Filling out Dream journal for a while before trying to induce lucidity, any tips/advice?

[VividDreams]

Greetings dream viewers! I've been filling out my dream journal on here for a couple of weeks now. I haven't posted something everyday as some days I simply haven't remembered any dreams but when I have my recall has been quite sharp and I've found myself having several dreams in one night or even just during a nap. I've tried some of the techniques outlined here to induce lucid dreams before going to sleep at night but not every-night and not very thoroughly because I've heard it's good to keep a dream journal for a few weeks or even a month before starting to attempt lucid dreaming properly. In my dream journal I've listed two of the dreams I've had as being partially lucid. And some of the techniques I've tried have been repeating to myself out-loud & in my head that I will lucid dream and also controlling my own imagination/visualising. But like I say I've not gone too deep into trying to induce any yet until I've collected some more entries in my DJ. Has anybody got any tips or advice to get me started or when to start trying to induce lucidity?

[MasterMind]

Well just having a dream journal increase your chances of getting more aware of the dreams, so you are in a sense already practising. However awareness isn't induced by practising your memory, in that case all you had to do was to go and play memory. ^-^ Awareness is attained when you gain knowledge because awareness IS knowledge. And when you say I want to be aware that I am dreaming while I am dreaming, you are actually saying I want to know that I am dreaming while I am dreaming. Awareness or knowledge is gained through questions. So as you recall your dreams, do not only write them down, also ask yourself what kind of awareness or knowledge you had in the dream, like you might not have been lucid but you might have been having dream control, therefore a part of you was aware that you had control of the dream for example. Try to now be aware of how it felt to dream, perhaps ask yourself why you dreamt certain things. Like for example the days I am stressed I might dream very chaotic things, and the days I am calm I might have very peaceful dreams, take note of these things. You never have to go deep into trying to use methods, in fact if you go into the practise too serriously it can do more harm than good, so hold on to the passive practise for as long as possible. My best advice is that when you do start using method I would recommend that you would try to make the practise as calm as it is now, although with the methods. A good example for that is that the days I craved for a lucid dream almost made it the most important thing in my life and used all different methods and techniques in one night as possible, well those night I didn't got lucid, instead I got frustrated and said I had dryspells and I blamed myself, so it became an evil circle... However the nights I didn't expected a lucid dream, but fell asleep in a peaceful way, those days I got the most wonderful lucid dream ever. My point is not that you shouldn't practise techniques and instead just sleep with no expectations or hopes at all, my point is that you should try to find a way between those two mindsets. Good luck to you, if you ever need any help, I am here Namaste. Sweet dreams!

[VividDreams]

Thankyou for you input Mastermind. I think you're spot on about trying not to force it too much and to keep calm in my practice and not desperately try to induce a lucid dream. Where I've experienced dream control (about 2/3 times since I've kept a dream journal here) I always been quite calm and serene before going to sleep so this approach seems to be working so far and I will try and expand on it. I'll also bear in mind some of your tips on remembering how I felt during those moments of control & becoming aware within a dream so I can recognise it if it happens again.

[gab]

DJ is recommended to build up your recall and then later to keep it. But if your recall is good - so there is a good chance you will remember your lucid dream - I see no reason to wait. But DJ by itself will not induce LDs, although it will help. Please read about induction techniques in Beginner's guide and then more details in DV Wiki. Also I'm inviting you to join any class in DV Academy to help you with personalized guidance. Happy dreams