Connection between spinning and lucidity?

[sekurit]

Why is it that people "spin" to stay lucid? I've seen so much reference to the method but I don't really understand why it's effective. I ran a search on the forums and throughout the many results I only found experienced oneironauts speaking of doing this to stay lucid - never a direct explanation. I haven't had a lucid dream yet so I can't begin to relate this to any of my experiences, any information would be appreciated, thanks.

[wendylove]

spinning is not used to stay lucid, it's mainly used to change enviornment. Rubbing you're hands would be a better example or holding on to something. I wouldn't know as when I have a lucid dream it doesn't end quickly. I would say the change of environment does help with lucidity as some environment make you wake up more, well a DC told me that if you go outside you're dream will end.

[Oneironaught]

spinning is not used to stay lucid, it's mainly used to change enviornment. Spinning is used for the retention of lucidity. I first learned about it in "Lucid Dreaming". LaBerge explains it as a technique to prevent the dream and/or lucidity from being lost. A side effect of the technique is that it often causes the scenery to change. I've used the trick many times and it's helped me maintain lucidity almost every time. The exceptions were mainly when I started too late and when the dream is over anyway. You've got to be quick on your toes and spin or fall back as soon as you feel lucidity beginning to fade. Sometimes there's not enough warning to do it anyway. It is true that spinning is used by many primarily for the purpose of changing the scenery but that's not what the technique was originally intended for. When a dream (or lucidity) starts to fade, visual clues are often the first sign. Since the visuals are in a state of flux, motion is useful as a point of focus for your attention. The key to maintaining lucidity (and it's not always possible) is to focus your consciousness on something within the dream world. When you spin, you aren't able to use your dream eyes as a focal device. In this way, you aren't as easily sweep away with the tide of the unconscious aspects of the dream. Instead, the sensation of inertia or motion (G forces) gives you something that's relatively stable to focus your attention on. It usually only takes a few seconds of spinning to recover from the episode, when it works. Though, as has been stated, sometimes the dream scene is altered by the process. In my experience, my own dreams usually stay in the same scene when I use spinning or falling to save slipping lucidity.

[sekurit]

Ah ok! It makes a lot more sense now. Thanks for the great information.

[TalkingHead]

Why is it that people "spin" to stay lucid? I've seen so much reference to the method but I don't really understand why it's effective. I ran a search on the forums and throughout the many results I only found experienced oneironauts speaking of doing this to stay lucid - never a direct explanation. I haven't had a lucid dream yet so I can't begin to relate this to any of my experiences, any information would be appreciated, thanks. In Laberges book he states that the spinning method serves to relax the sleeping body further. Part of what wakes you up from lucidity is that your muscles become more tense during consciousness and hence you awaken.