American Indian tribes, though there were many cultural differences between tribes, all understood that their individual and collective dreams emanated from the Great Spirit who spoke with the voices of birds, the whisperings of the wind and the cry of an animal. These living messages were a personal totem for the dreamer;s own spiritual connection to the planet Earth, Mother of all creation.

Ancient Greeks understood their dreams to be either divinely inspired or personal clearings, resulting from daily activities and interests. They hailed Zeus, father of the Gods, for sending them divine messages, aided by Hypnos, God of sleep, and Morpheus, God of dreams. Dreams were, however, only celebrated as important to the Nation if received by a Holy Man. It is worth noting that the first recorded dream interpretation book was written by Artemidorous, it was a five-work volume titled Oneirocritica.