Comments on: Dream Interpretation in Sufism Past and Present

By: Aphasia

Aphasia — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 22:45:09 +0000

hello ryan……..oh thats great, thanks very much for your help….and this is a really interesting site, im glad i found it

take care and all the best to you

By: Ryan Hurd

Ryan Hurd — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 20:12:41 +0000

hi Aphasia,
I’m not really in the dream interpretation business, but I do recommend you check out dreamanalysistraining.org. This site is maintained by dream reseacher and psychologist Scott Sparrow. He offers mentoring, and access to a forum to discuss dreams. His method, in my opinion, cuts to the quick of dream analysis and teaches individuals how to interpret their own (and their peers) dreams.

By: Aphasia

Aphasia — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 19:56:34 +0000

I really like this site, as well as the Spirit Alchemy

I was wondering if you could point me in the right direction regarding dream analysis. I get alot of dreams, of the future (which all have come true), visiting different lands, people visiting me….busy busy busy nights, no wonder i am shattered the next day
But two remain prominant unsolved and I would really like some guidance….would you be able to help?

By: Ryan Hurd

Ryan Hurd — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 04:08:19 +0000

thanks Muhammad for such an excellent article! The Rumi connection was startling to me, especially the part about "only one true interpretation." I just want to add an excellent sourcebook on modern Sufi dreamwork by Llewellyn Vaughn-Lee, who integrates Sufism with Jungian dream interpretation. it's called Catching the Thread - highly recommended for anyone who wants to capture the "heart" of Sufi dreaming.

By: Gyrus

Gyrus — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 21:10:24 +0000

There’s a great little book which is the only one I’ve read on Sufi dream interpretation, called ‘Shower of Stars’. Being written by Peter Lamborn Wilson, it’s well researched, argued and written, and quite unorthodox. He presents the idea that the dream – via Khidr as a dream figure, a kind of interal Shaykh – offers an initiatory route for those not able to work with an external Shaykh (due to circumstance or, one suspects, temperament). Even without subscribing to the trappings of lineal tradition, I think there’s a lot to be said for the importance of working with a living teacher. But the perspective in this book is very interesting, a Gnostic affirmation of the routes that the dream will always keep open even when external authorities are corrupted.

BTW, the book also covers other liminal traditions of dream interpretation, such as Taoism, Siberian shamanism and the spirit cults of the African diaspora. Good stuff.

By: Iffaaz Salahudeen

Iffaaz Salahudeen — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 21:02:45 +0000

I believe Dr. Ma’ruf has given an excellent account on the detailed analysis of dream interpretation by other authors regarding Al-Gazzali and Rumi.

I wonder who in the current generation knows how to interpret dreams. I see many vivid dreams almost every other day, but does not have any clue what they really mean.

Getting back to the topic…
Prior to these Sufi scholars, there are many narrations in the Qur’an itself (Muslim Holy Book) about dream interpretations, especially relates to Prophets. One of the detailed dreams reported was of Prophet Yousuff. He had dreams when he was a child and his father, Prophet Ishaq (second son of Prophet Ibrahim)interpreted it and asked him not to mention to his other brothers. Then later when he was in prison, the fellow inmates had dreams and he Prophet Yousuff interpreted their dreams. Also, the king’s dream was interpreted by Yousuff to warn him about the femine to come.
Prophet Ibrahim also had a dream, where God asked him to sacrifice his son. But he did not take it as a mere dream, but as a direct order from God and tried to sacrifice his only son, then.