Thread: FryingMan's Unified Theory of Lucid Dreaming: Pay Attention, Reflect, Recall -- Both Day and Night

One of the things I do a lot here for LD training is look at old threads. Thanks to FryingMan's post in the "What is YOUR dream sign?" thread......I found the link to this one.

I have seen a number of newbies like myself around as well as some folks who are re-engaging. This thread is absolutely stuffed with LD basic methodology. If any thread deserves a serious bump......its this one. I have read through it twice and bookmarked it for continued study.

My strongest takeaways right now are the importance of day/night unification and understanding the difference between consciousness and awareness.

From the start of my journey I have constantly reminded myself that my goal is to establish an unbroken continuity of awareness between being awake and a'dream.

Originally Posted by lenscaper

One of the things I do a lot here for LD training is look at old threads. Thanks to FryingMan's post in the "What is YOUR dream sign?" thread......I found the link to this one.

I have seen a number of newbies like myself around as well as some folks who are re-engaging. This thread is absolutely stuffed with LD basic methodology. If any thread deserves a serious bump......its this one. I have read through it twice and bookmarked it for continued study.

My strongest takeaways right now are the importance of day/night unification and understanding the difference between consciousness and awareness.

From the start of my journey I have constantly reminded myself that my goal is to establish an unbroken continuity of awareness between being awake and a'dream.

I'm glad you found the thread helpful! Yes, DV is quite a treasure trove of archived gems. I remember spending months pouring through old threads when I first joined! Several years after the original post, this "unified theory" still represents my thinking on the subject.

Hey, I dont yet understand, what Role Recall, specifically dream recall, plays in the ability of LDing:

Like you state, accessing waking memory in a LD (making a crack in the wall between waking and dreaming) raises lucidity to a higher level. But which "direction" of recall? Obviously accessing waking memory from within a dream will do that and also train your ability and self-awareness. But what about dream recall in waking life? Does that serve to create the same kind of crack between waking and dreaming long-term, or in other words does this train the same ability?
Is that the reason why dream recall is important, or is it only that one can remember his dreams in order not to forgot the experience?

Originally Posted by InvisibleO

Hey, I dont yet understand, what Role Recall, specifically dream recall, plays in the ability of LDing:

Like you state, accessing waking memory in a LD (making a crack in the wall between waking and dreaming) raises lucidity to a higher level. But which "direction" of recall? Obviously accessing waking memory from within a dream will do that and also train your ability and self-awareness. But what about dream recall in waking life? Does that serve to create the same kind of crack between waking and dreaming long-term, or in other words does this train the same ability?
Is that the reason why dream recall is important, or is it only that one can remember his dreams in order not to forgot the experience?

Hello InvisibleO, and thanks for the question!

I've thought quite a lot about the role of recall in lucid dreaming. Here are some more thoughts:

1) Developing dream recall is an end in itself -- probably the most significant feature of dream practice is having those amazing night-time experiences, and remembering them clearly while awake magnifies the enjoyment. Really, what's the point, if all memory of the experience vanishes upon waking, or even diminishes to the point where it's not all very clear? It's similar with waking experiences -- if you don't remember something, it's sort of like it didn't happen at all. One of my favorite quotes (among many) from the *excellent* TV series "Friday Night Lights" is the saying of the Tim Riggins character: "Let's make some memories!"

2) Developing dream recall goes hand in hand with building a close relationship with dreaming and your dreams. Awareness of dreams and dreaming is a building block to becoming lucid in dreams. High dream recall is an indicator that your relationship with your dreams is a close one and you're on the right track.

3) As indicated in the original post, developing strong memory of conscious experience, whether waking or dreaming, is a major part of the "unified" practice of lucid living/dreaming. The brain adapts to how we use it -- when we frequently reach for memory of day (waking) or night (dreaming) experience, over time, the better and better we get at it. We're exercising the neural pathways that we want to strengthen and enhance. With all things in the brain and the body, it's very much a case of "use it or lose it." How we live in the day is reflected in our night experiences and vice-versa.

4) By reaching for dream memories you are programming your subconscious that dreams and dreaming is important for you, and you are greasing the wheels for increasing lucidity and skill in dreaming.

I hope that elucidates a bit on the importance of dream recall!