Chrys: Welcome, everyone! I've got a great post for you today created by Stephen Tremp, the author of Salem's Daughters. He's discussing dreams...one of my favorite topics. Without further adieu, here he is!
**Salem's Daughters is 99¢ for the Halloween weekend!
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Dreams and their meanings have captivated mankind since we first walked the Earth. Some pass dreams off as just weird stuff our brains are doing while we sleep, and we have no explanation or control over them. They say that large triple pepperoni pizza or mega burrito with everything you ate the night before is the cause of your funky nighttime imaginations. And sometimes, this may very well be the case.
But let’s dig a little deeper. Dreams are very much symbolic. Many people are not satisfied to merely dream dreams; they passionately seek interpretations, believing their true meaning can influence all aspects of their lives, for better or worse. But before we do anything, let’s briefly look at different types of dreams, because it’s difficult if not impossible to simply define ‘dream.’
Lucid Dreams: a vivid dream in which one is aware of the dream and their place in it, and can make conscious decisions to control their actions and reactions. It’s as if they are alive inside their dream. I have these from time to time and they are cool and weird and trippy all at the same time.
Premonition Dreams: These are truly astounding cases where people dreamed about events which happened to them, or someone else, in a similar or exact manner they dreamt about.
Some call these prophetic dreams and attribute them to God. In the Old Testament Joseph, while in prison, interpreted the dreams of his cellmates. Translation: a cup bearer to Pharaoh was restored to his former position while a baker was impaled on a pole and birds ate away his flesh.
Recurring Dreams: Recurrent dreams generally are stress related or nightmares related to anxiety and fear; you dream of being chased, you may run in slow motion, or you’re falling. They are often associated with events in life where the dreamer is losing control of their sphere of influence like family, job, finances, or health. I’ve had many of these dreams over the course of my life, but not recently.
Sleep Paralysis: The inability to move and there is a sense of an evil presence in the room with you. I’ve experienced this and it is truly terrifying. Wifey had to wake me up and I’m glad she did. Wish I had more time to expound on this.
Dream Interpretation: When interpreting a dream, one first focuses on who or what is the focus of the dream. After that is established, particulars such as colors, setting, time of day, people, and other pertinent information are interpreted.
Can We Record Our Dreams: I’m out of space and time (no pun intended for those who know me. Space. Time. Get it?) This is a blog for another day on my Blog Tour.
In Salem’s Daughters: One of the thirteen witches who inhabit the body of a cat, Angel, has the ability to cause a person to not only dream, but influence their dreams and prophecy about their future. For better or worse. I use this as an opportunity to introduce one of my favorite characters of the book Joseph Meicigama, a native American of Ojibway descent, better known as Chippewas.
The elderly shaman not only has the ability to interpret Bob Steven’s (protagonist) three dreams initiated by Angel. But his appearance as a guest at the bed and breakfast pours gasoline on a fire that is set to ignite between the thirteen cats and a popular cable paranormal television crew filming a live three-hour episode. All hell breaks loose in these chapters!
Stephen Tremp: Writes Speculative Fiction and embraces science and the supernatural to help explain the universe, our place in it, and write one of a kind thrillers.
Salem's Daughters: is supernatural thriller (with lots of dark comedy).
A four hundred year old evil is unleashed when souls of the daughters of those killed during the Salem Witch Trials find a new generation of people to murder at a modern day bed and breakfast owned by a young unsuspecting couple.
Thank you Chrys for hosting me on my Salem’s Daughters Blog Tour! Below are the pertinent links:
99¢ Discount for the Halloween Weekend:
Question: Do you remember and write down your dreams? Do you seek interpretation for their meaning?
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Chrys: Thank you for such a fascinating post, Stephen!
I have written down many dreams and sought meanings for ones I had during tough times in my life.
Please leave Stephen a comment and answer his question.
I like the sound of those all hell breaks loose chapters!
ReplyDeleteI tend to have a lot of lucid dreams. Ones where weird things will happen and I suddenly become aware I'm dreaming and take control.
I too have many lucid dreamers. I love taking over and steering my dreams to what I want to happen.
DeleteAlex, these dreams scare me when I wake up because they are so weird, and I would think I would be comfortable in them since I write about stuff like this. But while i'm in them, I feel like right at home.
DeleteI've had a recurring dream for years about trying to call someone and I either can't remember the number or I keep dialing it wrong.
ReplyDeleteThat would be a frustrating dream.
DeleteDiane, that is strange since you are one scary organized person as you once described yourself. This is deep and I think you should take your time and really explore this as there could be something very valuable or important at the core meaning. Wish I could offer more but the last thing I want to do is give bad advice. Not that I'm an expert at dreams but I do have a somewhat basic understanding of them.
DeleteGlad I never had sleep paralysis before. That sure doesn't sound fun. I have all sorts, but many have given me book ideas as away they go.
ReplyDeleteSleep paralysis does sound scary.
DeleteThis is what Salem's Daughters deem
DeleteDreams are more than what they seem
They are ideas to form a scheme
And schemes to make people scream
I don't always remember my dreams. I hate the bad ones where you wake up and go right back to where you left on when you go back to sleep. The book sounds very interesting. 13 witches and a shaman...sherry @ fundinmental
ReplyDeleteI hate those too! It seems like no matter what you do, you can't escape it.
DeleteSherry, this is one dream I never have, waking up then falling asleep and picking up where I left off. I wish dreams of bliss were like this for me.
DeleteDreams are fascinating. I never dream at night, or if I do, I'm unaware of it. Sometimes during the day my mind wanders from the task I'm doing and I dream about other things. (Not sure that's a dream.) Very interesting post.
ReplyDeleteYou must not get into a deep enough sleep to have dreams. There's a few stages you have to reach.
DeleteDaydreaming! I love to daydream. It's a nice distraction.
Beverly, I think there's an app for remembering your dreams.
DeleteThanks Chrys for hosting me today! I'll be dropping in today to say hello.
ReplyDeleteYou're so welcome! Your guest post is by far the most entertaining one all year. :)
DeleteInteresting post about dreams! I've had that sleep paralysis one a couple of times, and yes, it's scary! Your book sounds great!
ReplyDeleteYikes. I hope I don't ever have it.
DeleteSherry, it's been many years since I've experienced sleep paralysis, but it is one of the most scariest things that can happen to a person because you have no control and are vulnerable, and you are aware of your circumstance.
DeleteVery interesting. Yes, I write down my dreams (or most of them, as I tend to probably have 4-5 dreams that I can remember in the morning a week). Some are really interesting. Not many are nightmares, thankfully.
ReplyDeleteI'm always so happy when I can remember my dreams because I turn them into stories.
Deletesage, I sometimes remember four or five dreams, for better or worse.
DeleteI've always been totally fascinated by dreams. I used to have really bad recurring nightmares but fortunately they have faded now. I've had story ideas come from dreams so those are obviously very welcome.
ReplyDeleteGreat post and a great price for the book!!
Happy Halloween, Stephen and to you as well, Chrys!! :)
I'm glad your recurring nightmares have gone away.
DeleteHappy Halloween, Julie!! :)
Julie, I wish I could record my dreams and play them back on my PC. How cool would that be!
DeleteHappy Halloween!
ReplyDeleteSame to you Vanessa. Hope you had a fun and safe one!
DeleteHi Stephen, your book sounds fantastic! I write down my vivid dreams as a creative writing type of exercise more than to interpret them. I've had a recurring dream since my divorce and weirdly, it's starting to make sense. I'm breaking the code, finally! Great post, Chrys. Happy Halloween!!
ReplyDeleteBreaking the code....I love that. Happy Halloween, Lisa!!!
DeleteLisa, dreams are amazing and I believe with many there are personal codes to be broken that are specific to the individual.
DeleteI don't pay much attention to my dreams unless they bring up an issue I need to deal with. I have other ways of looking for premonitions...
ReplyDeleteIs the book going to be 99 cents on Barnes & Noble, too? I ask because I have a Nook.
You have other ways of looking for premonition? That sounds mysterious....
DeleteLiz, sounds like an idea for a fascinating blog post. I'd like to read it.
DeleteI've actually have had several dreams that have come true the next day, strange enough! And I also have the recurring dream of falling... ugh!!! lol Love the dreams post! Congrats, Stephen!!!
ReplyDeleteWow. That"s neat. I had one dream predict that my sister was pregnant with my second nephew.
DeleteS.K. those are the worst dreams. That and being chased while I'm in slow motion.
DeleteI really enjoyed reading this information about dreams. I've had interesting dreams in my life, often in story form. I actually got one of my stories from a dream. Stephen's book sounds fascinating.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting, Elizabeth!
DeleteElizabeth, very cool way to get an idea for a book. And free too.
DeleteI use my nightmares all the time, and dreams too. I figure the strongest nightmares copy the stress that's going on in my life and dreams are answers to creative questions. At least some of the time.
ReplyDeleteGreat tour, Stephen!
I used a gory nightmare that wouldn't leave me for months in one of Avrianna's stories.
DeleteYolanda, I agree and dreams, even weird or scary ones, are a great release valve for the stress that builds up in our lives. Maybe we are too busy during to day to deal with the stress, or we just don;t know how or what to do while awake and conscious.
DeleteGreat post Chrys, thanks also to Stephen, most intersting what he had to say.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't write my dreams down as mostly they're about my family problems.
I know Stephens book will be a huge success.
Yvonne.
Thanks for visiting, Yvonne!
DeleteThanks yvonne, you are always so supportive!
DeleteI've had countless past life dreams over the years, though I'm very in the closet about my belief in reincarnation and past life memories in my skeptical, pro-science groups. I'm sure they'd bounce me and accuse me of "special pleading" if they discovered I believe in astrology and reincarnation, support homebirth, and several other things I honestly don't consider woo (pseudoscience). These past life dreams came back right after I turned fifteen, and I finally connected them to the recurring nightmares I had at age three. The dreams included xenoglossy this time. Thanks to those dreams, I reclaimed my spiritual birthright. One of my current rabbis once agreed with me that I probably don't dream much of Oda anymore because I made peace with the past and don't really need her anymore. She served her purpose.
ReplyDeleteDreams if past lives? That would be fascinating. As far as I know, I've never had dreams like that. And I do believe in past lives.
Deletecarrie-Anne, thanks for sharing! I know a lot of people struggle to discuss publicly things like this. Well done!
DeleteInteresting to read about the different dreams. I have done the recurring dreams; usually like you mentioned stressful situations and when the stress settles down, the dreams subside. I have had the sleep paralysis ones; I didn't realize that's what they were called; I called them nightmares; interestingly my mom had them too. I feel so bad for hubby because they do disturb his sleep yet they truly are terrifying.
ReplyDeletebetty
I'm surprised that so many have had sleep paralysis.
Deletebetty, I do enjoy a good night sleep where I sleep straight through with or remembrence of dreams or waking up. These are rare but I do appreciate them.
DeleteSteven, I am sorry to hear about your sleep paralysis. I've experienced that and so has my daughters. I've taught them how to command the evil spirits away; they have no business with us!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this fascinating post with us on dreams. I enjoyed it!
Thanks, Chrys, for hosting Stephen!
♥.•*¨Elizabeth¨*•.♥
Now that I think about it, there was one time I woke up from a nightmare where I was about to die and was paralyzed in bed a moment in like shock. I couldn't move. And you want to know what was going to kill me? I was getting stepped on by those big metal thints the aliens move around in the movie War of the Worlds.
DeleteElizabeth thanks for stopping by and glad you enjoyed the post!
DeletePS--"they" as in the evil spirits, not my daughters. lol :P
ReplyDeleteLOL I got that. :P
DeleteHi Chrys and Stephen - these dreams will certainly add to the scary elements in your storyline - thank goodness it doesn't appear?? to happen in real life. I have one or two dreams that keep coming back ... thankfully not too often ...
ReplyDeleteI'll see you Monday over at my blog - tomorrow I believe! - cheers to you both .. Hilary
Thanks for stopping by, Hilary! I'll visit your blog tomorrow. :)
DeleteHilary, the experts claim we all have them, it's just a matter of who remembers them the next day.. But what do the experts know? It's not like they are there when we dream our dreams. Or don;t dream.
DeleteFascinating post. I've always dreamed of saving the world or where I'm being chased or running after something. My most disturbing dreams are when I dream of my teeth falling out and being chased and caught by zombies, shudder. Loved trying to interpret them too and finding out the meanings behind them. Even the heroine in my NaNoWriMo novel loved dream interpretations so much she made a career out of it by becoming a dream therapist.
ReplyDeleteI've had many dreams of my teeth falling out and found out it's because of stress.
DeleteLidy, thanks for coming by! Teeth falling out? That's a new one. I've never heard of that.
DeleteWhat a fantastically clever way to spice up a book tour! Though I'm already aware of his latest release (yay!) , I'm compelled to follow this tour just to see what Stephen talks about next!
ReplyDeleteAs a child I had gawd-awful dreams, nowadays they're so pleasant I don't want to wake up;-)
Perfect timing on this post, Lady Chrys! Hope you had a fiendishly pleasant Halloween!
His tour is truly fascinating. Thanks for stopping by, Diedre!
Deletediedre, this has been a fun blog tour if only for the diversity off topics. And there is much I had to leave out.
DeleteI love dream interpretation, and I always have some pretty weird dreams and head over to Dream Moods online.
ReplyDeleteI also love to look for the meaning of my dreams.
DeleteDeborah, good that you take the time to try and ferret out the meanings of your dreams. Good luck with all of that.
DeleteI seriously need to write down my dreams. Normally I don't recall most of my dreams but lately while on sleep aids, I've been having very detailed dreams. Usually it's about visiting a place I haven't been to in a long time. Sometimes I'm with people I know, other times I seem to be with people I feel like I know, but in reality I don't know them. Does that makes sense?
ReplyDeleteThe sleep aids are probably helping you to get to the level of sleep you need to dream and remember them. I have had so many dreams of strange people who I felt had to be real...somewhere.
DeleteThe sleep aids are probably helping you to get to the level of sleep you need to dream and remember them. I have had so many dreams of strange people who I felt had to be real...somewhere.
DeleteJeffrey, melatonin makes me dream all kinds of crazy stuff. I'm still trying to sort through everything.
DeleteOne of the oddest dreams I ever had is going to be briefly included in my Writers Block Episode Three. If I ever get back to writing it.
ReplyDeleteFarms, Class Field Trips, Mystery Boxes and a Devilish-looking cannibal is generally what it's about. So weird.
Jeffrey, that does sound cool. Mu coolest dreams including taking the extended family to Disneyland but the rides are epic and often rise miles in the air. Now that would be a cool ride in real life!
DeleteI"m a bad guest here by the way. I meant to address a few comments your way Stephen. I like the concept of your book. But I may have said that in a few other sites I've seen you on. Congrats on the book. It's a great concept.
DeleteThe odd thing is, usually I don't dream very often but the past few weeks I have been. Last night I had two dreams but can only remember one. Again, I should have written it down. It's like dreams are scripted with disappearing ink. When we wake, the dream fades. Last nights dream I found out I was supposed to play violin (something I learned in middle school but have not done so again, despite wanting to do so), but no one informed me I was supposed to play so I did not practice. And since I have not played since middle school, I had to try and relearn as everyone else was playing. Weird, weird dream. And yes, I do believe dreams are symbolic and are the bodies way of trying to tell you something, or trying to help you work out some sort of problem.
Very informative stuff. In addition to that, here's an infographic that explains the meaning of your dreams.
ReplyDelete