Thread: Theory: Prepping the Mind to Prioritize Internal Stimulus

Hey there, dreamers - I've developed a theory, and I think it might be an important strategy for developing good recall and rates of lucidity.

I've noticed in several methods for achieving dream recall and lucidity, that creating and focusing on internal stimulus, through visualization or something similar, is a major part of the technique.

The thought came to me when I was reflecting on a particular method for increasing dream recall that has the dreamer create a journal of the events that occurred in waking life, just before going to bed. This method is very effective. On wondering why this technique was effective, I realized that it shared a common thread with pre-sleep visualization; the dreamer is examining/creating/exploring internal stimulus, and thus perhaps prepping the mind to prioritize the examination, exploration, and storage of such internal stimulus.

So I'd like any curious dreamers out there to join me in testing this theory.

I don't have any clear guidelines for this, but such a 'prepping' session might go as follows:

* After getting ready for bed, relax sitting upright and concentrate on dreaming. Affirm that you will remember your dreams, and realize when you are dreaming.

* With your eyes closed, begin a session of unstructured visualization; start simple, let's say just imagining yourself in a cave with a wooden door. Imagine every sensory input with the utmost concentration. The cool dampness of the surroundings on your skin, the dimensions of the cave, the sounds, etc. Now walk out that door and see what your mind comes up with.

* At the end of your session, visualize some common house-hold items in your head. Remember to exercise all of your sensory inputs. Imagine what it would be like to see, hold, taste, touch, break, do whatever to this object. Imagine all this as intently as you can.

* Visualize yourself in your last dream. Imagine recognizing the dream state, and becoming lucid. Imagine what you would do when you become lucid.

* Relax, clear your mind, lay down in bed and gently focus your concentration on your will to lucid dream. Let lucid dreaming be the last thought on your mind as you drift off.


If my theory is correct, you should be falling asleep with your mind 'prepped' for dream recall, and perhaps even lucid dreaming; if my theory is correct, a successful session should leave the mind in a very attentive and remembering state towards internal phenomena.

Let's try this out!

- Bob