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How Dreams Speak: An Interactive Journey into Your Subconscious

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  Unlock the mysteries!

What does it mean to dream about a doll? Perhaps your inner child needs to come out and play. Or what if you find yourself flying high above the earth? It’s your sleeping mind urging your waking mind to look to the future and think about your deepest aspirations. Richly illustrated in watercolor and with explanations and intuitive prompts throughout, How Dreams Speak is a unique visual dream interpretation guide that demystifies over 150 universal symbols and themes. With this book in hand, you’ll learn the history of dream interpretation and the science of dreaming and be guided through the practice of remembering—then untangling—your nightly adventures. Our dreams speak to us, and within these pages lies the gifts of being able to listen to what our subconscious mind is saying.
 

176 pages, Paperback

Published August 17, 2021

12 people are currently reading
1908 people want to read

About the author

Nicole Chilton

2 books24 followers

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5 stars
34 (27%)
4 stars
36 (29%)
3 stars
36 (29%)
2 stars
12 (9%)
1 star
4 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
Profile Image for Nicole Chilton.
Author 2 books24 followers
November 6, 2021
I have read this book 1000 times at least. :) Hope you enjoy reading it as much as I've enjoyed writing and illustrating it.
Profile Image for 8stitches 9lives.
2,853 reviews1,722 followers
August 15, 2021
How Dreams Speak is a richly detailed and beautifully presented 176-page guide to everything you need to know (and more) about dreams and dreaming. Not only is it fascinating and informative, but it is also vivid and beautiful to look at and features full-colour photography. Nicole Chilton is a multimedia abstract artist and writer who relies on the power of dreams to inspire creativity. She lives in Springfield, Missouri with her husband and two children who inspired her to begin illustrating her nightly dreams because they were tired of hearing about them. That then led to the birth of this book. We’ve all woken up with a start and thought, “What was that? What’s the deal with that rooster? And why do I feel like I’ve seen this all before?” We find dreams (at least our own!) endlessly interesting, but what are they actually saying about us? How Dreams Speak is a book to help untangle it all. Based on the belief that dreams are metaphorical messages from our unconscious minds, speaking to us to help unlock mysteries within, How Dreams Speak is an illustrated guide to our inner selves through the vehicle of our nightly adventures.

At its heart are more than 150 dream symbols and themes richly illustrated in watercolour and fully explained to help readers interpret their dreams. A dream symbol can be an object - a doll, for example, which might mean your inner child needs to come out and play. An animal, like a giraffe - Freud thought they were phallic, but a more likely meaning is that the dreamer needs to reach up to gain a new perspective. An event, like the classic flying - it’s time to concentrate on achieving your waking dreams, or goals. Or a colour, a feeling (running late), a concept (invisibility). Multiple prompts accompanying each symbol help the reader explore what their unconscious is trying to say - what a symbol truly means depends on both the dream and the dreamer. Chilton brings us the science behind dreaming, including the fact that everyone dreams (those who think they don’t are just not remembering), the history and philosophy of dream interpretation, the different types of dreams we have and tips on keeping a dream journal. A comprehensive and highly recommended guide to dreams and how to interpret them.
Profile Image for Lyndsey.
381 reviews4 followers
November 12, 2021
Looking for a beautiful gift for the dreamer and mystics in your life? This book is the perfect guide for beginners or reference for those interested in dream journaling or using dreams to inspire art and writing. Along with the lovely illustrations, questions are provided for each of the potential dream symbols so that readers are not told how to interpret their dreams, but offers windows into potential interpretations. This results in a book that is the best kind art: one that doesn't offer answers but that presents interesting questions.
Profile Image for jasmine.
304 reviews85 followers
October 30, 2021
In How Dreams Speak, the first 30 pages talk about the history and the different types of dreams, continued with the information of different symbols in our dreams. As the title mentioned "(150+ Symbols, Illustrated and Fully Explained)", I would expect an in-depth explanation, turned out it isn't. Here's an example of the structure of the book:

Symbol: Fire.

Explanation: "Fire is necessary to human life but dangerous when controlled.... Fire is rich in symbolism: It can indicate passion, lack of control, anger, transformation, purification, heat or illumination." (which is all pretty common sense).

Continued with: A series of questions like "What started the fire?", "Did anyone or anything get burned?".

The worst part is there is no conclusion, guidance or any answers related to the questions given.

The author is indeed a great artist and the book is filled with colourful illustrations. However, based on her background, Chilton should have published an art book than a nonfiction. This book lacks of research and professional advice.
Profile Image for Liesl.
1,940 reviews
October 4, 2021
An excellent yet not overwhelming resource for individuals wishing to begin dream interpretation. I found it incredibly useful how Chilton breaks down the multiple aspects of dreams early on, and then delves into explanations for what a plethora of items can symbolize that readers can easily refer to later. All of this information is perfectly accompanied by gorgeous illustrations that take on an ethereal quality in their deft composition. I may not be disciplined enough to take up a regular dream journal, but will definitely refer to this book in the future when searching for more meaning in my dreams.
Profile Image for Zoe.
39 reviews4 followers
August 17, 2021
Absolutely loved this book! I’m very into the world of dreams and I love diving into my interpretations, so this book was right up my alley. I loved reading about all the symbols - there are things I dream about all the time but I didn’t even think of as being symbols. It inspired me to start up my dream journal again!
Profile Image for Aria Summers.
55 reviews6 followers
October 12, 2021
I am always in search of an amazing dream book, one with a unique and fresh perspective, one that goes beyond a traditional encyclopedia type interpretations. So each time I see a new dream book that looks promising, I get excited, as I did with this book. I rarely leave one star reviews, to say this book was a disappointment is an understatement.

It feels like this book was written for the sake of writing something. Usually books will tell you the symbolism and meaning of what you're dreaming of. If you have a dream of riding a dolphin it can mean "represents your optimism and social altruism. If you ride through huge waves, it suggests that you can navigate freely under adverse situations." -DreamMeaning.net.

In this book here is the interpretation goes into where dolphins live, oceans and some rivers around the globe. That they are air breathing mammals, the ways that they communicate, the greek mythology, that they are air breathing mammals and so on. Most things a 5th grader would know. None of this is relevant to helping you understand the meaning of your dream. Then the author goes on to ask you a series of questions like where were the the dolphins? Did you interact with the dolphins? and so on. It stops short and offers absolutely no further guidance or information. This would be like going to a mechanic and them asking you what do you think is wrong with your car or a psychic reading and to be told that the answers are within you. This is exactly how this book reads for me.

I am still looking forward to the day that someone releases a dream book beyond the traditional dictionary type flip book and creates something uniquely different more spiritually based than psychologically. Until then one is better off "googling" the meaning of their dreams and saving themselves not only a few dollars, but an exercise in frustration.
Profile Image for Ren Luebbering.
78 reviews6 followers
February 15, 2022
Full of delightful dream anecdotes and surprises, "How Dreams Speak" is a must for anyone who wonders about their nighttime adventures.

Beautifully illustrated and thoroughly researched, Nicole Chilton takes readers on a journey through the science, mythology and delicious mystery of dreams. Thoughtfully crafted into short narratives by dream topic, "How Dreams Speak" is as much a resource guide as it is a compelling nocturnal read.

Once I finished this book, I found myself reaching for it less than a week later to uncover what the previous night's dream might reveal. It turns out that running late to work over and over again is a tell-tale sign of FOMO in the real world.

Curious dreamers, don't miss out on this short but delightful guide to dreams.
Profile Image for Ashley.
565 reviews4 followers
December 28, 2021
I connected so much to one of the first chapters of this book on types of dreams. I’ve had lucid dreams for years and had no idea what they were and what was happening. It was awesome to get more in-depth information on dream types and some of why dreams occur in the first place. As far as dream symbols and themes, I loved the descriptions of what certain dreams could portray as well as the illustrations. Some of my favorite pages were: glass house, caves and parades (cutest illustration ever). I’m not a deep thinker when it comes to my emotions. It was a bit shocking to me to think out of the box when it comes to dreams I’ve been having and what they could subconsciously mean. Growth is so good, as humans, and this book definitely helped me do that.
Profile Image for ABCme.
384 reviews55 followers
July 8, 2021
When being aware of symbols is your thing, this book won't teach you much you don't already know. For example cards readers will find many familiar subjects.
It is however a great start for beginning dream explorers. Starting with stages and types of dreams, then moving on to an extensive list of everyday symbols, all accompanied by soft and pretty watercolor illustrations.
How Dreams Speak is written in clear accessible language, offering simple descriptions for the most common symbols, followed by helpful journaling prompts.
For those who want to delve deeper a long list of recommended reading is provided.

Thank you Netgalley and Workman Publishing Company for the ARC.
Profile Image for Ricci.
12 reviews
August 19, 2021
I am obsessed with this book. What a fun way to learn more about the meaning behind all of those whacky dreams. I love the history included. The symbols and their representation for so many cultures. Very cool.
4 reviews
August 27, 2021
Reading this book cover to cover was a joy and reminded me of how I like to read cookbooks as novels. This is a beautiful reference book to keep on your nightstand and the watercolors throughout will meet you in dreamland!
Profile Image for Delilah.
70 reviews
February 6, 2023
short and informative, not sure if it was what i was really looking for.
Profile Image for Diane.
952 reviews49 followers
January 23, 2021
How Dreams Speak: An Interactive Journey into Your Subconscious (150+ Symbols, Illustrated and Fully Explained) by Nicole Chilton
How Dreams Speak is an informative guide to help in the understanding of dreams that perplex us at times. The book begins with giving the philosophy and the science of understanding some dreams. Keeping a journal of dreams is a helpful activity for reference. This author suggests writing every dream in a book or journal. I am happy there is a recipe for a dream pillow! You can also place a small bag of crystals under your pillow.
How Dreams Speak helps the reader to understand that not all dreams will be of great consequence, but others may be a visitation or a recurring dream. The guide also has explanations for some symbols, numbers, and colors.
If you have questions about some of your dreams, this book would be a good beginner's book to get you started.
Publication Date: July 20, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.
Profile Image for Janet.
245 reviews42 followers
August 21, 2021
We all have those dreams that trouble us, linger around, and make us think “what in the world was that all about?” We may share our dream with family or friends in a soft quest to obtaining clarity, or hold it close and simmer with it.

This is a great book full of information about the symbolism of your dreams and what may have sparked that particular dream train to pull in to your dreaming station. There are ideas and suggestions given for things to do to help steer or change how you’re dreaming. The information presented, I feel, is a perfect introduction for anyone starting their journey into dream analysis and for getting in touch with the subconscious side of yourself through dreams. The information is presented in clear and precise manner, not overly technical or “garbled.” I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking to find, through symbolism, what their dreams are saying to them.

My dream filled thank you to NetGalley, Workman Publishing Company, and the author Nicole Chilton for an ARC of this fascinating novel in exchange for my honest review and opinions.
899 reviews18 followers
May 24, 2021
A good introduction to a number of common symbols in dreams and helps with trying to understand why it might have shown up. Some other dream introductions.
Profile Image for Go.
778 reviews
April 23, 2022
Ever since I was a teenager, I have had an interest in dream interpretation. I feel that my dreams have reflected what has been happening in my life at any given moment. Sometimes, my dreams have even answered life questions for me. Dreams have helped guide me to make good choices. They have also made me realize possibilities I hadn’t thought of or persuaded me to slow down and appreciate all that I have in my life…my family. They can be inspirational.

There are many symbols in this book to discover: babies, bridges, death, fire, flying, mirrors, secret rooms, water... I think the interpretations are relatable, it has great watercolor illustrations and many common themes and symbols were explored. There are prompts so you can ask yourself more about the deeper meaning of the symbolism depending on what is going in in your life now or experiences from your past.

On the night that I checked this book out, my three teenagers were in a car accident only three minutes away from our house. I was relieved to find out that they were all safe. During the night I had a dream involving my oldest son (the driver). Joran and I were in the bathroom looking into the mirror at each other. We had soap suds on our faces like beards and made funny faces at each other. I felt loving towards him.

In the morning I looked up some of the symbols from my dream. Bubbles: They can evoke playfulness and fun. I have enjoyed my son in my life and have had countless good times with him. Bubbles can also be fragile and fleeting and represent a form of protection. Our son is growing up and will move out soon and we have protected him the best way we know how…and we will continue to do so.

A dream I remember: I was in an elevator with all 5 of my children, alone without my husband, and as it was moving upward suddenly the floor dropped out from underneath us. We were falling and falling into darkness with no end in sight. I was desperately trying to reach my kids stretching my hands out to them. My panic reached outside of my dream and I took control and woke myself up thinking “No, this is not happening.” It was horrifying. This dream was during a time in our lives when our finances were destitute and employment was uncertain. I was a stay-at-home mom so we had a single average income. Our future looked bleak and life felt out of our control—just like falling in the elevator.

Recently we have gained more control over our finances. Consequently, I have had more dreams of flying…reaching for success and feeling free. We feel more hopeful than we have in a long time. With our work now, it is challenging and we have a creative outlet together. It is something we are passionate about.

I had a dream where I was promoting “Hamilton” to the people around me. Maybe it is a message to have more music in my life, new costumes, modernizing my life which has been in the works.

“Think about your own personal connection to dreams and how they shape your emotional, physical, and spiritual life. With dreams, there is no wrong answer or belief system. They are your experiences to understand and your stories to tell.”
Profile Image for Leilany.
76 reviews3 followers
July 17, 2023
Interesting book. The part about type of dreams was interesting and informative. When it comes to dreams, the book doesn’t have words and meanings like most dream books. This book has a word (ex. apple, apocalypse, storms, transportation, etc) and uses a whole page to give you a meaning and proposes some questions about the situation you dreamed of (what caused it?, what were the results?, etc.) and about how you felt. There are are about 125 pages of dreams, and since each word gets a page I felt there were many dream topics left out. It is possible that this book covers the main/most popular dreams, it also does cover colors and numbers, but I do wish it would cover more than about 125 of dream meanings. Besides the dream meaning pages there pages for the introduction, types of dreams, on how to remember dreams better, etc. One thing that does set this book apart from other dream books is that it does have a focus on the details of what happened in the dream (ex. if you are in an elevator: did it went up or down?, Were you alone?, How did you felt?) and how you felt about it.
Profile Image for Brandon Ruddell.
15 reviews
September 19, 2025
Such a fun little book.

If you are looking for an in depth, scholarly work on dream symbolism, this is not the book for you. If, however, you are interested in a well researched, approachable quick read filled with beautiful water color paintings, you might like this one.

Nicole Chilton pulls from all religions, mythologies, and psychologists such as Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud to write little excerpts on many common symbols in dreams. The vast majority of the book consists of one page profiles on each symbol with a complementary water color painting. Additionally, she has lists in the back of the book for other resources on dreams.

I found the book insightful and delightful. A fun read for a chill day on the beach or by the pool.
Profile Image for Rashmi Kamath.
176 reviews3 followers
October 17, 2021
If you are an absolute beginner in the learning of dreams and their significance, How Dreams Speak is a good starter kit. The author also provides a list of reference books should someone need a direction for continued reading. As for me, someone with a little more than rudimentary level of knowledge in dream philosophy and is interested in advancing it further, this book did not add much value to my database and felt mostly redundant. I am guessing the way this particular book is received is highly subjective. Nonetheless, the book is an interesting read and decent reference for anyone looking to start a dream journal. 3.5 stars.
#bibliophilebookreview #howdreamsspeak #nicolechilton
Profile Image for mjk.
259 reviews3 followers
December 27, 2022
3.5 rounded up

This was fun!!! I love learning about dream analysis and this was a great mini-intro to the topic for people who are less familiar with the work of Jung and Freud. I really liked the vignette-style of each theme which made this book super fast to read. I think I would have liked this more if the descriptions were more specific to dreams rather than the historical context of different images. For example, towels were mentioned as a theme in dreams, but didn’t talk about their meaning in dreams. It also seems like the authors descriptions had little research or substance behind them, as the author is an artist, not a psychologist. But whatever. Overall great read!
Profile Image for Belle.
805 reviews8 followers
April 5, 2022
I love dreams and anything & everything sleep related. As others have mentioned, if you are looking for an in depth, comprehensive review of dreams and symbolism - this book isn't for you. The information in this book is very simplistic and light, probably perfect for beginners.

I really loved the tone and execution, it is so aesthetically pleasing. This book covers everything from colours & numbers to avocados & zombies. Really fun with cute & colourful illustrations to match.

*Free e-copy received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Eliza.
69 reviews
February 4, 2023
The illustrations were fun and creative, so I added a star, but the content of the book itself is sub-par. The book essentially states that there is little solid knowledge about dreams and their meaning, and then goes on to provide a list of (allegedly) common themes/items in dreams and their meanings. However, the book mostly just asks you to interpret each thing yourself - which is fine, but does not a book make. I was hoping for something more scientific, well-researched, and thoughtful.
Profile Image for lisssasaurus.
2 reviews
January 19, 2024
Overall, I think this book is really good at being a starting point for evaluating your feelings and how you truly feel about events in your life via examining dreams. I think some of the explanations for why a dream is occurring, can be a bit juvenile, but they give rise and a foundational start to one examining what their dreams could really mean and digging a bit deeper into what their mind and body are trying to convey to the conscious mind.
Profile Image for Erin Nikitchyuk.
67 reviews1 follower
January 2, 2022
More of a dream dictionary than a "journey" into your subconscious. There were one of two aha moments, a couple of hmmmm moments, and lots of things that did not resonate with me even as a vivid and complex dreamer who seems to work out a lot of stuff while I sleep. It wasn't a waste of time but there was little covered that was earth&shattering or particularly insightful.
16 reviews
April 9, 2023
Though this book claims to resolve most of our dream based scenarios but in actual it couldn’t even touch upon the explanation and questions people have about dream world, this is more like an individual’s journal where they record their day to day activities and have a self assessment.
Profile Image for Jordean Cushing.
14 reviews
September 20, 2024
I loved the examples given. The idea of interpreting dreams is one I've been interested in and can't get enough of. Although brief, it was very complex. Definitely gives you a lot to analyze and consider.
Profile Image for Marie.
1,816 reviews16 followers
September 25, 2021
A beginning book on how many different symbols from our dreams can relate to our waking life.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews

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