Part 1
Universal Handbook, No. 2.
THE Witches’ Dream Book; AND FORTUNE TELLER.
EMBRACING FULL AND CORRECT RULES OF DIVINATION CONCERNING DREAMS AND VISIONS, FORETELLING OF FUTURE EVENTS, THEIR SCIENTIFIC APPLICATION TO PHYSIOGNOMY, PALMISTRY, MOLES, CARDS, &C.; TOGETHER WITH THE APPLICATION AND OBSERVANCE OF TALISMEN CHARMS, SPELLS AND INCANTATIONS.
ILLUSTRATED.
NEW YORK: HENRY J. WEHMAN. 1885.
COPYRIGHT, 1885, BY HENRY J. WEHMAN.
PREFACE.
“To sleep, perchance to dream.”--HAMLET.
This introductory page is inserted, not with the purpose of reviewing the contents of the book--a custom, to our mind, more honored in the breach than the observance--but merely to inform those who look within the pages, the seekers after knowledge concerning the laws of Oneirology and the bases of Fortune Telling, that they will find much to instruct, interest and amuse. While avoiding undue prolixity, the subjects are comprehensively and exhaustively treated, proving it to be more valuable as a book of reference than any other of similar character ever before given to the public.
DREAMS AND THEIR INTERPRETATION.
Although much prejudice exists as to the origination of Dreams and the various interpretations given them, the fact is incontrovertible that they have, in all ages and among all nations, borne a conspicuous part in shaping destinies. Both sacred and profane history is replete with dreams which have had more or less influence upon the lives of the dreamers. Innumerable are the instances in which have been prefigured in dreams occurrences that have actually taken place, and many dangers have been averted by heeding warnings given during sleep. Of course it would be unwise to place full credence in the prognostications of all dreams, and equally so to totally disregard them. To both the educated and the illiterate, dreams, of whatever nature, point a moral; and those who heedlessly ignore their lessons often experience cause for regret. Appended will be found a succinct compendium of the scientific and philosophic researches of many gifted in the art of divination.
=Acquaintance.=--To dream that you fight with them signifies distraction, especially if the person so dreaming be sick. =Adversary.=--To dream that you receive obstruction from him, shows that you will dispatch your business speedily. =Adultery.=--For a person to dream that they have committed it, shows they will meet great contentions and disputes. =Almonds.=--To dream one sees or eats almonds, signifies difficulties and trouble. =Alms.=--To dream that they are begged of you, and you deny to give them, shows want and misery to the dreamer; but to dream you give them freely is a sign of joy and gladness. =Anchor.=--To dream you see one, signifies great assurance and certain joys. =Altar.=--To dream you uncover or discover an altar, betokens joy and gladness. =Angel.=--To dream you see angels is good, but to speak with or call upon them is evil. =Anger.=--To dream that you have been provoked to anger shows that you have powerful enemies. =Angling.=--To dream that you are angling, betokens much affliction and trouble in something which you desire to get. =Apes.=--To dream you have seen or had anything to do with them, signifies malicious, weak, strange and secret enemies; also a malefactor and deceiver. =Apparition.=--To dream you see an apparition, or spirit, clothed in white, signifies deceit and temptation to sin. =Adam.=--To dream you see this father of men, this inhabitant of Paradise, who was betrayed by Eve into sin, is a happy omen. If he looks pleasant, be sure you will succeed in whatever you undertake. If he looks displeased and angry, then you must use great caution in all your dealings, for some mischief is intended you, but you will get the better of it. Be careful, if he speaks to you, to mind what he says, and observe it as faithfully as you possibly can. =Absence.=--
To dream of any absent friends, Good news of them, or ill, portends; But if at thy bedside they seem, Their deaths, perhaps, may solve thy dream.
=Abuse.=--To dream that you are abused and insulted, is a certain sign some dispute will happen between you and some person with whom you have business; therefore after such a dream you should be particularly careful of yourself and be as gentle and mild as possible, that you may not give those with whom you have dealings any advantage over you. =Acorns.=--
To dream of acorns do not slight, It promises both strength and might.
=Ague.=--To dream you have an ague, denotes that you are in danger of becoming a drunkard and a glutton. To dream your sweetheart has an ague, is a lucky omen; it shows you are beloved, and that you will be happy with the object of your wishes, but never very rich. =Apparel.=--Nothing more demonstrates the events that are about to happen to you, than dreaming of wearing apparel; but almost every color has a different interpretation, and must depend on its being new or old, its fitting you, or being too big or too little. To dream you are dressed in white, is a sure token of success in the first object you undertake, and that you will be successful in love, and that your sweetheart is of good temper and amiable disposition. To dream that you are dressed in green denotes that you are about to take a journey to your advantage, and that your sweetheart prefers you to all other lovers. To dream that you are dressed in black is an unlucky omen. To dream that you are dressed in blue, denotes happiness. If you dream you are dressed in scarlet, you are thereby warned of some very heavy calamity. To dream you are dressed in yellow, is rather lucky than otherwise. To dream you are dressed in crimson, indicates that you will live to a good old age, and be neither very fortunate or unfortunate through life; it denotes a dispute between landlord and tenant, which will be settled amicably to the advantage of the latter. To dream that you are dressed in a variety of colors, denotes a variety of fortunes is about to attend you. To dream you are fashionably dressed and in good company, is very good for the dreamer; he will rise considerably above his present condition. To dream your clothes fit you well and are comfortable to the season of the year, is favorable and denotes success. To dream your clothes do not fit you, and that they are not suitable to the season, denotes death of some friend and a loss by fire. To dream you see another dressed in any of the modes above described, forebodes to the person dreamt of the same fortunes. To dream you are dressed in new clothes, is a very favorable omen; it portends honors and success to your undertakings. =Apparitions.=--To dream you see a ghost, goblin, spectre and such kind of things, is of a very unfortunate nature; if you are in love, it is a certain sign of your not being beloved in return; depend upon it some one is about to deceive you and that you are friendly with one who is your most inveterate enemy. =Arms.=--To dream your arms are withered is a certain sign that you will decay in health and fortune. To dream they are growing strong signifies that some unexpected success will attend you. To dream that your right arm is cut off, denotes you will lose some male relation. To dream your left arm is cut off, denotes you will lose some near female relative. For a married woman to dream her arms have grown lusty and strong, denotes that she will have many male children, that her husband will arrive at public honors and will grow rich and make many friends. =Apples.=--To dream of apples betokens long life and success, a boy to a woman with child, faithfulness in your sweetheart and riches by trade. =Apricots.=--To dream of apricots, denotes health and prosperity, a speedy marriage, dutiful children and success in love. =Asses.=--To dream you see jackasses, is a good sign. To dream you are riding on an ass, is the forerunner of some foolish quarrel. To dream that you are driving an ass, denotes that you will fall into some trouble, of which you will get the better. To dream an ass runs after you, denotes that some slander will be raised against you by some foolish persons, who will be themselves the victims of the scandal raised against you. To dream you see an ass fall loaded, is a very good import and shows that you will be the founder of your own fortune. =Attorneys.=--To dream that you are speaking with them, shows hindrance of business and that a man will have little success in his affairs. =Armed Men.=--To see them in your dream, is a good sign, and denotes one void of fear; to dream you see an armed man fly is a sign of victory; to see men come in arms against you, signifies sadness. =Action.=--To dream that you are sent of an errand, signifies great loss to the married; to the lover it denotes success in his pursuit, and that he will shortly marry a very amiable and accomplished maiden. For a maiden to dream that she was sent on an errand, denotes that she will shortly marry the object of her affections and be very happy. To the sick it denotes a speedy recovery. =Ascend.=--For one to dream they ascend towards the skies is favorable, particularly so if the clouds appear bright. =Air.=--To dream of the atmosphere has a variety of interpretations, and depends entirely on its appearance. If you dream the sky is clear, of a fine blue, calm and serene, then it is a good omen. To dream that it is streaked with white, denotes that many severe difficulties will befall you, over which you will eventually triumph. To dream that it was full of thick, dark and heavy clouds, is an unfavorable token; disappointments will attend you. To dream that the sky is streaked with red and looks fiery, denotes that in love you will be successful; in business not so; it also forewarns you that sickness and trouble will attend your family. =Altar.=--To dream you are at the altar and receiving the holy sacrament is a very unfavorable omen, and denotes many heavy and severe afflictions. =Adder.=--A person that dreams of the asp and the adder, is thereby betokened to have stores of money and rich wives. =Assassin.=--To dream of an assassin is a warning not to be neglected. Shun all pretending friends, lend no money, be ever on your guard, and you may escape destruction, which is planned for your ruin. =Ants.=--To dream of these industrious little insects, hath a variety of interpretations, depending on the manner in which you dream of them; if you see them running about, it denotes that you will be a great loser by some plan that you will undertake for gain. If you dream you see them 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, then it is a bad omen. If you dream of these insects when you are sick, you must expect to recover very slowly. =Auction.=--To dream you attend an auction is, on the whole, unfavorable. If you purchase, expect loss of property. If you only attend, you are sure to meet with a heavy deprivation of friends and property. If you pass by one, then you will attain, in a few years, all that you moderately desire.
=Bear.=--
To dream a bear thy step pursues, A cruel foe some mischief brews.
=Beggars.=--To dream of beggars is rather unfavorable, especially to lovers and persons in business. To dream they beg alms of you and that you refuse it, denotes misery, want, and a prison; if you are in love, some scandalous person will ruin you with your sweetheart. To dream that you give them alms, indicates success in business, and that you will obtain, after much difficulty, the object of your affections; your children will be sickly, and narrowly escape many dangers. =Bleeding.=--To dream you are bleeding, denotes loss of goods and character, and that your sweetheart will not marry you. To dream you see another bleeding, indicates that some person who pretends to be your friend is about to take some great advantage of you. To dream you draw blood of another, denotes that you will recover a lawsuit and be successful in love and business. To dream another draws blood of you, is a certain prognostic that you will be unsuccessful in love and in business, and in everything you undertake. =Blind.=--To dream of being blind is a sure sign that you repose your confidence in some person who is your bitter enemy; it denotes also that your sweetheart is unfaithful and prefers another; in business it denotes that you will lose money, and that your servants lack fidelity. =Boat.=--To dream that you are on the water in a boat, provided you are in company, denotes prosperity and success in your undertakings. If you dream you are in a boat alone, it is a bad omen. To dream the boat oversets, is the most fatal of all omens. =Bridge.=--To dream you are crossing over a bridge is a good omen--it denotes prosperity through life, and success in love. To dream you are passing under a bridge, indicates that you will never be perfectly at ease. If you meet with any obstruction on the bridge it foretells a fit of sickness; are you a lover, it denotes that your sweetheart will be afflicted with illness. To dream a bridge breaks down with you denotes sudden death. =Bread.=--To dream you see a great quantity of loaves of bread, denotes success in life. To dream you are eating good bread, denotes that you will be shortly married. To dream the bread is musty and bad, denotes the loss of friends and that some near relation will shortly die. =Brother.=--To dream you see your brother, denotes a speedy marriage in your family and that the dreamer will not be long-lived; if you are in love it is a favorable omen. =Building.=--To dream of being amongst buildings, denotes that you will change your present place of residence and that you will make many new friends in life; if you are in love it foretells your sweetheart is about to remove at a distance from you, and that you will be in danger of losing the affections of your lover by a new face. =Bulls.=--To dream you are pursued by a bull, denotes that many injurious reports will be spread on your character. If you dream the bull gores you, or tosses you, then expect shortly to lose your liberty; it denotes that some person in power will do you an injury. =Burning.=--
To dream of burning doth imply, A sudden danger, ripe and nigh; Of all escapes you then beware, For though fate threatens, it may spare.
=Butchers.=--To dream of seeing butchers is in general a very unlucky omen; it always foretells some injury to the dreamer. If you see them cutting up meat some of your friends will be hanged, and you will experience much misery and poverty. =Bed.=--To dream you go to the bedside of your lover, foretells a speedy marriage; if you dream you go between the sheets, you will have a child within twelve months after marriage, who will become rich and afford you support in your old age. =Banquets.=--To dream of banquets denotes poverty and want. =Bat.=--To dream of bats is very inauspicious. =Belly.=--To dream one’s belly is bigger and fuller than ordinary, shows his family and estate will increase. If one dreams his belly is grown lean and shrunk up, he will be joyfully delivered of some bad accident. If any one dreams that his belly is swelled, and yet notwithstanding be empty, he will become poor, though he be rich in the esteem of many people in the world. If any one dreams his belly aches, he will be afflicted in his family and have many cares upon him. =Blowing the Fire.=--To dream you are blowing the fire indicates to the lover, that your sweetheart is very angry with you. =Barn.=--To dream of a barn, and that you see it well stored with corn, denotes much good; it foretells to a man that he will marry some rich woman; to a maid, that she will marry a man who will grow very rich by his industry, and be promoted in the state. If you dream you see an empty barn, the reverse will happen. =Bathing.=--To dream of a bath is a very unpropitious omen; expect after it to experience many mishaps and much sorrow. If you are in love, your sweetheart will experience many crosses and losses; but to dream you are bathing yourself in clear water, denotes happiness, prosperity and success in love--if the water is dirty, then it foretells shame and sorrow, and a disappointment in love. =Beheading.=--To dream you see any one beheaded, is a good omen; if you are in love, you will marry the object of your affections. If you are in prison, you will speedily gain your liberty. =Bells.=--To dream you hear the bells ringing, denotes a speedy marriage and that you will receive some very good news. =Bees.=--To dream they sting you, denotes loss of character, and if you are in love, of your sweetheart. To dream you see them at work, is a very lucky dream; it forebodes great success by your own industry. To dream you see them making their honey under your own roof is the best omen in the world. For the rich to dream of bees, is rather unlucky, but to the poor, they denote comfort, affluence and success. =Beard.=--For a man to dream he has a long beard, denotes good fortune; if he is in trade, he will thrive; if he is in love, he will marry the present object of his affections, who will bring him some money; if he is a farmer, it denotes good crops, and an addition to his farm. If a married woman dreams of a beard, it is unlucky; it foretells the loss of her husband and that she will fall into great distress. If a maid dreams of a beard, it denotes that she will be quickly married and that the fruit of her womb is a boy. For a woman to dream that she has a beard is a very lucky omen, and denotes that she will speedily attain her most sanguine desires. =Battle.=--To dream of battle in the streets, forewarns you against secret enemies who will endeavor to harm you. If you are in love, your sweetheart is false to you. =Bacon.=--To dream of bacon denotes the death of some friend or relation and that enemies will endeavor to do you mischief. In love, it denotes disappointment and discontent. =Back.=--To dream you see your back, betokens some uneasiness; for the back to be broken or hurt, shows you will be scoffed at by your enemies; yet to dream of the backbone, signifies health and success in love, marriage and business. =Basin.=--To dream of a basin, signifies a good maid; and to dream you eat or drink therein, shows you have a love to the servant maid. For a man to see himself in a basin as in a glass, denotes he shall have children by a servant maid. =Beech and Myrtle Trees.=--Signifies wanton women and are good for those who would undertake any such business; to others they are pain and labor. =Beans.=--To dream you are eating beans always signifies trouble and dissension. =Beets.=--To dream of eating beets, signifies freedom from trouble and expedition on business, because they make the body soluble. =Burial.=--
To dream a burial passes by, News of the living doth imply.
=Briars and Brambles.=--If you dream you are passing through places covered with these things, it portends troubles; if they prick you, secret enemies will do you an injury with your friends and unfavorable tales will make your sweetheart shy of you; if they draw blood of you, expect heavy losses in trade. If you dream you pass through them without injury, then you will at last triumph over all your enemies and become happy. =Bells.=--To dream one hears ringing of bells, if of a sanguine complexion, brings them good news; but to others, it shows alarms, murmurings, disturbances and commotions. =Birding.=--To dream you catch birds, signifies profit and pleasure. =Bird’s Nest.=--To dream you find one is a good sign. To dream you find one without eggs or birds, shows you will meet with great disappointments. =Birth.=--To dream of one’s birth is good for him that is poor; but to him that is rich, this dream signifies that others shall rule over him against his will. =Blindman’s Buff.=--To dream that one plays blindman’s buff, signifies prosperity, joy and pleasure. =Blossoming of Trees.=--To dream you see all sorts of trees blossoming, is a sign of joy, comfort and recreation. =Brewing and Baking.=--To dream of brewing and baking is the sign of an ill housewife, who lies dreaming in bed, when she should be at work and doing her business. =Breast.=--To dream that you have hairy breasts and the tap pup covered with hair, denotes great gain and profit to men; but to a woman, loss of her husband. If a young married woman dreams that her breasts are full and spurting out milk, it signifies that she is with child and that it will be a perfect birth. If a virgin dreams thus, she is near her marriage. If a woman dreams she has sore breasts she is threatened with death. =Broth.=--To dream of eating broth is a good sign and signifies profit and gain. =Buried Alive.=--For a man to dream he is buried alive, signifies he shall have much wealth. =Burned.=--For a man to dream he is burned, signifies (according to the interpretations of the Persians and Egyptians) that he shall be rich, honored and respected; but if he imagines that he was burned by a fire that did not quite consume him, he will inevitably perish in the end. =Basket.=--For a man to dream of baskets is evil; it denotes decay of business to a merchant, want of employment to a mechanic, and loss of place to a servant; but if a woman dreams she receives a number of baskets it is a good omen, and especially so if well filled; to a maiden it denotes that she will have many new lovers; to a wife, that she will have an increase in her family, and to the widow, that she will soon marry again. =Bonnet.=--For a maiden to dream she gets a new bonnet, gives promise of a new lover, but Mother Shipton says that much depends on the color; if green, he will be deceitful; if blue, he will prove affectionate; if pink, his love will not be lasting; if yellow or white, he will quickly improve marriage; but if a female loses her bonnet, it behooves her to be guarded of her virtue, for she is in danger of being led astray; if it be blown off, she will have something she dearly prizes stolen from her. =Buttons.=--To dream of bright buttons is seldom good; if rusty, it portends misfortune; if covered, sadness. If a man dreams he has lost all the buttons of his clothes, it is a sign he will not live long.