Interesting Query.

[per_solo]

Got to thinking about this earlier, thanks to a different post, and it made me curious enough to poll the people who read this and see what they think.

I VERY rarely remember my dreams. As in, the few times I remember a dream upon waking is if I've thrown my sleep schedule completely off, and even then, I have to scribble to write down a dream or nightmare I have upon awakening, or it's gone within minutes.

Certain dreams come back to mind. One nightmare, years ago, is always fresh in my mind when the topic arises (as I think I've done here before), but there are others. 10 years ago, had one dream where I was pounding on a glass wall at a friend who was trapped inside, and couldn't hear me/see me, but that wasn't the nail biting terror of a few others. One, in Middle or High School (Think it was the latter) had zombies attacking me from everywhere. The one I always remember crystal clear concerned the "end of times", and what eventually ended in the wake of destruction from a nuke. Which is really creepy, in that if I had the drawing talent, I'd be putting images from that one down. I remember two oddities with the moon, one of which was what looked like three snakes, upright, wriggling across the full moon, then those disappeared, and were replaced with a hollow, wooden looking mask. Someone ages ago said from my description is was a celtic death mask, but given how long ago that was, the memory has kind of faded a little. Weird, that I remember that dream better than the conversations that resulted from it.

I remember a few pleasant dreams, but those will stay here in memory. :-)

So, the question goes out. Do most people typically remember their dreams, or am I the oddball, able to push them away and not recall them?

For a little background, shortly after the "apocalyptic" dream, I bought a dream book, then another. Both were VASTLY different in what they told, which led me to the ultimate conclusion that dreams are random, based on fears, and the good and bad going on in your life. Since I don't typically remember my dreams, I'm not so sure if I still hold that opinion nowadays, but still, should make for an interesting back and forth in LJ today.

Comments

[echoweaver.livejournal.com]

I don't think dreams are random. I think they are your hindbrain trying to express your hopes and fears. But that also means I think that means almost all dream interpretation books are bunk, since only your hindbrain knows what your symbolism means. That said, usually if my subconscious is trying to tell me something in a dream, I get the message, and it's not too hard. If I can't figure out what it means, odds are my hindbrain didn't either, and it's mostly stress.

I don't remember most of my dreams within minutes of waking up.

[per_solo]

*nod* Makes a fair bit of sense. Still, then you have dreams like the apoc one. :-P As much as I tend to forget some things, that one never leaves.

I'm not sure I ever get too many messages, then again, I don't remember dreams typically, and have a fun enough time getting the messages out of my real life (tm), let alone what my subconscious may or may not be trying to tell me.

I'm also curious, and we'll see if anyone answers this within this, if anyone has ever had success interpreting via a dream book.

Though, I will admit, I've written down in my "ideas" journal (A REAL journal, not an electronic one :-P) things that came out of dreams.

Ah to sleep, and perchance to dream

[royalcrow.livejournal.com]

Okay - the way I have always learned from my dreams is to first accept that I might want to remember what happens in my noggin that night. Some folks have said keeping a journal by your bed and writing what impressions you first have when you rise helps for this task. I can not remember all my dreams but do remember fragments - sometimes these fragments make a little sense, such as after watching The Sopranos one night after Tony had a really huge ordeal with a member of a rival family - I remember in my dream of disappointing Tony by blurting out during a dinner about something the family had done or something to that affect, and trying really really hard to get Tony calmed down so he would not whack me. (I must of success because the end of a big love fest).. anyway, once you open yourself up to start capturing this data it does get easier with each "trip".

I totally agree with the premise that dream interpetation is bunk - and as it is oft quoted of Siggy, sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

"Take off your pants and take my advice take a slide on the ice" from another famous Sigmond - M.A.S.H that is..

peace,
Tony

Re: Ah to sleep, and perchance to dream

[per_solo]

*heh* I see Siggy,and think "Ziggy", damn QL and its intergration into my psyche.

Some of mine make movie/tv plots. Not as often as they used to, but I'll have to start keeping the journal near to hand.

[confusedjew.livejournal.com]

sometimes i do, not always. if i'm good i write it down in my dream journal but haven't been good for quite some time now. the really weird i'll remember and of course if i dream something and then it happens i remember the dream.

[per_solo]

See, with me, I run into the deja vu of having dreamt something before. That can play havoc with ones sense of free will. :-)

[oftenrebuked.livejournal.com]

Oh I remember the dreams that elicit a big emotional feeling. I know I have other weird mundane dreams, but never remember those. I guess that applies to regular life memories as well. I only remember the extremes of things. I had one dream once that made me the most frightened I have ever felt and it wasn't about people or things just abstract dark colors and the feeling of being smothered. I had just barely gotten to sleep, so that was even stranger, and I awoke just terrified.