Emunah.com

Around these Days of Awe, especially Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement) it's customary to give a donation called "Pidyon Hanefesh" (Redemption of the Spirit) to a worthy individual who will pray on your behalf. This is a custom taught by the kabbalists and Hasidic masters including Rebbe Nachman of Breslov. The redemption (Pidyon) accompanied by the worthy individual's prayer on behalf of the giver, cancels and "sweetens" hash judgments, allowing for the blessing to flow into the giver's life at all levels. A formula for Pidyon attributed to Rebbe Nachman said to be found in his handwriting is printed at the beginning of his books printed by the Oddesser fund. It includes kabbalistic concepts and connections with holy names of the Creator. Part of it reads (translated): "May it be Your (God's) will, that the judgments, and harsh powers be sweetened over [name of giver and mother's name] through an upper wonder, great kindness, and complete and simple mercy, with no influence of judgment at all, amen." The