The Layers of Lucidity

So I brought this up in the Dream View Academy IRC chat today with Opheliablue and she had never heard of it before, seems like a lot of people here haven't either so I figured I'd post the videos.

ReeceJones87 is incredibly knowledgable when it comes to Lucid Dreaming and has many great videos, his "Layers of Lucidity" is just one of his theories which personally, I think, should be generally adopted as standard Lucid Dreaming terminology.

The Layers of Lucidity easily define the different stages of lucidity. Instead of thinking lucidity as either "You are lucid" or "You aren't lucid", this theory takes into account the different types of lucidity. Such as only having control of yourself to having control of everything around you.

Below is the first video in the series where he starts talking about "Layer Zero", if you're interested in watching more there are five videos in total and the playlist is here: The 5 Layers of a Lucid Dream (1/5) - YouTube

Thanks for posting this RareCola. I constantly get questions regarding, "lucidity vs. semi-lucidity," and "lucidity vs. dream control, are they mutually exclusive," as well as "I dreamed about lucid dreaming, was that a lucid dream?"

I feel like ReeceJones87 not only answers those questions, he transcribes much of the mystery surrounding the many possible levels of lucid dreaming increments into clear, simple terms. And he cites examples for each definition.

I hope these videos answer many of the lingering questions that many of you members have about the boundaries between lucid and non-lucid dreams. Happy dreaming :)

Thank you RareCola

http://www.saltcube.com/out-of-body/...7137052211.jpg

(0:05) Hi everyone. Ok, so before you watch me next five videos it’s probably best if you’re familiar with my previous Lucid Dreaming videos. Specifically, the original five layers of the Lucid Dream video and also the Layer Zero video. Once you’ve watched them comeback to this one and it should make a lot more sense.

Also be warned these next five video’s won’t be as easy to take-in as my previous video’s. This is definitely for beginners, is what I’m trying to say. And therefore I’ll be talking as if you’re an experienced oneironought.

(0:44) Layer Zero is a layer of lucidity that’s always fascinated me and I found it to be just as poignant and thought provoking as the higher layers. Also I believe this to be a layer that everyone in the whole world has experienced at least once in their lifetime. And therefore it’s something that everyone can relate to.

There are two different two different variations to this layer. And what I’m going to do now is quickly explain exactly, these different variations in turn.

Ok, so first-off we have Layer Zero Minor:

This is when you engage in lucid dream discussion with dream characters without actually becoming lucid. For example, I once dreamt that I was in a beautiful, exquisite classroom being taught about lucid dreaming by some sort of angelic looking character. But, not at any point, even though the main topic was about lucid dreaming did I realize that I was dreaming, right there and then.

(2:02) It could also be as simple as just seeing something that’s related to lucid dreaming without actually becoming lucid. For example, I once dreamt that I was walking down the street and across the road from me I saw a guy carrying the book, Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming by Steven LaBerge, in their hands.

(2:22) Then proceeded to confront the person and say, “Hi,” (You know) “I’m into the same sort of stuff as you, really interested in this subject matter”. What then proceeded was a full-fledged discussion on lucid dreaming, in my dream state, with this dream character without actually becoming lucid. And it’s almost ironic in a way, isn’t it?

So, what that example shows is both elements of Layer Zero Minor in action within the same scenario:

Me seeing the book, then me talking about the book.

Either one or both of these factors can be present for it’s classifier as a Zero Minor experience.

And another thing I would like to add that technically you don’t have to speak out-loud with another dream character to classify as Zero Minor. What I mean by that is for example, often in dreams I think to myself, “Oh, I hope I become lucid tonight”, without even realizing that I was already in a dream, whilst thinking it.

(3:33) So as you can see even within one variation of one particular layer there can be lots of nuances. So keep an eye out for them and who knows I’m sure you’ll find even more along the way.

(3:50) to be continued.

(3:50) continuing

Ok

Second, we have Layer Zero Major.

This is when you get the sense that something doesn't feel quite right while in the dream. And yet you never go as to truly understand why things don't feel right. So, you may have the sense that there are no consequences to your actions, no repercussions of any sort.

For example:

I once dremt I was throwing myself into the way of oncoming traffic without any fear of being injured or killed. In my waking life I would be aware of the consequences and would never do such a thing in the first place. But during a Zero Major Dream there's this strange sort-of awarenes that what you're doing is locked-directly into that experience, right there and then, and you know it won't affect the future in any sort of was. Yet you don't truly grasp why it won't affect the future.

(4:50)

Another feeling that is sensed during a Layer Zero Major dream is the understanding that you can stop the experience at any time.

For example:

In my dreams I often get the sense that I can "re-set" what I'm doing and start over again. In some dreams it even goes as far as me having a reset-button where my belly-button should be.

Also, as a child, I used to have a technique where I could wake my self up if I was having a nightmare. And again, this would fall into the area of Zero Major because, not at any point, did I truly realise that what I was experiencing, was just a nightmare, just a dream. Instead, all I felt was the vague, lingering sense, that I had some heightened control over what I was currently experiencing. All I'd have to do was blink-down, very hard, and I would leave the dream state and return to waking life almost instantly.

(5:50)

These kinds of experiences are literally in the brink of lucidity and non-lucidity.

Once you start having dreams of this nature you know you are on the right track.

To advance through to the higher layers of lucidity you need to learn to do something I termed as breaking, "breaking-through". This is something I'll go into, in more detail in the next video.

So there we have it.

That's the basics of what Layer Zero's all about and hopefully now you'll be able to recognize when you've had an experience of this nature and also be able to discern between the nuances of the layers.

Thanks for posting a transcript! It's nice to have it all down in writing.

I just watched the series on YouTube, I felt like I just read the best book ever written :shock:

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Originally Posted by Azul

I just watched the series on YouTube, I felt like I just read the best book ever written :shock:

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Haha I felt the same way when I first watched it. He really blows your mind.

Thanks again for the post Cola, you really pointed me towards some very good info!

Some of the first videos on lucid dreaming I watched, entertaining and enlightening, this should be required viewing for oneironauts of all abilities :)

I finished all of the videos last night, Rarecola. This guy does a very good job of explaining lucidity, different awareness, and the control available in each layer. I enjoyed listening to all of his examples. I plan on watching some of his other videos later today. Thanks for sharing with us.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Caenis

I finished all of the videos last night, Rarecola. This guy does a very good job of explaining lucidity, different awareness, and the control available in each layer. I enjoyed listening to all of his examples. I plan on watching some of his other videos later today. Thanks for sharing with us.

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Yea, I'd definitely recommend some of his other videos. His latest ones have kind of faded away from lucid dreaming and talk more about spirituality, but if you go back through his videos you can find a nice selection of the interesting views that he has on lucid dreaming.

I'm glad everyone's liking the concept :D

He I very good and explains it so it's easy to understand, I have watched a lot of his vids including this one and they are all very good, I plan on making my own soon so hopefully peeps will find them usefull and easy to understand :)

I don't fully agree with ReeceJones87, of course I'm just a silly mortal and not near his Level of Lucid Dreaming, but I think it depends heavily on the person how his lucid / fully lucid dreams are like, therefore his argument about that if you're fully lucid also all of your dream characters are "aware" of that they are just dream characters bugs me very much, also that he is into OBE.

Quote from the Description:
"All dream characters aware. Stable and vivid. From here its easier to enter OBEs."

But anyway, his videos are quite well made, and I agree at least that there exists different stages of lucidity for example being Semi-Lucid and Fully Lucid, maybe not in the way he describes it but different opinions cherish life, no? :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Oceandrop

I don't fully agree with ReeceJones87, of course I'm just a silly mortal and not near his Level of Lucid Dreaming, but I think it depends heavily on the person how his lucid / fully lucid dreams are like, therefore his argument about that if you're fully lucid also all of your dream characters are "aware" of that they are just dream characters bugs me very much, also that he is into OBE.

Quote from the Description:
"All dream characters aware. Stable and vivid. From here its easier to enter OBEs."

But anyway, his videos are quite well made, and I agree at least that there exists different stages of lucidity for example being Semi-Lucid and Fully Lucid, maybe not in the way he describes it but different opinions cherish life, no? :)

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why does the idea that all your dream characters becoming aware annoy you?

bump

Thanks for posting this. It was basically the best Stabilization Guide I have ever seen. I could even relate to Layer two where he said that he tried to convince his friend's that they were dreaming even though he himself knew he was lucid. I think I got like five dreams like this and man it is annoying ... I also had some lucid dream where I won on some lottery and I thought "Great I can bring this to the real life and get money this way!" ... It is better to call them layers because it's better than hearing no you were not lucid :P I was lucid at first but then dreamed I was lucid in these dreams.