This is going to take some time :(

[Elephantman]

I think my dream recall may be quite bad. Its probably only 1-2 every 3 weeks or so I even remember a dream, but I know I must dream more than that. I kinda know they are there, but they just dissappear on waking Is it very important to wake up before the dream ends to be able to rmember it? I allready feel tired most of the time from my job and the idea of waking every 3 hrs a night kinda suks And how important is applying this dream recall to becomming aware that you are dreaming? Should I absolutely keep a dream record of some kind? Can you do it backwards? I thought maybe several times a day I could make a simple sign with my hands that I would recognise, and say clearly in my head "You Are Dreaming" That way maybe the sign would repeat when I am dreaming and allert me to become lucid? Anyone tried something like this? Implanting your own dream sign?

[Umbrasquall]

Originally posted by Elephantman Should I absolutely keep a dream record of some kind? YES! YES! YES! It totally helps dream recall. When I first found out about LDing I barely remembered 2-3 dreams a month. I took up a journal and now I remember 2-3 dreams a NIGHT. Self-invented reality checks are very effective if you can be consistant with them. What ever works for you!

[LightSearcher]

I had trouble recalling dreams when I first started,At the moment I can Recall every 2nd day. I found a good technique is to just set alarm,So you wake a couple of hours earlier than usual. When u wake up keep your eyes closed and make up 3 words describing the dreams u just had. for example when I awoke this morning I remembered "House/Cane fields/rabbit." I was only able to write about a 10 lines about the dream but it sure as hell beats trying to remeber the whole Dream!

[Elephantman]

ok last night I went to sleep realy concentrating "I will remember my dreams" ect.. I had one and woke during the night no paper so I jst carefully tried to remember parts of it thinking I would remember in the morning kinda like trying to remem a shopping list, you never do. The last one before I wkoe that morning I do remem bits of: e.g. a woman, a brown Manila folder, some kind of old filing cabinets, and a general feel of a big room, kinda like a bank or office only older. I gues I jus stick at it and give it 110% every night until it comes naturally just keep encouraging me, I'm such a slacker

[Umbrasquall]

*Encourages* Keep at it! Remember try to write down things whenever possible.

[Truthbearer]

Keep it up elephantman, you are making progress already... After a while you will be a master of dream recall. It is a great aid for lucid dreaming and you won't regret the effort. Also I do suggest getting up for 30 minutes after sleeping for 6 hours. That way you will have more consciousness in your REM period, and you can either WILD or MILD, if you wish to...

[Tenebrous Repose]

Well without good dream recall you wont remember that you've become lucid and then there won't really be a point to it. Im like you though, barely remembering dreams at all. I've gone for three months without remembering a single dream, of course that was before I was trying to. Now Im starting to keep a journal. Currently there's three entries and Ive been doin it for a week. Heh, not good, but better than before. When I remembered my dreams it was on the days that I had went to bed at 9 as opposed to 11. And on a Sunday when I had slept for eleven hours and was kinda dozing. Meh. Good luck though!

[Truthbearer]

It isn't good, it is great! Don't underestimate your progress, that is what is going to one day help you remember a dream every night, hopefully even more than one...

[Elephantman]

Seem to be getting one a night now, but I have only been at this for a week or so Last nights one involved me cooking lots of stuff in my auntie's kitchen Made an awsome lasagne but the dish broke in the oven If I was lucid I could have at last scooped some out to try it

[Truthbearer]

That is something I haven't done while lucid.....eat Sounds interesting, I bet you could summon all the shrimps you can eat, and since its a dream that would mean all the shrimps you can summon... In other words, we could spend hours and hours eating our favorite meals and not have to worry about feeling full.....

[Tenebrous Repose]

Originally posted by Truthbearer In other words, we could spend hours and hours eating our favorite meals and not have to worry about feeling full..... Or gaining weight

[AirRick101]

You can always start up again by writing a little bit. In my experience, writing a few phrases about my dreams triggers like 50% recall, as if the foundation had been lain for me. If fact, deciding whether to write even one phrase about my dream makes or breaks the entire recall experience. I consider the key phrases the most important. The detailed writing is a bonus for intimate recall if I got the time to do it. Keep up the journal!