Blog – How to remember our dreams

There are reasons why it may be hard for you to recall your dreams. Perhaps your parents hushed away your nightmares by telling you they were “only dreams.” Or maybe you had a series of scary or uncomfortable dreams and now you blocked dream-recall. Most commonly, you may jump out of bed in the morning and straight into the tasks and routines of your conscious world. Finally, you may not remember your dreams because, deep down, could it be that you don’t really want to look at, let alone change, anything about your life?

If that’s not true, and you would like to change and improve things about your life, read on. In part one of my dream-series blog I wrote about why it is important to remember our dreams, and now I will go into how we can better remember our dreams.

Dream-recall tip #1:

With that said, the very first, and perhaps most valuable tip in recalling our dreams, is to tell yourself that your dreams are important (for all the reasons I listed in the previous post). When we value something or someone, we prioritize them. We take time to listen to them. Dreams are your very special guest.

Dream-recall tip #2:

Not only do we want to tell ourself they’re important, but we want to tell ourself that we will remember them. I encourage you to come up with a phrase you’re comfortable with, like: “I remember my dreams easily,” and repeat this as your mantra. Keep it short, positive, and in the present tense, which implies success in the present rather than in the future. You may want to put sticky notes around your house or office or a daily reminder on your phone.

Dream-recall tip #3:

Now, a very special guest needs a very special journal. Buy or make a journal you love to look at and love to hold—something you treasure—and place it close, within arm’s reach of where you sleep. A journal is necessary, not only because it helps you track the recurring unconscious material but, because the act of recording your dreams in a book that you adore makes them important to the dream self. And this goes back to tip #1: valuing your dream self!

Dream-recall tip #4:

I like to keep my pen either on my notebook, right next to it, or bookmarked in the next blank page.  If I wake up in the middle of the night, I avoid turning on a light and often just scribble a couple words as memory joggers to read in the morning, but they are rather illegible and strewn across the entire page. So, I suggest investing in a pen with a light at the top or using a book-reader light. My top recommendation would be buying a red-light tool which doesn’t disrupt your sleep cycle like something with blue-light would.

Dream-recall tip #5:

Another way to let your dream-self know that you are ready and receptive to remember your dreams is by preparing yourself. Preparations might include: avoiding blue light and large amounts of marijuana, alcohol and food before sleep. Instead, find an herbal tea blend specifically crafted for dream-tending. I must caveat I am not an herbalist, but I’ll use a homemade tea blend that includes the following organic and wildcrafted herbs, commonly used for sleep and dreaming: mugwort, blue lotus, ashwagandha, passionflower, skullcap, tulsi, shatavari, and lavender.

Dream-recall tip #5:

Not only is it important to prepare yourself, but it is also helpful to prepare your environment and create a dream-recall ritual.

It can be a struggle to concentrate in a messy room, so make an effort to tidy up before bed: straighten your covers, fluff up your pillows, make sure the room temperature is comfortable, and dim the lights. This is a simple way to show your appreciation for your very special guest.

And before you drift off, gently repeat your mantra to yourself. Or, try my favorite bedtime ritual: light a candle and say your mantra. You might also want to add in your ritual the promise that you will write down any dream your psyche sends. You can write your mantra down in your journal and then look through your dreams. If you read over your previous night’s dream, remembering it as vividly as you can, this helps to put you back in touch with your dreaming self and your dreaming mind.

Ultimately, the creation of a dream-recall ritual—whatever it may be—signals to your unconscious that you are willing to receive a dream.

Dream-recall tip #6:

It is best if you can wake up naturally, so as to not interrupt a dream, but if you’re an alarm person, set two! Set your second alarm for the time you absolutely must get out of bed, and set your first one for about 15 or 20 minutes before—or 30 if you’re starting to remember more and more of your dreams and need that extra time to record and reflect. So, when your first alarm goes off, think of it as waking up to your dreams. And then your second alarm is waking up to your day.

Dream-recall tip #7:

When you wake up, lie still, remaining relaxed in the same position, and keep your eyes closed. Your muscles actually hold memories of your dream, so just the act of moving them can release the dream memory, whereas laying in the same position often triggers the memory. In this position, banish any thoughts about the day and instead: enter back into the dream. Do this without attempting to change or control the material. In your mind, go over the events and relive the characters and content of your dream again. And if you can’t remember immediately—don’t be discouraged. Something might just trigger your memory later. And when it does, be ready to record it!

Dream-recall tip #8:

When you feel satisfied with what you’ve recalled, write your dream down immediately. Write fast and without any thought of exactly how you’re writing it out. So even if you misspell a word, don’t correct it! This mistake could be a key to interpreting dream.

Let’s say this one event is hot in your present mind, but you know there were things that came before, just write it down and don’t worry right now about the order in which events occurred. Even if you start at the middle or work your way backward—the most important thing is getting your dream recorded, and then you can order the sequence of events as you remember it happening. And if you only remember bits and pieces and parts of your dream, just record what you can. Everything is important and the more you write, the more you’ll remember as your practice steadies on.

Let’s say you wake up and rather than write it down first, you want to recite it to your partner—after all, speaking aloud helps for long-term memory. Don’t attempt to tidy it into a nice story or add humor, and try not to insert your two cents about what something might mean just yet. Instead, let it tumble and fumble out without edit and without pause. In this way, whether you’re writing or talking about your dream, do it at dream-speed—the speed that creates a slippery surface for your tongue and your fingertips. Then, be sure to write down any Freudian slips or typos, so you can later ask your unconscious mind what it was really saying.

Dream-recall tip #9:

It is especially important to write in as much detail as possible, and with the same language it was presented to you. Since our unconscious speaks to us in the language of symbols, we show our appreciation by sticking to this language. This also helps to stay out of our ego-mind which is keen and eager to figure it out but can muddy the message in trying to do so too soon. Record people, places, colors, smells, animals, actions, symbols, and feelings. In fact, add in as many emotions as you can remember—they, too, are important keys.

Also, write in the present tense so that you are reliving the dream once again as you record it. This will help you remember the details as they come to you.

Now this goes without saying, but I believe it is a necessary and encouraging reminder for us all: don’t judge what emerges. No one needs to read it except you and this is your chance to get an honest look at your unconscious issues—and change your life!

Dream-recall tip #10:

Write something in your dream journal every day, even if you can’t remember a dream. You can write, “no dream-recall” –this tells your psyche that you are trying, willing, and waiting. Or, try remembering how you felt when you wake up and write that. Your waking feelings are often a hangover from the feelings in your dream, so writing about these gradually triggers your dream recall over several weeks.

Well, there you have it. Finish off your description by choosing an appropriate title for the dream—then don’t forget to congratulate yourself on a job well done! And try not to let yourself get discouraged if you don’t get immediate results. As with learning any new skill, dream-recall takes effort, time, and patience.

Now that you have the why and how we remember or dreams, in my next dream-series blog I will write a step-by-step approach to interpreting the symbolic language of our unconscious.

Until then,

Siarra