After having many lucid dreams just a year ago I now have very little dream recall at all. The reason for this is almost certainly because of my new job and the fact that I get about 6 – 7 hours sleep a night, coupled with my lack of dream journaling and effort in the subject. I’ve only recently realized what a huge mistake it’s been to stop practice and have now started measures to reclaim my dreams (which is working).
It would help me immensely if people could provide 3 pieces of information. Your average hours sleep, the rating you give your dream recall from 0 – 10, (0 being no recall, 10 being clearly remembering multiple dreams a night) and whether you usually sleep through till morning or whether you usually wake during the night.
Mine would be:
Hours sleep: 6.5
Dream recall: 1
Usually sleep through till morning
Thanks for your time,
>Roo
Hours sleep: 7-8 (I go to high-school)
Dream recall: 3
Usually wake up at... 7:20 am
hours sleep: 6-8 (highschool student)
dream recall: 1
wakeup at 6:30 AM
I lost alot of dream recall too. It didn't matter that I was still keeping a dream journal.
mine:
sleep 7 - 10 hours a night (occasional naps)
dream recall 1 (with naps,about a 4)
A very sound sleeper through the night
I also only recall when i sleep a lot (like > 10hrs during weekend)
Sleep: 8-9 hours a night
Dream Recall: 10
I was sleeping through till morning for many weeks, now I have been waking up multiple times at night, but it makes no difference to me.
Some tips if I may:
Keep just a small sheet of scratch paper with a pen by your bed (Not a dream journal).
Before you sleep, simply tell yourself once or twice and mean it... "I am going to dream tonight, and when I do I will remember it when I wake up."
When you wake up. Write down 5 key words. (I.E. Forest, Bear, Mosquito, Giant Banana)
When you get home from work, look at those key words and see what you can remember and write them down. If you don't have the time in the morning that's fine, these key words will help you remember them later.
If you don't have time to write 5 words, then give up now.
If you used to have good dream recall, it's easier to get it back then to start from scratch.
Need help? I'm at gimmecooky@hotmail.com
Thanks for the info all.
Well.... so far so good, i started my mission on the 20th of april with the aim of getting my dreams back. Before that i was remembering about 1 dream a week if that. From the 20th till now ive remembered about 8 dreams (a big improvement), the latest being the most clear and also giving me the first signs of lucidity (i dream't i was dreaming and being judged on my actions in that sub-dream).
Humbled thanks for the tips, ive also started using affirmations, ive found them to be very useful in the past. Also depending on how i get on in the near future i may also be taking you up on that offer of help :wink: .
Wisp, ive read a few of your other posts in which you mention your dream recall problem. Strange that after many years of good recall you could just lose it even though your performing the same practices(journaling etc). My guess would be that there's a reason for it, maybe a week or so without dream recall caused you to worry which made the situation worse?. Im guessing there definitely wasn't any obvious lifestyle changes before recall began to wane?
>RooJ
Just a little update,
Had my first lucid dream of my dream recall project lastnight/thismorning. Really good vivid dream and ive never flew so gracefully and with such control (if you dont count my inability to slow down to anywhere near the needed speed to land on a roof). I think the reason for the lucidity had alot more to do with affirmations than anything else.
Anyway, gotta fly :P
>RooJ