Back after a year and a half. A few questions.

Warning long post - worth it to read :DHey everyone. I am back into lucid dreaming having not tried anything for quite some time. I have a history in my life of well.... not sticking to things, regardless of how much they mean to me or how bad I want it. Lucid dreaming has always been that awesome thing that I wish I could do but it's never been important enough to me that I wanted to invest time into it. After all, working full time, going to college, exercising, maintaining a relationship, owning animals etc takes a lot of my time, I don't have a lot to spare. I also have trouble sticking to something if I don't get good results (IE: putting in time but only getting maybe a few lucids a month) My goal is to get 3 lucids a week, which I know is very possible. Over the years I have learned a few things about my dreams - 1, The situation is always odd and never like anything ordinary in waking life, 2 is that all these awkward situations usually happen in places I've never been and my mind makes up, or in places I rarely go. I've heard that knowing your dream signs can help with making effective reality checks. Knowing these dream signs makes me think I should question my current situation and position in my day, rather than reading text or plugging my nose. Would this be effective? I am looking for a technique to stick with and not jump around like I used to. MILD relies on your intention to remember to RC in a dream. With me, when I set an intention to do something, that subconscious though is with me until it gets done. Would this be beneficial to practicing the MILD technique? As for the Visualization part of MILD I do not fair so well. My visualization skills are slim to none... I just can't see anything in my mind. Should this stray me from techniques that use visualization? As for dream journaling, I feel it is not fair to my girlfriend that every time I wake up and remember something I turn on bright lamp and begin writing XD. How can I get around this problem with dream journaling? I seek advice. What should I begin to focus on first?

For anyone who took their time to read this, I thank you.
Namaste

A little side note: My first, and most memorable LD is what still motivates me to this day. I remember the very second I got lucid, my stomach dropped, my legs got weak, and that moment of pure "Oh... my... god" the feeling of being completely aware in this world amazed me to the point that I've never lost interest. I want that feeling again.

Welcome back! I just came back from a hiatus myself a few days ago :)

As far as questioning your surroundings go, yes, that is an excellent way to help get lucid. One form is a technique called All day awareness, or ADA. It's basically focusing on the little things around you throughout the day that you'd normally ignore, like what color the buildings around you are, or pretty much every other sense (we tend to ignore them a lot and focus on sight). Then you'll be more likely to notice any dream signs you have and then do a RC to see if you're dreaming. Another technique is sporadic awareness technique, or SAT (I can't find the tutorial). It's basically ADA but instead of doing a little all day, you spend 10-15 minutes each day focusing intently on everything that is going on around you. It fits nicely into a lunch break; while eating you can focus on all your senses (and actually taste! instead of just your own mouth :tongue: ) as well your surroundings. You might burn yourself out if you try and do both, though ;).

If you're looking for a new induction technique, or just something different, you could combine some :). Personally, I do a combination of techniques including SAT, DILD, MILD, WBTB, WILD, and DEILD - it's not complicated, I swear! Basically, I spend several minutes each day perform SAT, as well as various RCs to help out with general DILD. I'll do a light MILD when I first go to sleep ("I will LD" or something basic) and then WBTB 4-5 hours later. I won't get up, but I'll roll around in bed, and then do another MILD while keeping the possibility of a WILD (at this point, I just wait and see if I'm "feeling" a WILD. If not, I'll continue with the MILD). Then, whenever I do get lucid or have that split second of awareness at the end of a dream while waking up, I'll try and chain DEILDs afterwards. It may sound like a lot, but in terms of time awake I spend focused on lucid dreaming (barring browsing the forums, mind you) is really only like 20 minutes (10 for SAT, a few for the first MILD, and then typically 5 or so for the WBTB). Feel free to take out or add in anything that you'd want.

Finally, in terms of a DJ and you worrying about waking up your girlfriend, try just taking down a quick note on your phone (assuming you have one. If it's a smart phone, even better!). The light from that shouldn't be very noticeable. I'll just write down important details of dreams along with significant plot details, and then fill in the rest later when I post them here (Though I've been very lazy with it). If you have a lucid dream that you can't wait to share just take an extra minute or two to add in as much as you can/want without angering your SO but that you're satisfied with.

As for what you should do first, I'd focus on whatever you feel you're lacking the most in. Not remembering many, if any dreams? Focus on the DJ. Feeling as though you could do more for actually attaining lucidity? Focus on your induction techniques. Triage your situation and adjust accordingly :). If you have any more questions, feel free to ask and again, welcome back! :D