Dreams, more than just fleeting images, often serve as mussar from Above. Each individual receives lessons from Heaven tailored to their unique avodas Hashem. For a tzaddik, this is immediate; they wake up and interpret their dreams as direct messages from Hashem, finding within them guidance and insight. Every person, however, is tasked with doing the same—seeking the hidden lessons in avodas Hashem embedded in their dreams.

In essence, every dream holds within it an aspect of Torah. The only question is whether the dreamer sees it. When someone sees shtusim in their dreams, it indicates a חלום על ידי ש”ד—a dream influenced by negative forces. However, if a person merits it, they will see only Torah. And if not, they must strive to interpret the dream, to draw spiritual inspiration into it, transforming it into something meaningful and holy.

If a person doesn’t interpret their dreams—seeking out the avodas Hashem within them—then their sleep is bitul Torah. But someone who does interpret their dreams knows that everything is Elokus. One must see the avodas Hashem in everything. Every experience in life contains remazim, hints and lessons, to draw us closer to Hashem. When we seek out those lessons, even the smallest experiences become Torah. If someone dreams of Torah, it is a good sign. But even if one dreams of shtusim or doesn’t understand the dream, they should still search for the avodas Hashem within it.

The Chazon Ish wrote of his lifelong struggle with harsh dreams. The Gemara tells us that Dovid Hamelech also had troubling dreams. Each tzaddik follows their own unique path of avodah. There have been tzaddikim who, during times of war, received revelations about the tragedies that were to unfold.

Not everyone merits to remember their dreams. Even the act of remembering a dream is a zechus in itself. Dreams hold immense potential. Whether we merit to unlock their deeper meanings depends on our willingness to see the avodas Hashem within them.