Building a Memory Palace from Nothing

Memory Training Journals
1
What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. - Ecclesiastes 1:9

Long before we had the major system and the Dominic system, and the GSM legion, there was the ancient Greeks, orating at the Parthenon. And you all know the rest is history. I do not live in ancient Greece, and neither do I orate. But I do need to remember a large amount of data, add to that the additional data that I would like to remember, and you will understand that I have a serious challenge on my hands.

Seems like the problem most of us experience is having enough pegs/locations/support images or what ever, to add all the real-world information we would like to recall. My first Journey had 10 stops, and as such was not very useful. I expanded this journey to fit 52 loci, which was the whole way from my home to my favourite surf spot. Suddenly a deck of cards did not seem like such an impossible challenge. That was however long ago, and I have not used this journey for some time. The main problem for me was that although it was nice to be able to remember a deck of cards in order there was no real-world application that I could consistently use my memory journey for, as you always reset your associations once you reuse the journey. The result was that without any rehearsal the journey faded, and today I don’t use it at all.

My frustration with the normal journey method first had me give up on using mnemonics for a while (other than remembering some names and telephone numbers). As the wheel turned my mind once again returned to the world of mnemonics and the seemingly impossible feats of normal people. This time I decided to change my approach. I will have to mix together the memory systems that I know in such a way that they fulfil my needs, which is not shopping lists, in such a way that I will use them every day.

I decided to build a memory palace, not just recreate a place I have visited before, but a place that I imagine, somewhere where I can add what ever I need, when ever I need it. It will include permanent fixtures, that wil serve as loci for when I nee lists, but also some elements will themselves serve as permanent memories. Every time I use the items in my palace I will not only recall the items on my list, but also fix the elements that are to be permanent in my memory palace.

I have 3 areas in my memory palace, each containing 20 specific locations that can be used as loci in the way the ancient Greeks did in the Parthenon. I am also in the process of constructing 2 more areas, that will give me 100 loci for my journeys, I feel this is sufficient for my needs.

I will however be constructing other rooms, with specific purposes, these rooms will be themed, and each element in these rooms will contain knowledge that I would like to remember. I have also been introduced to the idea of using a mind-map like structure to remember related information. Some of these rooms will include a Roman room for ancient roman history, a map room that will contain geographical information of interest to me. A chinese room which I plan on using to learn mandarin sometime in the future. Also I am working on the library where I would like to store a number of books that I have read and committed the main elements to memory. The first 2 book projects that I am working on is 7 habits of highly effective people and how to win friends and influence people.

For my book projects I will be using a multi tiered system like the legs of a mind-map, and encode information onto the pieces. the levels of encoding are as follows.
Level 1: Book Element
This is the element that will be the object stored in the library, in the case of “7 habits of highly effective people” I have a statue of 7 abbots carved out of wood.

Level 2: Main Sections in the Book
Here I look for a natural devision in the chapters of the book (this one has 3) and link that to the main image.

Level 3: Chapters in the book
Once a gain each section is expanded to include chapter links

Level 4: Main themes in each chapter
Level 5: Facts of Points in each section.
This should yield a fractionation of not more than 10 elements per parent per level.

In the Library, I will see the statue, and upon studying it the 3 main headings come to mind, etc.

So that is the idea behind my memory palace, and it is working so far. The nice thing is I can easily tweak the building if I find that some part of it is not working.

2

Sounds very interesting. Have you read any of Dominic O’Brien’s books? For Mandarin, memrise.com has good ideas for mnemonic images…

3

I have read “How to develop perfect memory” by Dominic O’Brien, and enjoyed it. The dominic method for remembering numbers is not a comfortable fit for me, I prefer the major method. But I enjoy his work, and I am working on incorporating some of his ideas into my own way of remembering. I have also read Harry Lorayne’s Memory Mastery book, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Will definitely look into memrise when I start with the Mandarin, thanks for the link!

4

I find this approach very interesting - I feel too the need for large journeys.
I was wondering:

1)if you already built it, do you find it difficult to visualize it when compared with a real place? Did you try to give to its rooms a specific feeling, or are they largely similar to each other?

2)your hierarchical approach seems promising, but I have difficulties to understand it. You have your 7 wood statues in your example OK (book title), so how do you attach to that image all the remaining information (chapters, themes etc)?

5

Sounds FANTASTIC!!! :open_mouth:

I was thinking of a similar process for my studies. Build memory palaces for each subject matter and divide the palaces into rooms for each chapter.

Unfortunately the process is too long and the palaces too big. I discarded this method and went for the trigger-link/journey method.

Like I remember hyperthyroid — Butterfly. Then I use the story or link method to store the information.

Each time I want to know about hyperthyroid, I think of butterfly and the rest comes back to me. Easier and less elaborate than the palace method I think.

6

For the library and memorizing books. How will you have enough loci in one room to remember a single book. Or will a loci stirr your memory of a memory you have planted so you leave the memory palace temporary so you can follow an infinite space of linked memories?

7

Hi alexxx,

Yes I have already begun construction of the memory palace, and it is quite easy for me to visualize, I feel almost no difference between it and places I have visited in real life, to some degree I find it easier using the imaginary memory palace, as changes in a real life house might affect your memory palace.

There are currently 3 areas in my imaginary memory palace, each containing 20 loci. Firstly it is the entrance and front lawn area, followed by the reception hall and 2 large spiral staircases, and lastly I have an indoor garden. These areas do not use the same structure or look and feel. It is both interesting and enjoyable. I like to construct beautiful spaces, rooms that I like to visit again and again. It might seem strange, but my reason for this is that I want to create spaces that I spend time in when not using it for memorising. An example of this would be that I have a fountain, koi pond, and garden bench in my indoor garden, where I sometimes go and sit when I want to ponder.

To answer your second question, say we have a book (7 habits of highly effective people) I have the carving of the 7 abbots in the front left corner of the foyer in my memory palace. The carving has 3 distinct parts: the figures of the 7 abbots, the main body of wood, and a stunning ball and claw foot piece. I need 3 parts, as the book has 3 mains sections containing the 7 habits. Then to the abbots I link an image of a gas heater, representing internal victory, the boddy is liked to a guitar (a symbole of entertainment, reminding me of external victory) and lastly a hand saw, as the last section only contains a single habit and the habit is sharpen the saw. The first two sections each contain 3 habits, so 3 associations to the guitar and heater. I like using a mind-map to organize these for me but if I were to do it a different way:
7 HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE:

  1. Internal Victory
    1.1 Habit 1
    1.1.1 Info heading 1
    1.1.1.1 Main Point 1
    1.1.1.2 Main Point 2
    …
    1.2 Habit 2
    …
    1.3 Habit 3
    …
  2. External Victory
    …

I use general images to string together the structure of the book, and then I use associations onto those images to contain the information on the book. To separate these two in my mind, I link the whole object to other objects in the same level of the structure, and the information that each structural element should contain is linked to a specific part of the structure object (the first part I think of when visualising the object) This helps me to keep myself from mixing up the different types of object.

So that is the basics of my method

8

Definetly like it dude! but somehow i always have this block starting a new palace or route? i always doubt if it’s good enough!
any tips?

9

DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO BUILDING YOUR OWN MEMORY PALACES, JOURNEYS, ROOMS etc. FOR MEMORISATION AND STUDY AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.COM FOR JUST $8.99

SHORTLY AVAILABLE IN KINDLE EDITION:

“MEMORY PALACE DEFINITIVE”
James Smith

  • based upon simple, easily memorised code using numbers 0-9 and the alphabet
  • uses Locations that are easily visualised
  • includes ten fully populated and easily visualised “Locations” for immediate use
  • compatible with memory master Dominic O’Brien’s system for memorising letters and numbers
  • thorough A-Z bibliography with page references for each area of study and memorisation required
  • shows how to recall page numbers for texts over 1000 pages in length
  • many possibilities as a general memorisation system and for imaginative stimulation
  • shows how to use wasteful browsing habits to make study easier
  • suitable especially for students of ages 16 upwards through all levels of university and professionals who need to
    memorise a lot of material
  • my preferred suggestions for making the most of your intelligence

For improved intelligence and study, I would most recommend a habitual combination of:

A fraction of the cost of a memory improvement course or hiring motivational and training staff:

http://www.amazon.com/Memory-Palace-Definitive-James-Smith/dp/1469949121/ref=sr_1_12?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1329501405&sr=1-12

Little to lose by part-previewing or purchasing a copy, even if only for a library or other reference collection; Amazon.com have a no-questions refund policy on this title.

Queries, comments, suggestions, work or book offers or anything else you like, email me at [email protected]

You are welcome to discuss “Memory Palace Definitive” or related topics on Facebook at:

or find us on Twitter using the book’s title as a keyword

10

Hee James. i’ll definitely buy the book! ill wait for the kindle, epub would be better for me… but im looking forward to it :slight_smile:

11

Ok, i bought the book. Started reading it yesterday and i’m sorry to have to say this, but i’m not very pleased with the book. It’s very difficult to read/understand, lot’s of brackets and long unclear sentences.
The build-up of the e-book is also not very pleasant.
there are probably some good new theories,
like using the number-letter coding system to find new palaces or something like that, i didn’t fully understand it.

12

Sorry if you are disappointed in my book MEMORY PALACE DEFINITIVE, Rookus.

Sounds like you bought the Kindle version, which, as authors cannot properly prepare themselves, had in my case to be entrusted to the CreateSpace staff and the conversion is slipshod, even on font size: 1.

I am strongly recommending to readers on my Facebook page for the book and vending outlets that they buy the far clearer in presentation paperback version of my book, maybe use the Kindle for revision and stimulation.

I also by far prefer the number-letter code - with which my book is compatible - and techniques of Dominic O’Brien to any other memory improvement author so am also recommending alongsode mine Dominic’s book HOW TO DEVELOP A BRILLIANT MEMORY. My book then provides, among other intellectually helpful things, a “build memory palaces and journeys” system and 10 playable-with journeys of 100 stages each.

Hope this helps!

James Smith

13

You may also wish to look at the book MEMORIZE THE FAITH in which Dr Kevin Vost explains (with diagrams) memory palacing.

Is anyone interested in developing a mass-marketable memory palace program, perhaps using the system I lay out in ny book MEMORY PALACE DEFINITIVE, for students and professionals to store the info they need to recall and work with on?

If so, please email me at: [email protected]

14

I tried doing this, but I have two problems. First, I find it really difficult to design good memory palace. Figuring out size, shape, decorations, loci, all that is just overwhelming. Do you have any tips as to how to do that?

Second, can you elaborate further this mind map thing. Please explain to me, when you step into that library room and notice the wooden statue, what do you see, and if you study it further, how does diving deeper into it work.

15

Hi Everyone,

Just an update. I have build upon the memory palace I originally constructed, and began adding ideas from PAO and iconization to the process. this takes more work upfront, but I find that in the long run it really increases learning speed and accuracy. I’m also looking at doing 2 or 3 tutorials on my memory palace blueprint. So I was wondering what are your top questions about memory palaces etc.

16

Hi Wesselj,

Interested to know how you are getting on and would love to see your blueprint!

Gavino

17

Hi, I have created 2 rooms and a seperate flat for testing purposes.

On a high level, I have the following locations:
Street,
Long entrance Way with a Forest
Gates
Lawn with Fountain
Atrium with stairs
Large Indoor Garden Room
2 Basements

In each of these I have artifacts that serve as both pegs for temporary lists, as well as mnemonic links to deep knowledge that I want to remember for ever.

The idea I’m working on is to use pegs that has 2 meanings, and all permanent knowledge becomes pegs, as they will always be present. Parts of these objects lead to different elements of the information stored at that location where the whole in them selves serve as pegs for linking temporary things like shopping lists.

This is probibly a little convoluted in the sense that I reuse certain elements, but I found that having the knowledge anchors always present in my daily use lists serves to fix them more firmly in my mind, thus strengthening their recall.

18

Very interesting! Have you added much permanent data yet or are you still at the building and testing stage?

19

A lot of testing still, but I am starting a course on management accounting pretty soon, and that will be my first true academic implementation of the system. I have used it for speeches and public speaking as well as remembering interesting facts, but I want to take it to a course level, where I learn the material for permanent recall, not just to ace a test (as I have done many a time). So I will be developing a whole wing in my memory palace dedicated to the subject matter in the course, as well as some experimentation with spaced recall and one or two other techniques.

I’m thinking of starting a blog to track the process, but as of yet I’m not sure who will be interested to read it, so it might just end up being an evernote journal

20

This is fascinating. Thanks.

Any updates?