremely thorough, thoughtfully and methodically written. Considering all the so-called enlightenment books I have read that seemed hurriedly and amateurishly churned out, Grasse deserves outstanding recognition for what is obviously quality time well spent on Waking Dream.

Grasse shows you ways to read the symbols and signs and omens of everyday life, and your dreams, and to recharge the lost magic of the everyday world. It's like Mutant Message Downunder Meets Mircea Eliade. Great details on how astrology reflects the symbolism of the dreamtime and how we've just "forgotten" the language of symbols

The author expresses a wonderful way to look at the world. It fulfilled my pre-conceived notions. I liked it.