Rose Ariadne's Chitchcraft Blog

Dear friends,

Dreams can be very magickal. These can provide us with visions about the future, but can also help us with the present and even offer us insight to the past. When we dream, we are allowing our subconscious to take a central role in our mind and we’re letting down barriers that we often keep up during the day. Whether we realize it or not, we place filters on our imagination, our thoughts, and our emotions yet when we dream these tend to dissipate. That’s a good thing.

Now, that’s not to say that all dreams are going to be important. Sometimes, dreams can merely be a compilation of foods that we ate, images that our brains recorded from television, shopping, or even driving down the road, and even from uncomfortable positions in bed.

I would venture to say, however, that for the most part dreams can be very telling and can be extremely important in helping us shed light on ourselves and the mysteries around us. Sometimes, we receive messages in dreams. Sometimes, we see things that we don’t allow ourselves to see during our waking hours. We might even experience astral projections in our dreams, occasionally without even knowing it.

The trick is being able to recognize these things and to be able to do that, we must be able to remember what we dream about.

Not everyone is able to fully remember their dreams. Some people cannot completely recall their dreams, but are reminded of aspects of them when confronted with something in their waking hours that reminds them of what they dreamt about-almost déjà vu. Other people can remember their dreams in such vivid detail that they could write a novel about their nightly adventures.

If you are not a person that can always remember your dreams, then there are some tips that might help you out. Just remember that they can take time to achieve so don’t despair if you are unable to remember them on your first try.

1. Give yourself some encouragement.
Before you go to sleep at night, tell yourself that you are going to remember your dreams. Sometimes, all you need is a little positive encouragement in order to jog your memory. By telling your subconscious that you are going to be able to remember what it was that you dream about during the evening hours, you might just be able to train your mind to really do that.

2. Wake up slowly.
When you first hear your alarm clock ringing, your instinct might be to hit “snooze” or to jump out of bed and start about your day. However, by not letting yourself wake up too quickly you are more likely to remain in that dream state. Turn your alarm clock off and spend the next few minutes lying in bed, thinking about your dreams. Do this slowly and without opening your eyes if possible. If you can remember your dream at this point, then go through as many details of it as possible. Go through the entire thing once or twice, until you’ve gone over every aspect that you can remember. You’re far more likely to remember it if you take the time to remember all the details when they are still fresh than if you try to recall it later.

3. Keep a dream journal.
Keeping a dream journal by your bed is another good way of remembering your dreams. Even if the dream doesn’t feel significant to you at the time, write it down. Don’t just write down the details, however. Also write down how you felt, what you saw, what you were thinking about before you went to sleep, what you ate before you fell asleep, and anything else of interest. This can not only help you remember your dreams, but can also help you differentiate any patterns that might exist as well.

4. Avoid things that might altar your subconscious too much.
Certain medications that are designed to help you sleep, as well as alcohol, can not only affect what you dream but how you remember it as well. Try to avoid these things on nights when you are searching for a vision or wish to make contact with the spiritual realm. While some might claim that they are helpful in such matters, it can also be difficult to ascertain what is chemical induction and what is real.

5. Tell someone.
If you have a roommate or a partner, then tell them about your dream as soon as you can. They don’t have to analyze it for you-it’s the fact that you’re saying the words out loud that will help you remember them.

6. Use herbal remedies.
There are some herbs that can be burned as incense or placed under your pillow that some people have luck with when it comes to remembering their dreams. These include mugwort, Valerian root, Fireweed, and kava kava.

I sincerely hope that everyone has pleasant dreams this evening and is able to find peace and contentment while doing so.

Brightest blessings,

Rose Ariadne
Your Warm and Caring “Resident Witch In Charge”