The inner landscapes that are revealed in our dreams are a rich source of personal inspiration and empowerment. Unfortunately, the pace of the modern world causes so many of us lose touch with our dreaming minds. We awake in the morning as though we had amnesia, unable to recall even dreaming at all. The good news is that unless you have a sleep disorder, your ability to dream is probably intact... it's your ability to remember your dreams that needs a bit of prodding.
There are definitely things to try, but be warned: there seems no "quick-fix". The most tried-n-true method to re-engage your dreams is also, typically, time-consuming. But if you're serious about wanting to actively work with your dreams, it's worth the effort.
Here's how: Begin a dream journal, and commit to writing in it for at least 15-20 minutes a night, just before bed. It doesn't matter much what you write, actually... (it can be a diary if you like, or you can write poetry, random thoughts, or pieces of stories or images that occur to you...) it's the process of "brain-dumping" that's so helpful. This journal-writing time gives your brain a chance to begin the memory-sorting process that occurs during dreaming. It's "priming the pump", so to speak.
Next, after you've closed the journal and turned off the light, settle yourself comfortably and begin some relaxation exercises. Get yourself all tucked in and comfy, and then begin giving yourself "dreaming instructions". As you fall asleep, say to yourself "I will wake up in the morning remembering my dreams vividly" (or words to that effect). In essence, as you relax deeper and deeper into sleep, you are giving yourself the post-hypnotic suggestion to wake with the memory of your dreams.
Finally, when you wake in the morning, grab your dream journal and write in it before you even get out of bed. (Yes, I recognize that this requires you to actually wake up a few moments earlier than usual... the mad dash out of bed won't work here.) Write down whatever fragments of dreams you do remember. If you don't remember any dreams, WRITE ANYWAY. It may seems weird, but spend a few moments writing about whatever comes to mind. This begins training the mind to expect to remember your dreams upon waking.
Consistency is important for this to be successful. In general, it takes about two weeks for the brain to start to take you seriously. If you keep skipping a night here and there, then it won't really help much. You really are reprogramming your brain, and that takes time and patience, pure and simple.
To learn more about your dreams, including how to interpret them, see "The Dreaming Spirit". Happy Dreaming!
~Flame RavenHawk
September 6, 2003