A very good method to retain your dreams in order to have a better interpretation is to keep a dream journal. You should always have a notebook by your bedside and take notes about what you remember as soon as you wake up. Note the key symbols, and the emotions you felt more strongly. Analyzing several dreams occurring in a period of time may show a pattern and can help provide a better interpretation. Always keep in mind that a symbol does not represent the same thing for everyone. Look inside yourself to discover what each symbol represents to you.

Remembering Dreams

In order to remember your dreams you don't need to possess any special abilities. Tip number 1 is to learn to wake up slowly. Lie in bed for a while, keeping your eyes closed and try to remember your dream. To help remember your dreams ask yourself a few questions:

1. How did I feel when I woke up after this dream? Was I happy, frustrated, afraid, pleased?
2. Did the dream somehow relate to a real life situation I was in?
3. Could this dream alert me about a problem that I might have?
4. Is this dream trying to say something to me?

Could this dream be a message from God or prophetic?

If you want to dream about something in particular try setting your mind on it right before you go to sleep.

States of Consciousness

States of consciousness refer to mental state at a certain time and are associated with the frequency of brainwaves.

1. Beta State: In this state, we are alert to the events that happen in the dream. We have normal waking consciousness and we are fully aware of the environment surrounding us. The frequency of Beta waves is between 14 and 30 Hz.
2. Alpha State: A state where there isn't a particular thing in the dream that requires your full concentration. You are feeling relaxed and this state is often connected to calm, lucid mental states. The frequency of Alpha waves is between 9 and 13 Hz.
3. Theta State: State of deep relaxation, where creative insights and vivid imagery may burst. The frequency of Theta waves is between 4 and 8 Hz.
4. Delta State: This state is found during deep dreamless sleep, and is the slowest brainwave activity. The frequency of Delta waves is between 1 and 3 Hz.

Sleep Cycles

During our sleep we go through different stages. What you might not know is that dreams are in fact a small part of our sleeping time. Non REM sleep makes up about 80% and REM sleep 20% of the time we are asleep.

• Stage 1: Transiting from wakefulness to sleep. The brain is producing alpha waves as we are transiting. This stage takes about 7 minutes.
• Stage 2: Muscle tension, respiration and heart rate gradually decline.
• Stage 3: We go into deeper and deeper sleep. The brain starts producing Delta waves.
• Stage 4: The brain continues producing Delta waves. This is the deepest state of sleep.
• Stage 5: Rapid Eye Movement (REM). The brain produces high frequency beta waves. At this stage heart rate, oxygen consumption, breathing and eye movement are the same as when awake, the only thing lost is muscular tension in the neck and limbs. It takes anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes to go from stage 2 to stage 5.

 
This cycle is repeated about 5-6 times each night.

Facts about Dreams

1. Dreams can diagnose the causes of our problems and point out the feelings and desires we tried to overlook.
2. Symbols and images in dreams do not represent the same thing for every person. The symbols are best interpreted by the dreamer when associated with personal experiences.
3. Most people dream in color.
4. The most common setting for a dream is indoors and not outdoors.
5. We dream approximately 5 to 6 times a night.
6. One third of our lives is spent sleeping.
7. People who are giving up smoking have longer and more intense dreams.
8. If you are snoring, then you cannot be dreaming.
9. Nightmares are common in children, beginning at around the age of 3 and occurring up to 8 years old.
10. Studies have shown that if we actively try to suppress a subject, we're more likely to dream about it than if we were to focus our thoughts on it. Suppressed thoughts resurface in dreams because the prefrontal cortex, the area responsible for mental control, is less active during sleep.
11. Dreams do not occur exclusively during REM sleep. It is possible to dream during a short nap or at any time during the night.
12. Lucid dreams occur when you realize that you are in a dream while you are still dreaming. The dream might be interrupted as soon as you realize it. Sometimes a dreamer can manage to interfere with the dream’s normal course while being lucid. In order to find out if you're dreaming or not, try to use simple reality checks. Ask yourself directly "Am I dreaming?"
13. Daydreaming is in fact a very common phenomenon that takes an average of 70-120 minutes a day. It occurs during our waking hours when we let our imagination carry us away.
14. Nightmares may occur because we have ignored or refused to accept a particular life situation. They are sometimes trying to alert us to certain issues.

More about dreams

• Astral Travel
• Creative Dreaming
• Famous Dreamers
• Prophetic Dreams
• Dream History
• Dream Philosophers