My recent search for "dream dictionaries interpretation of dreams" on Amazon.com yielded 484 results! As both an intuitive reader and writer, I am constantly comparing dream dictionaries. In some ways dreams can be a rather narrow topic so I'm always interested in different perspectives. What makes this book unique is that it includes a set of 24 cards as a system of interpretation.

Colin's basic meanings are traditional and accurate and the author expands on each individual meaning from different aspects and context of the dream. Colin is thorough and discusses each symbol from all angles, but I'm not comfortable with the way the author seems to see all dreams as predictive. Meanings are loaded with phrases such as "You will," "You are," "Someone will," etc. Other dream dictionaries as well as I would instead make statements such as "If you dream of being trapped, perhaps there is too much stress in your waking life." Colin consistently predicts outcomes rather than assisting the reader with applying wisdom from the unconscious to waking and spiritual life.

Predictive dreams do occur, but they make up a very small percentage of the dreams that occur for most individuals and throughout the population. If an individual develops the mindset that events in dreams always come true, there is a danger that the dreamer will get too wrapped up in the suggestion of premonition. An individual can actually attract disaster through their own thought processes along with inflicting unnecessary worry, fear and anxiety.

Twenty-four cards are contained on perforated pages and are a series of four symbols. Colin's method of 64 possible combinations may be compared to tarot spreads, but this is where the author lost me. I don't have the time to learn or play with such a complicated system. In the legend, the combinations are shown in list form and each combination refers the reader to text. The print is so small that it is difficult to read. Each individual combination is also printed in the side margin of each page but the reader must still refer to the small print list for the text references, so this is not very helpful.

If you are not deeply involved with tarot or other forms of card divination, you may find the system interesting. If you are an expert in tarot, you may find the system interesting to compare. The meanings that Colin lists for the combinations are interesting and more appropriate for applying dreams to waking life than the individual symbol definitions.

This book can be used as a basic reference if taken with a grain of salt, but there are many others that are significantly better for beginners. If you want to expand your library or knowledge base and are open to new ideas, you might enjoy this book.

May all your dreams come true!

Parthena Black is a professional social worker and ordained minister with experience in tarot and runes. For private spiritual counseling and intuitive readings via e-mail, please visit her at oymygoddess.com.

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