Why is a dream journal/dream recall so important anyway?

**kyzz** · 06-01-2011 03:49 AM

So I read Stephen LaBerge's book and one thing it mentioned was to keep a dream journal, so far it's been a couple weeks and I haven't found any "dream signs" or whatever, so it just seems I'm recording nonsense.

My question is, should I continue keeping this dream journal? Or should I just try to focus on the induction techniques? Thus far I've had one lucid dream, but it really had much more to do with luck than anything else

**KushyBear** · 06-01-2011 04:39 AM

Continue your dream journal, it helps you greatly with remembering your dreams.

**crispizzle** · 06-01-2011 06:45 AM

lately i've been lazy with keeping up with my dream journal, it's not really THAT necessary to have lucid dreams, but it helps a lot.

sometime's ill start forgetting my dreams night after night, a good sign that i need to start writing down my dreams again.

in order to have a lucid dream, you have to be aware that you're dreaming. so if you're not even remembering your dreams, that means you weren't aware enough in the dream itself for you to remember it, which is a big prerequisite to becoming lucid. what's the point in having a lucid if you can't remember it? i don't even think that's even possible unless you were DEILD'ing

**Matt123** · 06-01-2011 06:58 AM

Trust me (and everyone else), a dream journal is important.

**Dark_Merlin** · 06-01-2011 08:28 AM

Without my dream journal, I'd be lost trying to remember my dreams. Even without lucid dreams very often, I find writing down my dreams heaps of fun, I recently went back through my DJ from 5 years ago, and every dream I read would bring back vivid memories of the dreams I had back then

I recommend it

**fOrceez** · 06-01-2011 08:32 AM

Originally Posted by Dark_Merlin

Without my dream journal, I'd be lost trying to remember my dreams. Even without lucid dreams very often, I find writing down my dreams heaps of fun, I recently went back through my DJ from 5 years ago, and every dream I read would bring back vivid memories of the dreams I had back then

I recommend it

Oh sir, why are you so wise?

**apsinvo** · 06-01-2011 09:35 PM

Two things I have noted that may help;
1- Once you write them down they are committed to memory, reading through them later and you instantly remember the dream in the exact same detail you had in your awareness at the time you wrote it down.
2- It's been said around here before, and I've found it to be true for myself. If you do not open your eyes and do not move on waking, you should be able to very accurately remember your dreams in as much detail as is possible to you. Run them through a few times, then immediately write them down. It works from day 1. I had very vivid dreams last night, and woke up remembering them in fantastic detail. I was late for a meeting, and quickly got out of bed to get washed and eat. By the time I had my clothes on, I couldn't even remember what they were about, nevermind the finer details.

Hope this helps!

**TeaSea** · 06-01-2011 09:46 PM

You could have had a lucid every night for the past year and not remembered it. Just imagine how much you could have missed out on...

Plus, I absolutely love looking back on my old dreams, like Dark_Merlin. I remember the very first dream I wrote in my very first journal. It's a lovely thing to look back on in a few years.

**NrElAx** · 06-01-2011 10:15 PM

Originally Posted by Dark_Merlin

Without my dream journal, I'd be lost trying to remember my dreams. Even without lucid dreams very often, I find writing down my dreams heaps of fun, I recently went back through my DJ from 5 years ago, and every dream I read would bring back vivid memories of the dreams I had back then

I recommend it

I totally agree. I do the same thing. When I read my old dream, I can remember them like I did the morning I had them. Its like old memories coming back.

**WhatIsX** · 06-02-2011 08:12 AM

Originally Posted by TeaSea

You could have had a lucid every night for the past year and not remembered it. Just imagine how much you could have missed out on...

Plus, I absolutely love looking back on my old dreams, like Dark_Merlin. I remember the very first dream I wrote in my very first journal. It's a lovely thing to look back on in a few years.

I generally disagree with that... any particularly significant non-lucid dream is easily memorable in the morning, we just forget quickly because it's just a dream. But a lucid dream is not just a dream, so I think that anyone who knows about it wouldn't forget if they had one.

**Dark_Merlin** · 06-02-2011 10:37 AM

While that is true on the most part, I know I've had lucid dreams that I've completely forgotten about. Not to mention the increase in vividness and detail that keeping your DJ imprints into your brain. It's just generally a really good idea, why wouldn't you keep one?

**Spyguy** · 06-03-2011 07:55 PM

Because you put so much effort into remembering dreams, your brain will realise that it's important to remember dreams. In order to remember them better, your brain will become more aware during your dreams. That awareness will make it easier to activate your logic centre, and thus become lucid.

**Marm** · 06-03-2011 08:31 PM

Think about it. What's the point if you can become lucid but can't remember the dreams upon waking up? The idea of a dream journal is that it trains prospective memory and over time you become aware that you're in a dream.

**TeaSea** · 06-03-2011 08:57 PM

Originally Posted by WhatIsX

I generally disagree with that... any particularly significant non-lucid dream is easily memorable in the morning, we just forget quickly because it's just a dream. But a lucid dream is not just a dream, so I think that anyone who knows about it wouldn't forget if they had one.

I wasn't quite serious about every day in a year

But I'm sure you agree that some could slip through the net?