Introduction: Dreams!

Is there anyone reading this who hasn't had them? Do you remember the very first dream you ever had? I don't! But I do remember dreaming as a very young child. Much like Chuang Tze, early on I became aware of the fact that there was a part of me that apparently lived not in one, but in two worlds. Still later on I came to understand that not only could I move between one and the other, but that I could actually live between the two, as well.

In time I came to realize that existing in such a state was not a blessing at all, but rather a kind of curse that accompanied special people, whom Colin Wilson would one day write about, calling them "outsiders."

And with this understanding also came the realization that if I had a religion at all, it was not the Methodism of my youth, but rather that I was a "mystic," the roots of which word originally meant "to be silent," no doubt referring to the inability of man to put into words his experience of the ineffable.

You see, it is not as the ancient Hebrews would have us believe, that it is a blasphemy to utter the name of Yahweh. But rather, that to do so is an impossibility...for the moment one speaks the name of God, he is no longer that which is being spoken of. Hence, the Taoists would write, "The Tao which can be spoken of is not the real Tao!" It is this very idea that led the mystic Joel S. Goldsmith to coin the phrase "The Infinite Invisible" to describe that deity which he perceived.

So you see, it is only in the dream state that we as mortals ever begin to come close to even the remotest comprehension of who and what our gods may very well be. This truth was well known in ancient times and led to the creation of "sleep temples," which allowed those judged ill to regain their health through divine intervention. It was taught that during sleep, the god comes to you, bringing his or her healing touch. Of all the gods and their temples thought of in this way, the sanctuary of Asklepios was held in the highest reverence, becoming the very apex of Greek healing practice.

But it was not until I met Erlo van Waveren, one of Carl G. Jung's direct disciples, that I truly came to understand how very important dreams were. As the analysand of van Waveren, I grew to appreciate and rely on the unfiltered wisdom that I could obtain from my dreams, if I could but perceive the meaning behind the various symbols, which would present themselves night after night. And it is here that the present work becomes important.

Over half a century ago, Bruce King, who founded Zolar Publishing, gathered together whatever ancient dream books could be found and created what would unknowingly become an indisputable classic in occult literature. Such quickly took its place by the bedsides of rich and poor worldwide.

And in fact, of all the Zolar books in print, it is the Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Dreams that is most often treasured and passed down from parents to children, much like a family heirloom.

In this present edition, I have, with the help of the skillful editing talents of Nadine Daily Papon, removed ambiguities and duplications found in the first edition and have alphabetized the meanings within dream descriptions to make them more quickly accessible. And to make them even more useful, we have added lucky numbers for each dream category.

And, of course, should any of these numbers prove "prophetable," I will not be offended by the receipt of any cashier's checks that readers may wish to tender with their "thank you" notes!

Seriously...enjoy, cherish, and have as much fun with this book as I have had in presenting it to you. And for those of you who may wish to reach me personally, or who may be seeking instructions in metaphysics or the occult, my contact information follows below.

Finally, not to be forgotten, I offer a hats-off to Dominick Abel, my ever-tireless literary agent, and to Amanda Patten at Touchstone/Fireside, without whom this major undertaking would have not seen dawn's early light.

Zolar

Post Office Box 635

Ozona, Florida 34660

Zolar's Webpage: www.zolar-thoth.org

E-Mail Address: zolar.pub@verizon.net

Copyright © 2004 by Blind Poet Creative Services, Inc.