Thread: Was that a LD ?

Hi Guys,

Last night I think I realizied that I was dreaming. But I'm not quite sure. I remember looking at my hands and how surprised I was because it looked so real. I also remember constantly telling myself that this is a dream. But I'm still not sure if it was one. I don't know why, but it felt more like I was dreaming of having a LD and not actually having one.

Can anyone tell me if this was a LD? (I've never had one before)


Oh and sorry for my English ( not my first language )

Did it feel like someone hit you in the face, like it was very abrubt?
I think it was a lucid dream and you should definetely hold on to that feeling. The first few times I had lucid dreams they seemed incredible at the time but everyweek I would forget more and more about how they felt until I started doubting whether it even was a lucid.

Thanks for your answer!

I guess you could say it was abrubt. I just suddenly realized that I was dreaming. I didn't do any RC or something. It was just BAM.. I'm dreaming.
The dream was also very short. I only remember that I was surprised by its realness and was and then tried to hold the awareness.

My problem is that, if it really was a LD then why didn't I try to fly or something? Instead of just observing my hands. Because that is the one of the things I've always wanted to do.

If you realized you were dreaming, then yes it was! You are unclear whether you did or not so its hard to say. This is also why recall is so important. You want to be able to know for sure if you were lucid and remember the details clearly. Anyway if it was a lucid, congrats!

Hopefully you will have some more.

The reason you didn't do much is because you were overwhelmed, imagine if someone just convinced you that you were dreaming, your mind is trying to make sense of it all. The first 20 lucids I had I did completely unexpected stuff and I also felt like I had little control, but it's like putting a little boy in a candy shop - theres so much choice he ends up spending 10 minutes picking out the one's he wants. This same excitement was probably also the reason you woke up.
Everytime you get lucid you will get better at controlling and lenghtening the dream.

Only you can now if you were lucid or not, although just keep in mind that it doesn't matter if you were lucid or not. Just the fact that you were this aware is a big progress on your side

Dreaming that you know you are dreaming without actually being aware is called simulated lucidity, and is a sign of more awareness within the dream.

In my experience most simulated lucid dreams start out with you knowing you are dreaming, but then the dream tricks you to become more unaware again, but you still dream that you are lucid. Strange concept but I think you understand.

Keep up the good work

My first lucid dream that I ever tried to have actually happened when I was daydreaming in a dream. When I realized that I was dreaming I tried to anchor myself, but I messed up. I continued on in the first dream after that. Since the dream was actually a daydream of becoming lucid I thought for a while that it wasn't a true lucid. But I think that if at any time during your dream you think that you are dreaming, then that is a lucid dream. Whether or not you are sure exactly what is going on. A lot of times during LDs I think that if this is my dream then anyone I meet must be dreaming as well. That made me really confused as to why Harrison Ford wanted to kill me.

BrandonBoss you have a good point. When one say or think in a dream "I know I am dreaming" even though he's in fact doesn't are aware that he is dreaming does that then mean that he is lucid?
This is why I think "lucid" is a too vague term to determine the awareness within a dream. I have had tons of lucid dreams in which I am aware that I am dreaming but that doesn't mean I am aware that dream characters are real, that dream situations aren't important, that I have powers and are in control of the dream or even that I have a physical body laying in bed sleeping.

So for me lucid means that you are aware of your dreaming self, and awareness itself means that you are aware of the self as a whole.

In my Dream Journal I use Reece Jones Layer of Awareness (Lucidity) and that helps me to easier see how aware I were in my dream or lucid dream.

Perhaps that can help you too =)

I wasn't even aware that people on this site knew Reece Jones. I thought about putting all my lucid dreams into layers like that, but I think I'll make up my own layers, because he has too many. Maybe I just won't use major and minor. J

Thank you guys for your help.

Finally, after months of trying I got at least something, even when it was not necessarily a LD. This is a huge motivation boost for me. I was about to give it up, but now.. I'll try to get more and more LDs and eventually become the very best!

Hehe true there are lots of layers x . x

But on the other hand there are lots of different awareness of a dream... But yeah it probably would be easier with the Minor and Mayor xD

I hope that you find it useful

Yeah, I just need to re-watch his videos so that I can remember them. Maybe take notes on them so that I can easily choose.

layer zero: I once had this annoying layer zero dream where my bible college was telling me that my assignment for the week was to have a lucid dream. The entire dream I was talking to DCs about lucid dreaming and then I woke up without realizing I was dreaming.

Haha I know the feeling I once had a dream where I tried to explain to my friend how it felt to be in a dream, so I said "While you experience it, it can feel too real and the dream can trick you, so you better be on your guard. Awareness of the situation is key."

I second what Mancon has said. I can understand not thinking it was a lucid at first because in the dream it feels all so real, but then once awake if feels like...well...a faint memory. Congratulations on your lucid anyway, keep it up! Now you've had at least one you can change the technique slightly for the better, to help you get more lucids

~DJ