How To Do GOOD Reality Checks
Modifications:
06/13/06 - rewrote step 5 (thanks Burns for the suggestion)
07/31/06 - rewrote step 2 (thanks DuB for the reccomendation, and for information and direct quotes used in the writing)
08/03/06 - minor modifications improving clarity and readablity mostly
08/06/06 - added a list of useful links at the bottom of the page
Okay, so I know everyone says do reality checks frequently. The thing is doing them frequently isn't enough. You have to also do them well. First choose a few reality checks to use (see bottom of post for link to the official DV RC tutorial, which has a good list). It is preferable if you use both physical and visual RCs, as this creates a more comprehensive test of reality, and reduces the chance of false results.
1. Ask yourself, "Am I dreaming?"
2. This is one of the most crucial steps in the process, and you must do it well. Quality is key to Reality Checking, so you must do the RCs with care and concentration, as if you quickly do them absently, they will have little or no effect. Also, it is a good idea to do at least one physical RC, like trying to put your finger through your palm, as if you can do that, you know for sure you are dreaming, but also do visual RCs as physical RCs don't always work, even if you're dreaming. Also, some questions you can ask yourself (taken directly from DuB's post) are:
Where am I? Have I been here before?
Is there anything that's supposed to be here that is missing?
Is there anything or anybody here that is not supposed to be here? (for example, a dead relative, or a toilet in the middle of your kitchen)
Who am I with? Do I know these people, and are they normally here when I'm doing what I'm doing?
What time is it right now? Which day of the week is this?
You get the idea. Step back and evaluate just now much sense your current situation makes, if any. These reality checks check your awaraeness, and see if the world itself is messed up. All this variety is helpful as a failsafe, because RCs don't always show you are dreaming even if you are, and the more you do, the more likely you are to succeed. Even if one RC succeeds, and you know you are dreaming, I still recommend doing all your RCs, as it will make you more sure of the fact you are dreaming.
3. Once you complete your chosen RCs, and have come to a conclusion say something like, "Because ____, I am/am not dreaming." (fill in the blank with your reasoning (RC results).)
4. a. If you are not dreaming: Tell yourself, "But next time I dream, I WILL become Lucid." Say this to yourself surely and confidently. This adds a self-suggestion aspect to it, which, like RCing, is a proven LD induction method.
4. b. If you are dreaming: Stabilize your dream using the stabilization technique that suits you best. (I won't go into details on stabilization, as stabilizing is a totally different topic, but at the bottom of the post there are a couple links to good instructions.) Once you are stabilized continue on with you LD, and do whatever you want to do. (This guide also isn't on what to do in an LD, so I won't go into details with that either, but I have aded a few links to good ideas at the bottom here too.)
5. Repitition. This is the second most crucial step in the process, as RCing doesn't work without repitition, but total frequency is not required. Here you can do a couple of different things:
a. Everytime you notice something odd about your situation, do an RC.
b. Use a common dreamsign as a cue for RCing.
c. RC on a schedule. For example set your watch to beep each hour, or half-hour or whatever, and do an RC at every beep.
d. All out RC. Whenever you think about LDing, or about RCing, do an RC. Just do lots of RCs, as many as you can (I have done at least 50 doing it like this, but it's not the norm), but you don't have to do tons. Any number will help, but if you aren't using dreamsigns, odd situations, or a schedule for RCing, which probably is a better qualitatively, more is better.
What has worked for me best is option D, but everyone is different, and any of these can do the trick. They all have their advantages and disadvantages, and it's just a matter of what works best for you.
When you RC using this 5 step process, you produce much better results than if you just quickly and unconsciously do RCs a few times each day, as it forces you to concentrate, and makes sure you don't miss something obvious like an extra finger, or a 60 foot monkey, etc. because you are being absentminded. When I do this technique for RCing frequently enough, it induces a Lucid after only a couple days. Quality is key.
Useful Links For Additional Information:
Reality Checks:
RC tutorial (long list of RC choices)
Stabilizing:
ZenVortex's Stabilization Technique
Staying Lucid (tutorial section)
Real Lucid Dreams (the guide) (By BillyBob_001
Dream Ideas:
LD experience checklist (tons of ideas of what to do in an LD)
The most extensive list of things to do in LDs ever (by BillyBob_001, a more organized version of LD experience checklist)
Random LD generator created by arby, using BillyBob's list
