Thread: The first ( and maybe last) step in lucid dreaming induction

When we start practicing LDing, the first step is usually to develop dream recall, which requires learning to ask what we were dreaming about in the very first moments after a natural awakening. This is specially effective if we stay still and keep the same position in which we woke up ( not a serious problem if we move though ).

The ability to stay still and relaxed after a natural awakening is also the most important skill in DEILD ( which is the less effortful induction technique i know ). Mastering this technique means multiple LDs every night, which is not very common and more difficult with other techniques. DEILD is also a sleep -friendly technique as you must focus on falling asleep.

So, specially for begginers, keep motivation to improve your dream journaling skills - specially that important "stay still and relaxed" step. Focus on it, and allow yourself to sleep

You maybe on the road to master DEILD and become a LD god

I know this is obvious to most people, but basics are so easily forgotten. And sorry if the title thread is somewhat misleading

I had the same thought a couple of days ago myself.

Yeah I have to sometimes remind myself about the basics.

A problem I unfortunately have - esp. after vivid dreams - I have sweated a bit and feel like changing night-gown instantly.
Not good for recall - bit of a fight going on with changing and trying to hold on to memory at the same time.
Will try to manage, to keep still, even if not really feeling cosy/dampish cold for a while.
I am so used to this grabbing for a new shirt - bit hard to get rid of that habit I found.

This is something I definitely need to work on. Unless I awake from a lucid or a vivid dream, I will not notice that I've awakened and will usually move/roll over.

Which is the optimal time to DEILD?

These last few nights I've been attempting it without success. I have a tendency to wake up at around 5.30 am (after about 6 hours of sleep), but I recently heard that it's at 2-3 am that you are in optimal conditions to do it.

Originally Posted by martakartus

Which is the optimal time to DEILD?

These last few nights I've been attempting it without success. I have a tendency to wake up at around 5.30 am (after about 6 hours of sleep), but I recently heard that it's at 2-3 am that you are in optimal conditions to do it.

DEILD is more of an opportunistic thing: you need to have woken up from a dream but still be "in REM" or with REM just seconds away. Usually this happens when a LD ends "prematurely" (before the end of REM). I don't know if you can predict such a moment with the end of non-lucids. I think the best you can do is to work on realizing that a dream has ended.

Theoretically, I think the time that DEILD is more likely is later in the morning when REMs are longer and closer, where you can be in a state of light dozing.

Or, you can try the alarm approach, where you're frequently (say, every 15 minutes) but gently wakened and you keep your mind quiet and try to go right back in to a dream, this again would work best in the later morning with longer REMs. Choosing the alarm (sound, buzzer, or lights, etc.) to be noticeable enough to wake you but leave you in a sleepy, dreamy, quiet state is important..

Originally Posted by martakartus

Which is the optimal time to DEILD?

These last few nights I've been attempting it without success. I have a tendency to wake up at around 5.30 am (after about 6 hours of sleep), but I recently heard that it's at 2-3 am that you are in optimal conditions to do it.

Marta, i don´t have much more to add to FryingMan's answer. You should really focus on sleeping as much as you can. And the last hours of sleep are the finest ones. To remember to stay still next time you wake up and visualize your last dream ( or any other visualization or imagined sense stimulation ) is the basis of DEILD.

DEILD will arise spontaneously in the advanced stages of dream recall ( when you can recall almost every dream after almost every sleep cycle ). That´s a nice reward for a very neglected skill.

Another possible "key skill" is, instead of saying an affirmation when you first settle in bed and keeping yourself awake, managing to spot when you're reaching "the point of no return" and starting your affirmation then.