this time ~ this space

Top Ten Tips for Journaling Dreams

1. Get yourself a dream journal.
If you scratch down your dreams on scrap pieces of paper, or in general note pads, you’ll be sure to lose them.

2. Get yourself a NICE dream journal.
Dreams contain valuable information. Honour your dreams. If you get a special book, you’re more likely to make a point of using it, and keep using it…just for your dreams!

3. Keep your dream journal by your bedside.
There’s no point in having a beautiful dream journal on a bookshelf where it never gets used. Keep it right by your bed, so you can easily grab it and use it.

4. Keep a PEN by your bedside.
There’s no point in having a journal by your bed with no pen close at hand. Designate a pen for your bedside and make sure it stays with your dream journal!

5. Write as soon as you wake up.
Upon waking take a few minutes with your eyes clsoed to make the trainsition to the waking state. You’ll remember the most dream details as soon as you start waking up, so write dreams down as soon as possible. Also, if you wake up in the night remembering a dream, write it down ASAP.

6. Give your dreams catchy titles…like news headlines.
Give your dreams titles like news headlines so you can scan through your journal to find any dream you’re looking for. If you don’t have titles, you’ll have to read through many dreams to see if they’re the one you’re looking for.

7. Write down your dream in present tense. Record your dream as if it were happening right now, rather than reviewing it like a movie.
If you write down dreams in the present tense, they will feel more real and alive when you go to interpret them. If you write down dreams in the past tense, it will feel more distant and dried up. (example: present tense = I’m running, past tense = I ran).

Write down as many details in your dream as you can, no matter how minute or seemingly unimportant it may be. Do not judge the content or worry if it makes sense. The idea is to get it down on paper so you can evaluate it later.

Include drawings because a picture is worth a thousand words, as the saying goes. Even if you are not an artist a simple drawing can help you to recall details of your dream.

8. Date your dreams.
It can be very interesting to look back and see the dates when you had certain dreams. It is a meaningful way to review your spiritual journey. You may also be surprised how often you dream about themes before they actually happen in physical life. Record the date in your notebook, as well as where you’re at if you’re not sleeping in your own bed.

9. Read your dreams back to yourself.
Even if you don’t have time to do a full interpretation, often just quickly reading a dream back to yourself can be useful. Simply hearing yourself read the dream can often reveal some levels of meaning.

10. Learn how to use basic dream interpretation tools.
Dreams are constantly communicating valuable information through the language of symbol. With basic tools to decode dream symbols, and with practice, you’ll get better at decoding dream meanings.

Before you retire to dreamland

Remembering your dreams will require some effort on your part. But what your dreams can offer and tell you about yourself will be well worth it. Here are some tips in helping your dream recall:

1. Briefly review the day’s events before preparing to sleep. This may help you to relate your dreams to what is happening in your waking life, thus answering questions or giving you advice on directions to take. It can also help you to formulate a dream question.

2. Before going to sleeping, clear your mind and affirm your intention. Tell yourself that “I will remember my dream when I wake up”. This is actually a proven and effective way to help dream recall. Having too many thoughts on your mind can distract you from remembering your dream in the morning.

3. Have a regular bedtime and wake up time. Make this your routine. Going to bed and waking up at a regular time every day aids in dream recollection.

3. Avoid alcohol consumption and taking medication before going to bed. These things may hinder you from remembering your dream. Eating fatty foods too close to bedtime can also divert bodily resources away from the brain and hinder dream recollection.

Previous related blog posts: Catch Your Dreams
Recording Your Dreams Part 1- Beginning