How to Improve Dream Recall

Your dreams are your subconscious mind's way of relaying important messages. But this is all for naught if you can't remember your dreams. The techniques in this article will help you improve dream recall tremendously in just a matter of days.

Remembering your dreams is the first step for advanced dream work such as lucid dreaming. But dream recall is also useful for self exploration, increasing your awareness and spiritual progression.

How to Improve Dream Recall - Recording

In order to improve dream recall, you must first commit to recording your dreams after every sleep period. You can do this in a variety of ways. I keep a dream journal on my nightstand and as soon as I wake up, I write down everything I can remember about my dreams.

You might also try keeping a small tape recorder next to your bed and recording your dreams for later exploration. This probably works best if you sleep alone and won't disturb a sleeping partner or spouse.

It is crucial that you record the dream as soon as you wake, no matter the hour, to improve dream recall. Upon first awakening, you will remember your last dream clearly. But, if you go back to sleep those dream memories can be replaced with others and at best, you'll only remember bits and pieces of the first dream.

Also, if you go about your daily activities without first writing down your dreams, you can become distracted and forget details that may have been clear upon awakening.

How to Improve Dream Recall - Advanced Recording

It is very important when you are working to improve dream recall, that you not only write down what you remember of the dream upon waking, but that you write down all the feelings and impressions you had of the dream. If you felt sad or happy, write it down. If you were confused, write it down. The more detail you can recall, the better.

What you are doing, essentially, when recording your dreams to improve dream recall is telling your subconscious that dreams are important to you. You want to have more of them and recall them more clearly.

In just a few short days after beginning to record your dreams to improve dream recall, you will be amazed at the amount of detail you are able to recall.

How to Improve Dream Recall - Take Notes

It's a good idea, when you first start trying to improve dream recall, to carry a small notepad and pen with you throughout the day. There are many times that we recall a passing fragment of a dream that may lead to even more memories. Something that happens at work or something someone says may trigger a dream memory.

If you recall even the smallest part of a dream, write it down immediately. Sometimes an entire previously forgotten dream may come pouring out. Other times, you may never get past that fleeting glimpse.

How to Improve Dream Recall - Stay Sober

If you're working hard to improve dream recall, don't take drugs or alcohol before bed. This will significantly diminish your memory. Just try to recall an important dream with a hangover. You may remember some glimpses of the dream but most of it will be gone.

How to Improve Dream Recall - Herbs for Dream Recall

Some herbs are known to help improve dream recall. Mugwort, Rosemary and Thyme are some such herbs. You could make a dream pillow out of these herbs to help improve dream recall or burn incense of one of these herbs before retiring. You could also rub a little of the essential oil onto your pillow or dream pillow. You could even make a tea and consume it before bed to help improve dream recall.

However, keep in mind that this technique won't improve dream recall on it's own. You must work to improve dream recall and keep recording those dreams. The more you try to recall, the more you will be able to recall.

How to Improve Dream Recall - Adopt a Mantra

Another technique that I find helpful to improve dream recall is to tell myself that I WILL remember my dreams tomorrow. As you lay down for bed, tell your self or you subconscious that you want to remember your dreams, that it's important to you and KNOW that you can recall your dreams.

Don't get frustrated if you aren't able to recall many dreams at first. I am able to recall between four and six dreams per night but when I first began trying to improve dream recall, I was lucky to remember one. Dream recall comes more naturally for some than others but if you follow these guidelines and work hard, you'll be able to improve dream recall exponentially in a relatively short amount of time. Sweet dreams!