Dream Recall & Lucid Dreaming - How to Remember Your Dreams
Lots of people want to be able to have lucid dreams, which is hardly surprising when you consider how much fun they are! However, actually learning to have lucid dreams can be quite a challenging process, although it's certainly doable with enough practice.
One thing that you need to be able to do if you're going to become a successful lucid dreamer is to be able to remember your dreams in detail.
After all, if you don't remember your normal dreams, you're not likely to remember any lucid dreams either.
Successful dream recall also strengthens the connection between dreaming and waking consciousness, which is crucial if you're to develop the ability to have lucid dreams.
Let's take a look at three methods which can help you recall your dreams.
1.
Keep a dream journal Firstly, get into the habit of keeping a regular dream diary.
Every morning when you wake up, write down as much detail about your dreams as you can recall.
Don't just write down the plot, but also include details of any emotions and sensory impressions (colours, sounds etc) that were present in the dream.
It's very important to do this as soon as possible after awakening, as details of dreams tend to fade very quickly once you're awake.
As well as writing them down, you might also want to keep the small audio recorder close to the bed, as this can be a more convenient way to make a note of your dream impressions (especially on dark winter mornings or if you wake up during the night), and you don't have to be as alert as much as you would in order to write.
2.
Use affirmations Secondly, try affirming your intention to recall your dreams.
Create a statement such as 'I always remember my dreams in vivid detail' or something similar, and repeat this to yourself throughout the day.
For extra effectiveness, you can write your affirmation down.
It is especially valuable to devote some time to repeating your affirmation as you're falling asleep at night.
3.
Establish a regular sleep routine Thirdly, it's important to establish a regular sleep routine, and make sure you get enough sleep.
If you sleep poorly, this can interfere with dreaming sleep, and if you feel very tired, your dream recall will probably be negatively affected.
In particular, it's good to try to get to bed early enough that you can wake up in the morning without the aid of an alarm clock, since struggling to switch off the alarm is likely to distract you from recalling your dreams first thing in the morning - and as noted, dream memories can say within a matter of seconds if you don't note them down quickly enough.
Making a deliberate effort to recall your dreams in as much detail as possible using these techniques will send a clear message to your subconscious mind that your dreams are important to you.
As you become more connected with your dreaming consciousness, you increase the likelihood that you'll have a lucid dream, and when you do start lucid dreaming, you'll be able to recall your dream adventures in detail.
After all, there's not much point in becoming lucid if you don't have any memory of it afterwards!
One thing that you need to be able to do if you're going to become a successful lucid dreamer is to be able to remember your dreams in detail.
After all, if you don't remember your normal dreams, you're not likely to remember any lucid dreams either.
Successful dream recall also strengthens the connection between dreaming and waking consciousness, which is crucial if you're to develop the ability to have lucid dreams.
Let's take a look at three methods which can help you recall your dreams.
1.
Keep a dream journal Firstly, get into the habit of keeping a regular dream diary.
Every morning when you wake up, write down as much detail about your dreams as you can recall.
Don't just write down the plot, but also include details of any emotions and sensory impressions (colours, sounds etc) that were present in the dream.
It's very important to do this as soon as possible after awakening, as details of dreams tend to fade very quickly once you're awake.
As well as writing them down, you might also want to keep the small audio recorder close to the bed, as this can be a more convenient way to make a note of your dream impressions (especially on dark winter mornings or if you wake up during the night), and you don't have to be as alert as much as you would in order to write.
2.
Use affirmations Secondly, try affirming your intention to recall your dreams.
Create a statement such as 'I always remember my dreams in vivid detail' or something similar, and repeat this to yourself throughout the day.
For extra effectiveness, you can write your affirmation down.
It is especially valuable to devote some time to repeating your affirmation as you're falling asleep at night.
3.
Establish a regular sleep routine Thirdly, it's important to establish a regular sleep routine, and make sure you get enough sleep.
If you sleep poorly, this can interfere with dreaming sleep, and if you feel very tired, your dream recall will probably be negatively affected.
In particular, it's good to try to get to bed early enough that you can wake up in the morning without the aid of an alarm clock, since struggling to switch off the alarm is likely to distract you from recalling your dreams first thing in the morning - and as noted, dream memories can say within a matter of seconds if you don't note them down quickly enough.
Making a deliberate effort to recall your dreams in as much detail as possible using these techniques will send a clear message to your subconscious mind that your dreams are important to you.
As you become more connected with your dreaming consciousness, you increase the likelihood that you'll have a lucid dream, and when you do start lucid dreaming, you'll be able to recall your dream adventures in detail.
After all, there's not much point in becoming lucid if you don't have any memory of it afterwards!