will I ever be lucid again?

[Elephantman]

I'm starting to wonder My dream clock device dosen't seem to do the trick, can't sleep with it modified to a mask system either. I keep having reality checks fail. Can't put my finger thru palm - no effect at all. I can see the side of my nose with one eye closed. Been trying not to over do the MILD thing. That used to be the problem, I'd give it heaps for a week or two then give up. LD's would usually follow a few nights later. I have had one night where I got a few LD's after intending to do so straight before sleep but haven't managed to duplicate the results, and that was a long time ago. So I've been taking it easy for quite a few weeks now and still nothing. Read EWOLD (Very good - msut have for ppl keen to learn about LD) seen Waking life, they didn't seem to inspire any action Thought I'd try something diferent - Just finished the most unpleasant drink I've had in a long time. Enough kava powder to make about 2.5 metric cups of kava. Put in a few shots of vodka as I heard the active substance in kava disolves in alcohol but not water, then made it up as per usual with as little water as possible. now IF I can wake up around 2-3am I am planning to down a can of Red Bull and try to get back to sleep before it kicks in, hopefully the kava should help there without killing REM too much. And yes I know alcohol kills REM but I'm sure I get good REM rebound off a small amount, I've had it happen too often (and without trying) to ignore. Probably try a bit of relaxation+MILD ect before bed. Will report if I get anything worth reporting. (still don't feel any diferent) I definately have a new set of goals to do when lucid: When/if I finally get into another LD I want to put as much time and effort as I can into stabilizing it and improving clarity and control. I've done a few cool things in the odd LD here and there, but quality is nothing when quantity is zero if you know what I mean If anyone has some sure fire LD kick starts let me know, I'm running out of ideas

[Leo Volont]

Dear Elephantman, It seems your goal in Lucid Dreaming is to be a good Lucid Dreamer... you are treating Lucid Dreaming as an end in itself instead of understanding it as a means and a tool to achieve much higher goals. Many Lucid Dreamers fail to understand Dreaming from the Higher Mind's perspective. the Higher Mind is trying to to provide pointed and meaningful dreams that could lead the Dreamer to fuller and more integrated Life. But the Lucid Dreamer wishes to scrap all of these Teleologically Significant Dreams in order to enjoy playing parlour tricks with empty dream mechanics. If people could perceive how they are frustrating the Designs of the Higher Mind with their penchant for destroying their dreams, then they could understand why and how it is that the Higher Mind fights back with False Awakenings and the other obstructions to Lucidity. what good is Lucidity? well, until one becomes accustomed to an habitual fearlessness and a confidence in a Supernatural Potency that one can have in Dreams, then Lucidity is an important crutch -- "I am dreaming and so I cannot be killed, and in Dreaming I have a plethora of Magical Powers". Lucidity makes us aware that we have choices and opportunities not open to us if we were in waking reality. However, Lucidity is only a halfwayhouse, a school, a sign along the way. As the Dreamer becomes more accustomed and familiar with Deathlessness, Fearlessness, and his Magical Potencies, then Lucidity no longer even needs to be invoked. when the Dreamer acts the part of a Deathless Magical Being in all of his Dreams, then, please, tell me what extra thing Lucidity may supply?

[Howie]

Elephantman, How long has your lucid dreaming dry spell been? I had just recently went close to three months without one. That being at a time when I was having three per week. I was utterly confused. Actually I still am baffled as to what caused it. I thought a switch had just been turned off. I anylized what I had changed or what I could have done. I think sometimes your system runs a coarse that we do not yet understand. The only advice I could give you is to try and not worry about it enough to the point where it becomes an issue in your head. You don't want it to manifest into something graeater than it is. And what it is is just a dry spell and nothing more. You will surely have more LDs when your mind is ready. In the mean time maybe throw in a couple of techniques that you have yet to try. Good luck.

[Seeker]

I can add little to what these gentlemen have said other than it is counterproductive in the long run to attempt to force lucid dreams by chemical means. We all have our dry spells which are quite annoying! Please stick it out, I'm sure you will be back on track soon.

[Elephantman]

Well thanx all for your support First a quick run down of last nights action (or lack of) Alcohol rebound worked well - Got a nice vivid dream of running around in a tropical jungle with some other guy I didn't know tagging along. Believe it or not we were being stalked by a talking cow Now I've seen the odd Jersey Heifer in my time, but for some reason it didn't strike me as strange that this one was making meanacing threats and then disappearing back into the foliage. Not until later did we realise that it wasn't the cow we should be worried about. Seems it was trying to warn us about the giant vampiric invisible cockroaches ( think MIMIC bugs but with PREDATOR invisibility )and me with nothing more than a small hatchet to defend myself. That has to be one of my all time weirdest and I still didn't question it at all Woke up before the bugs attacked me (about 1:20AM) took the Red Bull, awake for a little while, maybe 30mins, and then nothing until I wke this morning. Starting to wonder if kava is one of those absorbed thru the lining of the mouth but not the stomach type things. Don't think I'll try it again. The bad taste to results ratio is a bit too much for me. Seems to have next to no effect for me. Leo Volont, you make a good point. As well as having the odd bit of mindless fun I do have higher objectives in mind for the future. The way I see it is lucidity is valuable in its self for without it were just along for the ride, unable to choose any particular coruse of action or even contemplate its possible outcome. Believe me I do want to climb to the high temple, but I must learn to walk first. Yeah I'm trying not to get too obsessed or worried about it. I know from experience trying too hard can be seriously counter productive. As for chemicals, a small drink before bed is my thing, and then not often. A few teas and herbs I may still try but I realy only want to use these (if they have any effect at all) as "training wheels" while I build my skill. There are the more exotic and suspect options but I'm not keen to try them. Going on last nights spectacular failure I think some more mental prep and less relying on dream cocktails may be the go

[Number 6]

Since I had my first lucid dream last November, I had been averaging about 2-3 per month. I had 8 in February and thought I had it all figured out. I'm now back to 2 per month!?!? I've had a few dry spells myself and have wondered if I was ever going to have an LD again...I know what you're feeling, Elephantman I'm relieved to hear that other experienced LD'ers have had long dry spells and were able to have LD's again....Howezter, you must have been going crazy for those 3 months without an LD. My longest dry spell has been about 3 weeks. I'm very familiar with Carlos Castaneda's books, having read and reread them countless times. Although I don't blindly believe everything everything he wrote, one thing he said comes to mind: I remember him saying that he was having no success with dreaming but kept at it anyway. He said that at one point, he felt that something in him just seemed to finally give in or relent and he was able to find his hands in his dreams. I believe the key is that he didn't stop trying and truly believed that it would happen eventually if he didn't give up. It would be a wonderful thing if someone discovered the "secrets" of attaining lucidity at will... that worked for everyone. 6