Burned up the workbook

[Burned up]

-How many dreams do you remember a week on average?

Including fragments, about 25.  Excluding fragments, rather less.  Maybe 10.

-How many hours of sleep do you get a night on average? You can separate workdays/school days from days off.

7 hours.  Weekend mornings probably an extra hour = extra dreams.

-How do you wake up in the morning? (Alarm clock, someone awakens you, or other means)

When it happens.

-Do you consider yourself a light or a heavy sleeper?

Light.

Also, please make yourself a goal for how much you wish to increase your dream recall and post it in your workbook.

Anything that turns a fragment into a longer dream.

[Burned up]

Well either I'm not dreaming much or my recall is muddy just now.  Lots of fragments and little in the way of dreams and certainly no lucids.

Why is this?

Possibilities:

- life is not too exciting just now.  Not much cause for anxiety.  Fragments suggest the underlying dreams are quite dull anyway.

- I am not connecting with my dream self.  My dream girl is busy doing something.  Dunno what.  I don't remember to do any RCs either.

- My mind has switched off to new possibilities.  With some encouragement (thanks MB) perhaps some stimulation will kick-start it and shake up the grey stuff a little.

[Burned up]

I recalled one fragment last night.  And that's being generous.  My usual recall method hasn't been doing it's job.

For a while now when I wake I'm thinking "No dream last night".  Like I'm sabbotaging recall before trying.

POSITIVE THINKING.

[Luminous]

What's your usual recall method?

[Burned up]

What's your usual recall method?

Hi Luminous

It's a waking habit now.
When I wake, I usually have no immediate sense of having dreamed.  And the more I think about dreams, the more frustrated I get.
What I have found is that I need to completely switch off the thinking mind and connect with the present.  So I listen to the clock quietly ticking, the traffic outside, my wife breathing, indeed anything that is audible and (hopefully) not calling for my attention.  Then, as if by magic, the dream memories flow back of their own accord.  Again, I have to make sure I don't lock on to any particular dream image as the frustration of trying to remember just kills the recall.  This is counter-intuitive but nevertheless it opens the door to more images flowing back. 

Sometimes I'll quickly DJ the images before connecting with the present again.  Either way, I carry on until RL needs me to do something or until the memories stop flowing.  Sometimes even when I write the DJ they carry on flowing, but that's not so usual.

One problem with this method is when waking during the night.  It's not unusual for me to drift back into a FA and dream that I'm writing my DJ.  Fortunately, I can usually then recall the FA later for the DJ proper but this casts doubt as to whether the dream happened before the FA or whether the dream was part of the FA.  This probably doesn't really matter, though, but it's interesting to speculate.  Of course, some dreams just get forgotten as I drift back to sleep whist trying to recall.  But I think that's a small price to pay.

Also fortunately, I find that recall from waking during the night is more forthcoming anyway and I don't need to divert my attention to ticking clocks and passing cars.

The method I use, I think, is especially useful for those like me whose ego is perhaps a little anxious and/or paranoid.  Perhaps people who feel more secure wake with a more forthcoming memory of dreams whereas I start thinking about what I'm supposed to be worrying about when I wake!

A long answer, Luminous, but I hope it's useful.

[Burned up]

Better recall today.  Still rather fragmeny, but I had one (happy/sad) dream which stood out.
What's changed?  Probably my determination before sleeping that I'd be more connected with my dreams.
A kind of push (the determination) and pull (the recall) strategy!

[dallyup52]

When I wake, I usually have no immediate sense of having dreamed.  And the more I think about dreams, the more frustrated I get.
What I have found is that I need to completely switch off the thinking mind and connect with the present.  So I listen to the clock quietly ticking, the traffic outside, my wife breathing, indeed anything that is audible and (hopefully) not calling for my attention.  Then, as if by magic, the dream memories flow back of their own accord.  Again, I have to make sure I don't lock on to any particular dream image as the frustration of trying to remember just kills the recall.  This is counter-intuitive but nevertheless it opens the door to more images flowing back.

On those mornings without immediate recall this is similar to the method that I use also.  It is both easy and really hard to let go of the desire for recall while at the same time looking for the recall.

[Burned up]

When I wake, I usually have no immediate sense of having dreamed.  And the more I think about dreams, the more frustrated I get.
What I have found is that I need to completely switch off the thinking mind and connect with the present.  So I listen to the clock quietly ticking, the traffic outside, my wife breathing, indeed anything that is audible and (hopefully) not calling for my attention.  Then, as if by magic, the dream memories flow back of their own accord.  Again, I have to make sure I don't lock on to any particular dream image as the frustration of trying to remember just kills the recall.  This is counter-intuitive but nevertheless it opens the door to more images flowing back.

On those mornings without immediate recall this is similar to the method that I use also.  It is both easy and really hard to let go of the desire for recall while at the same time looking for the recall.

Certainly is, Sam.  As soon as a dream re-appears I want to think more about it perhaps because I'm worried it will go away again.  I think the ideal technique is somewhere between the two - i.e. to hold on to the thoughts loosely.  But I find that hard hence I oscillate from one extreme to the other.

[Burned up]

Lumi's questions:
You have probably experienced waking up in the morning, remembering only a few fragments of the dreams you had that night. By asking yourself questions relating to the fragments that you are able to remember and possible dream content, you might be able to remember more of your dreams from that night. I have put together a list of general questions that you can use to help you remember your dreams better. You are of course free to add your own questions, and use the ones that are relevant to whatever you already remember.

Based on the dream "Back in the philosophy group" only later in the day...

Were any colors or sound prominent?
Not really, although the general blotchiness of the video stood out - mainly primary colours.

What were my emotions?
A general feeling of being a fraud

Was I alone?
No, 2 main DCs and one IDR.  Plus many doing other things.

If someone was with me, then who? Were they familiar to me, or strangers?
Yes, people from a past episode of my life

Was I indoors or outdoors?
Indoors mainly

If I was outdoors, what season was it, and what was the weather like?
Was I in a town or a city, in a rural area, or out in nature?
town

If I was indoors, was I inside a home or in a public building?
Private building

What kind of room was I in?
Slightly L-shaped.  With a table.

What time of day was it?
No idea.  Guess it was early evening.

Was the dream about everyday life, or was the setting unusual?
Fairly everyday.

Was it a recurring dream?
The theme of reuniting is, yes.  But these people, no.

Was I lucid?
No

If you are keeping a dream journal already (you should!), you can set up reminder questions related to your dream signs. Those might help you if you are not able to remember anything when you get up in the morning.

Go through these questions as soon as you are able to when you find yourself only able to remember a little, preferably before you are even out of bed.
Wonder if I'll remember to do that!

[Burned up]

The question things don't really work for me.  I just find myself going over the same bit of dream I've already remembered.

I tried the meditation method soon after waking.  It's similar to what I do already only with more relaxation.  I fell asleep, as predicted!

[Burned up]

To be fair, I did make a connection when meditating later in the day that a scene from the dream was the building site where I once lived.  Not recall as such, but a connection nonetheless.

[Burned up]

Four steps to better dream recall

- When you first go to bed, focus on your intent to remember your dreams. Repeat to yourself: "When I wake up, I will remember my dreams". Keep repeating this in your mind until you feel confident that your intent is set. Go to sleep as normal.

This takes more effort that we might think.  There are so many other things I'd like to think about

- Build up the habit to ask yourself "What was I just dreaming?" Whenever you wake up. Lie still while letting the memories from your dreams come to you.

I do this anyway.  Best way to recall IMO.  Not just lie still, but connect with the senses not with the circling thoughts that greet us within a few seconds of waking.

- Keep pen and paper at your bedside. When you are able to remember a dream, or even the tiniest fragment from a dream, write it down. If you are unable to write down the full dream(s) right away, then at least write down a few keywords to help your recall later when you have time to write down the full dream. You can also use a tape recorder if you sleep alone.

I do this too.  Some fragments get away if I think they're boring.  But the habit is a good one.

- Keep a dream journal - and stick with it! Keeping a dream journal is a must for everyone training their dream recall, and it helps you maintain it as well. Make an entry as soon as you can after you wake up in the morning. Give each dream a title. You may also add illustrations if you wish.

This would help tremendously.  Reading my notes some hours later can render them meaningless no matter how vivid they may have been on waking.  Just need time...