My friend Lindsay told me recently about a recurring dream. In it, she’s back in Hebrew School, and there’s a surprise test. Her rabbi won’t leave her alone until she answers his question: “What are the 12 tribes of Israel?” When she can’t answer, her parents get terribly upset and don’t want to talk to her ever again. “What’s weird is I’m not religious and my parents certainly wouldn’t care,” Lindsay said.
“So did you ever look up the 12 tribes of Israel?” I asked.
Lindsay laughed. “No.”
To me, it seemed obvious—perhaps at some time in the future, maybe while starring on some TV game show, Lindsay will be asked this question and she’ll miss out on winning the million dollars. But as I learned in last week’s Mysterious Ways Live Facebook Dream Chat with Dr. Judith Orloff, our dreams are rarely so direct. Rather, they serve as a starting point for us to examine what’s going on in our lives…
The Thrill of the Chase:
Ever have a dream where you’re being chased, like Margaret here? According to Dr. Orloff, it’s a common theme and one that should force you to look back. What tragedy or trauma did you think you buried or put behind you? Perhaps it’s catching up—and your dreams are telling you to turn around and deal with it before it overtakes you.
Be Who You Want To Be:
I thought Paula maybe just had a bad experience at the Taco Shack, but Dr. Orloff identified what Paula’s nightmare waiter was really trying to tell her. If she doesn’t stand up for herself and make it clear what she wants, she’s going to be forced to swallow what someone else chooses to order.
Learn to Fly:
While Paula’s dream highlighted something she didn’t like about herself, Qian’s dream seems to highlight exactly the opposite. Flying dreams remind us of “our hugeness of spirit and what we are capable of,” Dr. Orloff wrote. When we’re grounded in real life, we can lose sight of the big picture, how far our capabilities can take us. Perhaps Qian is ready to spread his wings—his dream is certainly urging him on.
Be Prepared:
So what about my friend Lindsay? Dr. Orloff addressed a similar dream had by one of our readers:
It seems Dr. Orloff would offer Lindsay the same advice she gave our reader Kitty: Breathe. Center yourself. Prioritize. Define a plan and prepare. Don’t allow yourself to be caught off-guard by the pop quizzes life hands you.
Of course, I still would recommend learning the answers to any questions that pop up in our nighttime visions. Lindsay, if you’re reading this, the 12 tribes are Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph and Benjamin. Be sure to tell your rabbi next time you see him… in real life or in your dreams.
Did you enjoy our dream chat? Have you had prophetic or insightful dreams that helped you in a time of need? Let us know!
