Help with lucidity

**PartyOnDudes** · 08-17-2013 05:27 PM

Hi everyone. I have been trying to lucid dream for about a year and have had no success except for coming close 2 times. I started around June doing typical reality checks and doing ADA and mild but it didn' really work and three months after that I didn't really focus on it except off and on.

About six months ago I found Silverbullets thread and began doing that and have been doing that off and on since.

Does anyone have tips to help me break this lucid block I have because I don't know what I am doing wrong? I am in school but I don't think that should be the problem. Any advice would be great, thanks.

**Goldenspark** · 08-17-2013 06:55 PM

Hey PartyOnDudes, one tip I have is to go back to basics and learn up about all the fundamentals again. Are you getting enough sleep? Are you doing a DJ and can you remember at least one dream a night?
What technique are you using, and have you stuck at it for several weeks? Maybe you are trying too hard? Maybe not hard enough?

Ther is a lot to it, but it is also worth having a break sometimes.

Star up a dialogue here about some of the detail of what you do as above, and people here will be able to help some more.

Most importantly, stay positive and optimistic!

**gab** · 08-18-2013 12:41 AM

Yes, basics and fundamentals. People are forgetting about them and they are sometimes quick to jump into a method, that is already altered based on authors preferences.

Dram journal is essential, so is the right frame of mind. Read DV for inspiration and support.

Dreamviews recommended inductions Induction Methods and Techniques Good luck and happy dreams

**PartyOnDudes** · 08-18-2013 09:19 PM

I am in school right now and have a pretty solid sleep schedule getting about 8 hours a night. I remember 2-3 dreams a night 1 vivid and 2 fragments.

I practice ADA mixed with being lucid now. My typical routine is becoming aware of my surroundings and then "realizing I'm dreaming" instead of the typical asking. Then I visualize myself being lucid and what I would do. I also imagine I am experienced at lucid dreaming. I wake up at night naturally so wbtb is natural for me.I've started to get into meditation but barely and maybe doing that would help me also.

I don't know what I'm doing wrong but any critique would be great thanks.

**realdealmagic** · 08-18-2013 10:53 PM

Another thing I'd recommend is not to do it "on and off". Lucid Dreaming, for those of us unfortunate enough not to be blessed with the natural ability, takes effort and dedication. It can be quite hard work sometimes, but you have to realise that it's all worth it if you want to achieve your goals.

I would say that "realising you're dreaming" may be harmful to your efforts. For example, once you "realise", you simply go on with your day. In a dream, what's to stop you from just continuing with the dream plot and losing any lucidity you may have had? Just be careful with this one.

**PartyOnDudes** · 08-20-2013 01:56 PM

Doesn't it just matter what my intent is? I think that's my issue not any technique mechanics. What do you guys think? I just read a thread about intent and it makes a lot of sense. Do you know how to focus your intent for the good because I don't think I do and that's where I'm suffering. Thanks for all the advice though

**JoannaB** · 08-20-2013 02:12 PM

Another idea is sticks and carrots: punish yourself for not doing LD and reward for LD success. For example if you really like computer games, you could tell yourself: No computer games for the next two weeks unless I successfully recognize a dream.

**Goldenspark** · 08-20-2013 07:21 PM

Another thing is that if you are at school and still a teenager, maybe 8 hours a night is not quite enough? The average for adults is 7-9 hours, but for teenagers it's more. The best time to LD is in the morning right at the end of a good sleep when the REM cycles are longest. If you are waking before the last and longest REM cycle, you might be missing the best opportunity.
The other approach I have used is to try and sleep well during the week, but then also sleep in at the weekend and get a really good last session in the morning.
If you wake after each dream, you are probably waking after a REM episode, so if you wake naturally and remember a vivid dream at say 07:30, the next REM cycle is like to end at about 09:00, so probably 08:30 to 09:00 will be the best chance to LD in that last REM cycle.

The other thing to try is shifting your sleep pattern forward an hour or so. The problem I find is that there is so much noise and activity later on in the morning that it's just impossible not to be distracted. The problem with that is that it might mean going to bed (and going to sleep) very early, and then you have a problem getting to sllep at the beginning of the night for the same reason!

Eye mask and ear plugs might be a good idea!

**Hitokage** · 08-20-2013 07:32 PM

When I started with this, I was really excited. Try to read some stories of people on this forum or somewhere. I found out that the enthusiasm and faith are very important here.
I got LD every night for a two weeks until my enthusiasm decreased

. Now I need to get it back somehow

.
Just look forward to the dreams.

**PartyOnDudes** · 08-21-2013 12:34 AM

All really great advice thank you everyone. I it okay that I have to wake up at 5:30 about every morning and should I just compensate getting up early with going to bed early? And yes I am a teenager so I probably should go to bed earlier

. An to JoannaB can it just be any positive thing that I might look forward to? Really great idea by the way.
Keep coming with the insight it's all really helpful

**realdealmagic** · 08-21-2013 12:50 AM

If you're getting up at the same time every day, your body will tell you when you're tired. When you start to feel even remotely tired, start going to bed maybe 20 minutes before that. It'll give you time to go through your day and get your mind ready to sleep and dream using visualisation, mantras, and just focusing on dreams. You'll feel more rested in the morning if you do this as well

**JoannaB** · 08-21-2013 12:55 AM

Originally Posted by PartyOnDudes

An to JoannaB can it just be any positive thing that I might look forward to?

Sure it can be just a really great thing you look forward to, like you could tell yourself that if you have a lucid dream you will reward yourself with ...

(only you can fill on that blank for yourself with something that is likely to work).

Originally Posted by realdealmagic

If you're getting up at the same time every day, your body will tell you when you're tired. When you start to feel even remotely tired, start going to bed maybe 20 minutes before that. It'll give you time to go through your day and get your mind ready to sleep and dream using visualisation, mantras, and just focusing on dreams. You'll feel more rested in the morning if you do this as well

Ah, i would agree, except that there have been times in my life when I have been tired no matter how much I slept, and something else needed to be adjusted. Like these past couple of weeks actually, and I had neglected my exercise and I think that's why I have been too tired, so now I am telling myself "I am too tired not to exercise!" And I have started exercising again as a result. Actually, that may be good advice for you as well, PartyOnDudes: think of other positive lifestyle changes you could try - more exercise, less soda, healthier food, and such. All that could have a positive effect on your efforts, making awareness easier because your body and mind are in better shape.