The “Text Search” Technique - Text (Numbers & Words) In Your Dreams

Hello everyone. I am trying a new experiment whereby throughout my day I constantly search for text, with my eyes, everywhere I go. When I see any text I: Look, look away and will the text to change, and then look back. This takes a few seconds each time, so it is very easy. I want this to become a strong habit in my life. I have been doing this for about a week, and had an early sign of success last night.

My reason for doing this is because I have noticed, from keeping a dream journal, text is conspicuously absent in my dreams. I don’t notice it anywhere. I suppose this I because I take it for granted in real life. I drive down any given street and there are signs, businesses, license plates, bumper sticker, bill boards, etc all around me. In stores, at work, in my home; books, magazines, food product packaging, etc. I read some, and ignore others but never really pay attention to them. Even if I read something it is forgotten moments later. It is almost like background noise to me; something I know is there but to which I never focus. I assume this is why it doesn’t appear in my dreams.

I feel this “Text Search” technique may work better than standard reality checks. In the past I have done reality checks (counting my fingers) whenever I find myself in a new place, when my situation seems strange, or when I feel I may be dreaming. But, this depends on random circumstances. The “text search” I use continuously throughout the day. I see a lot of text everywhere I go so I have to be much more aware during all of my waking hours. This awareness, if it becomes an ingrained habit, should help me to be more aware in my dreams.

So, for all of you I have 2 questions:
1. Is text conspicuously absent from your dreams?
2. What is your opinion of what I have stated in this post?

I definitely like the idea - the only flaw I see in this is the fact that you have to rely on the fact that there will be text in the dream.

It's a lot like the clock reality check. Really, continuously doing any reality check consistently will do the same thing as you've said above.

If this works for you, utilize it.

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Originally Posted by DreamscapeGoat

I definitely like the idea - the only flaw I see in this is the fact that you have to rely on the fact that there will be text in the dream.

It's a lot like the clock reality check. Really, continuously doing any reality check consistently will do the same thing as you've said above.

If this works for you, utilize it.

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I don't think of the lack of text as a flaw, I consider it a benefit. Lack of text is something that is a 98% occurence in my dreams. I treat the lack of text as a dream sign. I am trying to ingrain the idea, if I can't find any text then I am dreaming and will do a different reality check. (Nose pinch or counting fingers) Last night I had a short dream where, out of habit I looked for text. Where there should have been text (the digital clock on my cable box) there was nothing. I knew immediately that something wasn't right. But the dream ended so quickly I didn't have a chance for a follow up RC.

For me the issue with realizing I should do a RC is difficult because I have too many vague and inconsistent dream signs. This allows me to fully focus on a single item that is almost always absent in my dreams.

Do you notice text in your normal dreams?

I will keep this thread updated with the results of my experiment.

Cool experiment. I haven't the patience to commit to achieving LDs to this extent in case the technique doesn't work! But I will give it a go if it works for you. Could be considered a different version of ADA perhaps? Look forward to seeing your results.

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Originally Posted by Bobblehat

Cool experiment. I haven't the patience to commit to achieving LDs to this extent in case the technique doesn't work! But I will give it a go if it works for you. Could be considered a different version of ADA perhaps? Look forward to seeing your results.

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Thank you. I will definitely keep this thread updated with my results.

Do you notice text in your normal dreams?

So, I've made it into a game to notice as much text, within my line of sight, as possible. I try to read as much of it as possible (which can be impossible when driving through an area with a lot of businesses). I also try to read, look away and will it to change, and look back often.

Last night I remembered 2 dream. In both dreams I was in places where text should have been abundant (in a dorm room, driving on busy streets, in a kitchen) but it was absent.

Great idea! :) It think it will pay off to be more aware of text during the day and it really makes for a great RC (works quite reliably most of the time). I remember some months ago I was doing this as an RC and it happened during a dream where I saw the brand under a TV set and tried to read it. It was very funny because I didn't think it was a dream at all, I was clowning around announcing that I'm reading this and if it changes it's a dream. I was completely shocked when it did change. :shock:

About text being present, I wonder if we are just not paying enough attention to it. Maybe it is there, like our mind would generate a familiar set of objects. It might be a good idea to list and think about all the places text is present - books, street names, brand names (these tend to be more constant in my dreams btw?), PC, tablets, mobiles, magazines, all sorts of ads around us and on most products we buy.

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Originally Posted by NyxCC

Great idea! :) It think it will pay off to be more aware of text during the day and it really makes for a great RC (works quite reliably most of the time). I remember some months ago I was doing this as an RC and it happened during a dream where I saw the brand under a TV set and tried to read it. It was very funny because I didn't think it was a dream at all, I was clowning around announcing that I'm reading this and if it changes it's a dream. I was completely shocked when it did change. :shock:

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I remember a dream, way back when I started with LDing, where a teacher was writing on the board and I couldn't read any of it. It looked like jibberish. I was afraid he would call on me.

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Originally Posted by NyxCC

About text being present, I wonder if we are just not paying enough attention to it. Maybe it is there, like our mind would generate a familiar set of objects. It might be a good idea to list and think about all the places text is present - books, street names, brand names (these tend to be more constant in my dreams btw?), PC, tablets, mobiles, magazines, all sorts of ads around us and on most products we buy.

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Once I started paying attention to all the text around me I was amazed at how much of it I don't even notice. It is everywhere. I would have to be naked out in the wilderness to not have any text around.

I speculate that if I'm dreaming and, out of habit, start looking for text one of two things will happen; 1. My subconscious will create what I am looking for, but the text will be unstable and will act as a RC, or 2. there will be no text where there should be text which will trigger me to do a RC.

The fact that I don't notice any text in my dreams is the most consistent dream sign I have. Now that I'm paying attention to it in RL, once it becomes and ingrained habit, I should be able to spot inconsistencies in my dreams...at least that is my theory.

I'll answer your question here Tygar - even though you've set up a poll elsewhere. I don't dream of text very often, though I did have a spell where I conditioned my dreams to feature text and text did feature, but I didn't use it to RC. I read a lot - it troubles me that something I do so often in waking life doesn't happen in dreams.

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Originally Posted by Bobblehat

I did have a spell where I conditioned my dreams to feature text and text did feature, but I didn't use it to RC. I read a lot - it troubles me that something I do so often in waking life doesn't happen in dreams.

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So, when you conditioned your dreams to feature text, was it readable...and did it make sense?

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Originally Posted by Tygar

Once I started paying attention to all the text around me I was amazed at how much of it I don't even notice. It is everywhere. I would have to be naked out in the wilderness to not have any text around.

I speculate that if I'm dreaming and, out of habit, start looking for text one of two things will happen; 1. My subconscious will create what I am looking for, but the text will be unstable and will act as a RC, or 2. there will be no text where there should be text which will trigger me to do a RC.

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You are so right about this. We are completely surrounded by text.

The full potential of this RC has gotten to me just now. I thought that my classmate DS and old places DS occurred often enough, but after taking a sample of journal entries it seems that the text check is so much better. After seeing your other thread with the poll, I checked the last 10 days' non-lds. Interestingly, if I had to give you an estimate about how often I remember seeing text, I'd say 30-40 percent. But after checking the entries, there is text in 8/10 days. As I haven't focused on this RC recently, and similarly to what you said before, I always take the text for granted and do not wonder upon seeing it.

So, back to what you said, unless one is in the wilderness with no mobile, there has to be some text around to look at. Which makes it a perfect RC. Good luck with your experiment and thank you for giving us all a great reminder and inspiration for more RCs. :)

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Originally Posted by NyxCC

You are so right about this. We are completely surrounded by text.

The full potential of this RC has gotten to me just now. I thought that my classmate DS and old places DS occurred often enough, but after taking a sample of journal entries it seems that the text check is so much better. After seeing your other thread with the poll, I checked the last 10 days' non-lds. Interestingly, if I had to give you an estimate about how often I remember seeing text, I'd say 30-40 percent. But after checking the entries, there is text in 8/10 days. As I haven't focused on this RC recently, and similarly to what you said before, I always take the text for granted and do not wonder upon seeing it.

So, back to what you said, unless one is in the wilderness with no mobile, there has to be some text around to look at. Which makes it a perfect RC. Good luck with your experiment and thank you for giving us all a great reminder and inspiration for more RCs. :)

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Thank you NyxCC. :)

Just some added information: I read a recent study about forming new habits. The study showed it can take between 20 and 254 days to form a new habit, depending on the complexity of the habit (Drinking a glass of water each morning was the simple habit which took 20 days on average) and the personality of the person who is trying to form the habit. Forming the habit of continuously searching for text in real life is more complicated because I need to be aware all the time. This morning I completely forgot to do a text check when I awoke, when I went to the bathroom and when I went to my basement to work out (I was on auto-pilot). It wasn’t until I was done with my workout that I remembered that I should be checking. I feel this habit will take a few months to become fully ingrained into my real life. I’m sure it will take longer for it to feed into my subconscious. I will have to be diligent and keep a positive attitude.

But - and I don't want to sound too negative - what if it DOES become fully ingrained in your real life but doesn't happen in dreams? I've done jobs in the past that were monotonous all day and even after years of doing the job I wouldn't dream about it once.

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Originally Posted by Tygar

So, when you conditioned your dreams to feature text, was it readable...and did it make sense?

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I can't remember that well because it was a few years ago. I think sometimes it made sense (or maybe I comprehended it even though the writing was gibberish?) and sometimes it was clearly nonsensical but I didn't realise this until I woke and recalled the dream.

2) it should raise your awareness, so a positive. Make sure to think about dreams as tou are doing everything! :)

1) text over everything, text on my mind, the she want to ask how it got so empty.
Yeah, I do see text everywhere in my dreams. I get on my phone as well in dreams and get on DV. I get on the compute, play games, read books. I have had DCs draw me diagrams and explain them to me.

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Originally Posted by BrandonBoss

2) it should raise your awareness, so a positive. Make sure to think about dreams as you are doing everything! :)

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Definitely. :)

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Originally Posted by BrandonBoss

1) text over everything, text on my mind, the she want to ask how it got so empty.
Yeah, I do see text everywhere in my dreams. I get on my phone as well in dreams and get on DV. I get on the compute, play games, read books. I have had DCs draw me diagrams and explain them to me.

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Do you actually read the text, or do you "interpret" what you see? A couple people say that it isn't as much reading as it is "knowing" what the text is saying.

What a useful study! Must bookmark this as scientific evidence for newbies and the rest of us here. Just persist! :)

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Originally Posted by Bobblehat

But - and I don't want to sound too negative - what if it DOES become fully ingrained in your real life but doesn't happen in dreams? I've done jobs in the past that were monotonous all day and even after years of doing the job I wouldn't dream about it once.

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I will just have to wait and see if it transitions. I will give it a few months and see what happens. Hopefully it will be like doing a RC. That habit has paid off a few times for me in the past.

Actually, I'm going to add something else: When you did those monotonous jobs, did you have to focus on the job? Or did you just zone out and work on auto-pilot? I've done monotonous jobs in the past and have spent hours on them without really paying attention. The text search actually focuses my awareness of my surroundings, my current situation, and the fact that I may be dreaming. I'm hoping the habit I develop is to become more aware by searching for text everywhere I go. This is different then just doing a RC mindlessly, or doing a monotonous activity mindlessly.

Example: I was out with my wife on Saturday night. We went to see an Irish band at a place I haven't been too in well over 20 years. When I walked in I began intentionally looking for text. When I spotted text I read it (not just seeing letters/word and looking for the next, but actually fully reading it). Several times I used the text as a RC by reading, looking away and willing it to change, looking back and reading it again. It is amazing how often we know exactly what a sign says without actually reading it. I drive by stores and restaurants and never have to actually read the sign to know what they are. I really have to actually read those signs, even if I know it is MacDonald's.

I read. I remember most of the things that I see. I don't remember much of sounds in dreams. I write those down first. :)

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Originally Posted by NyxCC

What a useful study! Must bookmark this as scientific evidence for newbies and the rest of us here. Just persist! :)

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Thank you. I really hope it works!

I thought of something else. I try to spot and read as much text, within my line of site, everywhere I go. I am also developing an understanding of where text "Should Be". I know where text should be, but never really pay much attention.

Examples: There should be street signs on most streets; There should be signs showing a business' name and logo on one of their buildings; there should be a licence plate on a car; There should be a company name and/or logo on their product.

This may help me question reality I'm in a situation where there should be text, but it is absent. That is what happened in a brief dream I had over the weekend. In my dream I was sitting on my couch and, out of habit, looked at the clock on the cable box. To my surprise the numbers were missing. I jumped up because I knew something wasn't right. Then weird things happened which woke me up.

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Originally Posted by Tygar

When you did those monotonous jobs, did you have to focus on the job? Or did you just zone out and work on auto-pilot?

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Good point. That was one of the joys of the job actually - I could do the job without any focus on the job and I could deliberately let my mind wander and think about things that interested me more.

UPDATE: Last night I had a dream, just before I awoke. In the dream there was a birthday cake. I was looking closely at it. There was a picture frame in the middle of the cake. I briefly wondered why there was no writing on the cake. Not even a "HAPPY BIRHTDAY" nor the name of the person. But I didn't do a reality check.

Note: I got to bed very late and got up very early, I was asleep for less than 6 hours. This could have impacted my ability to become lucid.

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Originally Posted by Tygar

UPDATE: Last night I had a dream, just before I awoke. In the dream there was a birthday cake. I was looking closely at it. There was a picture frame in the middle of the cake. I briefly wondered why there was no writing on the cake. Not even a "HAPPY BIRHTDAY" nor the name of the person. But I didn't do a reality check.

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I think this shows your new habits are starting to take hold. Don't forget to do a RC, if you see that some of the letters are at the wrong place too! ;)