Two main approaches

I'm still in the grip of a long dry spell that has been driving me mad!

I'm looking for another approach now, because the one I've been trying is just not working.

I see LDing as having two main approaches.
It seems (at least for me) that I flip easily between the two states of waking and sleeping, but find it very difficult to stop in that between state of conscious dreaming.
The two approaches are to come from dreaming to an LD (DILD, MILD), or to go from the waking state to an LD (WILD).

My previous success has been with WILD, and DILD, but my problem has been that each LD has been very short apart from two slightly longer ones.
I decided to start again, and went back to basics, spending more time on my day work and DJ. I resolved to not get stressed about lack of success and enjoy my non-lucid dreams, with a view to slowly approaching LDs from the dreaming side.

The problem is, while my dream recall is good (and always has been reasonable), I just can't seem to get lucid now.
I have plenty of "almost" moments where I wake remembering that I thought an event or scene was strange, but never enough to get me to RC within the dream or to become lucid spontaneously.

I tend to think about LDing several times during the day, and RC 5 or so times each day. I did have a spontaneous nose pinch RC a few times in the early days but nothing now.

My dry spell has now lasted more than six months, so as you can imagine, I am a bit pi55Ed off as this idea is talking too long!

On a few occasions I have tried going back to WBTB/WILD, but that hasn't worked either.
I want to stick with the MILD/DILD approach, because it feels nearly there, but I just need a tiny bit of success to prove I'm on the right track.
What's the problem?

Any advice please?

I've been in a similar pinch this year: dreaming great, recall great, many semi-lucid moments, but no full-on lucidity (to the point of being able to do a ToTM for example) for a couple months it seemed.

In my case, what helped me a lot was returning to the classic literature: rereading ETWOLD, "The Tibetan Yogas of Dream and Sleep," and finding some new sources, including Holeceks' new book on Dream Yoga (highly recommended, look for my thread discussing it). This helps rekindle the excitement.

Having concrete, specific LD goals helps quite a lot in achieving full lucidity. A general goal of "being lucid in dreams" I find is too vague to work frequently for me.

Long term practitioners can fall into the trap of doing the practice by rote, and have the practice become "work," just something else we "have to do," and if that happens the "magic/fun" sort of disappears and results seem to suffer.

Maintaining an attitude that dreaming is fun, keeping a playful/childlike attitude full of wonder I think also helps. Also, follow the advice of our fellow DV who's username is "RelaxAndDream" :). Good luck!

Thanks FM. Been off the forum for quite a while, just doing my own thing. I was trying to take a more relaxed approach, but I guess you're right - I've probably got a bit to familiar with the "work".
Having said that, I have been enjoying my non-lucid dreams over the last few months, and quite a few have reminded me of the magic.
I'll look up RelaxAndDream, thanks!

I would like to explore this idea about dream/wake being a bit either/or, and LDing being this hazy state in-between. I suspect, from my limited experience, that this is quite a delicate balance that I still have to master. I seem to flip out of an LD into awake so quickly that I haven't had much time to practice the grounding techniques. I was hoping to explore the idea of going back into the dream from the black as an LD fades, but haven't had an LD to try it on yet!

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Originally Posted by Goldenspark

Thanks FM. Been off the forum for quite a while, just doing my own thing. I was trying to take a more relaxed approach, but I guess you're right - I've probably got a bit to familiar with the "work".
Having said that, I have been enjoying my non-lucid dreams over the last few months, and quite a few have reminded me of the magic.
I'll look up RelaxAndDream, thanks!

I would like to explore this idea about dream/wake being a bit either/or, and LDing being this hazy state in-between. I suspect, from my limited experience, that this is quite a delicate balance that I still have to master. I seem to flip out of an LD into awake so quickly that I haven't had much time to practice the grounding techniques. I was hoping to explore the idea of going back into the dream from the black as an LD fades, but haven't had an LD to try it on yet!

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I meant his name *is* the advice: relax, and dream! :). I think it's good to shake up our routine. It's hard to remain vigilant doing the same thing, day after day. Daily RC/PM targets help, especially if you can find a way to keep choosing new ones that challenge you. Like today, I'm trying "emotional reaction/social situations" as my RC target.

Hey, if you're enjoying your non-lucids, like I sure am, that's all that really matters! Awesome adventures and experiences every night, that's so great in itself!

Ha ha! Had a quick look at R&D's DJ entries before I saw your reply. Some interesting stuff there. Yes, my non-lucids are good, but nowhere near the crystal clarity and feeling of "being there" of the LD's I've had :'(
Still, onward and upward!

If you have the time, I would try doing a 15-20 minute WBTB every night. Couple that with MILD and diligent day work. If you can manage 30 minutes for WBTB, even better. If you do it every night for two weeks, chances are you are going to have a lucid dream. I think persistence and relaxation (like FM says!) is the best combo. If you are not against supplements, Galantamine is a good way to boost yourself back into the saddle.