Lesson One – Dream Recall

Everyone Dreams

Research has proven that everyone dreams several times during a full sleeping period. The problem is that you may simply don’t remember what you dreamed about or if you had any dreams at all. You simply forget. In order to enjoy and learn from your lucid dreams when you are awake, you must remember your dreams.

Dreaming

Having a positive attitude and being optimistic is the first step in remembering your dreams. Getting plenty of sleep is also very important. Keeping a dream journal will help you to remember your dreams and the details of your dreams. Other techniques explained on this website will assist you in dream recall.

Keeping a Dream Journal

A dream journal must always be kept when you are learning to have lucid dreams. It is also a good practice to continue keeping a dream journal even after you are an expert lucid dreamer. I do. Keeping a dream journal will help you remember your dreams and the details of your dreams. When diligently maintaining a dream journal, you will be surprised how many dreams you have and the vividness and detail of your dreams. Be thorough in keeping a dream journal every day, and you will eventually start remembering your dreams on a regular basis. You will probably not remember all of your dreams, but just remembering and keeping notes on a few dreams or even just small parts of dreams is very important. It will train you to eventually have great success with having a detailed and organized dream journal.

Here’s how it works. If you do recall a dream or even just a partial dream, write it down as quickly as possible. This includes lucid, non-lucid, partial dreams, dream fragments, and feelings you have about the dream. Sometimes feelings are the only thing you can remember about a dream. Dream fragments are tiny portions, feelings, or just a glimpse of the dream. They are usually vague, but can often be helpful. Include as much detail as you can, such as where you were, what you were doing, how you felt, people you encountered or talked to, music, animals, objects such as furniture, rooms, cars, airplanes, pencils, doors, clothing, etc., everything. If you recall part or most of your dream, I find it best to write it like a story. Give it a title and just write as much as you can remember. A title will help you remember the main idea of the dream. You will usually remember more detail when you write it down. You should even draw pictures, such as room layouts, paths or streets you traveled, etc. The key is to write about your dream as quickly as possible and everything you can remember. I keep a notebook and pencil right next to my bed. If I wake in the middle of the night, I’ll grab it and jot down a few key words that will help me remember when I wake up. I’ll then use my notes to enter a dream into my dream journal. The key words I write down in the middle of the night are a great tool to help me remember. Sometimes I even recall a dream or part of a dream several hours later, during the day. If I do, I write down what I remember and add it to my dream journal later.

A dream journal can simply be a notebook. Here are some suggestions of ways to keep a dream journal:

• Notebook or notepad
  
• Word processor or note-keeping software on your computer – Be sure to use titles, keywords, etc. Organize them in a fashion so you can easily reference them in the future.
• Dream diary software or personal diary software – Many are free, but some are not. Do a search on the internet. Some dream diary software can assist you in organization and help you with other key elements of lucid dreams. I’ll list some of these in another blog.
• An audio recording device – You can use a tape recorder, digital recorder or any other device to record your dreams
  
• A spreadsheet on your computer

Be creative and use whatever works for you.

Note: Dreams can be very personal, so you may want to protect your dream journal by locking it up or assigning a password to the files on your computer.

Having a Difficult Time Remembering Your Dreams?

Remember, getting plenty of sleep is the first step. Also, remember before going to sleep, put yourself into a very relaxed state. Think to yourself, “I will have a wonderful dream. When I awake, I will remember it.” Repeat this several times. If possible, keep thinking these words as you drift off to sleep. You can also repeat this to yourself throughout your waking hours, several times a day. The subconscious mind has much influence over you and your dreams because it is directly connected to your dreaming. It remembers what you think while you are awake and when you are asleep.

You may also recall dream fragments. You can remember dream fragments waking up in the middle of the night (or your normal sleep time), when you first wake up in the morning (or your regular waking time), or anytime throughout the day. You may vaguely remember you were at some location, talking to someone, being afraid or happy, or taking place in any activity. Sometimes a dream fragment is just a feeling you had. If you recall any dream fragments, you should ponder them immediately and write them down. Dream fragments are keys to dream recall. You will build your dream recall by using dream fragments, which includes anything you can remember, how ever small they may be. Make sure you are in a safe place while pondering and writing. I wouldn’t want you to have an accident while doing this.

One method that has worked very well for me when waking with a dream fragment in my mind is this: Quickly close your eyes and gently focus on the fragment to the best of your ability. Often, it will help you to remember the dream, including portions of the dream, or the entire dream in astonishing detail. You can be amazed on how focusing on dream fragments can help you recall the dream. You can also use this method if you remember a dream fragment during the day. Just close your eyes and ponder. It doesn’t always work, but it does for a good percentage of the time. Remember to write it down as soon as you recall any details. Also, remember that dream fragments can just be a feeling about the dream. Ponder the feeling of the dream and include it in your dream journal. Don’t forget to always be positive and optimistic!

Don’t Give Up!

Everyone is different. You may already recall great details of you dreams everyday or you may think that you never dream. For those that think that you never dream, you must be persistent. It may take a few days, weeks, or months before you recall your first dream or dream fragments. When you do, you will be pleasantly surprised!

Review:

1. Stay positive and optimistic.
2. Get plenty of sleep and think and believe that you will have a dream that you will remember before falling asleep and throughout your waking hours.
3. Keep an organized, detailed dream journal, including dream fragments and dream feelings.
4. Never give up. Think positive. It may take some time, but you will eventually recall your dreams!

The next lesson will explain how to induce a lucid dream!

© 2009 – 2011 Gary Gardner, All Rights Reserved