Dream Journaling/Recall. Is it really nessesary for Lucid Dreaming?

**Alchera7** · 05-05-2014 11:07 PM

I've never quite understood why people often say that having good dream recall is absolutely VITAL for lucid dreaming.

Lucid Dreaming utilizes CONSCIOUS memory, why? Because we are fully self-aware in the lucid state. Therefore these stored memories will have the same accuracy as waking life memory.

Dream Journaling improves UNCONSCIOUS memory. These memories will never be as accurate as conscious memory (created in waking life and lucid dreams). Therefore Dream Journaling really is only necessary if you would want to improve your non-lucid dreams, correct?

I kept a dream journal for about 4 months a couple years ago, and can attest to this. My non-lucid dream quality skyrocketed while my lucid dreaming quality remained unaffected by my improved unconscious memory. I've since then stopped keeping a dream journal, and this improvement has decayed, and am no longer able to remember as much detail of non lucids.

Maybe I find the dream journaling unimportant because I use the WILD and WBTB techniques to induce my LDs. I take advantage of hypnogogic imagery and sleep paralysis to cross over into a LD. So I don't think memory is really needed for these techniques at all. With however DILD I could see how having good dream recall would help though. Heh I think I just answered my own question. But seriously though IMHO Dream Journaling/Recall isn't required for all induction techniques.

**DreamscapeGoat** · 05-06-2014 06:11 AM

The point of journaling is more to assist in recall and point out potential dream signs.

With WILD, journaling isn't as important - though, you should still do it, more for consistency and habit. Journaling can also help you go back into certain dreams you've had in the past - you can just read up on what you wrote beforehand, and get the image back in your head.

It's really just a good habit to have - especially for those starting out. It helps with DILDs, as well - all the more reason to do it.

**Laurelindo** · 05-06-2014 10:49 PM

The journaling part in itself isn't "necessary", although it does make it much easier to become familiar with your dreams - and it improves your dream recall as well, and dream recall is obviously absolutely necessary, since otherwise you won't even remember the lucid dreams you have!
Trying to lucid dream without being able to remember dreams is kind of like trying to drive a car that has run out of fuel - you can attempt to start it, but it won't go anywhere.
Same with lucid dreaming and dream recall.

So what you really need to improve is your ability to remember dreams.