The Encyclopedia of Crystals, Herbs, and New Age Elements: An A to Z Guide to New Age Elements and How to Use Them - Adams Media 2016

Dream Journal
The Power of Insight: Divination Systems, Tools, and Practices

ORIGINS

As discussed in the previous entry on dream interpretation, our dreams may contain important information or messages that we can then apply to our lives. However, this information is of no help to us if we can’t recall our dreams, which tend to fade away soon after waking. A dream journal is a great solution to this problem, and getting started is as simple as keeping a notebook and a pen next to your bed. Then you simply record your dreams as soon as you wake up so you can capture them in the greatest detail possible. In addition to recording the content of the dream, you may also choose to record your own interpretation of the dream for future reflection. The act of keeping a dream journal is believed to assist with future dream recall, and it can be particularly helpful in the pursuit of lucid dreams—dreams in which the dreamer is aware that he or she is dreaming.

HISTORY/LORE

The origin of the dream journal is unknown, but it has existed in some form or another for thousands of years. The earliest evidence of recorded dreams was found on 5,000-year-old Mesopotamian clay tablets. The ancient Egyptians recorded their dreams using hieroglyphics and proposed interpretations. The ancient Greeks and Romans also recorded their dreams, believing they were messages from deities or the deceased and that they could predict the future. The Greek philosopher Aristotle (384—322 B.C.E.) wrote about lucid dreams, observing that “often, when one is asleep, there is something in consciousness which declares that what then presents itself is but a dream.”

USES

Many people keep a dream journal and perform dream interpretation as a hobby, while others treat it as a more serious component of an intellectual, psychological, or spiritual endeavor or practice. In any case, it’s easy to start a dream journal and see where it takes you. If you prefer to keep a digital dream journal instead of a paper one, there are several apps that you can use to record your dreams using your smartphone, tablet, or computer. You might also consider using an audio recording device to narrate and record your dreams orally.