Zerk's DJ

The purpose of this dream journal is to document my studies, adventures, and findings within the dream world. This journal will also include the effects of the dream world on my waking life. Happy Dreaming!


Background: I got into lucid dreaming when I was a Jr. in Highschool. My friend in class would always tell me about his dreams in the morning. He would explain them as vivid adventures and this sparked a new interest in dreams for me. After doing some research I discovered lucid dreaming and started a dream journal. My recall got to the point of remembering a couple of pages a night and obtaining around 12 lucid dreams. I'm 19 now and have been distracted lately by moving to a different city and my first year of college. Although my main interest is in dreams and the amazing adventures that come with them, I haven't started practicing hardcore and I think I'm ready to start. My recall isn't the best anymore do the the effects of thc on the hippocampus but, I am ready to mentally train my self to overcome this and start my advanced lucid dreaming.

Procedure: I've been researching lucid dreaming for a couple of years now. Everyday I will try improving as best as I can and actually putting my all into this program I'm making for my self. I know a variation of techniques I've learned from many different sources. My views changed a couple times on these techniques and I have a few that work for me as well as a few I will be changing and improving along the way. My main goal is to become the best I can, so I'm not set on a certain technique. One of the reasons I'm documenting all of this is so I can get a different perspective on what I'm doing while sharing my own.

Although I do have old dream journals with posts I won't be updating those into here. These are all old and not documented very clearly. From here on it will organized and include visual aids, drawings, and pictures of how I felt at the time.

Techniques: I thought it would be a good idea to write down a list of techniques I use. This way you can see mine and help me improve! Maybe it will help you as well.

Dream Recall:

Memory:
For my dream recall I'll be using a couple different techniques. I'll start with my before bed procedure. Each night before bed I"ll use a memory exercise I found on dreamviews. Here is the thread if you're interested,

http://www.dreamviews.com/f15/if-you...ams-try-93005/

Before sleeping I will also focus on regular daily things I see often. Since I'm focusing on work, my friends, and activities I do a lot, if they occur in a dream I will be more likely to do a reality check and obtain lucidity. Upon awakening I will focus on the same thing to jog any dream memories by use of association.


Energy:
Another thing I'll be doing is using a special glass of water technique I heard about. Although you may not agree with energy I believe it is real and like this technique. I will meditate before bed with a special glass of water that I fill up freshly. This water glass will contain the word REMEMBER, written with my full intent on the outside of the glass. A study inside the movie. What The Bleep Do We Know talks about words, energy, intent and their effects on the most receptive of the four elements, water. After finishing meditating while focusing on remembering my dreams and focusing my intent on the water I will place it next to my bed. Then I will take a sip before bed, followed by sip when I wake. This will stop false awakenings as well as help solidify the routine of writing in my dream journal upon awakening.
Different Herbs are said to be good for helping you remember your dreams. I have a personal dream pillow with a mix of herbs meant for helping you remember your dreams. I will sleep with this next to me while also putting rosemary oil on before sleeping every night.

Tech:
I will be using a few App's on my I phone for my dream journal. I'll record my dreams in a mix of 1st person story form and fragments. The fragments are used for practice for putting together stories, and the 1st person story form is used for stuff I want to record that way. The app on my phone is called DreamZ and it's supposed to wake me up on my phone directly after a dream. I put it on my bed and it uses the accelerometer inside to figure out when I just ended a R.E.M. cycle. It wakes me anywhere up to 30 mins before my scheduled alarm time directly after a dream. This should leave me with better recall and a well rested nights sleep!
During the day I will focus on being aware and lucid in my everyday life. If I do this all the time then it will become a habit and transfer over to my dreams. I have another app for my I Phone called reality check sends me random notifications during the day. These ask me if I'm dreaming and remind me to stay focused on my daily tasks. Since they are random and only set to happen during my waking hours they should keep alerting me without annoying



Reality Checks: I know reality checks are important for lucid dreaming so I thought I would get a couple of different styles and ways for different situations.

Hand Check: Check to see how many fingers I have counting once or twice.

Time Check: Checking a watch once or twice and making sure its the same time.

Memory check: Using logic or wondering where I was previously

Physical check: Plugging your nose and attempting to breathe, not feeling pain.

The two I use most commonly are the hand and memory due to my reality check app.

I'll document my in dream techniques as they appear in this section. because the possibilities are endless

In Dream Techniques: I'll document my in dream techniques as they appear in this section. because the possibilities are endless

Zerk's Dream Journal: