Thread: The Single Most Effective Way to Gain Lucidity

Sorry to disappoint you, but there is no such thing as single most effective way, simple because different things work for different people.

That said, Awareness is probably one of the most usefull practices you can do to help you lucid dream. But I'm not sure it would work just by itself. You also need the Intent. Mantras, RCs, dream recall also play important role.

What about (Ada) all day awareness (type of dild). Isnt that suppose to be a really effective method?

Saying there's a best technique for lucid dreaming, is like saying all brains work in the same exact way. Even if you raised 2 twin kids in the same way, in same environment, with same education (in terms of lucid dreaming), and made them use the same technique, the results would never be the same. We're not just talking in the "unique" way, we're also talking about very specific dream knowledge. Even though we've advanced a lot, there are still a lot of knowledge far from our reach in terms of understanding the science of dreams. While we know that is has functions like regulating your emotions, reorganizing memories, or preparing you for future events, we're still giving baby steps on understanding dream content.

Now, as you know, there's always something to say. I can tell you that dreams work by memory, so, memory is one of the things that is vital in any lucid dreamer. Any. I could go on and tell you how prospective memory seems more and more one of the main tools to attain lucidity (yes, you got your answer why techniques like MILD or ADA are reported being so effective by so many people), but that would be narrowing it down and oversimplify it too much. Because you require for example, retrospective memory to recall that you need to recall your intention. Other than that, there are tools which seem to fall in 2 categories that are still tightly interconnected:

- Mechanical/Neutral
- Emotional/Intentional

In mechanical tools, we could place things like memory. Why? Because several things (like habits) can be developed with memory, and at some point, they become mechanic. This is the example of driving, in which the complicated series of procedures becomes simple once you get experience. You can sleep without intent, and still become lucid by simply these memory development (or habits). Now, mechanical lucidity might seem easier, but it still requires intent, emotion, will. You might still get lucid dreams for a long time, but once you ignore them, your brain no longer gives importance, and I guess you know what will happen: eventually you will loose your mechanical lucidity.

In emotional tools, we can point straight out things like emotion or intent. You know from results deriving from techniques like Tholey's Method and MILD that the stronger your emotions are, the higher the chances of attaining lucidity. This is also a clear example of what I said before - "mechanical and emotional categories are are still tightly interconnected". Yes, you can achieve lucid dreams without intent, or you can achieve them without memory development. But I assume that you've understand that this is all about regular lucidity. Also, emotion works for pretty much any intention we have: it affects our behavior, our perception of the world, and in consequence, our dreams. Examples of emotional tools could be visualization (which once again, can also go fishing in the mechanical pool).

I'm sure many other tools could be guessed. Meditation, pills (like Galantamine), improved life conditions (by having as healthy habits as you possibly can), social support (social facilitation is just one of the biggest reasons why everyone that wants every possible help to achieve lucid dreams should participate in forums with dream quests/tasks). The list can go on I'm sure. I would say I'm proud to "have narrow it down" for you, but I bet I would be totally wrong. Is like saying we found everything we need to know about gravity

So in my opinion, stick with the basics, make your own techniques, develop, test, discussing, interact, fail (you can't dream control without failing once in a while), and strike for. Life is short, but dreams are shorter. Go for it and enjoy the most you can

I'd have to say awareness as well - partly from my past (albeit limited) experience, and partly because it just makes sense. But why not try a few different techniques at the same time? That might up the odds.

So true. Right at the moment I am working on dild(Ada) , wild , and mild. I had some success with wild the other day. I was able to enter the dream and maintain my awareness.

Jmanjordan, is it hard? How much concentration does it require? Lastly, how can you accelerate the process of WILD?

I was able to become lucid with both dild(Ada) and wild. During the dild attempt I accidently did a reality check and became lucid. When I attempted the wild it was a little after 7:00. I kept my mind clear until I started to hear voices. ( I held on to my anchor until I heard the voices) I surrounded the voices in my head.(it kind of hard to explain that part) After that I felt a huge amount of pressure in my head. I entered the dream and did a reality check.
Questions?

Fascinating how you can WILD right after going to bed, as almost ALL the guides tell people to go to sleep first. And pressure! Was it painful? Also, what about the voices? How did you surround them in your head? And what exactly do you mean by that? Just focusing on them?

I meant 7:00 am . I always have the best dreams after I take a shower at 7:00.
The pressure was not painful. It was like a balloon expanded in your head. When I mean surround I mean focus on on the voices. You can't focus on your body at all or you won't fall asleep(at least for me). When you get into the dream just remember to do a reality check. I almost forgot to do it. Also passively focus on your anchor.( when you are at the brink remember you anchor) it is easier said then done.

Just keep practicing. I found my best time to try it. Try to find you best time.

I use visualization combined with progressive muscle relaxation. It works for me!

I find that I wake up in the mornings remembering 1-2 dreams. But going back to bed(WBTB), trying a WILD, those are pretty successful. I have only had 2 lucid dreams, but they were from WILDs. I almost always get a dream or out of WBTB