Are realistic dreams bad for LDing?

[Wavefunction]

I've been trying to LD for 3 months now, with only 2 low-lucid dreams to date (both DILDs, where I suddenly realize I'm dreaming). I've checked over my dream journal, and realized that all of my dreams are hyper-realistic. Totally detailed surroundings, intelligent DCs, and all of the laws of physics apply. When the dream is set at my home, school, or friends' house, everything is exactly the way it should be, and the people act exactly the way they should. In fact, I can only recall one dream where events occured that wouldn't happen in real life. So my question is, is this bad for my lucid attempts? If my dreams are always so real, will I ever question their reality? People have told me that having vivid dreams is great, because vivid lucid dreams are really awesome (obviously). But if I can't ever become lucid, then what good does it do? And is there any way to make my dreams a little more... unrealistic?

[dodobird]

Hi Webmaster. First of all 2 lucid dreams in 3 months for a beginner is not bad at all, it's quite a very reasonable start. What you can do to improve your odds: 1) WILD 2) Make reality checks based on dream signs, and not on strange things. For example if your mom appears often in your dreams, then make a RC whenever you meet your mom.

[Wavefunction]

OK, thanks for the advice! Unrelated, but I can now say 3 in 3 months, I just woke up from a 20 minute LD... not much control, but long and I was totally lucid

[dodobird]

Great!

[Adam]

No matter how realistic they are, you should still be able to fail a reality check So if your dreams are as vivid as you say, this should lead for a very good vivid lucid experience

[Alex D]

If you really are worried about reality checks not working, try doing a few at once, like the nose thing and finger counting etc. More chance of one failing then.

[Adam]

Or grow extra arms to do them all at once

[Alex D]

Or grow extra arms to do them all at once Now that's just showing off.

[Wavefunction]

Not a bad idea! I'll have to try it sometime

[Moonscape]

When my LD surroundings are real and familiar, I will do a RC. So now I'm lucid, but everyone close to me is here. Simple...I just walk away from wherever I am. Theres always an unfamiliar neighborhood around the corner.

[Rainman]

In very vivid and realistic dreams, everything appears to be normal and very much alike, if not exactly like real life. This gives you the illusion that you won't be able to LD as easily, and your subconscious may start to believe that, and accept it, and make it reality. Don't let that happen to you. Perhaps this will help you see your dreams differently. While it is in fact possible that you are seeing everything exactly as it is in the waking world, it is more likely that you THINK everything is exactly as it is in the waking world. You see, in the dream world your logic is much different than in the waking state. I once had a dream in which I was not lucid, and everything was so accurate to the waking world. And so vivid! But I read a calender. Where the date should be, "Names 19" was written. The odd thing about this, was I did not notice anything wrong with that. It seemed entirely logical and realistic to me at the time, and I suspect that it is a similar case with you. I think things really are not quite as realistic as you think they are, but your logic changes that, and accepts what it sees as accurate or consistant with the waking world, so even when you wake to write down your dreams, unless you literally remember every detail, your dream logic floods into your waking logic, making it SEEM like the dream was very realistic. Which don't get me wrong, is still a very difficult obstacle to overcome, but this can be done simply by paying attention to everything throughout the day. And pay attention to your dream journal. As Dodobird said, if you notice something that occurs frequently in your reams, make it a dreamsign, and remember to do a reality check whenever this dreamsign occurs. The most important aspect of any dreaming method or type or problem, is to increase your awareness throughout time. Be more aware, and you will be more aware in your dream, thus giving you the capability to notice when your dream logic is playing tricks on you. I hope this helps you! happy dreaming.