First poster here... Need Advice.

[crazymike703]

Hello everyone. This is my first post on Dream Views. I just recently got into dreaming and lucidity and I found this awesome website! I just have trouble with my dream recall. I can't even remember my dreams let alone have a lucid one. I would estimate I remember one dream about every 2-3 weeks. It is kind of frustrating. So I'd like some advice on what to do to get started. I have a dream journal ready to go but I need to recall my dreams first obviously So what I'm getting at is what can I do to have some awesome dreams and remember them? What are some methods for beginners? Are there any household herbs or foods that would help with the dream recall? Etc etc... Thanks in advance!

[oooooo]

Like you my dream recall usually sucks. I was lucky if I remembered a dream once per month or even two. This Monday I remembered my first dream in ages. I just had a dream journal next to the bed and told myself that I'm going to remember dreams tonight. First I wake up at around 1-2 am with the first dream and a few hours later with another etc etc until it was morning. I didn't even feel tired because I was so happy and satisfied with having remembered the dreams. I just simply think to myself when going to bed that I really want to remember my dreams and if necessary I will wake up upon dreaming, and when I wake up and don't remember I think to myself how it would've been better if I had and if I do I'm happy about it. This way I think dream recall gets associated with positive feelings. Also you shouldn't stress about not remembering them, if you do you definitely won't remember. Just kind of think "boy, I would really like to remember a coupla' dreams tonight, boy oh boy" Also in your dream journal, front page or back page or the covers, write down your goals, ie "Improve dream recall"

[Invader]

I'm glad you found us. For starters, how's your sleep? Do you go to bed relatively early or late into night? It's important to rest up, though for some it isn't necessary. Keep your journal or a sheet of paper next to your bed so that you can jot down parts of any dream immediately after waking. It might also help to dwell on those dreams as your waking up, to consistently go over the details. As for supplements, check out this thread. I hope that's informative enough to get you started, and I wish you success in your lucid dreaming endeavors.

[crazymike703]

Thanks for the input so far guys. As far as my sleeping patterns are concerned; they probably could be better. I usually can't get to sleep until about 1 or 2 in the morning. Probably because I drink a fair amount of coffee throughout the day. Would my sleeping pattern/caffeine intake have anything to do with my poor dream recall?

[Darkmatters]

Does it really matter WHEN you sleep!?? I'm nocturnal myself... hit the sack a little after the sun comes up and sleep till the wee hours of the afternoon.... sometimes through to the evening on days off. Anyway, when you wake up, lay still... DON'T MOVE! This is important... as soon as you move you start to wake up and the magic dream erasers will go to work!! Lie still and DON'T THINK ABOUT ANYTHING EXCEPT YOUR DREAM. Don't start thinking about your plans for the day or anything else... just dwell in the sleep state and try to remember anything you can about the dream... even if it's just a feeling or an image. Dwell on it and it might give way to more... sometimes doing this will suddenly pull out a big chunk of the dream. Also, if you wake up during the night from a dream (supposedly we always or almost always do, but just go right back to sleep and forget about it) review the dream in your head (n words) as if you're telling it to a friend. It's important to put it into words like a story... then you'll be able to remember it later, even after falling back asleep.

[oooooo]

Thanks for the input so far guys. As far as my sleeping patterns are concerned; they probably could be better. I usually can't get to sleep until about 1 or 2 in the morning. Probably because I drink a fair amount of coffee throughout the day. Would my sleeping pattern/caffeine intake have anything to do with my poor dream recall? Sleeping patterns can definitely affect your recall. I used to go to bed at around 11 pm or 2 am and I couldn't get to sleep until an hour or two later. Now I've started to eat healthier and go to bed at around 10 pm and I fall asleep faster than ever. Are you really tired during the day? Do you have to get up for work/school early etc etc.. Going to bed earlier when you have to wake up early definitely has an effect on my recall and besides, I'm not that tired during the day. And you shouldn't drink coffee too late either.

[crazymike703]

Sleeping patterns can definitely affect your recall. I used to go to bed at around 11 pm or 2 am and I couldn't get to sleep until an hour or two later. Now I've started to eat healthier and go to bed at around 10 pm and I fall asleep faster than ever. Are you really tired during the day? Do you have to get up for work/school early etc etc.. Going to bed earlier when you have to wake up early definitely has an effect on my recall and besides, I'm not that tired during the day. And you shouldn't drink coffee too late either. Yeah, I am usually pretty tired during the day. I usually get to bed late and I have to get up for college classes at around 9:30. But on a good note I recalled two dreams last night! I'm so happy.

[MementoMori]

Give it time, don't stress too much, pretty much darkmatters summed it up. Lay completely still in bed when you wake up and don't think about anything but your dreams. Do this regularly. It has some to do woth training your Subconcoies so that it knows you want to remmeber your dreams. It's a process that takes time to develop if you've just started. Try making your activities while awake about dreaming when you're not busy. Once you start relating more to the dream state i find it starts relating more with you.

[Darkmatters]

Once you start relating more to the dream state i find it starts relating more with you. Wow, very well said!! That's exactly how it seems to me.