Keeping a dream journal is absolutely vital to dream recall, which is why all participants must keep one. Your dream journal doesn't only function as a log of your dreams, it also helps you focus on increasing your dream recall, your intent to have lucid dreams, and it helps you become familiar with what your dreams are usually like, which both helps your dream recall and your chances of becoming lucid. If you stick with keeping a dream journal, a lot is done when it comes to increasing and maintaining your dream recall.
You should update your dream journal as soon as possible after waking up in the morning, as you are more likely to forget dream content and details if you wait until later. However, as you might not have time to make a full dream journal entry in the morning, you can also make short notes which you expand on and enter in your dream journal as soon as you have the time. It's not the best option, but it's better than nothing.
Your dream journal entries must include:
-A report of your dreams, obviously. Make the entries as details as possible. Include where you were, what you were doing, who you were with and what your thoughts and emotions were. If you remember so much that you would spend all day writing, then of course shorten the entry, but include the main plot and what you feel is necessary to include.
-A title. Give each dream a title. You may skip this if you only remember a small fragment, but consider it.
You can also include:
-Illustrations. If you like to draw, this is a great way to document your dreams along with a written entry. It's also a good way to practice your artistic skills! We even have our own feature for this here on Mortal Mist – the Dream Sketcher.
-Ratings. Though the Dream Catcher doesn't have a rating feature, several dreamers rate their dreams in different ways. If you want to, you can rate your dreams after level of lucidity, importance, dream recall, or any rating that you come up with yourself.
If you are keeping your dream journal on Mortal Mist, then take full advantage of the Dream Catcher! Be sure to use the tag feature to keep track of your dream signs. Not only can they help you become lucid, but they can help you trigger dream memories. More about that later.
