Review: The Complete Guide To Dream Interpretation - by Marsha Trimble Dunstan

My latest review for Chosen Books (and maybe my last), from whom I receive a free copy, is about developing a solid spiritual approach to interpreting dreams. The author contends, and I agree, that although most dreams are the result of things going on in the body or the mind (or even from the evil one) certain dreams are "gifts from God" and as such we would do well to try to discern what God may saying to us. The first 40% of this book contains the author's views about the different ways dreams come to us, practical advice on how to go about understanding the scenes and symbolism in dreams from God and she does so using many real life examples of dreams had by her and others.

The last 60% is a reference manual which divides into categories different images that may be found in a God given dream. The author references Scripture for each one because that, along with prayer, seems to be the way the Holy Spirit likes in leading us to understanding what the Father is saying. These categories include General Symbols, Places, Body Parts, Animals and Creatures, Transportation, Colors, People and Beings, Numbers and Actions.

One interesting thing I found browsing through the manual is that many images have more than one meaning and that some images may have either a positive or a negative meaning. Thus as the author says at least a half a dozen times throughout, one must always approach dream interpreting with prayer and an ear open to the direction of the Holy Spirit.

Everyone should be able by prayer, searching the Scripture and listening to the Holy Spirit, to be able to figure out what God may be saying to them in a dream. But sometimes they need to hear from another who is more mature in this area. God will then use another person to confirm what the first person suspects. This book then should be seen, not as the last word about what a certain symbol may mean, but rather as a practical tool, a useful resource for both the individual as well as for the person who is lead by the Holy Spirit to grow and mature in this type of prophetic gift.