Pharaoh saw seven copious ears of grain growing on a single stalk. Then, suddenly, another seven ears of grain grew behind them, thin and scorched by the hot east wind. The seven thin ears swallowed up the seven full ears. Pharaoh woke up and realized that it had been a dream. The interpretation of dreams in Jewish tradition appears as early as the beginning chapters of the Bible, and scholars have pointed out that even Freud was influenced by the speculation of Jewish dream interpretation in biblical and talmudic literature. These classical texts have served to stimulate and organize Jewish thinking about dreams, one of the perennial existential concerns in human life. The author, Monford Harris, explores different conceptions of dream interpretation in Jewish thought and includes material dealing with two traditional dream-therapy services. One service is conducted on several occasions during the liturgical year when priests bless the assembled congregants. The other service is conducted when a congregant is troubled by a dream. Harris's exploration into the realm of dream interpretation is important for individuals who are especially interested in Jewish intellectual history and popular culture, as well as for therapists, who will find the two synagogue therapy services provocative and intellectually stimulating.

Find Inspiration and Spiritual Understanding in Judaism's Ancient Traditions of Dream Interpretation This engaging, entertaining, and informative bedside companion will help you open up your dreams and discover the meanings they may hold for you. The Jewish Dream Book invites you to integrate the spiritual wisdom of Judaism’s past into your life today by honoring your dreams and striving to uncover their hidden messages. Exploring the Bible, Talmud, and other ancient sources, it will introduce you to inspiring, easy-to-use rituals and practices. Included are diverse topics covering everything you’ve ever wondered about dreams and dreaming: Uniquely Jewish ways to bless and honor your dreams Transforming a bad dream into a good one How—and why—to keep a dream journal How to encourage enlightening, productive, and healing dreams Guidelines for being a dream interpreter Historical dream interpretations Dream symbols and their meanings How to link your dreams to Torah

Reportedly, the prophet Muhammad told his followers that after he was gone prophecy would come only through "true dreams." Based on this and other statements, early Muslims created what might be called a theology of dreams. Dreams were regarded as an important means used by God to guide the faithful, especially after the cessation of Koranic revelation. However, since these dreams were often symbolic, they required interpretation, and early Muslims wrote numerous manuals dedicated to deciphering their meaning. Utilizing manuscripts preserved in Middle Eastern mosques and libraries, this book offers the first comprehensive account of the early Muslim tradition of dream interpretation. In addition to describing how and when the tradition developed, author John C. Lamoreaux discusses the social context in which dream interpretation arose and its role in the intellectual life of the time. He demonstrates that early Muslims considered dream interpretation a fully orthodox theological discipline, one sanctioned both by the Koran and the example of the prophet Muhammad.

This fascinating and accessible book offers a comprehensive overview of dream interpretation theory and modern dream science, presenting an argument for dreamwork as a means to better understand emotional challenges and achieve personal growth. Bridging the gap between cognitive-behavioral therapies, psychoanalysis and depth psychology, the book explores topics like lucid dreams, end-of-life dreams, cross-cultural dream analysis and Freudian and Jungian models of dream interpretation. The authors offer a new model for better understanding dreams based on symbol formation, narrative structure and current neurophysiology, with the aim of reinvigorating the way we value dreams and their importance to individuals and society. The Wisdom of Dreams can be of great interest to analysts and therapists, including psychiatrists, psychologists, sleep researchers, social workers and counselors, as well as anyone interested in working with their dreams for greater personal clarity and self-understanding.

The recent centennial of the original publication of Sigmund Freud's The Interpretation of Dreams has generated a new wave of critical reappraisals of this monumental work. Considered one of the most important books in Western history, scholars from an astonishing variety of academic fields continue to wrestle with Freud's intricate theories and insights. Dreams is a long overdue collection of writing on dreams from many of the top scholars in religious studies, anthropology, and psychology departments. The volume is organized into three thematic sections: traditions, individuals and methods. The twenty-three articles highlight the most important theories, the most contentious debates, and the most far-reaching implications of this growing field of study.

This work includes studies by leading scholars on Ancient Jewish and Iranian studies and essays that combine both fields in the new discipline of Irano-Talmudica.