Dreams & Portents

By Nance Crawford

An update of information first published in 1885, Dreams & Portents is a dream dictionary containing analysis and interpretations of images observed during sleep. Entertaining, as well as informative, it is a primary bedside companion.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Nance Crawford
• Release date: Aug 30, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476047096

Nance Crawford

Nance Crawford grew up in Hollywood, began working in film at age six, was twice a produced playwright by age sixteen, and columnist for a national teen magazine at twenty-one. However, for her generation, maturity meant being a successful homemaker. Five children and six grandchildren later, she returned to theater as an actor and writer/director. A participant in the initial program of the Lincoln Center Directors Lab West, she belongs to ASCAP, The Dramatists Guild of America, the California Writers Club-San Fernando Valley Branch, Independent Writers of Southern California (IWOSC), and is a Lifetime member of the Alliance of Los Angeles Playwrights (ALAP). She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, actor David Stifel, where they serve as staff to their feline roommates, Suzette, Sir Thomas More, and Anya Fabiola Featherfoot.

Book preview

Dreams & Portents

A Dictionary of Dreams

Edited by Nance Crawford

Copyright © 2012 by Nance Crawford

Cover Design by M. Stacey Shaffer

All Rights Reserved

ISBN

Smashwords Edition

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Books written by Nance Crawford can be obtained through the author’s official website:

http://www.nancecrawford.com/

and are available in print at your local bookseller and most online retailers.

Also by Nance Crawford

DRAGON SOLSTICE

In memory

of Memories

A dream itself is but a shadow.

Hamlet, Act II, Scene 2

William Shakespeare

And there was with us a young man, an Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard; and we told him, and he interpreted to us our dreams; to each man according to his dream he did interpret.

Genesis 41:12

Authorized King James Version

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Writing may be a lonely business, but producing a book is not. Here I get to thank my immediate world, most especially those folks whose loving encouragement and contributions of time and talent make my ongoing literary endeavors possible: Diane Le Moine, Saundra Goodman Navarro, Wendy Wiseman Paige, M. Stacey Shaffer, and daughter Patti, copy and comma experts extraordinaire; Ray Malus and the members of the California Writers Club-San Fernando Valley Chapter who continue to provide a safe landing pad for aspiring authors who need a swift push in the tush; and, always, my dear and beloved David, without whom no page of mine would ever have escaped the files.

Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Chapter A

Chapter B

Chapter C

Chapter D

Chapter E

Chapter F

Chapter G

Chapter H

Chapter I

Chapter J

Chapter K

Chapter L

Chapter M

Chapter N

Chapter O

Chapter P

Chapter Q

Chapter R

Chapter S

Chapter T

Chapter U

Chapter V

Chapter W

Chapter X – Y – Z

Introduction

I stumbled across the genesis of this book when I was a teenager.

There was a bookshop on the south side of Hollywood Boulevard, opposite the Pantages Theater. The Pantages is still there.

The bookshop – and it was a bookshop, not a book store – had long been in residence in the first block east of Vine, perhaps as long as the movie palace across the street. It was dark and dusty, full to the tops of its high, sturdy shelves with mysterious volumes of questionable ancestry, the musty smell of the interior slipping out to hang comfortably over the messy remainder bins on either side of the opened door.

I don’t remember the owner or salesperson. In fact, I don’t remember ever seeing a new book on display, either in the windows or inside. What I do remember is idly rummaging through the mess of discarded wisdom in the outside bins by the door and finding an ancient, thin book, first published in the late years of the nineteenth century, purporting to contain secrets of all the various arcane arts of divination, beginning with Dreams.

I wasn’t much for phrenology or palmistry or, for that matter, reading cards or tea leaves, (been there, done that – bored by solitaire, preferred tea bags) but found the Dream section fascinating, mainly because the book itself was of such a different time. It contained descriptions and interpretations of images important to the Victorian-Edwardian lady or gentleman, people who were young when my grandmother had been young – and those were the people I grew up with, the people who helped raise me.

I paid the exorbitant amount of 25¢ (the price of a pack of cigarettes or a gallon of gas – neither of which I was much interested in at that moment), took it home and, over the years, found myself referring to it from time to time after a particularly elaborate or contradictory dream.

The information has appeared, in the long run, to be modestly insightful and endlessly entertaining. Sometimes there would be an image of warning – although figuring out what the warning meant or how it was supposed to apply to me left much to be desired.

Nevertheless, even though that little book didn’t contain precognitive warnings involving cell phones or iPads, some things (like Dogs, Cats, Eggs. . .) have remained the same. (Take a look at the entry for Airplanes – interesting that there was no question that anyone would presume to be a passenger; airplanes were simply Up There to look at; what sensible person would ever go anywhere in one?)

However, I will admit that some definitions in the book (Dead, Passengers, Snake) have proved frighteningly accurate; consequently, it’s hard not to hope that my youthful, somnambulant Floating will, at last, prove accurate.

So, here’s the update – to charm, confuse, or simply entertain you. If, on some early morning, the content gives you pause, causing you to take a closer look at your own life and times, that’s probably a good thing.

After all, of everyone you know, who could possibly be more interesting than you?

Nance Crawford

West Hills, California

NOTE

This eBook has been formatted for easy reference. If (or when) your eReader includes the capability of searching for specific words within text, you will be able to enter the word, followed by an attached asterisk*, to reach the definition.

If the definition includes cross references, simply type in the new word with an asterisk attached, and you will go straight to that definition.

Chapter A

Accident* A warning of illness. If you dream you have an accident while traveling, you are cautioned to avoid travel for the next few days.

Accounting* If you are presented with another company’s accounts, beware of new business partners.

Accuse* You accuse someone of malfeasance: portends quarrels and danger. You are accused: a small scandal is brewing. See Stealing.

Acorns* A portent of strength and high position. See Nuts, Oak.

Acrobat* You dream you are an acrobat: you will triumph over your enemies. You watch an acrobat: danger in travel during the following two weeks; and unsavory schemes are best avoided, especially if the acrobat falls.

Adam* A happy omen. If he looks pleasant: be sure you will succeed in whatever you undertake. If he speaks to you: pay attention and follow his advice as closely as you can. If he looks displeased and angry: you must use great caution in all your dealings, for some mischief is intended against you, but you will get the better of it.

Admiral* Generally a good dream foretelling news from a distance.

Adultery* To dream you have committed adultery portends great controversy and disputes.

Adversary* To dream that you are obstructed by an adversary shows that you will take care of business quickly.

Afraid* See Fear.

Airplane* To see an airplane taking off augurs a good future and the probability of gaining unexpected money from abroad. See Flying.

Alley* To pass by, or walk down, an alley foretells happiness involving neighbors. See Buildings, Walls.

Alligator* To dream of an alligator or crocodile is a sign of impending danger; the counsel of a close relative is advised.

Almonds* Seeing or eating almonds signifies difficulties and trouble. See Eating, Nut Trees, Nuts.

Alms* To deny alms to someone begging them augurs want and misery for you. You give alms freely: a sign of joy and gladness. See Beggars.

Altar* You uncover or discover an altar: you will experience joy and gladness. You are at the altar and receiving the holy sacrament: a very unfavorable omen that denotes many heavy and severe afflictions.

Ancestors* Dreaming of your predecessors, such as grandparents and other ancestors, signifies worry.

Anchor* A traveling ship with its anchor secured in place: a sign of good fortune approaching. To dream you see an anchor: great assurance and certain happiness. A broken anchor: the loss of a lover or close friend.

Angel* To see angels is good, and an angel in flight augurs blessings when least expected. To speak with, or call up, angels is evil. To see a picture of an angel foretells a wedding. See Pictures.

Anger* To dream that you have been provoked to anger shows that you have powerful enemies. Dreaming you are angry with a specific relative predicts a gain due to that person.

Angling* To dream that you are angling betokens much affliction and trouble over something you desire to get which is a waste of your time and talent. See Fishing, Lake.

Animals* To see wild animals in a group is a sign of good luck. If you tame a wild animal: be on guard against jealousy.

Anklet* To wear an anklet in a dream is a warning of indiscretions. See Bracelet, Diamonds, Jewelry, Pearls.

Anointed* See Oil.

Ants* Dreaming of these industrious little insects mindlessly running about denotes that you will be a great loser due to some plan that you will undertake for profit. If you see ants busily employed laying in their winter stores, it is a good omen; things will prosper with you. If they appear to be devoured by other animals and otherwise injured and trodden upon it is a bad omen. If you dream of ants when you are sick you must expect to recover very slowly.

Anvil* See Forge.

Apes* To dream you have