The Nightmare Encyclopedia (Paperback)

by Kirsten Dalley (Author), Jeff Belanger (Author)
Key Phrases: dominant emotional state, inauspicious dreams, latent guilt, The Nightmare Encyclopedia, Carl Jung, The Analysis (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
We spend a third of our lives sleeping, with much of the night filled with dreams. Peculiarly vivid, disturbing dreams leave behind impressions that are hard to dismiss. But what are nightmares? And what significance do they have for the dreamer? Questions like these have been asked and answered in all time periods in all of the world's cultures. The Nightmare Encyclopedia examines ideas about bad dreams found in different parts of the world, in different periods of Western history, in recent clinical research, in current theories of the occult, and in popular films. Most of the world's traditional societies are taught that our souls leave our bodies and travel to other realms when we dream, so maybe nightmares are the result of getting lost in one of dreamland's bad neighborhoods. In medieval Europe, it was thought that demons could attack and rape human beings in their sleep. In contrast, modern psychologists tend to view nightmares as repressed conflicts that return from our unconscious to haunt us in our dreams. This book also includes interpretations of dream symbols found in nightmares.

Product Details

• Paperback: 360 pages
• Publisher: New Page Books (June 19, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1564147622
• ISBN-13: 978-1564147622
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #514,522 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Buy this book., October 27, 2005

By	J. Michelle Hopkins (Memphis, TN USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I had this book on my wishlist for a year waiting somewhat impatiently for it to become available and now I finally have the pleasure of owning it.
"The Nightmare Encyclopedia: Your Darkest Dreams Interpreted" is an interesting, highly informative source on the meanings of our most feared and dreaded dreams. The interpretations for each of the many symbols in this book are pretty literal and very straightforward. The book includes true nightmarish accounts from real people, folklore, and a lot of fascinating if not somewhat disturbing imagery.
I have been interpreting my dreams--as well as other people's--for years. Throughout these years I have acquired quite a few books on dream interpretation, but always wondered why there weren't many--if any--books on deciphering the meanings of our "darkest dreams". I feel very fortunate to have finally found this book. It makes for a great reference book and a source of very interesting historical information. I highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in dream interpretation or perhaps..the darker side of things. Nightie night!

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A Hodpepodge of Dream and Nightmare Related Information, January 26, 2006

By	Janet Boyer "JanetBoyer.com" (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

"Dreams are the language of our souls. The sights, sounds, and sensations we experience in our dreams speak directly to us, and for us, while we're unconscious. While it is mysterious, and sometimes even frightening, this intensely personal, private, and intimate dream world ultimately provides a way for us to make sense of our conscious, waking lives." - From the book

Nightmares often occur on the heels of traumatic or stressful events, robbing individuals of the precious necessity of sleep. Sleep deprivation can cause further physical, mental, and emotional stress, creating a troubling cycle. In serious cases, such as post traumatic stress disorder after catastrophes or war, therapy can be helpful in dealing with the painful emotions brought on by these events.

However, it's possible to be inspired and encouraged by nightmares, such as deciding to stop smoking or choosing to make better decisions for health and well-being. In The Nightmare Encyclopedia: Your Darkest Dreams Interpreted, author Jeff Belanger-creator of Ghostvillage.com-has created a repository of dream symbols, articles, interviews and entries dedicated to sleep and dreaming. Especially of interest are universal elements found in nightmares, as well as psychological, metaphysical, and spiritual aspects to dreams.

The author has arranged the entries alphabetically in this 357-page paperback volume, and some of the territory covered includes:

* Mythology, fairytales, and beliefs from around the world
* Psychological theories and therapies
* Famous dream psychologists such as Freud and Jung
* Spiritual and metaphysical explanations of dreaming and nightmares
* Actual dreams and analysis
* Nightmare symbolism
* Artists and their paintings, especially in terms of nightmarish imagery
* Philosophers, spiritual leaders, and literary figures and what they have to say about dreaming and nightmares

Some parts of The Nightmare Encyclopedia make for engaging reading, e.g. the section on urban legends ("some people do not dream" and "it's dangerous to awaken a sleepwalker", both which are NOT true). However, other parts are very general ("this dreams means that the individual is under stress and fears the future") and yet others are downright inaccurate. For example, in the entry Tarot, it says, "For tarot readers, the Star signified abandonment and loss."

I'm a professional tarot reader with over 50 tarot books on my shelf and I have NEVER encountered an interpretation like this! In fact, The Star is considered one of the most positive in the entire deck, signifying hope, serenity, "calm after the storm", inspiration and clarity. How such a gross inaccuracy made it into this book is beyond me.

I rarely have nightmares; yet, when I *do* have disturbing dreams, the effect quickly wears off. However, I had some weird elements come up in several dreams last night, and tried to look up the symbols in The Nightmare Encyclopedia. Some of the elements weren't in the book, others were entirely irrelevant given the context of my dream, and the rest was general and quite vague.

If you're interested in nightmares and nightmarish imagery, including mythology, psychological theory, and cultural references to dreams and nightmares, this may be a good book for general reading. However, if you want to understand and interpret your dreams-and you'd like a decent dream symbol dictionary-A Stream of Dreams: the Ultimate Dream Decoder for the 21st Century by Leon Nacson is about as good as they come. Of course, *you* are ultimately the best decoder of your own dreams, considering symbolism is often personal and contextual. Nevertheless, if you want a little help from a straightforward, engaging book that includes modern symbols (like cell phones and computers), try Stream of Dreams by Nacson.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From historical overviews to a personal inventory of common nightmares, April 20, 2006

By	D. Donovan, Editor/Sr. Reviewer "California B... (California, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

Plenty of books have been written on dream interpretation, but few provide a specific, centralized focus on nightmares as does THE NIGHTMARE ENCYCLOPEDIA: YOUR DARKEST DREAMS INTERPRETED. Here are insights ranging from historical overviews on dream state theories and ideas to a personal inventory of common nightmares to help readers understand their underlying messages. Four hundred entries discuss universal symbols, spiritual teachings, and the treatment of nightmares in film music and the arts, providing an excellent blend of background and reference.