[Lesson 1] : Dream recall

[Raphael]

Keep a dream journal How often should I write in my DJ? Every day, and immediately after you wake up so you don't forget. Jot down down everything, even if it's just emotions or dream fragments, recall gets better with time and practice. Is there an alternative to writing in a dream journal? Yes, you can record them on tape if you don't like writing. When you become good at recalling dreams it's not totally necessary to write them down either, you can just go over them in your head in detail. I'll continue use the term dream journal though, just realize it refers to all the collective methods you can use. Why do I need to improve my recall? Because it will make you more proficient at getting LDs. It helps to identify dream signs, recurring things in your dreams that can alert you that you're dreaming. But mostly it will improve your overall awareness, which is probably the most important facet as a lucid dreamer. Why do I have trouble with improving my recall? Most likely because you aren't consistent enough with your journal. Writing in it only a few times a week or less is not going do you much good. Make it part of your morning routine, and wake up early to give yourself enough time if necessary. Sometimes you won't be able to remember a damn thing, but that's ok. Stay with your DJ and you'll improve over time, having the self-discipline to stick with it is key. It'll be easier to stay with it if you don't think of it as a chore. It's fun to write down the cool dreams you have, that way you can look through them later and remember the adventures you've had. Stuff that would have been long forgotten had you not written them down. A tip: When trying to recall a dream immediately upon awakening, jot down only key words. Your memory of the dream will fade very rapidly, so start with the earliest parts you remember first. You can write the actual entry once you've gotten the main things down on paper, the smaller details of the dream are much easier to remember if you can recall the main plot. Student question(s) Well, I don't know if this is a right question to ask; but I'll go ahead and ask it. All of my LD's feel like a memory. Like I just wake up and remember them; like a regular dream. Why is this so? It's perfectly normal for dreams to feel like memories. That's why a lot of times it's difficult to remember whether something actually happened or if you just dreamed it. There's also memories of dreams you've had in the past that can resurface, and it can be a weird sensation. I can't tell you the science of how/why it happens, but it's not going to affect your ability to recall dreams. Being able to recall LDs and regular dreams with the same efficiency is a good thing, normally it's easier to remember LDs. Record both in your dream journal. Please post any questions or comments you have! --------------------