Has anyone ever had a bad dream...or a disturbing dream....&/or one you couldn't understand?
...or a recurring dream that felt disturbing or seemed negative?
If so, has anyone tried to "sweeten the dream" using the "alchemic incantation" in the Gemara (Berachot 55b) to transmute the dream for the good?
I did this over the weekend...once I finally was able to recall this disturbing recurring dream I was having. And I have to say, there is something therapeutic as well as metaphysical...healing emotionally and spiritually...to this incantation.
Here it is...
Peace & blessings,
7L
WHAT TO DO ABOUT DREAMS
(a) (Rav Huna bar Ami): If one is bothered by a dream, he should interpret it in front of three people.
(b) Objection: [It is better not to interpret it;] Rav Chisda taught that a dream that is not interpreted is like an unread letter (nothing will come from it)!
(c) Correction: Rather, he should amend it in front of three people, as follows:
1. He tells them, "I saw a good dream"; they respond, "It is good, it will be good, Hash-m will make it good, may Shamayim decree seven times that it will be good, and it should be good for you!"
2. They should say three verses of rerversal, three of redemption, and three of peace:
i. The three of reversal: "Hafachta Mispedi l'Machol Li Pitachta Saki va'Te'azreni Simchah," and "Az Tismach Besulah... v'Hafachti Evlam l'Sason," and "v'Lo Avah Hash-m Elokecha Lishmo'a El Bil'am va'Yahafoch..."
ii. Three of redemption: "Padah b'Shalom Nafshi...," "u'Feduyei Hash-m Yehuvun," "va'Yomer ha'Am El Shaul... [va'Yifdu ha'Am Es Yehonason v'Lo Mes"].
iii. Three of Shalom: "Borei Niv Sefasayim Shalom Shalom la'Rachok vela'Karov...," "v'Ru'ach Lovshah Es Amasai...[Shalom Lecha v'Shalom l'Ozrecha]," "va'Amartem Ko Lechai v'Atah Shalom..."
HERE IS THE DETAIL:
http://www.come-and-hear.com/berakoth/berakoth_55.html
R. Huna b. Ammi said in the name of R. Pedath who had it from R. Johanan: If one has a dream which makes him sad he should go and have it interpreted in the presence of three. He should have it interpreted! Has not R. Hisda said: A dream which is not interpreted is like a letter which is not read?
8 — Say rather then, he should have a good turn given to it in the presence of three.
Let him bring three and say to them: I have seen a good dream; and they should say to him, Good it is and good may it be. May the All-Merciful turn it to good; seven times may it be decreed from heaven that it should be good and may it be good.
They should say three verses with the word hapak [turn], and three with the word padah [redeem] and three with the word shalom [peace].
Three with the word 'turn', namely (i) Thou didst turn for me my mourning into dancing, Thou didst loose my sackcloth and gird me with gladness;
9 (ii) Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old together; for I will turn their mourning into joy and will comfort them and make them rejoice from their sorrow;
10 (iii) Nevertheless the Lord thy God would not hearken unto Balaam; but the Lord thy God turned the curse into a blessing unto thee.
11
Three verses with the word 'redeem', namely, (i) He hath redeemed my soul in peace, so that none came nigh me;
12 (ii) And the redeemed of the Lord shall return and come with singing unto Zion … and sorrow and sighing shall flee away;
13 (iii) And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? … So the people redeemed Jonathan that he died not.
14
Three verses with the word 'peace', namely, (i) Peace, peace, to him that is far off and to him that is near, saith the Lord that createth the fruit of the lips; and I will heal him;
15 (ii) Then the spirit clothed Amasai who was chief of the captains: Thine are we, David, and on thy side, thou son of Jesse: Peace, peace, be unto thee and peace be to thy helpers, for thy God helpeth thee;
16 (iii) Thus ye shall say: All hail! and peace be both unto thee, and peace be to thy house, and peace be unto all that thou hast.
17
Here's something else...
Dreamt a disturbing dream, but can't remember it? The Talmud recommends reciting the following prayer while the kohanim bless the people:
"Master of the World! My dreams and I belong to You.... If the dreams are good — bolster them like the dreams of Joseph. And if they need to be remedied — fix them like the bitter waters that Moses sweetened... Just as You transformed the curses of wicked Balaam into blessings, so too, make all of my dreams be for the best." (Berachot 55)