1) Since I have been kid, around 14 year old, I have dream in the middle of the night or just before I would wake up, things that actually will be happened during the day to me as well to my family and general events. Among the events could be a nonsense events or events where my family has an emergency and just worrisome times for some of my friends, too.

None of my family members have this kind of ability, as far as I know.

An intense vision many times I have at morning of Shabat (after I have sleep from the Friday service) as well after immediately I take a nap as I come back home from the synagogue after Mosaf in Shabat. Other instances are happening when I prey with full Kavana Tehilim Hahida for some ones who ill and in needs of Refoa Shelema. I notice that a little bit of Mishke (of Kidush) and the fact I like to listen to sad music and Perke Hasanot that put me in a mood of Koved Rosh would increase my ability of acquiring those visions.

Other time I know what would be happened if I just sit quietly and think. Thoughts are coming to my mind about things that will be happened in the near future.

What I see many time is like a quick movie, it could be some single frames in which if you would put them together into a movie there is no a link between them, but those are different instances of event that will appeared during my day. On the other hand it could be a picture of mismatch abstracts.

Some of the visions can be interpreted easily, but some are more difficult, but as the event in my life would take place, immediately I know that what I saw in my dream was meant to be, then I solved this vision I have.

I know that a sleep is considered as 1/60 of being in the Olam Emet, where the spirit/soul can see the entire future events. Generally, what I would like if you can provide me places in the Talmod or any other places mentioning that kind of phenomena, is there a way to master this ability I have by practicing some meditation techniques and other tefilots (e.g., Tefila 18). I believe that Kabalists have this kind of ability.

2) Lately, my father, in his 84 year old, (who does not feel very well) visited me while I was sleeping. He came and gave me a kiss for goodbye since he feels that his time come to move to the Olam Emet. We live in different countries. He did not come in my dream, but in the spirit/soul (I know that is known that a spirits of the parents of the new weds are come down to celebrate the Simcha of the wedding) next to my bed, as he gave me a kiss I wake up and saw him. In the past when I have been in big dangerous or difficult in my life at least 5 times (as far I remember) people from the other side (Olam Emet) have touch me while I was sleeping. I felt those touching in which they would wake me up. At the first time in my life I was afeard but those days not any more, since I know that they came to help me in my difficult time or encourage me.


I more than happy if you can answer me those additional questions:
Why does it come to me.
What does it mean? (I think it is assurance that my tefilas are accepted)
What is my purpose in this world?
Any other comments are more than welcome.
Note that I have not a Bachur Yeshiva, by practice religous.

Dear Anonymous,

First I must say that I am not speaking as a learned person in these things. But I would like to give you a sympathetic response and hopefully say a little that is helpful.

Firstly, yes, I believe there is much that we barely understand but which happens to us and which we struggle to understand. If we are sensible, we will search out those who are really experts. Who is an "expert" to one person might not be an expert to enother. For yourself, I suggest that you become clear in your mind who is such an expert and then seek them out. But it can be helpful to ask around, but only if one is very tough about what to accept. This is the matter of discernment and is by no means an easy matter.

You are asking your questions here. To me this suggests that you believe the help you need is to be found somewhere within Judaism. I can relate to this myself. Not that I don't, or didn't, myself look further afield, with the strict proviso that what I accept (if I do) must fit with Judaism and my sense that all is going well - this is no easy task. What I find myself is that what I find elsewhere may help me to hear for the first time and understand what was in Judaism all along. It is said that all Truth is in the Torah. But going about it this way is not to be recommended for most people as they would just be misled or become confused. And I have had my fair share of that.

I was an assimilated Jew. In my search for answers, but not thinking of myself as a Jew, let alone practising as one, I explored various religions , psychology, philosophy, and much else.Then I finally found what fitted me and made sense to me ,and it was Judaism. The "joke" was that I had been a Jew all along. I have been studying it since. What I have found as I went along these various paths is that one is strongly discouraged, generally speaking, from paying much attention to the sort of matters you speak of and the other types of extraodinary experience Some good reasons for this is that one first needs a very solid foundation in one's religion; enough acquisition and adequate processing of life experiences; and to have successfully devoted oneself to raising oneself to a high level. The price for not doing this is the possibility of doing or suffering harm or wasting one's time that could have been usefully applied elsewhere, and insanity. Even great and holy men have gone insane following such an esoteric path. And, followed well, there may be considerable personal costs and suffering. These are very serious matters. "Children" should not play with fire.

I have great sympathy with your attraction to and desire to understand these special experiences of yours. And I myself have my own story, so I really do understand. But gifts are not necessarily to be developed until due time. If you plant seed in soil but there is not enough nutrients in the soil, the crop will wither or die. But little insights may slowly come over time.

My strong suggestion to you is that you study Judaism as never before and put your heart and soul into it. And this includes patience, prayer, acting as you should and surrendering to G-d who is always here and waiting to guide you. This is not shutting the door on finding out more about the matters that you raised, not at all. But the time to go through the door is not till you are made ready, if Hashem so wills.

I believe that , if you do what I have just said, if it is right for your gifts to be developed, and this is up to G-d, it will happen. You won't have to work too hard to find what to do : the way will become clear. Actually, I don't believe you can see the way - nobody can - until you are made into fertile soil open to G-d. This may take a long time . But the wait will seem like nothing as there is great joy to be found in the path of Torah and all that that means and which you have to find out if you don't know yet.

Travel well.

I am a newbie to these forums, but this particular subject is one I have a little experience and understanding of.

It sounds to me like what you may be describing with respect to dream-visions is what is called in kabbalah a madrega (medregot, plural, spiritual steps). Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz discusses these kinds of psychospiritual abilities in one of his books [The Strife Of The Spirit].

In addition to this book, I would recommend a book by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan called Inner Space. In it is a discussion of the dream center and its relationship to prophecy and soul development. Also discussed are the kelipot (dark forces which must be transformed) that are encountered in the process of purifying the dream center. This may be helpful to you along your journey.

Finding a teacher one can trust is certainly a good thing to do, but realistically, for many of us, this is not an immediate option. You have an ability now. In it taught that when the student is ready, a teacher will appear. In the meantime, to help you with respect to interpreting your dreams and visions, I think good advise is to remember that our dreams should not "master" us. We are to be masters of our dreams, ultimately. In other words, whatever our dreams tell us is not immutable. We do have the power to reject information fed to us within a dream or vision - particularly should one remember this as one is in the process of purifying the dream center. Dreams and visions, prior to achieving a prophetic level, is a mixture of truth and falsehood. So, while G-d does communicate to us through dreams and visions, those communications can contain admixtures of our own unrectified unconscious. Developing discernment goers along with soul development. Lacking a proper teacher, the best advise I (another novice) can offer is to be diligent with Torah study and trust that Hashem will guide you along the way. And should you stumble, which is necessarily part of soul development (as one cannot know the law until one stumbles over it), get back up and try again.

Rosemary mentioned that many holy people have gone insane going down the road of spiritual (soul) development. Yes, it is true, madregot can be misdeveloped and the power abused. The best protection, IMO, is Torah study and simple faith. Faith placed in one's psychic ability is faith misplaced. Psychic power should never be an end unto itself. Just as Avraham was asked to offer up his entire's life's purpose, you may be asked to give the ability. Only Hashem knows what may be required of you in consequence to having been given this ability.

Continue to study Torah, do good and have bitachon (trust that Hashem is guidng you). This is a good foundation from which to build.

I do disagree that if the ability is meant to be developed that things will happen easily for you. On the contrary, one on the path to soul development (which may or may not include development of this particular madrega) in the service of Hashem will most certainly meet up with challenges. And the further along one gets, the greater the challenges will become. Resistence always rises up to test whether one is ready and worthy to proceed to the next "level" (for lack of a better term).

I hope this was helpful and not out of line.

Liorah

Dear Anon and hi Lori,

Lori,your answer is compatible with what I had in mind and I think it added nicely to it.

Regarding the suggestions of those two books, I don't think any harm can come from that as long as one is very careful to cultivate Torah study, prayer, humility, etc, and, above all, surrender to and a constant "openness" to God. And, after all, the names of the books has now come up - they have been shown to you. And I believe that you will get from them what you are ready and meant to.

By the way, I keep saying "I" because it is only me saying this and I am by no means an expert. So it is just my opinion for you to think about.

I was erring on the side of caution not to mention specific reading into the matter at this stage as you said "Note that I am not a Bachur Yeshiva, by practice religious" . I was not altogether sure what you meant in all that so I decided to be careful for you and because I believe Hashem will act as necessary at the appropriate time. I believe Hashem will lead you to such things, including a teacher, as appropriate.But, as Lori wisely said, we do not know how this will progress.

Yes, I agree with Lori too, that things may not be easy for you. It seems a good idea to point that out like that, very much spelt out. Better to be warned. The journey can be very tough indeed and I have experienced that myself. It may only be in looking back, if one can see it then, that one realises how it all was going according to Hashem's will if not ours at the time. Extreme suffering could be ahead of you if this is how it is to happen. What occurs is part of what will happen elsewhere. You just have to keep on trying ,and trusting Hashem.

I didn't mean that anything would happen easily, to reply to Lori. But I see why it appeared I was saying that.What I said was " You [ie,you] won't have to work too hard to find what to do". And that has to be read in the context of the words around it. What I meant was that, as Lori said regarding a teacher coming, that G-d will do it, this part of it. I believe that the answers to your questions will emerge without you having to trouble yourself greatly directly ifyou do what you need to do (Torah study, etc) and this bit may be very hard , especially if you are to endure and rise through suffering. Also, when I was thinking of the answers emerging, I was thinking more of the path to them emerging. Of course, one may then have to work hard at it, only that to me isn't like "work". For me the hard work is hanging in there and in a suitable fashion (eg, remaining in good spirits) when I want something and am not getting it (maybe yet).

I'm so glad Lori has come to this topic. It is dealt woth better now. I hope the answers are helping you.