A Witch's Book of Dreams: Understanding the Power of Dreams and Symbols
Karri Allrich has a knack for making dream interpretation accessible while also coming across as highly intelligent and resourceful. Having studied dreams and archetypal symbols for over 25 years, Allrich is comfortable in this mysterious landscape, offering convincing interpretations of dreams and symbols. AlthoughA Witches Book of Dreamsis pegged as a book for witches, any woman interested in goddess spirituality should find it a friendly resource. "I do not subscribe to Sigmund's theory that snakes are merely phallic symbols and are always about sex," writes Allrich. "Sorry, darlings. I worship the goddess, and to Her, snakes are ancient wisdom and rebirth." One of Allrich's most compelling chapters is "The Importance of Shadow Work," which precedes a section about nightmares. She narrates a convincing argument for exploring one's own shadow side, so that it does not become a destructive force in witchcraft or in everyday life. From here, she enters the shadowy landscape of nightmares, where she helps readers see the supportive messages that lie within our fearful night imagery. The final half of the book is devoted to a dream dictionary, with brief passages about standard dream elements, such as a burglar ("fearing to face one's shadow"), horse ("instinct ... strength, power, and endurance"), wine ("...thespirit, the blood, the holy"). It also includes a chakra chart, bibliography, and index for easy referencing.--Gail Hudson