Do you wish you could remember more dreams? You’re all set up with a dream journal on your bedside table, you’re keen and excited… but nothing happens? Dream recall can be capricious – one day you may remember three or four dreams, the next day nothing at all. It can feel frustrating, especially if you feel eager to kick-start your journey into dream exploration and lucid dreaming. Here are seven things you can do – as well as things you might want to stop doing – in order to encourage plentiful dream recall.
1. Be patient
When we actively focus our attention on our dreams and become goal-oriented about remembering them, this can sometimes have the startling opposite effect of making them vanish, like shy animals. It’s almost as if they have a case of performance anxiety or stage fright, and hide away on purpose. If this happens, don’t worry – they will come back. It’s good to be right-brained about this and trust the process, rather than taking a left-brained approach. Rather than striving to remember your dreams and berating yourself when you can’t remember any, instead think of your dreams as beautiful wild creatures and coax them towards you with warmth and love in your heart. They will respond – be patient.
2. Take it all in your stride
One of the most important things is not to let feelings of frustration get the better of you. Go easy on yourself – if we let a sense of failure creep in each time we wake up with no memory of our dreams, this can create a strong psychological block that actually stops us from remembering our dreams. Also, sometimes much later in the day, something will happen that will trigger dream recall, so first thing in the morning is not the only time that we will remember dreams.
3. Write in your dream journal every day… even if you’ve got nothing
Even if you wake up with zero dream recall, reach for your dream journal or voice recorder anyway. Write (or speak) from the prompt: “I feel…” Just allow anything to emerge. You might find yourself writing about a particular emotion, which might lead to a memory… or to a snippet of a dream you had that night. This is a wonderful way of checking in with yourself in the mornings and in this golden half-awake moment, we write from the same place that dreams come from. It’s all valuable material for your dream journal, and will encourage dreams to re-emerge, too.
4. Make use of mini-awakenings
We all wake up briefly many times in the night, to change positions and often at the end of sleep cycles, so this is a great time to think back: “What was I just doing? Who was I with? How was I feeling?” Even if all you can recall is a colour or shape, write it down. If you don’t want to disturb your bed partner by turning on the light, try a pen with a light at the nib, or speak softly into a voice recorder.
5. Welcome the art of napping into your life
Naps are so great on so many levels, for revitalisation, wellbeing… and for remembering dreams! We often sink quickly into dream-rich REM sleep and so this is a wonderful opportunity to recall dreams. Stay in the same position for a few moments when you wake up, as dreams tend to disappear quickly if we move or open our eyes too fast. For an immersion into the wonders of Lucid Sleep and guided lucid dream meditations, find out more here.
6. Consider any dream-inhibiting medications
Certain medications inhibit dream recall, and some even stop people from dreaming altogether. People also report different effects from taking melatonin, a sleep-enhancing hormone. Many people report far less lucid dreams when they take melatonin. Speak to your doctor before you make any changes in any medications, including herbal supplements.
7. Sleep with a dream pebble
Try sleeping with a pebble or gemstone in your hand all night long. It really is possible to keep hold of it all night, but if you lose it, try to find it again. Some people love to choose a beautiful pebble, or paint one, or choose a gemstone that means something to them, like amethyst or rose quartz. When we imbue our dream pebble with the firm intention to remember our dreams, every time we become aware of it in the night, we are reminded of this intention. Even if you wake up with just a fragment of a dream, jot it down and pat yourself on the back, knowing that more – many more – rich dreams are on their way to you.
I’ve personally created blissful guided lucid dream meditations to encourage imaginal journeying on the cusp of sleep, help you get lucid in your dreams, and experience vivid dream recall. These can be explored here.
Thank you for being so engaged and engaging in this course. I love that you are posting additional material for us. And I am so happy that I am remembering so many more of my dreams! Thank you,
Thank you Trish, so happy you’re remembering more dreams!
Clare, that you for such a beautiful course! You are a gorgeous human full of love and life. <3 I use an eye mask for total darkness and also a sleep story to help settle my mind for sleep. Might either of these hinder my natural sleep cycle? Might the sleep story be directing my presleep hynogogic imagery with its own (benign) images? And might it be better not to use the story so my mind can direct its own hynogogic imagery? Thank you. Susan
Thank you Susan for your sweet words!
Total darkness in the sleep mask should be fine.
The sleep story may well influence your hypnagogia, but you know, we all have mini-awakenings multiple times a night and after 4-5 hours of sleep can be a better time to observe hypnagogia and set a lucid intent (and pull off the eye mask if you want to).
I’ve created lucid dreaming guided meditations that take people through every step of hypnagogia and into a guided visualisation (or a wake-induced lucid dream!) as I think it’s so valuable to engage with this pre-sleep state. But it doesn’t have to be right at the start of the night, so if you like your sleep story and it helps you fall asleep, I’d stick with it.
Hope this helps,
Clare
Thank you so much! Very helpful. <3
brilliant course so far clare i have a question….a few years back i would tell myself before i went to sleep “im going to the astral plane” id say this over and over like you recommend saying im going to be lucid in my dreams… back then i would have some pretty far out experiences saying that on a nightly basis….would you say it would be better for me to re visit that technique?? or stay with this new one until i have a lucid dream ….its a big conundrum for me at the moment as im saying “im goig to be lucid in my dreams”…but i keep hearing a voice saying im going to the astral plane in response…. anyway thanks so much for bringing me back to a loving place in my dream world…. Aho…nicholas
Hi Nicholas, I would say your original saying, and see where you end up 😉 You can always decide to enter a lucid dream once you are out of body. If ti worked for you back then, it’s worth trying. I wouldn’t worry too much about “where” you intend to end up – just see what happens. When we are consciously aware, we can guide our reality so you can always change things spontaneously once in that state. Hope this helps, happy you like the course!
I am adoring your course, Clare! Thank you and Mike for making it happen.
I was ‘lucid dream’ surfing on the internet just now. I came upon your highly recommended book on Amazon entitled Llewellyn’s Complete Book of Lucid Dreaming: A Comprehensive Guide to……. May I ask who Llewellyn is? Also, is this book available in hard copy? Or do you have another of your books that you would like to see me read?
In Light & Love,
Verna
Great that you’re adoring the course, Verna!
“Llewellyn” is just the name of my US publisher. So it is my book, I wrote it 😉
Yes, it’s available in hard copy, or audio, or on Kindle. It’s a massive in-depth book so it depends on your preference, if you want something shorter and more for beginners, try The Art of Lucid Dreaming which has a great lucidity quiz and helps you discover your individual sleeper/dreamer type.
Enjoy!
Hi Clare, This course is wonderful. I’ve been journaling my dreams for many many years and some have come true or been premonition dreams.
Last night I had a dream that I had forgotten about, it was a recurring dream of mine for a very long time, “I go in to a public washroom and the toilets are all over-flowing with clear water, but I can’t use them cause they are just too full-sometimes I wipe the seat, but I never sit. ” Very strange.. I have tried to dissect the meaning of this dream many times but to no avail. I have several dream books and a dream kit but nothing talks about toilets, lol. Thank you, Carole
Hi Carole, so glad you’re enjoying the course! Toilet dreams are really common and can represent different things, depending on the state of the bathroom and your own feelings during the dream.
Some people have traumatic toilet dreams where the bathroom is filled with excrement that they cannot clean up.
Water often symbolises emotions in dreams. Do you have these dreams at times when your emotional life feels overwhelming? How do you feel in these dreams? (These are just questions for you to consider).
In your dream it’s clear water, which is generally more positive than filthy or stagnant water 🙂 Why not try the Gestalt technique I explained in one of the videos, and become various aspects of your dream – the water, the public washroom, the toilet. Write without stopping to think and see what emerges – see my Lucid Writing technique from yesterday’s video.
Hope this helps,
Clare
Thank you Clare, will do 🙂
Hi Clare
Can you attempt a healing dream for someone who has experienced trauma. Like surrogate energy sending or healing. Is this ethical. I do surrogate EFT sometimes.
Hi Mina, I always advise people to ask the other person if they wish for someone to dream on their behalf. Some people don’t want others to get involved in their healing process and that should be respected. Hope this helps, Clare
Thank you Clare. This person already accepts my sending healing energy so I guess this is just an extension of this yet I will consult them so thank you for your course and the kind reply.
I love the video 12 and your 30 sec exercise. I do feel if we acknowledge the everyday miracles of the sun shining between the clouds we will feel more gratitude and attract more to be grateful for.
Yesterday I went in for surgery and was put under anesthesia for the first time in my life. As they were preparing me for the procedure, I set a dream intention to connect with my late father. I had a dream and he was there comforting me. When I woke up, I told the nurse “I had a dream about my dad!” Thanks to you, your teachings helped me feel less “afraid” to go under anesthesia.
Wonderful Chantal! Releasing fear is so important in all areas of life, and it’s beautiful to hear you were able to connect with your late father. I wish you a speedy recovery from the surgery.
Normally I remember 3 to 4 dreams per night but since I began this course I have only remembered 1 and just a piece of one. Funny how that works. So thanks for the ‘mention’ of this in this blog. Even though I am not remembering my dreams right now, I DO remember to tell myself that I need to write this dream down right away (while I am dreaming) so obviously, I am lucid at that point and realize I am dreaming. I have done this many times during this course. So I know I’ll get there. But for now – those dreams I’m having are elusive. Plus, sometime in the night after dreaming, I go over the dream in my mind so as not to remember but when I get up, I don’t remember them. I have not become awake enough to write those dreams down. So, for some reason, I am unable to awaken even though I am aware that I am dreaming. Maybe I’ll try this method you mention, about the mini awakenings. Thanks for all of these suggestions they are very helpful and I am very grateful and excited about the outcome.
That’s interesting, and an encouraging sign, that you are able to work on imprinting your dream in the night – it means you’re training yourself even during sleep. Fuller dream recall will come… and yes, try the mini-awakenings. Enjoy the process!
Wow!! It worked! I took note of your suggestions and just wrote in my journal even though I haven’t remembered my dreams since beginning this course. I didn’t stress over that fact plus I just wrote down thoughts and feelings like you said. Last night, boom! The dam opened up and all the dream waters rushed in. The first dream I had was just a snipet of a dream but while dreaming, I said to myself – “this is a dream – go write it down”!!! I awoke and jotted down the short dream then dreamed 3 more. Each time – giving importance to each no matter how insignificant they seemed. They became more detailed and long. It took me some time to write them all down in detail! Ha! Be careful what you wish for! 🙂
Thanks for your wisdom and direction Clare.
Oh, fabulous, Susan, happy it worked for you!
Oh My Clare, this is such an amazing dream adventure with so much new information everyday—and thank you for all the additional goodies. You are such a blessing.
Rosie, I’m really happy that you’re finding it amazing! And how lovely of you to take the time to let me know 🙂
Thanks for the tips, Clare, and thank you for the course. I’m curious about your opinion on the effectiveness of listening to binaural beats when going to sleep. Would it help dream recall at all?
Hi Kelly, there’s no research I know of to indicate this helps with dream recall, but if you enjoy it any relaxing music can help you fall asleep.
What has been seen to be useful is waking up to a “musical alarm clock” – set it to play your fave song, and imbue that song with your intention to recall your dreams… so that it prompts dream recall. This way you have 3 minutes (or longer) in the morning to simply lie in bed without moving, just dreamily recalling your dreams 🙂
Love these tips Clare!
I found out this evening from a friend of mine that one of the main signs you may have a zinc deficiency is not being able to remember your dreams. Since he began getting enough zinc he easily remembers dreams and regularly has lucid dreams also. Wonder if you are aware of this and what your experience has been?
Thanks Rosie. Generally vitamin and mineral deficiencies can have diverse health effects, so for optimal health it’s good to check our levels. I’m glad your friend found zinc to be helpful. What works for one individual may not have the same effect for others, so I try not to be prescriptive about recommending particular minerals/supplements to people as I have heard so many different stories/reactions over the years.