Thread: How do YOU utilize your Dream Journal?

I use it to notice dream signs, for more vivid dreams, and ideas for other dreams.

It's good writing notes and toughts after or before the dream itself. Makes you reflect about it and focus too. I usually do this too, and I write, example, if I tried something or some technique before sleep, if I woke up during the night and tried some technique, etc.

I'm always rereading my DJ, mostly to remind myself of what I've done so far, to observe patterns, and to put myself in the right mindset for lucid dreaming before bed. I also often write commentary, reflections, and notes-to-self when I'm writing journal entries.

I just like having an archive of all the crazy arse dreams I have. I'm beginning to think my sub is a real nutjob (Creatively so.), though, having just met it I guess I can't be too quick to judge.

But yeah, it is nice to find patterns to dreams. Its helped me remember a few key locations I've gone to a few times. (I've dubbed them: Super School and Super Gypsy fair (For you uppity folks, I have Romani lineage, so don't get all huffy.)) Those ones I've thoroughly enjoyed each time I've gone there. Given recent patterns, The hospital could be added to my list of frequently visited... But that place is boring as all heck. =\

*Ahem* Yes, Dream journal utilization. I've just about reached the end of my first journal (70 sheets, wide ruled.) and I'm quite excited to start my second... Maybe this time with a few more pages.

Well, all I do with it is keep an archive of my dreaming, so that I won't forget the cool stuff.

I always go back through my DJ and write comments when I recognize new dreams signs, but I am going to start using your idea were you wrote questions, I really like that idea.

Also I love ur first dream goal as it is similar to one of my dream goals,

I reread mine every now and then (probably monthly, as you mentioned) but I go through with a pack of small sticky post-it notes. I pick cool colors to make it fun of course. If I want to fill in anything new I've learned concerning the dream or any new revelations I jot them in there nice and neat above my original writing. I also have tried to give every dream I've had a title; I've been slacking on that recently and I can tell why giving titles is a good idea - it gives the dreams more solidarity and clarity for me, even if it's a very basic title.

I also want to begin drawing in mine. Small sketches of dream streets/landscapes that interest me etc. Haven't gotten into the habit of that yet, though.

In the back of the book I save 5 pages for Dream Goals. I list anything I'd love to do, from visiting the Taj Mahal to talking to cats. I keep it there specifically because it's a bit symbolic - my dreams are in the back of my book and thus the back of my mind, if that makes any sense.

Originally Posted by k3ll0ggz

...I also have tried to give every dream I've had a title; I've been slacking on that recently and I can tell why giving titles is a good idea...I also want to begin drawing in mine. Small sketches of dream streets/landscapes that interest me etc. Haven't gotten into the habit of that yet, though...

wow those are great ideas, im gonna have to try to do that...

I rarely interpret my dreams because my mind tends to be bizarre, morbid, funny, stupid, and intellectual, all rolled into one, which makes it difficult to figure out if it's telling me something or just going on a rampage again.

I just like to write my dreams down and share the more interesting ones with people.

Good advice for any dreamer, newbie or not. I try to use my dream journal to identify dream signs, hidden meanings, and of course to help induce more lucids. But I've been very lazy with my journal lately

One time for an art project, instead of writing in a diary I had to draw for that day. Most of the time my daily drawing was last nights dream. Its crazy how a single image can help me recall the entire dream, more than a written paragraph or a title. I need to do that again

K3ll0ggz-

I've tried using post - its for notes also, but I always wind up writing too much and it gets messy, and they fall off, and etc. So I just write on the journal personally, but I do use these little like miniature arrow post its to mark significant dreams/ DS catalogue pages.

That's true about the title too, I'm going to start trying that.. instead of like "uhh that one dream where I was playing capture the flag with a huge moose", having a bold title of "Moose Tag" .. yeah. It's just, better established in the brain. I dig it.

Yeah, with drawings I only do those when I have extra time in the morning, but it really helps me visualize and keep my focus on the visualization of the dream scene I just left, which is a great practice for me since I'm still new/working on/[suck at] visualization practice for WILDing and falling back into a dream scene, etc.

Good concept for the dream goals in the back of the book. I keep mine posted on the wall above my bed and draw lots of lines and designs and make it look happy so that I can always see it when I wake up/go to bed. Keeping a catalogue of my goals in the back wouldn't be a bad idea though.

Thanks for the feedback!



Juroara-

Yeah, that's completely true. When I'm re-reading my DJ entries sometimes it's like.. I still kind of remember it, so I wind up skimming, and having to read the whole thing I'm not focused on my mental play-back of the dream scene, half my attention is fixed on reading the dream. But I have a sketch I drew of this cafe on like a stone balcony in a Medieval styled town, and as soon as I see it I can visualize the entire dream leading up to and after that pivotal scene. Doing a sketch a day would be a good idea. Reading a book on Jung right now, I guess for a period of several years he drew a Mandala every single day based on his dreams and it helped him get totally in tune with his mind's rhythms.

I agree about the post-its being a bit messy at times. Now, if I write too much I place another sticky under the first one, but this still causes a bit of clutter. If I want to go back and read the initial writing, I have to dig through post-its: not cool.

My personal solution to this would be to write about my current observations on old dreams on a new page altogether. I'm guessing that way can be helpful too because then if I look back later, I'll see the progression of my revelations and when they happen, rather then just scattered undated thoughts throughout the book. I could go a step further and put small post-it bookmark-like tabs on the pages where I'm not recalling a dream but contemplating past ones for easy retrieval.

But..... the post its are so colorful!~ My childish heart cannot refuse them yet.. until I run out of the 4-pack i bought anyway x3

I wish I had more colors of those post-it bookmark tabs, though. I haven't looked to see if they sell 'em yet. It would be cool to mark off dream by color/catergory. I'd do them by emotion - angry = red, sad = blue, etc.

Happy to help :3

I write only on the right side of the pages. This leaves the left side open for additional notes, thoughts, sketches, or clarifications. Sometimes, the initial description of the dream doesn't make much sense. It is just stream of consciousness, without order or structure. If it can possibly make sense as a story, I will rewrite it in the left page in the correct order. Other times, I will sketch or draw in the left page. I go back to review old dream journals and sketchbooks every few months. I will normally add additional notes in a different color pen when I do this. It is always fascinating to go back to my oldest journals and see how my thoughts and interpretations have evolved over the years.

So Robot you write on only the front sides of the pages, and leave the back side open so that you have space to write in/draw/interpret? I've been leaving spaces after my dreams just because it always feels to cluttered, started that this week. Different colored pen is a good idea too.

k3ll0ggz - really awesome idea with the colors representing emotion of the dream! Never would've thought of that. I've just been using the arrow colors spontaneously, I'm going to try that from now on.

Also, I've been combining the DJ with just a regular journal/mediation/visulazation journal, keeping everything together. This way I can perhaps draw lines between patterns in my dreams and my thoughts/ actions in my daily life, things might pop out down the road that I'm unable to see right now. I just write on the front or back side of one page, keep it pretty simple and short, maybe write a poem or something, with the date and maybe a title. I guess I've never been much of a journal-er and am enjoying the process. Makes me feel grounded, and provides a much better type of personal reflection than just dwelling on thoughts and things that have happened. I usually find myself thinking as I read over my dreams or journal segments "Wow! It's only been ten days since that happened? It feels like it happened yesterday!", helps reduce my anxiety about goal setting and .. well. yeah. just in general.

cool.

I have two DJs: one is near me at night, and it's the one I use to rapidly write my dreams as soon as I wake up (and everytime I wake up during the night). The other one is on my computer, I write my dreams usually after a few hours, and sometime in a more extended way compared to the small notebook on my bedside. This is, as to speak, the "official" DJ, I underline dreams that are particularly significant (LD, OBE and other similar things);form time to time I reread my dreams, especially the most significant ones. But I don't do it often, and I guess I should do this more to see if it can improve dream recall, lucidity etc.