Thread: Are Dream Journals Absolutely Necessary?

I dont use a dream journal because the possibility other people can read it and get wrong impressions; which has happend before. I use aspects of tibetan dream yoga as a type of autosuggestion during the day. It takes some active awareness practices during the waking consciousness and can help awaken to dreams etc.

what exactly is tibetan dream yoga?

First of all - http://www.dreamviews.com/community/...ead.php?t=4779

You'll find everything on FILD's there.

On dream journals:

It's not like you'll never ld without it, but most people would suggest you use one. A journal is for you to record your dreams and try to find patterns. If, for example, a three headed dog keeps showing up in your dreams, you can note that and make sure to look out for dogs with multiple heads later on. Journals are also fun since you can look back and read dreams that you would have otherwise forgotten. Again, there's not some rule saying you have to keep one. As long as you have a good recall of your dreams, you can still try to become lucid.


If you choose to keep a journal, you should try out this program made by a DV member. It beats pencil and paper by a long shot.

http://www.dreamviews.com/community/...ad.php?t=91993

Kulananda, you could use it too. You can password protect the file with all your dreams in it.

thanks for all the info i'll be sure to try everything out.

Looks like your question was answered, but to fortify it yet keep it simple: No, they're not absolutely necessary. I recommend them though.

some people claim not to have had any regular or conscious success before starting regular and detailed dream journals

you can get good results by simply making enough time for extended sleep, 7 hours is usually very short, especially if you use wbtb after about 6 hours

I only write down dreams I'd like to remember.

Me too hahaha! ^^

After keeping a dream journal religiously for a few months...I found it didn't help me at all. I saw no patterns or anything that could have given me lds. I'd have a few lucids in a weeks time, then wouldn't have any for a month. For me it didn't make much of a difference. But, as someone has said, it's nice looking back on it to remember the detailed versions of the dreams I remember.

My dreams are often really vivid so I like to type them up to I guess relive them sometimes (Hmm... that sounds kinda odd ...). I'm a writer so sometimes I get inspired to write based on events from my dreams.

You don't necessarily have to write your dreams down. As long as you try and commit them to memory.

What is the point of Lucid Dreaming if you can't remember them?

Originally Posted by mrdeano

You don't necessarily have to write your dreams down. As long as you try and commit them to memory.

Yes, and most of the time, people's memories are very lazy, even if they think they are "committing them to memory". Writing things is actually the best way to do that, not just with dreams, but anything.

Tibetan Dream Yoga is part of Dzogchen mysticism teaching the illusory nature of all phonema including our bodies and this world etc leading to enlightenment. Example of an aspect of this teachaing is: my yoga teacher say's don't be attached to any form, then you can attain any form. For dreamers etc this can mean shapeshifting etc

Originally Posted by pyromonkey994

what exactly is tibetan dream yoga?

Originally Posted by slash112

Yes, and most of the time, people's memories are very lazy, even if they think they are "committing them to memory". Writing things is actually the best way to do that, not just with dreams, but anything.

I think that changes from person to person. Personally, I can remember my dreams without writing them down.
There are hundreds of ways you can remember things. Writing isn't the best for everyone. Some people like to draw their dreams, while others voice record them.

Well, yes, ok.

I suppose what I meant was, some way of physically doing something about the dream.

Originally Posted by kulananda

Tibetan Dream Yoga is part of Dzogchen mysticism teaching the illusory nature of all phonema including our bodies and this world etc leading to enlightenment. Example of an aspect of this teachaing is: my yoga teacher say's don't be attached to any form, then you can attain any form. For dreamers etc this can mean shapeshifting etc

but like how do u learn to do/practice Tibetan Dream Yoga? and thanks everyone else for teh insight.

Originally Posted by SarahAmanda

My dreams are often really vivid so I like to type them up to I guess relive them sometimes (Hmm... that sounds kinda odd ...). I'm a writer so sometimes I get inspired to write based on events from my dreams.

That's awesome! I hope to write a book some day based on my many dream adventures!

I've found a dj helpful. the first six months of last year. I had 2 LDs. since I've been journalling regularly over 8 months... i've had probably over 100 by now. so yeah.. for me: Completely necessary.

Are you completely confident with your dream recall? If you're embarrassed of someone finding your dream journal just write "DREAM JOURNAL" on a notebook so they don't get the wrong impression. I don't think you should be embarrassed of dreaming - everyone does it.

Attempting to have a lucid dream will not help with your dream recall, at least in my experience. A dream journal will. Just try to keep that in mind. You could have an incredibly epic lucid dream and never remember a moment of it upon waking.