What to Do After a Bad Dream: Interpretations and Tips for a Restful Night

In both the Bible and Talmud, significant dreams are documented, where they deliver prophecies or legal interpretations from Heaven.

Pharaoh's dream in the Torah foretold seven years of famine followed by seven years of abundance. Similarly, Joseph's dreams predicted his future prominence over his brothers.

Nebuchadnezzar also dreamed truthfully, interpreted by Daniel, and King Solomon had a visionary dream where he asked Hashem for wisdom.

Yet, the sages point out that most dreams originate from a person’s own thoughts, as stated in the Talmud: "A person is shown only the thoughts of their heart" (Berakhot 55b).

Generally, one's dreams are products of the day's thoughts and actions, rather than divine revelations.

As written in "Sefer Chassidim": "Whatever one's soul desires or focuses on will appear similarly in dreams. Such dreams are not angelic revelations but reflections of one’s own musings."

Rabbi Yehuda Fatiyah explains in his book "Minchat Yehudah" that spirits take joy in human distress, sending bad dreams to cause it. Most modern bad dreams stem from such spirits and should not be worried over, as concern only increases their persistence.

For those still troubled, here are soothing quotes from Jewish sages about bad dreams:

1. "Some dreams appear negative, yet they are beneficial" (Rabbi Eliyahu HaCohen in "Agadat Eliyahu").

2. "It is well-known, and everyone knows, that most dreams are nonsense and falsehoods devoid of truth" (Author of "Levush Ha'Orah", Parshat Vayeshev).

3. "I know of a great person who was never concerned with dream interpretations" (Rabbi Chida in "Devash LeFi", section 3).

4. "It's better not to worry or be frightened by dreams and not to share them, as most are trivial, especially in a generation lacking heavenly revelations" ("Pele Yoetz", entry "Dream").

Watch Rabbi Zamir Cohen discuss the mystical and scientific views on dreams:

The Ritual of Dream Interpretation

A dream's fate follows its interpretation and can turn positive, as the Talmud states: "All dreams follow their interpretation" (Berakhot 55b). Therefore, a distressed person can undergo a "dream improvement" session where a good interpretation is provided, changing the dream's outcome from negative to positive.

This needs to be done in front of three beloved individuals, forming a sort of legal tribunal.

Here is the text for the ritual as found in prayer books:

"The three improvers say to the dreamer: 'Are not interpretations from Hashem? Please tell me:

The dreamer repeats three times: 'I saw a good dream.'

The improvers respond seven times: 'You did see a good dream: You did see a good dream: You did see a good dream: Your dream is good and shall be good, may it be decreed sevenfold from Heaven that it will be good and remain good.'

The dreamer says: 'You turned my mourning into dancing for me, you loosened my sack and girded me with joy.'

The improvers say: 'Then the maiden will dance with joy, young men and old together, I will turn their mourning into gladness and I will comfort them, and bring joy out of their grief: For Hashem your God would not listen to Balaam, but Hashem your God turned the curse into a blessing, because Hashem your God loved you.'

The dreamer says: 'He redeemed my soul in peace from battle against me, for there were many with me.'

The improvers say: 'And the people said to Saul, "Shall Jonathan die, who has wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid! As Hashem lives, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground, for he has worked with Hashem this day." And the people rescued Jonathan, that he did not die: And those redeemed by Hashem will return with songs to Zion forever, with eternal joy on their heads and sorrow and sighing will flee away.'

The dreamer says: 'Create out of lips peace, peace to the far and to the near, says Hashem, and I will heal them.'

The improvers say: 'The spirit clothed itself in Amasai, chief of the Thirty, and he said, "We are yours, David, and with you, son of Jesse; peace, peace to you, and peace to your helpers, for Hashem has helped you." So David received them and made them leaders of the raiders: May you say to all, "l'chaim, you are at peace, your household is at peace, and all you have is at peace: May Hashem give strength to His people, Hashem blesses His people with peace."'

The dreamer says three times: 'Hashem, I have heard your hearing and I feared.'

The improvers say three times: 'Hashem, your work in the midst of years you give life, in the middle of years reveal it, in wrath may you remember mercy.'

The dreamer says three times: 'A song of ascents, I lift my eyes to the mountains, from where will my help come? My help is from Hashem, maker of heaven and earth.'

The improvers say three times: 'He will not allow your foot to slip, your guardian does not sleep. Look, the guardian of Israel does not slumber. Hashem is your guardian, Hashem is your shade, at your right hand. By day the sun shall not harm you, nor the moon by night. Hashem will guard you from all evil, He will guard your soul. Hashem will guard your going out and your coming in, from now and forever.'

The dreamer says three times: 'Make known to me the path of life.'

The improvers respond three times: 'Fill with joy your presence, pleasantness at your right hand forever.'

The dreamer says three times: 'And Hashem spoke to Moses saying, "Speak to Aaron and his sons saying, this is how you shall bless the Children of Israel, say to them."'

The improvers say three times: 'May Hashem bless you and watch over you: May Hashem shine His face upon you and be gracious to you: May Hashem lift His face to you and give you peace: And they shall place My name on the Children of Israel, and I will bless them.'

Finally, the improvers say to the dreamer: 'Go, eat your bread joyfully and drink your wine with a good heart, for Hashem has already approved your deeds.'

Those who had a dream and aren't certain if it was good or bad should recite an abbreviated dream improvement formula during the priestly blessing.

They should attend synagogue and when the "priestly blessing" is recited during the morning prayer, they should pray this formula, finishing it as the blessing concludes, so the congregation answers 'Amen' to both the priestly blessing and their prayer. "Master of the Universe, I am Yours and my dreams are Yours. I dreamt a dream and do not know what it is. May it be Your will, Hashem my God and God of my forefathers, that all my dreams over me and over all Israel be for the good. Whether I dreamt for myself or whether I dreamt for others, and whether others dreamt for me, if they are good, reinforce them and strengthen them, may they come to pass in me and in them like the dreams of Joseph the righteous. And if they need healing, heal them like Hezekiah King of Judah from his illness, and as Miriam the prophetess from her leprosy, and as Naaman from his leprosy, and like the waters of Marah through Moses our master, and like the waters of Jericho through Elisha. And just as you converted the curse of Balaam the wicked from a curse to a blessing, so turn all my dreams upon me and all of Israel to welfare, and watch over me, grant me grace and show me favor. Amen."

Tips to Prevent Bad Dreams

1. Fulfill the mitzvah of reciting the "Shema on the Bed" prayer along with the "Hamapil" blessing before sleep (Yehave Daat vol. 4, page 140 with note).

Watch here Rabbi Emmanuel Mizrachi discuss this practice for protecting against bad dreams.

2. Go to sleep with joy from words of Torah ("Siach Tefillah", letter 12).

3. Check the kashrut and integrity of the mezuzahs in the house ("Dibrei Chalomot", page 142).

4. Before sleeping, say the verse: "If a dream comes to me tonight, I do not wish to fast tomorrow. Not for this, nor for anything else - come what may." ("Segulot Yisrael", section H, entry 23, citing "Kitzur Shelah" on Tractate Shabbat).

5. Reduce negative and anxious thoughts during the day. Exposure to scary or stressful content can influence the soul, leading to unpleasant dreams.

6. While sleeping, avoid placing a hand on the thigh or chest ("Segulot Yisrael", section Sh, entry 33).

7. According to the Chasam Sofer, if a person is distressed by a bad dream, they should take a small action related to the dream to nullify it.

For example, if a person dreams about the approach of Shabbat without finishing preparations, causing them stress, they should resolve to be ready 10 minutes before Shabbat in the future.

Watch Rabbi Yitzchak Fanger's lesson on bad dreams: