How To Better Recall Your Dreams

If you seldom or never remember your dreams and want to become a better dream recaller, here are some hints:

Most important of all is to want to recall your dreams. I’ve known many people who say they never remember their dreams, but as soon as they:

1) Take a few minutes before going to bed, set a voice-activated tape recorder or dream journal and pen by their bedside and take a little time to focus, to affirm "When I awaken, I will remember my dream,".... or

2) When they make a determination to develop a dreamsharing relationship with a trusted family member or friend.... or join a dream group....

THEY BEGIN REMEMBERING THEIR DREAMS. It’s true and it will happen for you..

Most of what it takes is setting the intention and affirming that you wish to remember your dreams. Think that thought many times throughout the day; say it to yourself as you're drifting off to sleep.

The Kahuna people of Hawaii and the Aboriginal people of Australia evolved a simple gesture for remembering their dreams. In essence, they suggest taking a full glass of water to bed, drinking half of it and saying to oneself: "Upon awakening and drinking the remainder of this water, I will remember my dream." Every time I’ve done this, it works.

Because dreams are like the morning mist that disappears at sun’s arrival on the new day, it is important to record every detail that can be remembered. Most dream details will be forgotten if they are not somehow recorded right away. This is not true of all dreams, as some dreams contain such powerful imagery that they can be recalled for the rest of our lives by just focusing on them. Such is true with Visionary dreams.

Although it’s always better to awaken (into this dream) naturally, if you need to be awakened by an alarm clock, you might try setting it a few minutes before you would normally awaken, to allow time for recall and recording.

It’s best to avoid over-eating, drinking alcoholic beverages, using any mind-altering drugs, etc. before going to bed if you desire to remember your dreams with clarity.

Record whatever you remember. If you only remember the ending of the dream, write or record that first; often, it will unfold/rewind in your minds' eye in reverse order. Even remembering and recording a small fragment of a dream can yield valuable information. I remember a woman who said she never remembered her dreams who came to our dream group one evening so excited! but at the same time apologetic, because she had remembered only a fragment of a dream. She was dishing out strawberry ice cream at the kitchen sink in the home where she grew up. We worked and played with that dream-fragment for over an hour and you would be amazed at what was revealed to the dreamer! So jot down whatever you can and find someone you trust to share.

If you have time, draw some of the imagery; if you’ve little time, note the main symbols/imagery/story, so that you can fill in the picture at your leisure. Always note how you FEEL about the dream upon awakening and record the date you had the dream.

Whatever you remember, make a point to discuss your dream with others. Even if, at first, no one—not even you—can make any sense of it. This action helps to validate to yourself and others that you value your dreams. Best of all, do something—enact the dream, bring it into waking reality—somehow: Draw the major symbols in the dream, write a poem about it, sculpt it, etc. All of these actions are revealing and empowering.

You will find embracing the dreaming dimension of your natural experience a most gratifying and fascinating one to add to and enhance your life.

Roberta Ossana is the Publisher/Editor of Dream Network, a Quarterly journal (Since 1982) existing to "Evolve A Dream Cherishing Culture." For information: http://DreamNetwork.net