I would like to ask if there is a way to learn about interpreting dreams in a Jewish way, and what the Sages say about it.
I would like to share with you guys a dream I had that helped me understand the first verses of Bereishis that states that before anything existed HaShems spirit flew over the oceans in darkness and then he created Light and then the Heavens and the seas etc...
I dreamed that I was under water in a great mental confusion and that after some effort I managed to make way to the surface and the vision of the light and of the clear day made me feel as if all the confusion had stayed in that sea.
The first verses of the Torah in my view are the ones of a birth of consciousness, a most beautiful parable.
I would appreciate you comments on this, and say that I missed this forum while I was away and am glad to be back.
Hi Rav Chaim and Rabbi Mitterhoff!!

Welcome back! I am happy you missed us. If you want to know about dreams you must see Gemara Brachos and page 55b and the next couple of pages. It is really amazing. Here are some interesting quotes:

R. Hisda also said: A dream which is not interpreted is like a letter which is not read. Rashi explains that an letter which is not read cannot hurt you.

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? — 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.

R. Johanan said: If one rises early and a Scriptural verse comes to his mouth, this is a kind of minor prophecy. R. Johanan also said: Three kinds of dream are fulfilled: an early morning dream, a dream which a friend has about one, and a dream which is interpreted in the midst of a dream. Some add also, a dream which is repeated, as it says, and for that the dream was doubled unto Pharoah twice, etc.

If one dreams that he has intercourse with his mother, he may expect to obtain understanding, since it says, Yea, thou wilt call understanding ‘mother’. If one dreams he has intercourse with a betrothed maiden, he may expect to obtain knowledge of Torah, since it says, Moses commanded us a law [Torah], an inheritance of the congregation of Jacob. Read not morashah [inheritance], but me'orasah [betrothed]. If one dreams he has had intercourse with his sister, he may expect to obtain wisdom, since it says, Say to wisdom, thou art my sister. If one dreams he has intercourse with a married woman, he can be confident that he is destined for the future world, provided, that is, that he does not know her and did not think of her in the evening.

R. Samuel b. Nahmani said in the name of R. Jonathan: A man is shown in a dream only what is suggested by his own thoughts, as it says, As for thee, Oh King, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed. Or if you like, I can derive it from here: That thou mayest know the thoughts of the heart. Raba said: This is proved by the fact that a man is never shown in a dream a date palm of gold, or an elephant going through the eye of a needle.

I personally use the Gestalt method to interpertate my dreams. This seems to line up with the last Gemara I quoted. The theory goes that each object in the dream is really a part of yourself looking for expression. So you then personify each object or person in the dream and try to figure out who who are. For example ask the question to yourself- I am ocean, who am I. I have had some powerful results with this method. Have fun!

Thats a very generous answer.
My dreams tend to be forgotten but I do dream a lot, next time I'll try the method, thanks!

That's a fascinating topic!

Richard, if I may, let me recommend you keep track of the brightest or the most memorable of your dreams (I do), because some of them tend to return evolving into a whole scenario; then the Gestalt approach will be valid not only for the analysis of this one instance of the dream, but it will also help you discover the trend in the scenario you are "watching" (dreaming). Sometimes it may take years before the next "sequel" comes to you; that's normal, as you have to evolve in order for the dream to evolve. One of my evolving dreams started about 20 years ago, and I've only seen it 3 or 4 times, but each time something is added to it...

I have a related question. What does Halachah say to the often circulated idea that dreams are our way to interact with Hashem or with mal'achim? And what does Halachah say to the idea that our dreams are entirely conjured up in our subconscious?

First, Richard, welcome back (I was getting worried about you . )

There are a few points on the subject that I would like to point out. In Shulchan Orech (O.C. 288:5), it says that some athorities say that we are not experts these days in interpeting dreams, so you don't need to worry about one that you thought was frightning and dooming. (It would seem that this is the accepted aproach)

Secondly, even a dream that is clear, the Shulchan Orech (C.M. 255:9) says one needs to believe it, even if some parts are coming true. The case is if someone dreams that there is money hidden someplace and was told in the dream that it belongs to person X, if you found it, you need not to return it to him, since you need not to believe the dream.

Rabbi Akiva Eiger in his gloss brings the Tashbatz (a rabbi) that brings a controdiction from this Halacha to the HAlacha that if someone sees a dream in which he makes an oath, he needs to keep it, or go to a rabbi to annul it, so we see you have to be careful what a dream shows you.

He answers the controdiction, that it's questionable if yuo need to believe it. Sometimes dreams are showed from heaven some do not. Thus, prohabitions, like oaths, you must not transgress them even if there is a doubt if the prohabition exist. But monetery questions, if you are in doubt whether you owe money or not, we always say that it's on the person who is requesting the money the burden of proof that it really belongs to him.

Just adding a bit of sauce to the discussion I would like to point out that in Jacob, in Joseph, and in Samuel the dreams have a very big weight.
Most dreams are rubbish but some dreams have a very intense and mysterious thing about them. In my experience I have already dreamed of things that actually came to happen with me innexplicably years later.
There are books that interpret dreams but since I reconverted I would be fearful to consult them because it would be something close to consulting an astrologer.
I will however try the Gestalt thing, that, may I say, is a bit un-Orthodox ...
PS. thanks for your worry Rav. I hope it was unjustified...