Every symbol carries an elemental power that transcends boundaries and holds significance for many cultures. This beautiful, comprehensive book describes, discusses and illustrates thousands of these fascinating visual elements and assesses their relevance in language, art, literature, mythology, magic, religion and psychology. It also makes us more aware of the way signs and symbols are a subconscious language that we are at times unaware of when used by advertising and art, or even in our own doodlings or body language. The same fluidity that can be found I n the interpretation of signs and symbols can also be seen in the interpretation of dreams. Each dream has a particular significance for the dreamer, and similar content will have a totally different meaning depending on who is dreaming the dream. In the second part of this book, how we dream and show we interpret dreams is analyzed as a way of accessing our subconscious fears, desires and preoccupations. This unparalleled volume gives a wealth of information and cultural background to the primal metaphors that are part of humanityʾs universal, but ultimately personal, language, and begins a voyage of discovery into the importance of symbolism and dreams. Lavishly illustrated with over 2000 specially commissioned illustrations, fine art paintings and evocative photography, this book contains a vast visual resource of inspirational imagery as well as erudite and informative text. Book jacket.