Dream signs with an emotional response attached

**J.D.** · 01-16-2011 02:00 AM

This is just a little theory I was pondering, and I'd like to hear some thoughts and feedback. Would it be accurate to say that a good dreamsign is one with a noticeable emotional response attached?

What I mean is, should we be looking out for particularly emotive things that happen frequently in our dreams, rather than the mundane ones? For example, accidentally breaking some expensive item, rather than something which wouldn't shock you as much initially- like being back in high school. (Depending of course, on what triggers the response in each person- maybe high school fills you with a distinctive dread, in which case, use that)

Would it be a good idea to recommend looking out for such a dreamsign as prime importance? I imagine the ideal is something that, when it happens, triggers an emotion such as fear/joy/dread/amusement- but such a distinctive fear/joy/dread/amusement that it triggers one more: incredulity. A chance to pause and consider if it is really happening, and reality-check.

This could be the kind of dreamsign that doesn't ever happen in real life, and as such would be impossible to rehearse reality-checking for in real life. But maybe just looking out for it in future is enough to cause a moment's pause in a dream- because it's so weird, you can't not reality-check.

Let me know what you think. Do you do anything like this? Do you think it would be easier to identify than your run-of-the-mill reality-check? Hell, I'll even put in a poll.

**nina** · 01-16-2011 02:58 AM

The one dream sign that always seems to get me lucid involves driving a car that is out of control. Mostly when going around turns at tremendous speeds and the car starts swerving ridiculously. It is a great dream sign because it combines a common activity with fear, anxiety, and absurdity. For me it's usually the dream signs which evoke intense negative emotions that work the best at sparking my lucidity. Tornadoes are great too.

Oh...and let me tell you my very simple theory as to why it is this way when bad things happen.

When you are experiencing very negative emotions in a dream...your mom died...or you are in serious danger...you think in your mind that you don't want it to be true. Denial is a natural reaction to a terrible event, and it's the denial that sparks the lucidity actually. You think that it can't be true...you tell yourself that it can't be true...and then eventually you realize...wait...it isn't true...I'm dreaming...

**Puffin** · 01-16-2011 03:01 AM

I'm indifferent with this one, just because I personally haven't become lucid through dream signs or situations with intense emotions before. Theoretically, I think it could work but I'm not certain.

**J.D.** · 01-16-2011 03:09 AM

When you are experiencing very negative emotions in a dream...your mom died...or you are in serious danger...you think in your mind that you don't want it to be true. Denial is a natural reaction to a terrible event, and it's the denial that sparks the lucidity actually. You think that it can't be true...and then eventually you realize...wait...it isn't true...I'm dreaming...

Yes! I was about to reply with something to that effect, but you got your edit in just before me.

"This can't be happening" is what I'm getting at.

My own personal one is breaking my phone by getting it wet. It happens quite often in my dreams but never in real life. It must be something I'm paranoid about.

But the response is always as you described, with the follow up of incredulity.

**Arra** · 01-16-2011 03:52 AM

I tend to become more immersed in emotional dreams, and while immersed I'm less likely to have a thought unrelated to the dream, like "am I dreaming?" Ex: while running for my life from a lava flow, I'm not very likely to remember that this is a dream sign, because I'm feeling so much fear I don't have time for other thoughts.

But your point makes sense too, so maybe an emotional attachment to a dream sign is preferable. I don’t know which would win out.

I imagine it might work well if the dream sign is really specific, like your dog dying. But if it’s vague, like a “running away from something” reoccurrence, what I said first would probably apply more, at least for me, and the emotional attachment would be detrimental.

**J.D.** · 01-16-2011 03:06 PM

Good point, the emotion would have to be attached to a single, contained event/thing, rather than a more drawn-out occurrence.

**Chimpertainment** · 01-23-2011 07:43 AM

Just a thought but I typically get a slight anxiety jerk whenever my phone goes off, that could be used as a dream sign. Wouldn't you want something that happens more often? Plus it would be a slight emotion yet still a unique experience able to have emotions attached. It also has a small element of surprise which could add to the emotional queue. Now that i think about it, perhaps i subconsciously dont like surprises and the anxiety is a symptom. anyways, I think I will try using my phone as a dream sign, thnx 4 the topic!

**jmanjohn** · 01-25-2011 02:48 PM

I personally RC anytime i get certain emotions. If i'm fearful, i RC. If i'm angry, i RC. If i'm depressed, i do a RC. RC'ing during those emotional times help me do it in dreams.

**Erii** · 01-30-2011 06:44 PM

This has actually worked for me before. I usually find myself doing RC's whenever I'm afraid in the dream.

**Stubert** · 02-03-2011 10:43 PM

Wouldn't the emotional response be distracting and make it harder to remember to RC?

**Captain Frapo** · 02-03-2011 11:00 PM

Fear catapults me to lucidity. It's often the last-ditch effort in a dream to save myself unconsciously. Deep down I don't want to have to deal with whatever perceived repercussions there are (guilt? jail time?) and that's when the fear becomes so powerful that I think "wait... I don't have to go along with anything" and I become lucid.

**ThePreserver** · 03-09-2011 11:36 PM

Most of the dream signs that have made me lucid have been related to living and deceased relatives, cats/dogs, or people with whom I have a very strong attachment. It's been good for me so far.