Hello Dear Reader,

How did you sleep last night? What did you dream?

As for me, last night I sat up in bed, surrounded by a small mountain of Hebrew grammar notes, vocabulary cards, and verses, and with my laptop balanced on my knees: You see, I have committed to translate a verse a day from biblical Hebrew into poetic English as part of a fundraising challenge, and I had yet to meet my daily goal.

I’m one of nearly 90 poets who are raising funds for The Center for New Americans’ 30 Poems in November fundraiser. Most are writing a poem a day—but I’ve chosen a different path: translating a verse a day from the story of Sarah, Hagar, and Abraham into what I call restorative and poetic English. (You can learn more about that project here.)

Nearly two weeks in, and after completing another verse just before closing my eyes, it shouldn’t surprise anyone (least of all me) that even after I shut my laptop and turned off the light, my mind didn’t stop translating.

Even in my dreams, I was at it, deciphering biblical Hebrew word by word and line by line.

Keep reading for some fun facts about what rats dream of, plus a writing prompt to help you find the magic in the mundane.

But first:

To learn more about the 30 Poems in November fundraising challenge to benefit our immigrant neighbors, and to donate to this creative and worthy cause, click here.

🐭 Rat-in-the-Maze Dreams

I call the kind of dream I described above, one where the dream seems to be a repeat of a repetitive task you were doing that day, a “Rat-in-the-Maze” dream. Why? Because scientists have found that when rats spend a big part of their day running mazes, they dream about—yes—running mazes.

It’s not so different for us. When we repeat a task—folding laundry, painting walls, practicing scales … translating verses—our minds often replay those patterns in our sleep.

Robert Frost captures that beautifully in his seasonally fitting poem, After Apple-Picking:

“And I could tell
What form my dreaming was about to take.
Magnified apples appear and disappear,
Stem end and blossom end,
And every fleck of russet showing clear.”

You can read Frost’s poem here.

💭 What Surprises Me Most

It’s amazing enough that scientists can tell what a rat is dreaming, but what fascinates me most is that the dreams don’t only mirror their daytime activity. What’s really worthy of our attention is how the rats’ dreams change.

The rats don’t just replay the maze—they imagine what lies beyond the wall they couldn’t cross. They dream their way toward possibility.

And that, I believe, is where creativity and transformation begin.

🌸 My Dream, My Discovery

In my dream, the biblical Hebrew verses weren’t the end of it.. They melted into a scene of little girls laughing and dancing. When I woke, I realized something beautiful:

As I spiral deeper into these ancient stories—uncovering feminine power and divine presence—a joyful, pink-skirted energy is awakening inside me.

It’s not a childish cliché. It’s the emergence of a vibrant strength and beauty—something joyful and fiercely alive.

✨ Your Turn

Read Frost’s After Apple-Picking.

Then think of a repetitive task in your life—something simple, maybe even boring. Now, write about it. Follow its rhythm until you find something unexpected: an image, a memory, a spark of insight.

You might discover, as I did, that even in repetition there’s discovery—and even in the maze, there’s a dream showing you the way forward. 💫

Tip: Set a timer for 12-20 minutes. That will help you bypass your inner censor and let the writing flow! ⏱️

If this reflection resonated with you, I’d love to hear from you in the comments—what are you “dreaming your way through” these days?

And if you’d like more meditations on language, spirituality, and creative renewal, subscribe below to receive new posts directly in your inbox.

That’s all for now. Until we meet again, may you dream write, and be well,

PS: I’m 12 days and 12 verses in to my verse-a-day challenge as part of the Center for New Americans’ 30 Poems in November fundraiser.

Big thanks to everyone who has contributed! Together, we’ve raised $750 for a great cause so far. 🎉🎉🎉

When you donate any amount, you receive a 3-month paid subscription to my other online publication, where this translation project is ongoing: The Life of H: Sarah, Reimagined for free!

Most importantly, your contributions help our neighbors enjoy a safe and productive life in the country they have chosen to call home.

Donate to the Fundraiser