Thread: BE a Lucid Dreamer

You should chill out. Because the more desperate you are about it the less likely it is to happen. "Trying too hard" syndrome. I was in that situation many times, I would want a LD so badly and be frustrated that it's not happening, chill out about it and let it be, and then that night I would have a LD.
Also like you said, this is a long-term 'technique', you can't expect results so quickly.

Yes exactly, or if you're in my situation, many times you will find that those LD's come when you don't try at all. It all comes down to intention with this technique from what I've learned about it so far. You literally just have to go to bed with the intention to have a Lucid Dream and then just fall asleep and not worry about it at all, but you also have to know you'll succeed, and sometimes you don't need to "know" anything and you can just fall asleep.
As for the "long-term technique" thing, I don't think its that way at all, I believe its one of the quickest. But on the other hand who's to say there is a definite time where you start seeing results? When I started trying this technique at all I really expected it to have quick, first-night results, and it did. So alot of it has to do with mindset for sure. The entire principle with this technique is that you really aren't supposed to try, just know you can do it and go to bed and thats it.

Originally Posted by mimihigurashi

You should chill out.
Also like you said, this is a long-term 'technique', you can't expect results so quickly.
Don't force it though, if you feel like the meditation is not a pleasant relaxing experience anymore... you need to stop the session...

Yes, I definitely knew I needed to chill. I was actually thinking that maybe I should have tested this out a while before posting about it. That way I wouldn't feel "pressure" to show results. That is not productive! However, I did actually expect to see fast results. When I first started actively practicing lucid dreaming I had my first LD the second night. And all I new how to do was MILD. So, since I have already had LD and I was so positive and excited about this method and going so full force with it I thought I would have fast results... But, I am excited after last night. Explanation below. Oh, and I definitely agree about not forcing yourself to do unpleasant/insincere meditation!

Originally Posted by OneUp

As for the "long-term technique" thing, I don't think its that way at all, I believe its one of the quickest.

Well, I did expect to have more LD quickly... but my overall goal is nightly, full control lucids and that I expected to take a long time!


Update:
Ok, so last night it took me so long to update my dream journal (four typed pages for one nights dreaming!) that I couldn't do my meditation. I knew staying awake an extra hour would do more harm than good. Also, I just got new headphones and was dying to try out binaural beats. Lastly, I had just read through the thread http://www.dreamviews.com/general-lu...ty-checks.html. All of that combined led to me (despite all the awful things I said about it before) trying SSILD again. I was insanely curious about nREM lucidity and I thought that maybe with the binaural beats going I could anchor myself enough that I wouldn't have the drift away/snap awake panic attacks I had described before. And I was right! I never was able to consciously enter sleep and dream, but I did consciously get to a kind of early stage SP for a very brief while. It was amazing though! I stopped being able to feel my body or hear anything other than the music and I could see dancing stars amidst a black void. And, all thoughts ceased except an awareness of my current state of consciousness, this overwhelming peace, and a bit of inner commentary/contemplation of the awesomeness of it. This was an amazing experience for me because I can never get my brain to shut up!!! I came back out of it within one minute but it was enough of a glimpse of what they were talking about in the other thread that I wanted more! I also was able to linger in a kind of deep meditation for hours at a time. Before I knew it, it was 6:30 am and I had barely slept at all. I had only dosed for maybe two hours and was able to remember these short, what I believe were nREM, dreams that I know I would have forgotten otherwise. Now you may be thinking that this sounds awful, to lie awake for 6 hours (I was in bed by 12:30. But it felt like it had only been one hour and I felt so at peace that it was really spiritually and mentally cleansing! I only stopped because I got up to go to the bathroom, realized the time, and freaked out a little... I had no idea!!! Also, I stopped because it was causing physical pain for some reason... like my joints and muscles started to feel tired/achy. I guess it had to do with the process that your brain goes through to test your body to see if you are ready for SP/sleep. Anyway, I did do some meditation on my mantras during this time as well... but more basic MILD stuff like, "I am dreaming" and "I can lucid dream." Anyway, when I finally just went to bed I ended up having two LD! Finally! Now, obviously, I can't attribute them to my technique.
However, this is something I can attribute to my technique!!!
My DCs were very accepting of the fact that I was lucid, and they were very nice to me, and they actually sought to make my dreaming experience better!!!!!!!!!!!!
I've had about 16 LDs now I think. And in most, my DCs were either not accepting of my LD state, out to sabotage my plans, or were openly hostile to me. So part of my mantras have been in an effort to make my DCs happy about my LD state. I have concentrated on such ideas as:
My DCs want me to be lucid.
My DCs think it's fun when I'm lucid.
My DCs know that when I'm lucid we all get along and have fun.
Last night in my first LD, I had a DC show up as a WL friend. They had realized I was lucid and immediately found me in order to take me on an adventure!!! How awesome!
In my second LD, I was with my Mom. I did a nose pinch in front of her and, no joke, she said, "Are you dreaming?" I said I must be and she proceeded to explore my dream world with me. We even hugged! And, she showed me a book that was "hiding" in the dream! I think I'm supposed to write this book!
These were LD experiences so unlike anything else I've experienced and to have two in a row, I know this was because of my meditations!!!
I'm going to start doing SSILD regularly, because now that I know what a wonderful experience non-dreaming lucidity is I am hooked! But I will always continue my mantras as well! They have turned lucidity into less of a struggle and more of an inner oneness for me, which is exactly what I wanted!

Oh, and contrary to what you might think, I felt very well rested today! (Although, I don't think it's a good idea for me to half sleep like this for so long every night...)

Originally Posted by EamonWill

I was actually thinking that maybe I should have tested this out a while before posting about it. That way I wouldn't feel "pressure" to show results. That is not productive!

Yeah, even though I do believe meditating with mantras can help, I also miss the silent mind, no thought, high awareness type of meditation I usually do, I think it's the most effective for aiding my current "all day self awareness" practice. Frankly I'm kind of torn between them, I like the silent high awareness but I also believe with enough mantra meditation you can make the message sink in to your subconscious and boost lucidity. Guess I'm gonna have to try to meditate more for both methods.
And fascinating experience, congrats on the LDs.