Waking after a dream

[crazedfandango]

Hi I'm new here and new to lucid dreaming. I've started a journal and I'm quite fascinated by everything I've been remembering now that I'm more aware of my dreaming. I still haven't become lucid but I'm looking forward to everything that comes with achieving it. I was wondering about what I could do to recall my dreams in more detail. Usually I can't force myself awake at night after a dream. So far all of my dreams come to me shortly after I wake up and after I have concluded that I forgot them. I think I would be able to record more complete dreams if I could try waking up afterwards. What could I try?

[Clairity]

crazedfandango, what really messes up my recall is being jarred awake by an alarm or some other sound and/or if I immediately change position or start thinking about my day once I wake up. Try telling your subconscioius to wake you up after each dream or to wake you up about 15 minutes before your alarm goes off (I know it sounds stupid but you'd be surprised how accomodating your subconscious can be). Once you wake up.. do not move! Think about the dream that you just had.. If nothing comes to mind.. try to remember if there was a specific person, place, thing, food or emotion in the dream. Once you come up with even a tidbit of the dream.. try to work your way backward.. how did you get there.. who was with you, etc. No one says that you have to write a "book" about the dreams you had in your journal. For me, if I'm too tired (or lazy), simply writing down the main topic/subject, and a word or two or a feeling is enough for me to recall a dream. Some people just write snippets of their dreams.. others write paragraphs, some put images, or feelings, others draw pictures.. whatever helps to bring a dream back to you when you read over it the next morning is appropriate. .

[crazedfandango]

Thanks, I'll give it a try.