Do you incorporate stabilization, control, or recall/memory into your mnemonic/mantra?

[2bat16]

Are your mantras (for MILD techniques) all about gaining awareness, or do you add things that aim for a more satisfying experience? I imagine that beginners shouldn't write excessively long mantras about their specific hopes for controlling dreams and such. I also suppose that it's best to choose a short/simple mantra and mentally convince yourself of its meaning.

[MadMonkey]

I usually have mantras specifically of awarness, recall, or dream control goals. I had never considered having a mantra of having a satisfying experience in general. I might give that a try!

[Sivason]

I keep my mantras very simple. I do not tend to try and add suggestions. Top mantras for me 1) I am dreaming 2)Thank you for this dream My Lord, thank you for this dream. 3){to the tune of Row Your Boat} Dream, dream, dream, the dream gently as you dream, merrily, merrily, merrily, life is just a dream.

[Sageous]

Yep; keeping your mantra simple is probably the best bet. I would recommend saving the control and stabilization work for the dream itself, and keep the process of getting there as simple as possible.

[Sivason]

You can use the act of repeating instructions and commands to remember such and such, as a tool on its own, just IMO not as part of MILD or WILD. The reason being, you need the brain to go loopy and ultra relaxed but still aware. This allows the body to fall asleep. A simple mantra as you are falling asleep is effective at promoting DILDs (MILD) later in the night. A complex instruction will not allow the detached awareness you are looking for. If you are doing the mantra before the actual MILD or WILD attempt it can be complex as you feel comfortable with.

[RelaxAndDream]

yep also keep it simple and i have one for recall for first half of night and one for induction for second half. goals (as dreamstability or dreamcontrol can be) i intent beforehand. like waking mid night recall dreams (maybe journal) then classic mild: recall last dream see where i could have get lucid (try to feel excited about it and feel how happy i am to get lucid), thinking about my goals visualize how i intent to do them do this several times until i feel intention is there and then i turn around and go for mantra to hold intention and focus while falling asleep. i sometimes have mantras that are two sentence long. i begin with whole mantra and "clear speech" and with several repetition i go shorter and shorter until only the core of the mantra and let go the clearness so i might start to "mumble" (so to speak, i actually just do it in my head) so i slowly let go focus until i fall asleep with last thought of my mantra. 3){to the tune of Row Your Boat} Dream, dream, dream, the dream gently as you dream, merrily, merrily, merrily, life is just a dream this one is nice btw very cool idea