Keeping a Dream Journal

Working with dreams allows a person to access information not readily available to their conscious mind. It also enables a person to take advantage of the potential of dreams to help solve problems. Dream work also leads to increased self-knowledge and creativity. You can also work with dreams for personal growth. Working with dreams can help you learn new skills and make changes in your life.

Everyone dreams, but not everyone remembers their dreams or knows what their dreams mean. This is the point where I’m at right now. Frequently, I wake up not remembering anything of my dreams. Keeping a dream journal is a way to help you remember and record your dreams. In the past week or so since I’ve been making a point of trying to remember enough to write in my dream journal, I’ve been remembering more bits and pieces of my dreams. Remembering and writing down your dreams will help you to notice any recurring themes, symbols or patterns. Below are some tips for keeping a dream journal:

1. Keep a notepad or journal right next to your bed, along with a pen and small lamp or flashlight.

2. Make a point of reminding yourself that you want to remember your dream before you go to sleep.

3. If you wake up in the middle of the night, write down whatever you remember of your dream.

4. If you can’t remember the whole dream, jot down any words, key elements, phrases or images that you remember from it.

5. If you find that writing isn’t working, try speaking into a small tape recorder kept near your bed and transcribing them onto paper later.

6. Keep a notepad and pen handy during the day, so that if you remember something from your dream, you can write it down.

7. How you date your entries is up to you. You can date them as of the night you fell asleep, or the day you’re waking up. Whichever you choose, be consistent.

8. Leave some space after each entry for insights and other memories which may surface later.

The following sites contain additional information on dream journals, dreams and dream interpretation:

Dream Manual

Selfhelp Magazine: Dreams and Dreaming

Writing The Journey: Keeping a Dream Journal

Originally published on Suite101.com.