I read about someone who journaled in the morning in order to capture his dreams. Over a period of time, he watched for themes in those dreams.
I don’t dream, or at least I don’t remember anything about them, but I’ve discovered something similar.
Was it Edison who practiced nodding off in a chair while holding a ball, which would fall when he fell asleep? He’d capture his thoughts at that point.
Yes, in this Scientific American article, Thomas Edison is said to have napped while holding a ball in each hand, expecting that, as he fell asleep, they’d fall and wake him. This way he could capture his thoughts as he began to doze.
I’ve discovered that magical space, that semilucid stage between sleep and wakefulness—known as a hypnagogic state, once I lie down, even for a nap, but especially at night with the light off. I’ve written pages of notes during that amazing sweet spot. Now I anticipate and thank God for it in amazement.
I wait until morning to decipher what I wrote, but many times I’m amazed at gems I most likely wouldn’t have remembered.
Do you dream? Do you remember them? Are they useful or not?