A Bit on the Dream Catcher

The Ojibwa are the first recorded people to use the dream catcher, one of the most intriguing Native American customs. Traditionally, the dream catcher is hung above the place where one sleeps in order to protect them from nightmares. When the sun descends, dreams fill the air. The center has an opening through which pleasant dreams pass and then slide down feathers to the sleeper below, while bad dreams are caught in the webbing of the catcher. Negative dreams that have been seized are destroyed by the time of the first morning sunlight. This dream filtering system, modeled around the spider web because of its similar capturing qualities, is now popular among several cultures.

The legends and designs of dream catchers do vary to some extent.

Monday, January 30, 2012

Keeping A Dream Journal: A How To

Keeping a dream journal is very easy. Dedicating some time to write down dreams and experiences you have in them is crucial in discovering both more about yourself and more about dreaming in general. You may be able to link certain things or people within a dream to a deeper meaning or you may just end up chuckling at what you have dreamt up. Dream journaling also serves as a great practice for your memory. I recently began a dream journal and although I find this to be a great and enjoyable technique, it may vary for others. 

Key Steps:
-       Pick a journal or notebook that you will solely dedicate to the recording of your dreaming experiences and put it next to your bed along with a pen.

-       Write down your dreams in the morning right after you wake up, otherwise you will most likely forget them as dreams tend to fade quickly from our memories. 

-       Try to add lots of detail. Even if you don’t remember anything concrete, abstract feelings like ‘oh, it was light’ or ‘I remember it was pretty,’ should be written down. They could unlock the rest of the dream and even if they don’t, those feelings you have can often be very telling. Write as much as you can remember and jot the date down as well.

-       Don’t be embarrassed by your dreams, they “have a habit of being socially unacceptable.” And that is perfectly okay, dreams may express some inner desires but don’t freak out, they are just dreams.

-       Take special note of recurring dreams, events, people, and themes within them.

-       Doodle! Make a quick drawing of something that you remember well from your dream. You do not have to be Picasso; a quick sketch that will jog your memory later on is perfect.

-       Be aware of and write down your emotional feelings you had during the dream.

-       Think about things that are going on in your life and see if you can make any connections between those events and your dreams.  

-       Title your dream. This sums up the dream and makes it easier to remember when looking back at it. 


Hopefully not too long after starting, you will wake up and easily be able to "dash out" your dreams bombarded with lovely details. I encourage you to give it a shot, good luck! 

Works Cited:
“Keeping a Dream Diary.” Oracle ThinkQuest Education Foundation. ThinkQuest Team C005545, 2000. Web. 25 Jan. 2011. <http://library.thinkquest.org/C005545/english/activities/diary.htm>.
Ryan Hurd. “How to Keep a Dream Journal.” dream studies. dream studies portal, 2012. Web. 25 Jan. 2012. < http://dreamstudies.org/2009/07/30/how-to-keep-a-dream-journal/ >.
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4 comments:

  1. mjkinsella73January 30, 2012 at 1:06 PM

    Great How To! After reading this, I think I will start my own!

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    Replies
    1. KatrinaJanuary 30, 2012 at 6:32 PM

      Awesome! If you have any questions or anything, let me know - my personal journal is coming along pretty nicely and I'd love to help you if you have any problems. Thank you for the comment!

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  2. KayJanuary 30, 2012 at 7:29 PM

    I was inspired by this entry to make my own dream journal, my only problem is that once I wake up and ove from my sleeping position I lose a good chunk of the dream I was just mystified by...It completely loses the BAM that made it special when I move. Do you have any suggestions for how I could prevent this from happening?

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    Replies
    1. KatrinaJanuary 30, 2012 at 7:55 PM

      This is very normal, BUT DONT MOVE FROM THE POSITION YOU AWAKE IN! Our mind seems to have a dream eraser, because when we view or engage in anything after dreaming, those things begin to overwrite your dreams. The best thing to do is stay in the same position for a while as you allow yourself to recall your dreams. This is why I encourage you to put your journal next to your bed so once your done with this 'recall' period you don't have to move much to write it all down. Hope this helps!

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