*Retaining Lucidity*

**Forsaken Exposition** · 03-24-2006 01:14 AM

Alright. Well, First off, Hello everyone.

Now, I know that there is probably already about 20+ threads like this and most of them are Similar, but from the ones I've read my Experience are --Slightly-- Diferent...

Most of these peple become lucid and stay for a few moments, from 5 to 10 seconds, then they say that they wake up.

Well, Thats how almsot all of mine have been and Im near just giving up, because Im not getting anything in return for my efforts..ts not that Im waking up after lucidity because its one of my first tries, or that Im getting excited and wake up due to that. No. Ive had aproximately 25+ Lucids, of which I was completely aware I was dreaming.

When I become lucid, I dont even have 5 Seconds. As SOON as I become lucid, my Whole body Freezes, Thats the first two seconds. Then, I cant do anything at all..and I wake up immediately afterwards. I don't even have time to TRY a Stabilization technique. It seems like my sub-conscious is completely agaisnt me, and my persistance is making it worse.

Other than "Try looking at your hands" or " Keep a dream Journal" (Which I do..)

Does anyone have any advice?

**Asclepius** · 03-24-2006 01:29 AM

Are these DILDs or WILDs?

One technique that has worked for me occassionally is to remain perfectly still while waking up. Don't open eyes. Stay calm. Then the dream will start again for me.

**Forsaken Exposition** · 03-24-2006 01:30 AM

They're DILDs. Half way MILDs. I've tried the Going back to sleep thing, But I never actually gob ack into the Dream lucidly. =

**Naturally Lucid** · 03-24-2006 03:29 AM

What happens in my lucid dreams is that as soon as i realize i am dreaming, my dream characters start to attack me (when i try to fly or leave - subconsciously i'm also thinking they will because those things 'aren't normal') - which is sort of like your experience with lucid dreams - what i have realized after many dreams of these annoying DC chasing after me is that it really is all in my head - maybe if you surrender to it - atleast recognize it - and if you don't wake up right away - maybe you could ask out loud why you are frozen - something like: 'dream guides, why can't i move and control my dreams?' - you'd be surprized what might happen.

maybe when/if you wake up you could re-enter the dream (how to is posted in tutorials) and NOT OPEN YOUR EYES...maybe that would 'rectify' the problem or atleast maybe help a little - maybe it' s something you ate or drank (caffeine or sugar) - maybe you're understress or something that is only effecting your dreams for now - lucid dreaming is the last thing anyone who has had many lucid dreams wants to give up - keep trying and believe you can - maybe if you believe it won't happen that it won't - just some suggestions

**Jartan** · 03-24-2006 04:45 PM

Hmm, I had a lucid recently where I was totally paralyzed at the start of the dream. I had to wait about 20-30 seconds staring at a very fuzzy dream before I could move and stabalize the dream.

Are you finding yourself fighting your body to try to make it move? If you're trying to force something in a dream it usually wakes you up pretty quickly.

The only thing I can recommend is trying to completely ignore your body when you freeze, don't try to move at all, and just concentrate on your thinking. Examine the environment closely and just try to wait. Hopefully if you're not thinking about your body at all it won't pull you back out of the dream, and will eventually stop resisting you. It might be that you're just focusing on your body too much.

**ZenVortex** · 03-25-2006 02:07 AM

As soon as you realize you're deaming, IMMEDIATELY, WITHOUT A MOMENT'S HESITATION:

Slowly and deliberately move your dream body's arms and/or legs, like doing tai chi or conducting an orchestra or treading water. Concentrate on "feeling" the dream body. Don't look at anything in the dreamscape or any dream characters. Simply concentrate on the sensation of the dream body and get totally grounded in it.

While you are doing this, repeat the word "Stabilize!" until lucidity is completely stable. This is what I call the "Stabilizing Maneuver" and it works great.

You can repeat the Stabilizing Maneuver any time during a lucid dream if lucidity starts to fade or you feel yourself getting distracted or losing focus. Good luck !!!

**mikeyfbi** · 03-25-2006 03:08 AM

Yeah, I do something similar to the above post. I had similar problems with loosing lucidity right away for the simple fact that I got WAY to excited once I realized that I was dreaming. My mind just started racing with all of the things I wanted to do and what not.

I like giving an intention before I go to bed, and concentrating on doing ONE thing for that nite.

Michael Gartner

**nsquared** · 03-28-2006 09:42 PM

Don't give up just because you can only stay lucid for a few seconds! It just means you are on the right path. This is exactly how I started. It took a LONG time to get the hang of it and you have to just relax, have fun, and treat it like a game or a hobby. If you get frustrated, it will only make things worse. If you wake from a lucid dream, and can't get back into it, just take it easy and think to yourself "I was close, next time it will last longer" and then go about your day.

Some tips that worked for me are:
1) When you become lucid don't concentrate on how you might wake up, but think about success. Think about what is happening and how interesting it is.
2) Try, when you notice you're dreaming, immeditately sitting on the ground. Then rub your hands on the ground and examine what you are sitting on. These tactile sensations will keep you in the dream. Don't try to do much, just sit there and look around. This will get you used to what it feels like to be in the dream.
3) As you get better at this, I promise you will be able to stay in your dreams longer. It took me well over a year to get better at staying lucid. Just take it slow!

**Distant Clone** · 03-30-2006 09:24 PM

Here is what I do when I turn lucid. I give the lucidity back. I forget I am lucid.

However, when I do that, my mind is still "online". I can still think and control the dream, but I don't need to know I am dreaming, because then I overdo it and the lucidity gets revoked anyways. It's more an elegant than a brute force solution.

**ZenVortex** · 03-31-2006 01:32 AM

Hi Clone, I'm not sure I understand you. If you "give back" the lucidity, you are no longer lucid. Surely, the essential thing about lucid dreaming is that you KNOW you are dreaming and are in the dream world. ('

')

However, I like the idea of sitting on the ground and feeling the texture. When stable, try clapping your hands. This usually produces an immediate increase in vividness. The most important thing is to be detached at the moment of lucidity and not get over-excited or involved in the situation. Take control and stabilize lucidity before trying anything else.

**Forsaken Exposition** · 04-02-2006 04:01 PM

Well its about time.

I had another Lucid this morning. Lasted about 45seconsd to a Minute. Hah, take that Sub-conscious.

Thanks a lot for the advise, all of you. As you guys said, or most of you anyway, I became lucid, and instead of moving, I just lied in the bed (In the Dream, No idea how I became Lucid) Even though my vision was blacking out liek it usually does, I ignored it and felt how real the sheets of the bed were, and how the pillow was exactly how it was In real life, Truly amazing. After a little while, I got up and waled to my dresser and Double checked to see if I was lucid, Nose plug idea. Yep, I was. And I proceeded to go through the dream.

And I understand where DIstant Clone is coming from. Its kinda hard to explain. When I become lucid, I never really concentrate on the fact that Im dreaming, it just stays in the very back of my head.

Once again, thanks for the Encouragement and Help!