# Catch The Dream

> Capture dreams before they fade. Voice-first, zero-friction, no thinking required. Just speak. Structure comes later. Triggers when waking from a dream.

- Skill: `mcltyl/catch-the-dream` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add mcltyl/catch-the-dream`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/mcltyl/catch-the-dream/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: mcltyl (https://skillmd.com/u/mcltyl)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/mcltyl/catch-the-dream

---


# Catch the Dream 🌙

## Purpose

Dreams disappear within 30-60 seconds of waking. This skill captures them before they're gone. No structure. No thinking. Just speak.

**This is capture, not interpretation.** Analysis is a separate skill.

## When to Activate

- Just woke from a dream
- "Record my dream"
- "I just dreamed..."
- "Dream capture"

## The Core Problem

| Challenge | Reality |
|-----------|---------|
| Dreams fade in 30-60 seconds | You're racing the clock |
| You're half-asleep | Cognitive ability is low |
| You're lying down | Typing is awkward |
| Dreams are chaotic | Linear notes don't work |
| You might fall back asleep | Every second counts |

**Solution:** Speak immediately. Structure later.

## How It Works

```
[Wake up] → [Speak] → [Done]
```

That's it. Everything else happens later.

## Capture Protocol

### Step 1: Start Immediately

**Don't:**
- Open an app first
- Think about what to say
- Try to remember everything
- Wait until you're "awake enough"

**Do:**
- Start talking within 10 seconds
- Say whatever comes first
- Accept it will be messy

### Step 2: Just Speak

**No format required.** Say whatever you remember:

```
"I was in... some kind of school but it wasn't my school... 
there was water everywhere... and my mom was there but she 
looked different... I was trying to find something... 
a key maybe?... then I was flying... that's all I remember."
```

That's perfect. That's all you need.

### Step 3: End When Done

Say "that's all" or just stop talking. Silence for 30+ seconds = done.

## Voice Trigger Setup

Set up a voice command so you don't even need to touch your phone:

| Platform | Command |
|----------|---------|
| **iPhone** | "Hey Siri, new voice memo" |
| **Android** | "Hey Google, record audio" |
| **Shortcuts** | Create "Dream capture" → Voice Memo + timestamp |

**Pro tip:** Put a Post-it on your nightstand: "RECORD DREAM"

## Capture Guidelines

### What to Say

Say anything you remember, in any order:

- **Places:** "I was in a house... or maybe a hospital..."
- **People:** "My friend Alex was there, but also some strangers..."
- **Actions:** "I was running... then suddenly I was on a plane..."
- **Feelings:** "I felt scared... then weirdly calm..."
- **Objects:** "There was a red door... and a bird..."
- **Fragments:** "Something about water... I don't know..."

### It's Okay To:

- Jump between scenes
- Contradict yourself
- Say "I don't know" or "I forgot"
- Pause for 10-20 seconds
- Mix languages
- Trail off

### Don't Worry About:

- Chronological order
- Making sense
- Complete sentences
- Missing details
- Sounding coherent

## After Capture (Later)

Once you're fully awake, the raw recording can be:

1. **Transcribed** — Voice to text
2. **Timestamped** — Auto-tagged with date/time
3. **Stored** — Searchable archive
4. **Processed** — Structured by AI (separate step)

But none of this happens during capture. Capture is capture.

## Physical Setup

Make capture frictionless:

| Item | Purpose |
|------|---------|
| **Phone on nightstand** | Within arm's reach |
| **Post-it reminder** | "RECORD YOUR DREAM" |
| **Lock screen shortcut** | Voice memo without unlocking |
| **Smart speaker** | "Hey [device], start recording" |

## The Only Rule

**Start recording within 10 seconds of waking.**

Everything else is optional.

## Example Capture

Raw voice recording:

```
"Okay so... I was in some kind of office building but the 
walls were made of glass... and I could see outside but 
outside was underwater... there were fish swimming by... 
and my boss was there but he had a different face... 
I was late for something... a meeting?... 
then the floor turned into sand... 
and I was walking but my legs were heavy... 
someone called my name but I couldn't turn around... 
that's it... that's all I remember... 
wait, also there was a dog... a black dog... 
okay that's it."
```

**This is a perfect capture.** Messy, fragmented, complete.

## Anti-Patterns

| ❌ Don't | ✅ Do Instead |
|----------|---------------|
| Wait until fully awake | Start immediately |
| Try to remember everything first | Speak as you remember |
| Use a structured template | Just talk |
| Analyze while recording | Capture now, analyze later |
| Delete "bad" recordings | Keep everything |
| Type on your phone | Use voice |

## What This Skill Does NOT Do

- ❌ Interpret dreams
- ❌ Analyze symbols
- ❌ Find patterns
- ❌ Tell you what dreams "mean"

**Those are different skills.** This skill does one thing: capture.

## Response Principles

When helping with dream capture:

1. **Never ask for structure** — Accept any input
2. **Never interrupt** — Let them finish
3. **Preserve everything** — Including "um" and pauses
4. **Timestamp automatically** — Date + approximate time
5. **Confirm receipt** — "Got it. [X] seconds captured."