Is this lucidity?

[Sekhmet]

I had a dream last night and I am not sure if it counts as lucidity. If it does than it will be my first lucid dream. From my dream journal: Cathy and I went upstairs into my old bedroom (my bedroom is now in the basement) and I was surprised and excited to find my cat Bambi there. Even though the dream seemed to be set a few years ago, I knew in the dream that Bambi was dead and that what I was seeing was her ghost. I forgot all about packing for camping and picked up Bambi and started coddling her. I was so happy to be holding her and she felt so real - the softness and warmth of her fur; the wetness and coldness of her nose - the dream felt so real and vivid that I really believed that I was holding my cat again even if I knew it was only her ghost. Does acknowledging in the dream that my cat is dead in real life and that what I am seeing in the dream is her ghost count as lucidity? I had no control over the dream and nothing made me think that I was in a dream - but I knew in the dream that my cat is dead in waking life. I hope I explained that clearly. Please forgive me if I did not as I am not very articulate. Can any one help me out?

[orbsycli]

A lucid dream occurs when one REALIZES that one is dreaming! Self-awareness, my friend. VOICE YOUR INTENT EVERYWHERE! I WILL DREAM LUCIDLY TONIGHT! And when you do, Hold on, Hold on tight.

[Oneironaut Zero]

What you had, Sekhmet was a window of opportunity for a lucid dream. You were about as close to a lucid dream as is possible. When you realize that something is out of the ordinary, you are faced with a chance to ask yourself why such and such is happening. If you figured your dead cat being with you as unusual, you can go one of two ways. You can go with the flow and think "whoa...I don't know how the hell this is happening, but I like it..." or, you can stop and say "wait a minute...wtf is going on here....this isn't normal...why is this happening?...wait a minute...This Has to Be A Dream!" You took the former route, which is common for all of us, so don't feel discouraged. The next time something odd happens, whether you are awake or asleep, stop and ask yourself: "Why is this happening? Am I dreaming?" And then test your hypothesis. Try to do something that you know you can't do in the waking world. Try a few things. Make yourself determined to figure out whether you are awake or dreaming before going any further. This, along with the mental preparation of telling yourself you will have a lucid dream should be enough, with or without a little practice, to recognize a dream as a dream. You're almost there, so keep it up!

[Sekhmet]

Thanks guys! I will definitely give your suggestions a try the next time I dream.

[Lowercase Society]

the feeling of being lucid is an orgasm of the mind you will know. you will know...