What am I doing wrong here?

[Avalanche]

I have am 84 days Dream Journal, with an average of 3 dreams per entry. It's in a copybook with each night on a single page, but in the last week I now write them over 3 pages or 4. I have attained S.P. three times so far, about a week and then 3 weeks into trying to lucid. I tried Subliminal messages. A video for 3 days (I quit as it seemed to stop me from dreaming completely) and a song that went for an hour but did the same as the video. I tried a WILD WBTB which didn't work, couldn't keep it up, so I quit that. Then I tried ADA, and on my dream journal graph (I rate my dreams and then put them on a line graph) it didn't really do anything, other than raise my average from 6.5 to 7.5 over 2 weeks. I drank apple juice before bed for a week, did nothing. I ate apples before bed, that raised my average to 7.5 out of 10 for a week, but then nothing came of it, so I left it. I am currently wearing a band around my wrist, which everytime I notice it, I do a few R.C.s and think about lucid dreaming. Everytime I notice it now I instantly think of lucid dreaming. I have been at this for 3 days, not much has happened, but it is early yet. Have I been doing anything wrong? Why have I not had a lucid yet? I know I will have one eventually, I am just sick and tired of trying everything and ending up with nothing.

[KingYoshi]

It sounds like you are doing everything right. Just keep at it and make sure you aren't overworking yourself. It is very possible to try TOO hard. Make sure you are having fun with your lucid practice and don't get discouraged. It seems you are simply in a lucid dry spell. Don't worry, it only takes one lucid to get things rolling along. Just be persistent.

[Avalanche]

Good ol' KingYoshi, you're always on hand for good advice. I'm not overworking myself, I feel as if I could be doing more stuff. I have not had a lucid yet (ignore my LD count, that's something different), so does that still count as a dry spell?

[KingYoshi]

Sure. You can start off your "lucid dreaming career" with a dry spell. It happens quite often, so don't worry too much about. Just keep fighting through it and expect to break out at any time. Keep trying many different techniques and stick to the ones you are most comfortable with and the ones you believe will work best for you.

[Avalanche]

So what your saying is any technique can break this dry spell, and out of the ones I have tried already none of them were just right? Is there no simple method that WILL break the dry spell? I still have to feel around in the dark until I finally get somewhere? Thats why I started this thread, to try and avoid that! Do you have any advice on stuff NOT to do?

[KingYoshi]

Well, some techniques (ADA in particular) can take several months of practice before they really take off. If any of those techniques you used before felt comfortable, then stick with them a bit longer. Just continue to dream journal and keep your recall built up. Try to fall asleep expecting to have a lucid dream. Here is my technique for breaking dry spells.... Dry Spell Killer: The Actor's Technique For anyone experiencing a dry spell or having trouble achieving lucidity for the first time you can try this simple "mind over matter" technique. I use this to help break out of dry spells and I generally suggest it to others who are experiencing dry spells. I think it will also help first timers achieve lucidity. Basically here it is...Upon laying down to sleep you need to alter your state of mind. Basically, act as if you are an expert/experienced lucid dreamer and you know 100% that you will have a lucid dream. Don't only say/think to yourself that you will have a lucid dream, but truly 100% believe that you will achieve your goal easily. The best way to describe this "state of mind alteration" is to compare it to acting. Many actors and actresses "get into character" for their particular roles. They will spend several days (or even longer depending on the actor/actress) acting as if they are a completely different person to better prepare and play their role. Basically, you are trying to "get into the character" of an experienced/expert lucid dreamer. You could even go as far as getting into the character of "The Best Lucid Dreamer Ever." The idea is to fall asleep knowing and expecting yourself to become lucid, because you have done it millions of times before and it is easy for you. If you can do it correctly, and truly convince yourself that you will achieve lucidity, than it will greatly raise your chances of success. During a dry spell, I do this for as many nights as I need to break it. I usually am able to overcome my dry spell the very first night trying. Make sure that if you do not succeed, that you stay "in-character" and tell yourself/convice yourself that last night was a fluke and there is no way you won't become lucid the next night. You would be surprised how well this simple method can work. All it takes is a bit of "acting" ! Note: This isn't a WILD method, but you could try it with WILD if you like (I actually have never paired it with a WILD before). I simply use this as I fall asleep normally. Usually when I succeed, I just randomly become lucid in my dream. Essentially its just a DILD/MILD method.

[Marm]

Yes you must imagine yourself in a lucid dream. Use the power of your visualisation and push it to the max - Create your dream world, make every detail clear and sharp. Fly in it, walk in it, embrace it. The last thought before you fall asleep should be 'I will lucid dream now'

[McDreamy]

The last thought before you fall asleep should be 'I will lucid dream now' Whenever I've tried MILD from Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming, I've tried to let the last thought before I fall asleep be about lucid dreaming. It just doesn't feel natural though. With any kind of vigilance, it keeps me awake for a long time. Has anyone else had this problem?

[Avalanche]

Ha ha, yeah, I read this before. Thats why I set my LD count so high- to help convince myself that I am a master lucid dreamer. I guess I couldn't hold it anymore after so long of nothing working. I'll keep at it and keep trying. I just wish that there was a night or method that I could look at and see "Yes, this will make me lucid"

[KingYoshi]

Nearly every technique you find on this site has worked for someone. So, any of them can make you lucid, but you just need to be confident in your approach. Don't get discouraged and act as if every night is your first night trying to become lucid. This can help erase doubts you have built up in your past.

[Avalanche]

Yeah, I keep the mentality that every dream I have is a step forward, and every time I remember to do an R.C. is a good thing. It's just hard to keep that up when I have taken so many steps forward and none of them have brought my goal into sight. I just got a little too annoying now, I needed to know I was doing something right.

[KingYoshi]

You are doing it right man, just keep on doing it. It may not always be easy, but it will certainly be worth it in the end !

[Avalanche]

I know it will be, but why does the first one have to be so damn elusive?

[KingYoshi]

To be honest, the first one is often times the hardest one. Once you get that first one, you will know for a 100% fact that you can do it. That alone makes your lucid dreaming worlds easier. Just keep at it !

[Avalanche]

I will, thanks, Yoshi.

[Avalanche]

Ok, well, that seems hard, but okay, I'll try it. And don't you dare say "Don't think of it as hard, it's actually very easy" because I have already heard that bullshit lol

[SilverBullet]

Ok, well, that seems hard, but okay, I'll try it. And don't you dare say "Don't think of it as hard, it's actually very easy" because I have already heard that bullshit lol Hah, your referring to me aren't you.

[Avalanche]

Hah, your referring to me aren't you. I referring to you, and pretty much everyone on here who has had experience!

[SilverBullet]

I referring to you, and pretty much everyone on here who has had experience! I don't get why lucid dreaming isn't easy for you, I mean, you have had 245 lucids, yet you still struggle? I pretty much stopped struggling after I've had just a few lucids.

[KingYoshi]

Throughout the day you can think back to the dreams you had the previous night. When you think about them, imagine that you became lucid in those dreams. Visualize yourself realizing you are dreaming from within you recalled dreams. This can help boost your chances as well.

[Avalanche]

I would say that's what I've been doing but obviously not well enough so far.

[dreamcatcher81]

Where is your dream journal? If you have one outside of this website review it and see where your missing your opportunities to become lucid. List the dream signs that you have missed especially the repeated dream signs that you have missed. Study this list and tell yourself if you miss another dream sign it will not be of this list. Im telling you to take this approach because you can use your natural critical ways of thinking to your advantage and by the amount of time you spend on this site i can tell u really want this to happen for u. your already there just point out the mistakes and make the adjustments I'll be looking forward to your 1st lucid dream post soon. namaste.

[Matt123]

I tried Subliminal messages. A video for 3 days (I quit as it seemed to stop me from dreaming completely) Happened to me too!

[Avalanche]

@McDreamy- I tried that last night, I either forgot to do it after a while, or it kept me up. Either way, I stopped doing it and just drifted off as normal. It isn't the easiest thing to do. @dreamcatcher81- I don't have an online dream journal, I find logging on and writing it in the morning would be too time consuming, so I write each night into about 3 copy pages. I already know what my dream sign is. I play a lot of video games, and one or two in particular pop up EVERY night. It's usually a corruption of the game, as dreams normally do, with random stuff thrown in, but it is still recognizable as those games. I miss them every night though! @Matt123- I can see subliminal messaging working, but for us I don't think we are as easily susceptible to the hidden messages.

[Avalanche]

The 245 lucids is a trick I put up to help convince myself that I am great a lucid dreaming, to keep my confidence up and to shrink to size of the task. I have only had one so far when I was 7 or 8.