Dream journal?

[jensen]

How does a dream journal help when trying to do lucid dreaming? Thanks.

[Amethyst Star]

My theory is that when we age, dreams become less important to us, and so we are less likely to remember them. My keeping a journal of our dreams, we are telling our minds that dreaming is important and so we will be more likely to remember them. The more you use it the more dreams you will be able to remember over time. Also, for people who have poor recall abilities, writing down something will usually cause them to remember a lot more. With LDing, the better your recall is, the better you'll be able to remember an LD if you have it, and with a journal, the more dreams you write down, the more likely you'll be to start finding patterns that can help you become lucid easier: dream signs. Any other questions?

[Serith]

First, it increases your dream recall. As you focus on remembering dreams to write them down, you slowly increase your ability to remember dreams. This is important because it does no good to lucid dream if you don't remember it. Second, it allows you to spot dreamsigns, or things that are common in your dreams. As you become more familiar with your dreams, you're more likely to recognize them while you're in them, and become lucid. There are other minor benefits as well, but those two are the biggest.

[Caradon]

Yeah thats about it. To me, it seems like taking the time to write down my dreams, Proves to my subconcsious mind, that my dreams are important enough to remember. But when I first learned Lucid Dreaming, my recall was so good, that I never wrote my dreams down. Not even my Lucid ones. I was to lazy back then. I regret that now, because I have had many Lucids lost in the mists of time.

[Mysteryhunter]

I think they/re silly, really. Yes they help you remember. Use it first if it helps. "Only a life lived for others is worth living" ~ Einstein

[hyperangel13]

I write in a dream journal whenever I can remember my dreams - it's really helped my recall improve. Also, by recording your dreams, you can look back through them. I do it when I fall asleep to get myself thinking about dreams - and you can find your dreamsigns from it, too. I used to keep a journal on the site but I got too lazy to type in all my dreams again...

[kingofclutch]

If you don't record your dreams you risk not remembering that you had a LD when you wake up! You don't want that to happen, do you?

[james-25:22pm]

my reasons a) recall. You dont want to miss interesting dreams...or worst...lucid dreams. Whats worst than not remembering if you had a lucid? b) Clarity. I tend to find, journalling gives my dreams a much more 'believablel' look. Makes lucids more enjoyable too. c) its fun to look back on and read.

[NeAvO]

Well dream journals help us remember dreams so it's only normal that you would want good recall as not remembering lucids is pointless Plus we notice certain dream signs that keep popping up which aid in us knowing when to do reality checks.

[jessie1203]

I write in a dream journal whenever I can remember my dreams - it's really helped my recall improve. Also, by recording your dreams, you can look back through them. I do it when I fall asleep to get myself thinking about dreams - and you can find your dreamsigns from it, too. I used to keep a journal on the site but I got too lazy to type in all my dreams again... Record!!!! Like a voice recorder... now that's an idea!! I'm too lazy to write them down!! I know I need to improve my recall... I try to remember every morning what I dream, but it easily fades away... I remember everything but then in the afternoon I have forgoten... Record, that's awesome.. thanks for the idea!!

[minzui]

because it is an act of giving attention and affection to your dreams. and at the least your intention is what will be the most powerful. How does a dream journal help when trying to do lucid dreaming? Thanks.

[VINDI]

Yes indeed, I agree completely

[VINDI]

Yes, I have good recall but the journal is the best answer to my completion.

[JustinS]

I would say that if you are new to lucid dreaming, a dream journal is the quickest way to having a lucid dream. I stumbled into lucid dreaming because I was keeping a dream journal out of interest and to pass the time while at sea in the Navy. Little did I know, I was setting myself up to have my first lucid dreams. The key for me is dream recall and not just the journal. If I can recall my dreams in the morning and play out the dream again in my head, then I don't always bother writing it down. If my recall begins to slip then I start writing them down again. I think that one of the key elements to having an LD is to have the concept of dreaming present in your mind as much as possible while you are awake. Like munzui said... "your intention is what will be the most powerful". A dream journal can be a big help in all of this.

[Robot_Butler]

You need to train yourself to remember your dreams. You also need a dream journal so you can review old dreams for dreamsigns. For me, sometimes reading a few old dreams in my DJ is enough to trigger a lucid. Lucid dreams are just as easy to forget as regular dreams (well, maybe a little easier...) You need to write it down right away so the memory doesn't fade or become corrupted.