Thread: I wonder if awareness helps you become lucid

However, while you are practising the visual awareness, you always have lucid dreaming in the back of your mind so maybe it's that that causes a change, rather than the visual awareness itself? I would love to try an experiment where someone who knows nothing of lucid dreaming is asked to practise awareness all day to see if it results in a change in their dream clarity and recall.

I used to think daytime awareness was everything. While I agree that it is an integral part of attaining lucidity, its not everything. I also agree that whithout knowledge of lucid dreaming awareness alone would not be enough. So much is dependant on intent. But yes, it probably is what helped you.

I wonder whether "visual" awareness is more helpful for people who are "visual" learners.

I once read that different people are visual, auditory, and tectile learners - those who are visual learners learn better from reading something or seeing an image, whereas auditory learners may need to hear the explanation. When I read that I realized that most likely I am a tectile learner! I always in school and college needed to highlight almost every sentence in textbooks -- anyone who decided to buy my used textbooks must have thought I was nuts! Also when studying for exams, I needed to write down volumes, almost copying the textbooks. And I took tons of detailed notes in class. In my experience being a tectile learner may be harder because the world is designed for/by visual and auditory learners mostly, I think.

So for me I wonder whether the visual is not as important in attaining lucidity. I should probably concentrate on how things feel: can I feel my various body parts like usual? Can I feel the breeze? Does the ground feel solid?

EDIT: I wonder whether the fact that I am short sighted, and have had tons of ear infections and stuffed up ears issues had to do with the fact that those are not my primary senses. also I do a lot of thinking and daydreaming during waking. And yet I have managed to become successful at lucid dreaming before, and expect that I will be successful again - it is wonderful that there are so many ways to achieve lucidity, and just because one relies on senses differently does not proclude lucidity.

Originally Posted by JoannaB

I wonder whether "visual" awareness is more helpful for people who are "visual" learners.

I once read that different people are visual, auditory, and tectile learners - those who are visual learners learn better from reading something or seeing an image, whereas auditory learners may need to hear the explanation. When I read that I realized that most likely I am a tectile learner! I always in school and college needed to highlight almost every sentence in textbooks -- anyone who decided to buy my used textbooks must have thought I was nuts! Also when studying for exams, I needed to write down volumes, almost copying the textbooks. And I took tons of detailed notes in class. In my experience being a tectile learner may be harder because the world is designed for/by visual and auditory learners mostly, I think.

So for me I wonder whether the visual is not as important in attaining lucidity. I should probably concentrate on how things feel: can I feel my various body parts like usual? Can I feel the breeze? Does the ground feel solid?

EDIT: I wonder whether the fact that I am short sighted, and have had tons of ear infections and stuffed up ears issues had to do with the fact that those are not my primary senses. also I do a lot of thinking and daydreaming during waking. And yet I have managed to become successful at lucid dreaming before, and expect that I will be successful again - it is wonderful that there are so many ways to achieve lucidity, and just because one relies on senses differently does not proclude lucidity.

I think that might have something to do it. Though I think of myself as a visual learner, I find tactile to be really strong in my dreams. However, that could be due to the fact that I use tactile awareness more than visual. Perhaps what you focus on during your awareness practices comes forward the most in dream. Interesting thought.

This does not seem to have helped me.

I am almost certain that awareness of any kind will improve your chances of getting lucid, I will probably Ty this and see if it helps me with recall.

when I practise all day awareness, its like magic and I always have lucids. Always. I find it just makes you automatically realize when you're in a false awakening, and you realize when you're dreaming right away and become lucid.

Since previous posts show a peace of my mind let me give you my bit, awareness is like a WILD think too much and you loose it. you have to balance basic reasoning and relaxation to be at full potential. The daily life resembles a DILD you are lost in your thought and bam, a wave of awareness hits you, do a reality check and keep walking.

Originally Posted by SystematicAlec

Since previous posts show a peace of my mind let me give you my bit, awareness is like a WILD think too much and you loose it. you have to balance basic reasoning and relaxation to be at full potential. The daily life resembles a DILD you are lost in your thought and bam, a wave of awareness hits you, do a reality check and keep walking.

Well said. Pretty much right as well. If your constantly trying to be aware of everything it may do more bad then good.

However, while you are practising the visual awareness, you always have lucid dreaming in the back of your mind so maybe it's that that causes a change, rather than the visual awareness itself? I would love to try an experiment where someone who knows nothing of lucid dreaming is asked to practise awareness all day to see if it results in a change in their dream clarity and recall.

I did not do the awareness for lucidity reasons, I just wanted to practice my awareness, and I noticed that my lucid dreams increased with dream recall as well.

Originally Posted by elucid

I did not do the awareness for lucidity reasons, I just wanted to practice my awareness, and I noticed that my lucid dreams increased with dream recall as well.

Yes, but you knew about the existence of lucid dreaming. It would be cool if someone did a scientific study with one group of people who know of LD and practice awareness, second group have not heard of LD and practice awareness, third group believe that LD is impossible but are somehow convinced by researcher to practice awareness without being told why, and another group who know of LDs and believe they will succeed but are asked to as part of this study pay less attention to stuff while awake. Did I leave out any group? Anyway, I bet those who practice awareness and know of and believe in LDs would have the most, but it would be interesting to find out how the other groups did.

I don't think the awareness thing works for everyone. So many times during the day I'm doing random reality checks. Now anytime I'm behind the wheel of a car I constantly say I'm dreaming and plug my nose. Any time I check the time and it's palindromic (4:24) I do a reality check but it seems that in the dreams I have where I'm driving the memory of wanting to perform RC is gone.

Awareness is definitely something that has helped me LD. Ever since I've started doing ADA, I've been LDing much more often.

Yes, but you knew about the existence of lucid dreaming.

Yeah, but then again it is also an opinion that knowing the existence of lucid dreaming means that doing awareness all day would result in a lucid dream. the final point is if you get lucid dreams by staying aware all day, then I think we should start practicing all day awareness.

I don't think the awareness thing works for everyone

Have you tried it for about a week or at the most for a month?

Awareness is definitely something that has helped me LD. Ever since I've started doing ADA, I've been LDing much more often.

Its good to know it has worked for others beside me.

Yeah, I stopped trying to be visual aware all day and I did not get any lucid dreams or recalls, I started it again and my dream recall and lucid dream started improving.

Anyway, even if it is because I know of the existence of lucid dreams, if it gets you lucid dreams, then that is the big point.