Thread: Fairly new to Lucid Dreaming

Hi, I just started researching lucid dreaming about a month and a half ago. I have had a few successful ones. I go to school on a regular basis so I mainly practice it on weekends although I do attempt it every night. I would like to know what are some techniques to improve my chances of having an LD? Other than dream recall because I have excellent dream recall and I do keep a dream journal. I also have trouble initially falling asleep because i can not clear my mind. Any suggestions on increasing my chances, and a way to clear my mind before going to sleep??

Ah, why do you want to clear your mind? Trying to WILD?
Also to increase chances, you can use mantras or reality checks, also try to be more aware of your surroundings.

Yes, sometimes i do attempt to WILD although not successful. But mainly im trying to clear my mind because I end up thinking too much to fall asleep, but thank you for the advice.

Originally Posted by Hukif

Ah, why do you want to clear your mind? Trying to WILD?
Also to increase chances, you can use mantras or reality checks, also try to be more aware of your surroundings.

I am familiar with reality checks, but what exactly are "mantras"?

Originally Posted by ryman

I am familiar with reality checks, but what exactly are "mantras"?

A mantra is something you repeat to yourself over and over in order to get yourself in a certain mindset. (It doesn't have to be out loud, although it can be if you want to.) For example, saying to yourself, "The next time I'm dreaming, I'll realize I'm dreaming..."

As for clearing your mind, maybe try guided meditation? That's what I typically use. You can find a lot of helpful recordings on YouTube, iTunes, etc. I don't know if it helps lucid dreaming or not. (I haven't had a lucid dream yet.) But it does help me clear my mind and get to sleep faster, and I usually remember my dreams pretty well in the morning.

Originally Posted by Brigid

A mantra is something you repeat to yourself over and over in order to get yourself in a certain mindset. (It doesn't have to be out loud, although it can be if you want to.) For example, saying to yourself, "The next time I'm dreaming, I'll realize I'm dreaming..."

As for clearing your mind, maybe try guided meditation? That's what I typically use. You can find a lot of helpful recordings on YouTube, iTunes, etc. I don't know if it helps lucid dreaming or not. (I haven't had a lucid dream yet.) But it does help me clear my mind and get to sleep faster, and I usually remember my dreams pretty well in the morning.

Oh, alright thank you. I'll have to look into that guided meditation, I have heard of it being related to lucid dreams because it helps you access your sub-conscious.

Originally Posted by ryman

Hi, I just started researching lucid dreaming about a month and a half ago. I have had a few successful ones. I go to school on a regular basis so I mainly practice it on weekends although I do attempt it every night. I would like to know what are some techniques to improve my chances of having an LD? Other than dream recall because I have excellent dream recall and I do keep a dream journal. I also have trouble initially falling asleep because i can not clear my mind. Any suggestions on increasing my chances, and a way to clear my mind before going to sleep??

Just sit still for a while.
You might think your mind haven't cleared yet but when you check again you'll realize that you didn't think about anything.
The hardest part of clearing your mind is realizing you succeeded.

Hi, welcome to dreamviews.

Here is my personal method that I recommend: It is called FID (focus into dream)

http://www.dreamviews.com/f12/age-pe...nt-now-126570/

Objective, Thank you for the advice, i will have to remember that. Elucid, i Read your method, sounds alot like the wild method but a short and sweet verison, I'll have to give it a try. Thank you

Also, if you try to WILD, don't do it first thing in the night, its harder at that time since you have yet to go through a REM cycle, try it when you wake up naturally during the night or with an alarm if you can.

Originally Posted by Hukif

Also, if you try to WILD, don't do it first thing in the night, its harder at that time since you have yet to go through a REM cycle, try it when you wake up naturally during the night or with an alarm if you can.

Yea, after doing some research i realized it is better to use the WILD method with others such as the WBTB. I tried that last night actually, I had a lucid dream, but i became lucid by doing a reality check rather than just stepping directly into it as explained by the WILD method. I'm guessing either the WILD worked someway or the WBTB had a good effect and helped me to remember to do a R.C.

OK, i had some experience WILDing today during a nap. I tried but it wasn't like a WILD is described. I lied there and attempted to WILD and while laying there all of a sudden "poof" i was in a dream, with no idea how i got there and had no weird experiences before falling into the dream. It was a normal dream though, and it only lasted a very short period of time, I then woke up feeling like i had not slept at all. It felt like i was laying there trying to WILD the whole time with just a memory of exactly what happened in the dream, it was interesting. Perhaps if i had been doing reality checks around this time I would have carried them into my dream and became lucid. From now on I will perform more reality checks around that time.

Oh right, remember to RC while WILDing, sometimes people fall asleep and end up in a dream still trying to WILD, it can be tricky.

Moved to Attaining Lucidity