Dream Keeping Basics

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Jan 15, 1999

In keeping your dream journal there are a few basics that seem to be the standard among dream keepers:

1. Store your dream keeping materials near the bed. Whether they are a felt-tip pen and spiral notebook, a laptop computer and dream software, a tape recorder or other inventive method of recording your dreams, these supplies should be kept in easy reaching distance of the bed. Preferably where you don't have to sit up, or get out of bed to get them, thereby allowing your body to remain in as close to the same position as that it was when you were dreaming. This allows you to keep your biological link with the dream state, even as your mind shits to waking reality.

2. Write without thinking. This sounds silly because we are always thinking, but what I mean here it to write what comes to mind without trying to give it order or shape . Don't focus on sequencing it into a story line; the dream narrative will develop on its own. You may have what seems like a long jumble of words explaining emotions, feelings and dream events that look more like a shopping list than a dream when you're done. But you will have gotten the most information down before your memory fails in the light of day and the wondrous images of the dream fade into sleep.

3. Read what you've written and go back and write some more. Once you have all of your initial dream thoughts out of your mind, put the journal away. Then later when you're fully awake read over what you've written and jot down any additional memories or interpretations that are keyed off by those first thoughts. Was there a particular colour dominating the dream? A smell? What did you feel? Start to give the dream shape and form. Order the chaos.

4. Title the dream. Once you've given the dream fragments order, and they begin to develop a narrative much as if you were telling a story, go ahead and title the dream. Maybe it will be something like The Dream of the Sleeper or "Grandma's Potato Soup." The title can be as simple, or as complex as you want, but it gives the dream focus and a name. This will assist you later when you begin noting patterns in your dream journal so that you can easily look up the dream without having to remember what day you dreamt it.

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