Do you believe the Moon's phases have any impact upon your dreams?

Question

Speaking for myself, I've come to observe that I have rather vivid, quite memorable, usually positive dreams during the Full Moon phase. However, I am struck by the consistency of disturbing dreams, even nightmares, I experience during the New Moon phase. I don't know of any "scientific" explanation for this phenomenon nor if I am alone in this. Has anyone else experienced this or any other (perhaps opposite?) effect of the Moon on dreams?

The Full Moon begins today in the Northern Hemisphere, so I'm actually looking forward to my dreamscape tonight. How about you?

Thank you, aysha, that is exactly the sort of answer I was hoping for. Sweet dreams to you, as well. The Full Moon is very definitely on our side. :)

There were some really terrific answers here and I want to thank those of you who took the time and effort to think this through before responding. Special thanks and honourable mentions go out to aysha (my first really nice answer), sagebella (always thoughtful), canislupus (for keeping an open mind), Caroline (again, kudos for being open to the possibilities) and Mr. Imperfect (thanks for the WB; nice to see you again, too). Cheers! :)

Answer 1

Like you, Mac, I have vivid and memorable dreams during the Full Moon phase, but they're usually not good (there are some remarkable exceptions).

I've been observing and taking notes of my dreams for more than twenty years and, as you must remember from my answer to another question of yours about dreams, I dream in color and remember several dreams per night, even when I don't sleep well or much.

What happens to me is that, during the Full Moon phase, all my senses are sharper and my feelings are more intense, for good or for ill.

I rarely sleep much and, lately, not very well, most of the time.But I've noticed that the Full Moon nights are the worst for me to sleep and frequently, I have at least one agitated or disturbing dream at these nights.

Where I live, in Southeast Brazil, we have hot weather for many months a year, and I like to sleep with my bedroom's window open, whenever it's possible. But, during the Full Moon, I always close the window, because the Moonlight and whatever other vibes that come from the Moon make my dreams even more agitated.

This is an intriguing question, made me think and read back some of my notes about my dreams. Thank you for asking! Hope you had (and continue to have) a good night and sweet dreams! :)

P.S. I realized I forgot to tell you about my dreams when it's New Moon. I never felt any special difference in my dreams during the New Moon phase, as well as the rest of the month. They can be better or worse,depending on how I feel, if I'm happy or not, how was my day, how is my health, but nothing that I can relate directly to the Moon. The Full Moon nights are the ones that greatly affect both my sleeping and my dreams.

Answer 2

Maybe, maybe someone- some far time ago, suggested this to me before, but in my old age I have forgotten... so this feels like a new concept to me, or maybe it was just in the clarity of the depiction that my grey matter is considering the theory in a "newer" and yet "fuller" light.
I am always a vivid dreamer, but don't have any consistency to remembering them, sometimes it's a series of small vignettes, other times it is a long detailed dialog and circumstance. (or perchance I am just long in retelling it, my most frequent listener has the patience of a saint)
But to the crux of your query... I had very elaborate dreams last night, which I think on the whole could be considered good. And it does seem that it was a fortnight or less that I had more unpleasant or disturbing dreams.
Still the most honest reply, is that I'll have to pay closer attention. But just initially I feel the theory has merit, based in part by our bio-chemical carbon based natures, and the rest simply because you're a knowledgeable kinda fella.

Cheers you, enough for now- J

Answer 3

Hey! Great to have you back! You were surely missed.

(In case, you weren't ready for this friendly beginning, I'm the then Mad Scientist a.k.a Alec Smart and the now Mr. Imperfect!)

Now, to answer your question honestly, I have neither noticed nor tried to verify the theory of moon impacting human dreams.

Being a complete skeptic about things that are hard to contain within the realms of scientific reasoning, I won't believe in any direct influence by the phases of a heavenly body on a human mind.

I'd rather try to make out a few reasons of such observations with a scientific approach:

1- As stated by the Jungian theory, you perhaps have some earlier memories or an intuitive response to a certain moon-phase which influences your dreams. (I'm shooting in the dark and presuming that you view the moon before you go to sleep. A night-walk? Sitting in your lawn staring at the sky? Through your window?)

a) You might be thinking of the full-moon as an admirable beauty which creates positive mood in your mind and influences your dreams to be positive. Moonriver, are you listening? :P

b) The new-moon perhaps stands for violence or extremism in your mind and causes nightmar-ish dreams.

Others' results may vary according to the meanings of moon-symbolism in their cultures.

Answer 4

I'm very restless when the moon is full and I have more dream activity going on then. My dreams are more detailed, the colors are very bright and everything is much more clear. When it's new moon my dreams are darker. They are or very scary or very sad and I wake up out of them with very mixed feelings that I cannot place and that leave me mixed up. I certainly believe that the moon has an impact on our dream activity but I do not have an explanation for it.
I'm also looking forward to my dreams now.
Sweet dreams and angels on your pillow.

Answer 5

Full Moon Ion Effect
... effects include changes in sex drive, impotence, abnormal dreams, difficulty ... Full

There you go.

Answer 6

i don't think it has any effect on dreams..........However, you mood may have something to do with your dream. If you are a female, once ia month, you may get a little depress due to period. That may contribute difference of your dream

Answer 7

I very much believe that the Full Moon phase has a HUGE effect on human behavior, because I've seen it far too often working as a nurse in the hospital setting. But, I've honestly never taken note as to whether my most vivid dreams occured more often during the Full Moon phase. It's a very intriguing question though, and I shall start taking note of this possible correlation. I do love the Full Moon, and think it very likely does affect our dreams. Very interesting question, Mac! :)

Answer 8

Now that you brought it to my attention I have had extraordinarily vivid dream over the last few days and it's something I'll have to keep an eye on, I had noticed that I have 'phases' of very realistic vivid dreams but hadn't associated them with anything. It would be very interesting if they were coinciding with the lunar cycles.

Answer 9

Ofcourse not

Answer 10

no