Dreams are the common experience of every one, but who has ever been able to satisfy himself as to their cause, why they come, and from what source? The pictures that pass before our inner vision during the hours of sleep have called forth much comment and some scientific investigation, but as very few people have been able to agree upon the possible cause of the phenomena, the public in general has received very little light on the subject. Each person, however, has had some dreams in which he believed, and a great many in which he placed no confidence. Almost every one can relate some instance in which he knows that certain things which were first shown to him in a dream afterward actually occurred. Any mother, whose children are away from her, knows that in her dreams she is always warned if they are sick or in trouble. If she receives messages of this character, they must come from the children. At least, that would be the most likely place from which they would come. To presume that they came from any other source would be far less reasonable.

For many years I have given the subject much consideration, but could not come to a satisfactory conclusion until I made the discovery of the Law of Mentalism.

Now all the mystery is removed and a logical explanation is easily made. Dreams usually occur during the hours of sleep, but not always. What we call sleep is simply the five senses passing into a state of unconsciousness. The faculty for thinking is usually quite active up to the time the five senses go to sleep, and it is doubtful if this faculty more than passes into partial unconsciousness. In this state, the sleeping person is as sensitive to Mentalism, if not more so, than when awake. During the sleep or unconsciousness of the five senses, the brain is given the best opportunity to receive thought messages, for there are no external conditions to distract the attention.

The impressions that we call dreams are in no wise different from the messages received during the waking state. We know that concentration is an assistance in sending and receiving thought messages; and concentration is closely related to sleep, for it places the senses under subjection. The information we receive in dreams, while partially asleep, is often very complete; while at other times we receive but a few thoughts on one subject, and then a stronger thought wave from another source reaches and gives us information on some other subject. This mixing of pictures, wherein things are left incomplete, is confusing, and we are unable to see what reference they have to the affairs of our life. If we consider these dreams as thought messages, we will find that they are in no wise different from the thoughts which come and go through the brain during the waking hours. When they come in the daytime, little or no attention is attached to them, but because they come at night people have placed them in a distinct class.

Many of the thoughts received during the night escape us before we have been awake half an hour. This is due to the fact that they made but a faint impression and were of slight importance, or else they were dispatched by a weak Will. Thoughts that make a deep impression, and are clearly stamped upon the memory after waking, should be given the same consideration as would be given to a message that came in the daytime.

Thought waves travel during the night as well as the day, therefore they will impress the brain that is in harmony with them, be the time night or day. There is nothing strange about dreams when viewed from the standpoint of Mentalism. The law that governs the day messages also governs the night messages, for they are one and the same.

In my own experience I have found that the most important information comes at night after retiring. The greater part usually comes before I go to sleep, and sometimes all of it. But often the message is continued after I have fallen asleep, and next morning I have the knowledge needed to complete my plans. I could not well call part of this a thought message and the remainder a dream, for they were but one and the same, and the information being continuous, it could have come only by the one means.

One can readily see how the Law of Mentalism removes the mystery with which dreams have been surrounded, and makes their import easily understood. Every one should take note of the messages received while asleep, but should be careful to what extent they allow these thoughts to influence their actions. No information can be secured from dreams that could not be gained through concentrating during the waking hours.

"Mind acts upon mind; therefore, all we have to do is to learn to talk in thought, and all the intelligences that ever lived are with us and we with them." - H. H. Brown.