I've only started with my dream journal recently, less than a week ago, and I still have terrible recall. I don't think I've recalled a single dream yet, although once or twice I was aware that "something happened" when I was sleeping -- I just have no idea what. It gets a little bit dispiriting just to write "Nothing to report."

So, I've been listening to an audio book, Waggoner's Lucid Dreaming, before going to sleep, then writing a few paragraphs about what he discussed, even though it's way ahead of me for now. Stuff like not controlling the dream, but learning to manipulate oneself within the dream, the sailor doesn't control the sea, and so on. After that, sometimes I write about what I'd like to do in a lucid dream, where I'd like to go.

I saw a suggestion by Hilary -- she said if you don't recall a dream, make one up. Write down a dream you could have had. Well, I would really like to meet an old counselor of mine, who died a few years ago. So I imagined meeting her in her office, which was the only place I ever met her. I asked her if she was dead. She gave me a long stare and said "Do I LOOK like I'm dead?" And I had to tell her that no, she looked extremely alive.

I never had that dream. I made it up.

I realize it's early days, but I am having those thoughts ... that I'm just a lousy dreamer.

I consulted with the I Ching oracle book, and it gave me The Preponderance of the Great, the ridgepole that sags to the breaking point. It usually refers to a difficult task that you can't put off, a situation that you've let go of, and that now you need to face. The first line was moving:

To spread white rushes underneath. No blame.

That usually refers to the need to prepare carefully, laying down the mat carefully so that you are ready to undertake the task. That kind of makes sense in this context.

Anyone got any other ideas?

Thanks!