GYPSIES

   ("Sleeping Gypsy", Henri Rousseau)

GYPSIES AND DREAMS

Gypsies believe that dreams are knowledge presented to them through sleep by their ancestors.  According to gypsies, if we can see and understand our dreams, they may benefit us in many ways. 

Gypsies are considered the supreme interpreters of dreams.  Many people feel inclined to tell a Gypsy more than they would tell anyone else in reference to a dream, and, in that, the Gypsy is able to more accurately interpret the dream. 

Gypsy dream interpretation has prevailed through the centuries.  It began somewhere around 4,000 years ago (from what we know), and has continued with the same traditions and discipline as that time period.  They have struggled with one question for many years, however: does a dream come from within, or does it come from another, external source?  Presented in a Gilgamesh epic there are the lines:

They dug a ditch facing the Sun god.

Gilgamesh stood on the slope of the ditch and

poured flour into it, saying:

"Oh, mountain!  Bring us dreams!"

In second century BCE, there were many temples throughout Greece, and dreams were widely known as symbols of the future and messages to oneself.  As time went by, however, the Gypsies began to believe that dreams referred only to health problems, current and oncoming.  Gypsies also began to believe that dreams were messages from "the gods," and took these supposed messages very seriously. 

ARTEMIDORUS

A Roman soothsayer named Artemidorus wrote the first known dream dictionary.  He believed that there were five distinct types of dreams: prophetic, symbolic, fantasies, nightmares, and daydreams.  He also stated that dreams could not be accurately interpreted without any prior knowledge of the dreamer's personality and circumstances.  Also, every dream is not necessarily interpretable.  It may have been a result of what the dreamer ate or drank before bed, the day's activities, or medications he or she took.  

SO, WHICH DREAMS CAN I INTERPRET, ACCORDING TO THE GYPSIES?

Gypsies say that the dreams to interpret are usually vivid and stay with you upon awakening.  If the dreamer ate too much or was sick before going to bed, chances are, the dreams they have during the night are not to be interpreted as symbolic messages or prophecies. 

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