[I originally came to this site to get a music question answered, but it hit me that I could also use it as an aid to my LD-induction efforts!]
There was already a thread with this heading but it hasn't been used in a year, so I'm "resurrecting" it for my own purposes.
I have been diligent with my reality-testing, doing it quite often, but I haven't had much luck with lucid dreaming and am wondering if there's a different way of doing it to keep it from getting stale - asking myself "Am I dreaming?" a dozen times a day is wearing thin, but I am bound and determined to have an LD.
Is there a simpler way? (I am not sure if I want to try "WILD", since I find sleep paralysis very unpleasant) Am I perhaps trying too hard? Etc.
[One more note: doing this thread may itself keep my mind on whether or not I am dreaming!] ************************************************** 12-12-05, 07:22 AM Elexina Hello and welcome! ...I'm not exactly sure what you're asking. Could you define for us what you mean by "lucid dreaming"? ************************************************** 12-12-05, 12:11 PM Wax Tadpole Sure. In a lucid dream, you become 'conscious' within the dream and can take control of it. There's plenty of information on the 'Net about it. I'd most recently read a book by Stephen LaBerge, something of an authority on the subject... ************************************************** 12-12-05, 12:43 PM clarebear Hi Wax Tadpole. Welcome to Answerpool. Smile
I remember hearing about lucid dreaming years ago. I watched a show with a knight on a horse being chased. When he realized he was dreaming he took control and he became the chaser.
I think I actually found something to work although I haven't had much time to experiment with it. When my alarm goes off, I hit the snooze button. Once the alarm wakes me up, I am aware that I was dreaming. If I don't fully wake up then I can go back to where I was at in the dream. I think about where I was in the dream and try to change the situation. This has worked but I can't recall what I changed. I think it takes practice. If you can fall back to sleep fast enough, you can keep going back to the same place in your dream. That is when you can change something. ************************************************** 12-12-05, 01:55 PM jusork You mean people don't usually have some concious control over their dreams? Perhaps I've had lucid dreams and didn't know it. Sometimes when I dream I think I realize that I'm dreaming. I'll be in some kind of situation, like trying to save someone or something and I seem to conciously (although not really concious since I'm not awake) try to keep going and build my dream to get there. Or I might wish that I did something before and I'll try to dream myself back to it. Maybe normal people wake up when they realize they're dreaming and I just keep dreaming because I'm so tired. Heh. ************************************************** 12-12-05, 08:14 PM Wax Tadpole jusork, there are people who have lucid dreams spontaneously - the big deal about them in recent years is the development of techniques to induce them AT WILL, maintain the state when they occur, and use them as tools for personal improvement, recreation, etc.
I've only had three, all fragmentary, but they were 'hyper-realistic' and had a 'magical' ambiance. I look forward to the next one, but I have a hard time with the self-discipline needed to practice for having them... ************************************************** 12-12-05, 08:15 PM Wax Tadpole Clarebear, thanks for the welcome *and* the shared interest! I'd been to a couple of LD sites, but they were either wishy-washy or overly intellectual. I think I might feel out of place. I want a 'middle ground'. As I've stated elsewhere, I have a 'phobia' about research... ************************************************** 12-12-05, 09:22 PM jusork Wow. Well that's definitely interesting. Heh, I'll have to try to see what I dream about tonight. ************************************************** 12-13-05, 12:52 PM Georgia85 I'm with you Justin. As long as I can remember I have always been aware that I was dreaming and have controlled them for my own entertainment. I call it "directing my own movies" and I just thought everyone did that. It was not until probably the past 5 years I realized there was a name for it - Lucid Dreaming - and that not everyone was able to do it. ************************************************** 12-13-05, 07:12 PM Wax Tadpole [bonks Georgia and jusork on their respective heads with a wet noodle for having it so easy] Wink
While posting, I realized I'd forgotten to do my last few reality tests. Must be the song I've been posting about elsewhere (I GOT THE CD TODAY!!!!)
Anyway, 10 years ago (when I last attempted to learn lucid dreaming) I dreamt of some semiconscious Medusa-like faces who seemed to be mouthing something important. I'd been meaning to find out just what that something was, but in my only successful lucid dream I summoned one of them only to have him turn comedian - he twisted up his face cartoonishly and gave me a drawn out "Well!..." as I got frustrated and woke up! It's great that I remembered my plan, but still... gotta keep trying, even if it is boring as Hades... ************************************************** 12-13-05, 08:40 PM jusork
quote: Originally posted by Wax Tadpole: [bonks Georgia and jusork on their respective heads with a wet noodle for having it so easy] Wink...
I feel so special!
Hey, you were able to find your long lost, childhood song, I bet you'll be able to have a second lucid dream, too. Wink ************************************************** 12-13-05, 10:29 PM Wax Tadpole LOL! Actually, I've had three in my life, all fragmentary
1) 10 years ago I dreamt of flying around the basement of my home. At some point I had a thought about 'Ahnold'[!?!?!] but thankfully he didn't appear
2) About two weeks ago I had a rather elaborate dream that ended with about a minute or two of lucidity, resulting in the above experience
3) I saw some really elaborate graphics on my comp screen, then felt as if I was being watched, then went lucid ever-so-briefly while facing the voyeur/would-be-thief, again immediately waking up.
The best-known technique for preventing the loss of lucidity is to spin, but I only had the chance in dream #2 and, being a novice, blew it!!! ************************************************** 12-14-05, 09:48 AM Georgia85 Justin, I always knew you were "special"
Waxy, I know you are looking for some tips on how to have a lucid dream and sometimes they work and sometimes they don't. One trick is to "plan" for a lucid dream by envisioning what you want to dream about ahead of time. Personally, when I go about telling myself I will have a lucid dream and setting up the scenario in my mind before I go to sleep I usually don't have a lucid dream. It's like I am trying too hard.
I think for all beginners, tho, the very first step in preparing for lucid dreaming is to be able to recall your dreams. Everyone dreams but not everyone remembers their dreams. So it's a good idea to keep a dream journal and first upon waking is to write down what you remembered dreaming. In doing so, you start becoming aware of your dreams and thus set the foundation to prepare for lucid dreaming.
Once you are adept at dream recall there are many more techniques you can use such as looking for Dream Signs and using a Reality Testing Technique.
The above 2 techniques are mentioned in great detail at the site Dream Views. I think you will enjoy reading all the information it has to share regarding Lucid Dreaming and just keep in mind, while Lucid Dreaming apparently is second nature for some it does require studies and exercise for others.
Try the steps, see if they work for you, and happing dreaming! ************************************************** 12-14-05, 04:55 PM Wax Tadpole I've been reading "Exploring The World Of Lucid Dreaming" By Stephen LaBerge, which seems pretty comprehensive. I guess if I ever get to where I am no longer a beginner, I'll have to 'suck it up' and join the Lucidity Institute or something...
Anyway, I haven't been sleeping restfully enough of late and my dream recall has faltered after a good start; I think I'd been slipping with my old bad habit of eating before bed...
- Waxy, checking if the topic text has changed Wink ************************************************** 12-15-05, 06:20 AM Wax Tadpole Okay, I've got my dream recall back, but far more interesting is the synchronicity associated with it! Red Face
This latest dream had me as part of a HS choir in Bavarian costumes [an odd mixture of two recent real-life events and no doubt triggered by my nostalgic mood of late]
But the clincher is this - before trying to sleep I read part of a short SF story inspired by lucid dreaming, in which the word "Selah" is used as a name for the aliens in the tale. Then I get up this morning and go into a room where a radio has been left on, and there is a religious program on. Naturally, when I get there the host reads the word.... "Selah". I swear I'm not making this up! Smile ************************************************** 12-15-05, 08:40 AM clarebear I heard eating before bed will help you dream. Try some Bavarian cream donuts and see what happens! Big Grin
Selah, [celah], is from the primary Hebrew root word [calah] which means 'to hang,' and by implication to measure (weigh).
Don't blame me for what it means. It was your dream! Wink ************************************************** 12-15-05, 09:54 AM Georgia85
quote: Originally posted by clarebear: I heard eating before bed will help you dream.
Yup! And if it is an undercooked potato you will dream that you are being visited by the ghost of your dead business partner! Wink ************************************************** 12-15-05, 03:59 PM Wax Tadpole Indeed, Georgia! If it fits anywhere, I may do my traditional "Terminator Christmas Carol" thread over on DP! Big Grin
Clarebear, I don't know if the definition of "selah" applies in this case. If there is any deeper meaning to all this, it's that my first experience after waking from my dream was to encounter a significant word from a short story on LUCID DREAMING! It's as if I'm being told I'm on the right track (which I have read is the 'purpose' of synch's)...
Since I'm drifting further into the realm of 'conversation' [the 'uhoh' smiley is needed here], I shall contemplate starting or joining an LD thread at DP as well... ************************************************** 12-17-05, 03:06 AM Wax Tadpole All of my "Pool" threads seem to have fallen idle. Is it me? Eek ************************************************** 12-17-05, 07:41 AM clarebear All threads go idle after a while. Some have one answer; some have 8 pages of answers.(Most of the longer threads are debate threads) Its not you- its the nature of the boards. You can track any thread in your preferences. If there are new posts, you will be notified. Smile
This message has been edited. Last edited by: DorianGreyed,
Posts: 40 | Location: Just outside the US Capital | Registered: 12-07-05
