I wake up wondering what is Midrash. Surely Hebrew but a word I am not yet familiar with. Daylight breaks with a question in mind. What is Midrash? “Where did you hear this word?” “In my dream” I responded. “A Beit Midrash is a house of hebrew bible studies.”
As I retold the dream he smiled and said “it doesn’t surprise me”. Didn’t surprise me either this wasn’t the first time I had dreamed in Hebrew recently but it was the first time I heard a word I did not recognize in my dream. Midrash. I’d been summoned to come to Midrash by an unknown messenger. A subconscious gesture of my curious mind?

3 years later I can see the dream with my eyes open. I can still feel my spirit lift each time I see the robed arm release me with his message willowing in my ears. 3 years later I am still floating in his message. Come to Midrash…

Scenes of water and sadness consume my dreams more nights these days. The closer I get to Midrash the more questions I have. Gates have opened but the forked road I must take to get there keeps me in the middle. Perhaps the only direct way to the gate is a decision to be
made, What does it mean to me?

From the Dream Diary of Janice Hunter

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Literally, “Istikhara” can be translated variously as “awareness” or “seeking peace”. Religious scholars in Islamic traditions trace its origin back to Hadith, i.e. teachings of Prophet Mohammad. According to these, the process of dreaming for learning the divine will can be performed by any grownup Muslim man or woman, though the dream of pious people will be more reliable a clue to the proper course in one’s life. The process itself consists of offering a particular number/units of prayer in the evening, usually a while before going to bed, followed by recital of certain verses a specified number of times, and then thinking of a question in one’s mind – something for which one is asking the God’s will to guide him/her. With this in mind, the person performing Istikhara goes to bed (alone of course).

The nature of the ensuing dream can vary widely. Two main types of dreams, however, are distinguished by the learned in this topic. First, the dreamer may see actual characters and/or hear their voices, acting in a sequence that leads to the answer sought by the dreamer. In some cases, for example, a dreamer reports seeing the prophet (his persona or silhouette) telling him/her, expressly or through a hint, the proper choice relevant to the matter. Then there is the second type of dreams with more vague and symbolic meanings. One of the more commonly experienced dreams of this kind shows colors flashing on the dreamer. Seeing green or white color, in this context, would mean divine approval (yes, your favorite choice is right) while red would mean negation (no, what you are going for is a threat).

There are also dreams wherein the sequence or content appears confused or unrelated to the dreamer’s purpose. Such dreams are taken as indicative of a freedom of choice left to the dreamer: the divinity is not interested in the issue and/or grants that any choice the dreamer makes will be the proper course to follow. It is worth mentioning that Istikhara needs to be repeated 3 to 7 times for a particular question/issue before making the final choice. The more the number of times an answer is repeated in dream, the greater the confidence of its approval by the almighty. Also, the question chosen for Istikhara needs to relate one’s earthly affairs and not one’s beliefs, faith, or ideology.

Opinion differs on the obligation of the dreamer after he/she is finished with the Istikhara and the answer to his/her question is provided in dream. Some scholars claim that taking the choice indicated in the dream is optional and the dreamer is completely free to make the choice he/she thinks is the best. Others are of the view that the choice approved in the dream must be pursued or else the dreamer will be offending the will of God.

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In western (Judeo-Christian-Islamic) traditions, snake is generally a symbol of evil or Satan – an enemy of mankind. This also holds for dreaming of a snake, though dream interpretations vary according to the actual dreaming sequence or the dreamer’s role in relation to the snake. Watching a snake chasing you would mean an enemy machinating against you, in real life, possibly for inflicting bodily harm. Many snakes together, in a group or pit, indicate bad luck in professional and/or personal life. Similarly, if a dreamer sees him/herself killing a threatening snake, it points to victory or dominance over the enemy or adversary in real life.

Dream meanings change, often extending to personal characteristics, in eastern cultures. In Chinese traditions, those born in the year of the snake are considered wise, usually owning hidden wisdom, and having a snake in dream may be symbolic of wisdom. A snake bite in a dream, accordingly, means injection of wisdom – a good sign for the dreamer. At the same time, this newly acquired wisdom is also considered as a means of potential transformation. Since snakes are known for shedding their skin (slough) and assuming a new appearance, snake bite in a dream translates into transformation of one’s self out of the old, worn out, or dysfunctional aspects of one’s personality.

Eastern thought and traditions, mainly the Indian and Chinese, have been preoccupied with cosmic energy that flows through the universe manifesting in humans as psychic energy. A significant part of this psychic energy is subconscious and needs to be called into action to unlock one’s true potential. This is just what snakes stand for in dream interpretations in eastern traditions. Seeing a snake is a call for stirring your hidden psychic energies to control your destiny. If, in a dream, a snake is seen sloughing, the dream is a clear call for shaking your inactive/paralyzed energies out of dormancy.

The symbolic worth of snake also applies to one’s sexual life. As snake trying to get into physical proximity in a non-threatening manner in dream is usually interpreted as the sexual interest of the dreamer. If one feels repulsion by such a scene in the dream, the dream is taken as indicative of sexual dissatisfaction. A snake biting the dreamer and then withering or dying may signify male orgasm.

The element of fear and anxiety is also widely associated with snakes. Like in real life, snakes in dreams symbolize a threat, worry, or problem that is haunting one’s peace. The appearance of snake in dreams, especially if it happens repetitively, therefore always carries an important message – that you have an important issue to take care of in your life.

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The Babylonians had a simple take on dreams.  When dreams were good, they were from the gods.  However when one had nightmares or bad dreams then these were generally interpreted as demonic.

The Romans however, took dreams a little more seriously than the Babylonians.  Dreams were subject to debate in the senate and were regarded as messages from the gods.  The dreams were then interpreted and these were used as “guides” as to how the state proceeds with certain laws, actions and even war.

The Greeks were even more meticulous than their Roman counterparts.  The Greeks would purify themselves for two days before sleeping in temples in order to receive messages from the gods.  They would fast, abstain from sex and eat no meat or fowl.  The potential dreamer would then sleep in the temple of the god which he wished to invoke.  They believed that Hypnos would then send his son Morpheus in order to warn or give prophecies to those who slept at his temples.

The Hebrews like most other cultures believed that dreams were messages from the gods.  However, the Hebrews were monotheistic and believed in only one god.  So when they dreamed, they believed that it was God who spoke to them.

Lots of the Bible characters that we know used dreams to guide them and rally the Hebrews.  Jacob for example dreamed of a very tall ladder which reached the heavens where God stood at the very top.  He was promised by God that Israel would forever belong to the Jewish people.  It is these types of dreams and prophecy that had a great impact on the Hebrew religion and culture.

The Assyrians saw dreams as omens.  In fact one of the earliest recorded dreams was written in a clay tablet that was found in Nineveh and dated back to the time of King Ashurbanipal.  It stated that when one keeps on dreaming about flying, then all he owns will be lost.   The Assyrians believed that bad dreams are a sign that something is wrong, and that whatever it is should be corrected.  They also believed that one should always follow the advice in their dreams.

Dream interpretation during ancient times was centered on the gods and omens.  This is because man even during his infancy, sought to better himself and sought guidance from higher powers.  The same is still true in our modern world.  Dreams are thought of by some people as signs, communications from our subconscious mind or even our “inner selves” seeking attention.  Man’s fascinations with dreams are still on going even with the varied explanations and studies as to why we dream in the first place.

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As theorized by dream experts, our “dream memory” is different from our “waking memory”. Must be the reason why we find it hard to remember our dreams by the time we’re fully awake. This can also be associated to how our subconscious and conscious mind operates. Aside from that, dreams usually manifest in fast sequences that maybe the mind finds it hard to keep up with, much less process it to bits.

On the other hand, improving your dream recall can also boost your imagination and creativity. It’s like making your subconscious mind a little more active than it normally would. Intuition was also said to be notably sharpened when dream recall is improved. Here are some tips on how you can improve your dream recall. Just remember that it takes practice to perfect this ability:

•    Have a strong desire to remember. Dream recall does not come naturally to an adult person and the mind is not made for recalling dreams so you need to have a strong desire to make it work.
•    Learn how to really focus. The reason why an average adult finds it hard to remember his dreams is that the mind is most probably clouded with things we do everyday, making it harder to focus entirely on our dreams when we sleep. Try to get everything out of your mind prior to sleeping.
•    Practice makes it perfect. If you did not succeed the first time, try again next. Keeping a dream diary during the first few nights will also help you keep track of your dreams.

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These days, dream incubation adapts a different meaning. Today, the technique is no longer used for contacting the gods but accessing your inner self, particularly your hidden creativeness. It was believed that due to the stressful lifestyle we are currently living in, our creativeness gets the backseat and eventually gets buried deep. In order to access this once-glowing creativeness, we now need to undergo dream incubation and see it using our dreams while sleeping. Some describes dream incubation as a period when you plant a seed to be harvested during sleep. It is most effective if you only think of one subject at a time during dream incubation. For experienced dream incubators, dreams can now be controlled according to their wants and needs invoking feelings of satisfaction and happiness.

Studies have shown that dream incubation can be a great tool for problem solving when practiced regularly. It was reported that a person who went to sleep with only an unsolved problem in mind is most likely to wake up the next morning with a solution that is otherwise unthinkable the night before. Dream incubation is effective for subjective and personal problems.

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That’s one thing I like about dreaming. If you take a look and study how experts conclude the dreaming process, it’s always on the bright and positive side of things. If it is viewed as an omen or portent of bad things to come, it is deemed to be taken as a warning so that the dreamer can prepare for it, if not avoid the threatening danger. Because of these, dreams eventually are valued and appreciated, never shunned.

In Chinese tradition, dreams are viewed as same. In fact, they’re used to diagnose a bad organ inside the body but unlike typical dream interpretation, it doesn’t use symbols but instead takes note of the emotions felt during the dreams. It will also help if your dream is a recurring one just so you know it’s not only a product of your subconscious mind. Here are some basic interpretations for dreams in traditional Chinese medicine:

·    Anger. This very negative feeling is brought about by hardening of the liver or gallstones can be forming right at that very moment.
·    Sadness. When you feel sad and lonely, better have your heart and lungs checked.
·    Fear. Fearful dreams usually represent anxiety but it can also warn you about your current heart and liver status.
·    Happiness. Feeling happy, contented and fulfilled in your dreams are representations that your body is not under stress in any way.
·    Striving hard. It means your body is not properly digesting the food you eat hence indigestion.

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When imbalances occur between chakras, the feeling of discomfort and discontentment are instantly present within the person. It was said that when the chakra governing your heart is weak, the person may feel alone and heartbroken without any apparent reason. The same way as it can manifest in his or her dreams in which the chakra is conveying what should be done immediately. In New Age practices, colors represent each of the seven chakras.

Dreams in relation to chakras are considered to be very helpful especially when it comes to health as each chakra is also believed to represent an organ of the body. According to chakra experts, pinpointing a current health problem can be easier with the help of the chakras. Also, doing meditation to balance your chakras before going to bed will help improve your dreams. Dream association will also help in determining what’s wrong with your body now.

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Further explained is how dream works. According to Kabbalah, there are two types of dreams. One is conceived by the subconscious mind while we’re awake. These are physical experiences we had which the mind remembers and carries as we sleep. These can also be sensations, desires, emotions, and just about everything that occupies the mind at the moment. In this kind of dream, one can determine and understand his reactions, habits and traits since it exists in a world that is nonjudgmental. In other words, what you see in this dream is the real you. However, if one has no desire of improving his being, most of your dreams are blocked or blurred because the mind has no intention of recognizing it.

Another type of dream according to Kabbalah is what parapsychology considered as premonitory or precognitive dreams. These dreams foretell events that are bound to come our way in the physical world, both good and bad. Messages are also conveyed through this kind of dream and other beings traveling the same time as yours can also pass messages to you even if their physical bodies are already dead. Dreams like these can only be seen clearly if a person is free from all worldly desires.

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·    The dead person might not be aware of his current situation and has been living his life still by doing his everyday routine without interference. This usually happens when the person experienced sudden death for which he was not fully aware. An example of sudden death is when a person died while asleep.
·    Unfinished business can also be a reason why a ghost preferred to stay behind. It was believed that every person has his own mission to do in his lifetime. Not finishing it will only make the soul restless and unable to move on.
·    Strong association to the place or things will hinder a ghost’s ability to move on especially if these are their priceless possessions or if the place played a significant role in their once-lived lives. This explains why ghosts manifest in their old houses or even in places of their deaths.
·    Others believed that some ghosts even refuse to move on since they fear they will meet hell due to wrongdoings they committed while alive.
·    Asian cultures have it that ghosts of loved-ones will manifest if a person is nearing death himself. This belief happens when a dying person is supposedly fetched by his loved-one so the dying person’s soul won’t have to be alone during his journey to after life.

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