Psychologists and parapsychologists often recommend keeping dream journals, which involve recording dreams in a notebook. But what is the purpose of this practice? Surprisingly, this habit can provide significant benefits.

The “Illumination” Phenomenon

Sometimes, a person may find the solution to real-life problems in their dreams. One of the most famous examples of this is associated with the Russian scientist Dmitri Mendeleev, who dreamt of a periodic table of chemical elements. When he woke up, he was able to sketch it from memory.

Mendeleev’s colleague, the German chemist Friedrich August Kekule, had a mysterious experience while studying the bonds of atoms in substances. He fell asleep on the last bus home and dreamt of atoms in motion. He noticed that small atoms would pair up, while large atoms formed chains and attached small atoms only at the end of the chain. He woke up and spent the next night sketching the structural theory that he had dreamt of. This theory went on to play a significant role in the development of organic chemistry.

The inventor of the sewing machine, Elias Howe, struggled for a long time to position the eye of the needle so that the upper and lower threads meshed with each other. He dreamt that a tribe of wild natives was dancing around him, and during the dance, they lowered and raised their spears, revealing a hole in the corner of the tip of each of the guns. This led Howe to come up with the idea of cutting the needle at the base to solve the problem.

One of the Beatles’ stars, Paul McCartney, revealed that he dreamt the melody for the famous song “Yesterday” and was able to write it down on the first piece of paper he found.

Poets dream of poems, writers dream of novels and stories, and artists dream of paintings. There are two possible explanations for this phenomenon. The first is that if a person concentrates hard on a problem, the subconscious may provide a solution in a dream. The subconscious of creative people is always open to new ideas. The second explanation is that supernatural forces may aid in this phenomenon. Allegedly, in a dream, it is easier for these forces to infiltrate our brains and generate ideas. There is also a theory that our brains can connect to the Earth’s information field in an altered state of consciousness, including during a dream, and look for specific information.

Recording Dreams

It is beneficial to record and analyze any dreams, not just those related to specific topics like nightmares or significant events. At the very least, record any dream plots that you remember upon waking up.

To achieve the most effective results, follow certain rules. It is recommended to record dream plots on paper, although using digital devices is also acceptable. Keep a notepad and pen by the bed, and record the dates in advance or use a notebook-calendar.

Do not skip dreams that seem chaotic or unimportant. Write down what you remember, even if it is only snippets, and record the feelings that the dream caused you. If you dreamt of ideas, poems, or images, record them in the notebook or draw them until they disappear from your memory.

When you have free time, try to interpret the dream. First, draw parallels with recent events. If nothing comes to mind, consult reputable dream books. For example, if you dreamt of flying, interpreters suggest that it may be related to a situation of choice that you are facing. This can apply to various areas of life, such as work, creativity, personal life, and relationships.

Return to the dream plot a few weeks later and check if any events that occurred relate to the dream. Perhaps the dream foreshadowed and prepared you for them.

In conclusion, the realm of dreams is closely linked