10 Tips for Remembering and Inducing Dreams

Estimated read time is 3 minutes.

This blog post is long overdue. It sat in as a voice note in my drafts since December 2024. Maybe I’m still working on long pauses brought on by perfectionism. In any case, I hope this can answer questions that have come up when I’m discussing dreams with people.

Since I started offering dream interpretations, people often ask me how they can remember, or even induce, dreams while they are sleeping. I don’t claim to have all the answers, but through personal practice and research, I’ve picked up a few tips that may help you get started. Check them out below.

1. Set Your Intention to have and remember dreams

Before going to bed, set a clear intention—both mentally and verbally—that you will dream and that you will remember those dreams. This simple act can be surprisingly powerful in guiding your mind.

2. Fall Asleep Intentionally

Try to fall asleep with awareness rather than drifting off to a TV show or being surrounded by distractions. Everyone has a different tolerance for noise—some people even find it comforting—but reducing distractions in your environment can help you enter sleep more intentionally.

Dimming the lights is also helpful. In particular, avoid blue light close to bedtime, as it can disrupt your sleep cycle. Warmer tones, like red, tend to be more calming and less disruptive.

You might try keeping your eyes closed and letting your mind drift in complete darkness and silence or with some soothing sound bowls in the background.

3. Clear Your Space

A cluttered space can lead to a cluttered mind. Taking time to clean and organize your room—especially the area around your bed—can help create a calmer mental environment.

You don’t need perfection. Do what feels manageable and makes you feel more at ease. The goal is to create a space where your mind can rest and open up.

4. Be Mindful of Smoking

If you smoke, consider avoiding it on days when you want to focus on remembering or inducing dreams. In my experience, smoking can make it harder to recall dreams.

That said, everyone’s habits and reasons are personal. If you do choose to smoke, you might experiment with adding herbs like mugwort, which some people believe can enhance dreaming. As you do, keep your intention focused on remembering your dreams.

5. Reduce Alcohol Intake

Limiting or avoiding alcohol—especially before bed—can improve your ability to remember dreams. While effects vary from person to person, I’ve found that not drinking leads to clearer dream recall.

6. Explore using Crystals

Some people like to use crystals to set intentions around dreaming. This can be done by placing them near the bed or in other locations, such as an altar. Certain crystals are believed to support dream work, though I personally don’t actively use them. If it interests you, it might be worth exploring further.

7. Test tincture and herbs

Certain herbs can help to induce dreams. Mugwort might be smoked, bathed in, and/or used in tea or tincture to help with dream work. Mugwort also has the added benefit of feeling great for the skin when used in a bath. It’s possible to find specific herbs that align with any ancestral ties you may have. Making connections to find ethically sourced and locally grown herbs or even self-grown herbs, might strengthen the intentions.

8. Record Your Dreams Immediately

When you wake up, write down your dreams as soon as possible. Even a few notes can make a big difference. Building this habit strengthens your ability to remember dreams over time. Tell yourself before bed that you will record your dream and set up a system to do so. This could be a journal or your phone to take notes.

9. Try Peanut Butter Before Bed

No, seriously. This one might sound a little unusual, but it’s worth mentioning. A friend of mine—someone who rarely dreams—ate peanut butter before bed and ended up having vivid dreams that night.

Afterward, they looked it up and found that some people report peanut butter as a dream enhancer. There’s no guarantee, but if you’re not allergic, trying a tablespoon before bed could be an interesting experiment.

10. Bathe with Rose Water

This is something new I heard from an Ecuadorian spiritual practitioner while traveling in Ecuador. Before bed, try using some rose water to cleanse yourself. This sounds like a comforting sort of ritual also.

Happy Dreaming

These are just a few starting points based on my experience. There’s always more to explore when it comes to dreaming, so feel free to experiment and find what works best for you.

Book a Dream Interpretation

In a 1-hour session, we might discuss dreams, tarot, and more. Every person is unique, and our shared goal would be to come away with actionable steps to help you navigate to positive outcomes in your waking life.

Have a question? Feel free to reach out by commenting below or emailing me, and I will answer as I am able. 

Peace, 

Vic ✷ they/them

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