Thread: "The Doors of Perception": how does it work?

I was reading Keelin's Diary from Lucid Dream Camp, which documents what went on in Laberge's lucid dream workshop back in '95. This particular paragraph piqued my interest:

Originally Posted by Keelin

The Doors of Perception required that we touch each doorframe as we passed through. The concept behind this exercise, is to increase awareness and to begin a new habit which can be carried over into dreams. Each time, each doorway. So simple. Yet within minutes, I discovered what a formidable challenge this can be.

He doesn't say exactly how this is supposed to help one to become lucid in a dream. Does anyone know?

My immediate suspicion is that maybe your hand will go through the door frame in a dream (like the finger-through-palm check). Then again, perhaps it has something to do with how dream scenes tend to change upon going through a doorway. Maybe the fact that you're exercising this dream-related habit when the dream scene changes is enough to alert someone of what just happened.

Maybe it's simply a reminder to question whether you're dreaming every time you do it, or maybe it's a combination. Any ideas? I think I might try this out.

I think this can be used as a reminder to do a reality check; every time you go through/touch a door frame, do a reality check. It also increases your waking life awareness so you aren't mindlessly walking about: you must be aware of where you are and what you are doing, or you'll forget to touch a door frame.

The inherent problem is that, if one is successful in creating this waking habit, it will still be a habit (something that happens without much conscious direction). This could result in you touching all of the door frames in your dreams, but not gaining lucidity because you are so used to doing this while awake. The reason why reality checks work is because you sort of "snap yourself out" of your waking habits to test the nature of the reality you find yourself in. Thus, the dilemma with making any reality check habitual is that you run the risk of loosing the original reason for even doing reality checks.

Originally Posted by carwashguy

I was reading Keelin's Diary from Lucid Dream Camp, which documents what went on in Laberge's lucid dream workshop back in '95. This particular paragraph piqued my interest:


He doesn't say exactly how this is supposed to help one to become lucid in a dream. Does anyone know?

My immediate suspicion is that maybe your hand will go through the door frame in a dream (like the finger-through-palm check). Then again, perhaps it has something to do with how dream scenes tend to change upon going through a doorway. Maybe the fact that you're exercising this dream-related habit when the dream scene changes is enough to alert someone of what just happened.

Maybe it's simply a reminder to question whether you're dreaming every time you do it, or maybe it's a combination. Any ideas? I think I might try this out.

the point is that you discover a new habbit, which would be fresh on your mind so when your dreaming you carry over the habbit and remember that its a dream as it will feel diffrent so you wouldnaturally question it.

im guessing thats what it means never read anything to do with that before

Whatever it is, it sounds pretty mystical.

Therefore it gets my approval!