Teach Yourself to Dream: A Practical Guide to Unleashing the Power of the Subconscious Mind

by David Fontana

Teach Yourself to Dream , the practical companion to Chronicle Books' best-selling Secret Language of Dreams , is a beautifully illustrated, hands-on guide to remembering and understanding dreams. Dr. David Fontana, renowned for his dream workshops, presents more than fifty exercises that enable earnest dreamers to explore, intensify, and even guide their night wanderings. With more than 150 images that evoke the surreal quality of dream visions and a brief A to Z directory of dream symbols and their meanings, Teach Yourself to Dream is a unique new tool for anyone interested in utilizing the life-changing power of dreams.

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference, Self Help, Divination

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

David G.J. Fontana FBPsS was a British psychologist, parapsychologist and author. He was Professor of Psychology at Cardiff University. He was also visiting professor at Liverpool John Moores University and the University of Algarve.

Reviews

[Augusta]

I used this book in quite a different manner in that I didn't use it to direct my dreams in any conscious way. I did bring it to the 4-6th grade students I taught art to several years ago. I read parts of it to them and shared the pictures. afterwards I asked the kids to either draw or paint a picture of a dream they remembered or had had recently or I asked them to paint a picture of 'dream symbols' of their choosing. Later I had them listen to a story which was written using many dream symbols ,and then create a picture based upon what they understood the story to mean or represent. We had some fabulous artwork develope from this exercise and a lot of great discussions as well! The imagery in this book was the impetus for wonderful 'dreamworks':)

[Slay]

This book has changed the way I wind down at night. My once intense nightmares have gone since I’ve learned to navigate my dreams. I grabbed this book because I wanted to learn how to lucid dream, which u have achieved. This book has a bunch of different exercises and short stories. A quick read, but a good one to keep next to your bed when you can’t sleep.

[Jess ツ]

2.5 stars

[Will]

This is not the end-all book of dream meanings, nor does it extoll the virtues of any particular brand of far-out pop psychology. It doesn't count the ways in which to connect oneself with the Logos, and it certainly makes no bones about the subjective nature of dream analysis. That being said, that is why this book is an interesting read. It covers many different types of dreams and suggests ways in which to decode them. Of course, the written material is not as interesting as the fantastic and otherworldly art on every page of this book! I keep it close at hand simply to look at the pictures.

Sidenote: It doesn't give artist names or credits for any of the imagery... I would be interested in looking at his/her/their other work.

[Jesika]

Very interesting. When I was 17 I bought this. I used to keep a dream diary and dictionary. If you actually write down all your dreams every morning and use this you would be amazed at what you discover! Obviously there is nothing concrete behind it, but it was very interesting at 17 :)

[Nathan]

Not very scientific, and more mystical in its approach. I didn't practice any of the techniques in the book, so I can't comment on their effectiveness, but I wasn't very inclined to either from the presentation style of the information.

[Cassandra Willoughby]

not a bad read, but some of the suggestions failed me.

[Travis]

THE ULTIMATE how-to dreaming guide! period.

[Maurice]

A great book, full of meditations to help you remember your dreams, and to even change them in a lucid dream

[Jonathan Rosas]

This book was a great read. It's very informative with exercises, case studies and a dream dictionary in the back.

[Neka]

This is a book I've had in my collection for a long time now. Very helpful, and beautiful drawings.