Dreaming True

[williamxiii]

Opening Chapter 6 of ACHG Grant writes of Dion Fortune's having "demonstrated the magical value of 'dreaming true', an expression derived from George du Maurier's novel 'Peter Ibbetson'". Indeed, the phrase is central to the novel as the protagonist Peter Ibbetson carries on a relationship with his lover though locked away in prison via dream state assignations. He indicates he learned the practice from his father:

"my dear father had learned a strange secret of the brain—how in sleep to recall past things and people and places as they had once been seen or known by him—even unremembered things. He called it ' dreaming true,' and by long practice, he told me, he had brought the art of doing this to perfection."  It seems young Peter takes this to the next level in order to meet Mary, his lover, after an unjust imprisonment. 

the 1935 film adaptation (with Gary Cooper in the title role) can be viewed here:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PimDGyfO-E

and an analysis of the film at the International Association for the Study of Dreams is here:

asdreams.org/videofil.htm#Peter%20Ibbetson%20(1935)

I am wondering if anyone has encountered the phrase "dreaming true" used in this context prior to the publication of du Maurier's novel (1891)?

[stephen]

Quid pro quo. Not precisely what you may be looking for with "dreaming true" but I was reminded of what Aryeh Kaplan has to say in his discussion of the magical works of the Practical Kabbalah:

"One interesting practice frequently encountered in this genre of literature involves induced dreams. This is usually referred to as a "Dream Request" (Shaalat Chalom), where one poses a question and attempts to induce an answer to appear in a dream. The practice itself is very ancient, alluded to even in the Talmud, and examples are found from as early as the Tenth Century. While the methods for inducing dreams are often purely magical, there are some that have important meditative overtones. This is particularly significant because of the general relationship between prophecy, enlightenment and dreams." 

Meditation and Kabbalah, Samuel Weiser 1982, page 157.

[williamxiii]

thanks Stephen. This reminds me of the ancient practice of dream incubation in which dreamers would sleep at the temple to receive a dream providing guidance and, in the case of the Asclepeions, perhaps a dia-gnosis of what ailed them.