Alucinor's Method of DILD Mastery (WIP)

Well, this method probably isn't that innovative, but after my 2 year break/dryspell, I've been following this method for a couple weeks and is working quite well. Figured I'd share it.

Dynamic Reality Checks

In addition to usual dreamsigns and odd-happenings, anytime there's a fairly substantial change in scenery or a new subject/event (E.g. leaving the house, arriving at the store, someone shows up, getting in the car, etc) do a reality check of your choice. This removes the "specificity" of typical dream-sign Reality Checks, and ends up developing a near "constant awareness." I was surprised to realize how "Dynamic" life is even when it's dull. And always do a RC when you wake up, too.

A warning though! This will lead you to RCing pretty often, so do NOT fall in the habit of doing half-ass RCs. Always do a thorough reality check! Think of what you were doing up to 30 minutes ago.

Meditation/Dream-Incubation

At least once a day (preferably 30-90 minutes before bed) have a meditation session. There are many ways to do this. Some people focus on their breathing, or the ringing in their ears. My method is simply to let go any thoughts that occur as soon as I notice them, and quiet my mind while watching the darkness in front me.
**It doesn't matter how you choose to meditate, the goal is to simply remain fairly still and quiet the mind. Usually takes 10-20 minutes for me. You don't even have to meditate per se, if you would prefer simply spend 15 minutes fleshing out dream scenes in your mind, or write them down. Just spend a decent chunk of time devoted to thinking about dreams and coming up with ideas. (I like to use concept art for dream-planning =] )

Once you are in a meditative state, spend the next 5-10 minutes or so passively visualizing a dream. (If you have trouble visualizing, simply think about it, describe it to yourself). Be sure that you are keeping other thoughts quiet, however, and be very"gentle" with these exercises. Passively think of a scene, or a previous dream. For me, my subconscious will fill in a lot of this for me, very similar to Hypnagogic Imagery. Once you are done, continue to think about it here and there as you go through the final hours of your day, and as you go to bed.

This helps in two ways. For one, if the dream incubation works, you will find yourself in dreams that you have already thought up, and are that much more likely to realize that you are dreaming. Almost by way of Deja-vu. Secondly, by doing this you dedicate 30 minutes or so of thinking about nothing but dreaming just before bed, which essentially prepares you for the fact that you are soon going to be dreaming.

DEILDs

I think DEILDs are an essential skill for everyone, regardless of how you prefer to LD. Simply train yourself to remain still as soon as you wake up. It may take a while, and isn't necessary, but this method practically gives you freebie lucids. As well, if your dreams destabilize while you are lucid, you have this safety net. You can simply re-enter. The tutorial for DEILDs are right this way --->DEILD Tutorial - Dreamviews Lucid Dreaming Community & Resource

WBTB

Nearly forgot these. Nothing special here. Try to wake up at least once throughout the night. You can use an alarm if you like. I also have been training myself to wake up on my own once or twice throughout the night. (We all wake up between sleep cycles. Try to get in the habit of staying awake at these times, use it to write any dreams you just had down, and as you go to sleep, think back to your dreams that you focused on in the meditation.

There you have it. That's my lucid dreaming regimen. I'm surprised at how well it's worked for me after 2 years of absolutely nothing. Let me know what you think, or if you have any questions.

Good Luck. :goodjob2:

Wow, can't believe nobody's replied to this yet, it has a lot of good info! I did make a habit of doing a RC every time i walked through my bedroom door/going outside, and it did get me lucid once, which led to one of the longest LDs i've ever had and an AP (astral projection). I haven't been doing this lately though, since i took a 5 month break, but i should start doing it more.

The stuff about DEILDs is also very good and i think a lot of people overlook it as being a pain, but it's actually fairly easy to train yourself not to move when you wake. They really are "free" LDs and if you catch them early enough, you can just chain and chain them together to get massively long LD periods. My personal longest is 4 seperate lucids :D

As far as meditating, I don't really meditate at all, except on the lawn mower for some reason :lol:

Really good info though, thanks for the post!

Thanks a lot Burke! =D

Yeah, as far as meditating goes, I'd only done it a couple times before starting this regimen. I think just the act of instating a new 30 minute activity SOLELY for lucid dreaming purposes before bed is bound to increase likelihood of becoming lucid. Besides, it's good for the mind and the body, and should you choose to pursue WILDs, meditation is an invaluable background. (so I've heard, anyway. I suck at WILDing =P)

And DEILD is definitely super easy, as I said, I suck at WILDing, but I was able to DEILD my first time after waking up from being lucid.

So... basically DEILDing is a way to lengthen your ludic dream? Sounds highly awesome! I'll try it for sure :) Though in the beginning, I think it's best to chain a max of 2. The tutorial says 2 or 3, but 3 seems a bit much for a beginner, don't you think?

Technically it's not lengthening, it's using the fact that you were already conscious as you were waking up. You realize you're waking up, remain still, and then you can use DEILD to be absorbed into the dreamworld again, so it's kinda another LD in itself. I use it as safety-net for if my dreams become unstable. But yeah, I wouldn't push it, simply because I would probably begin forgetting stuff, or risk losing lucidity.

Up to you though. Doesn't hurt to give it a try. =o