A Compendium of Dream Stabilization Techniques.

Hey all!

I just went through the Tutorials threads on DVF and couldn't find anything concise on dream stabilization techniques.

I think we should start posting and discussing fairly detailed instructions/descriptions on our most effective stabilization techniques here and maybe get the information in this thread moved to the Tutorials section later on after we have enough information gathered so that people may use this thread as a 'Quick Reference Guide' of sorts for dream stabilization techniques.

A possible format could be:

Technique: Detailed description of the technique.

Rationalization (couldn’t think of another word): Try to rationalize how and why the technique works.

User Comments (this section might not really be necessary): Comments and opinions by DVF users.


When finished, this compendium of dream stabilization techniques should also be a useful contribution to those members amongst us who are currently working on the DVF Lucid Dreaming Book.

DREAM SPINNING

Technique:
When you find that clarity and vividness in your dreams is low or decreasing, quickly spin around as fast as you can, focussing intently on the spinning sensation. Do not focus on the imagery passing by you when you do this; you may watch it casually if you like. When you feel that you are fully aware of the spinning sensation, slow down and watch your environment come back to a stop. Your environment should now be considerably more vivid.

While spinning, try to keep the sense of your current environment in mind… try not to get distracted by other thoughts. Letting your mind wander off to thoughts of another place usually results in your being ‘Teleported’ to another dream location. For example, if while spinning you are half expecting the technique to fail and result in you waking up in bed, you are more likely to have a false awakening.

Rationalization:
Dream spinning as with all other stabilization techniques, attempts to strengthen lucidity by actively engaging one or more of your physical senses; in this case, you are focussing on the sense of weight and mass caused by centripetal forces while spinning. This stops your consciousness from a lapse back to the sensation of you lying in bed hence preventing you from waking up.

User Comments:

Kane: Spinning usually does not work for me to increase lucidity in my dreams. But it does usually make sure I at least enter another dream. Almost every time I spin, I end up having a false awakening.

If I am losing clarity, I try some other stabilization techniques... but if that isn’t working as well, and especially when I am running out of time/options, I spin around quickly and try to bump into objects in the dream environment as I do this. I think bumping into dream objects further engages your sense of touch improving your chances of remaining in a dream when you stop spinning. It always sends me into another dream... which is always better than waking up.

This is a great idea. Other ones I've heard of a rubbing hands together and feeling dream objects, but I've never had the chance to use them in dream.

Touching objects

Technique:
One of the tricks I use to "ground" myself is to "touch" things. By touching.. I mean really "feeling" them. Get into how they feel.. are they hot, cold, smooth, rough, etc. (this also helps me remain in the dream longer).

You may try to increase your vividness by confidently declaring "increase lucidity" or "clarity now" but that would be the extent of control I would recommend for struggling dreamers.

Rationalization:
For those new to lucid dreaming, I advise that for your first few dreams you simply act like a tourist in a new place.. go sightseeing and take in all the different colors and sounds. Don't try to set the lucid world on fire your first few dreams.. don't try to do too many tricks, summon people, etc. as this may cause you to lose lucidity. Simply go with the flow and take it all in. Get used to what being lucid FEELS like so you can "ground yourself" in your dreams.. that's when the tricks/stunts can happen.

User Comments:

Clairity: I still have to remind myself the moment I become lucid to get "grounded" in my dream (i.e., make it as lucid as it could be) instead of immediately racing to do something before I lose lucidity.

Just remember that "the deeper the level of lucidity.. the better your lucid experience should be".

Just to throw out something interesting, I read this book by Carlos Castaneda where he learns that pressing against the roof of your mouth with the tip of your tongue greatly increases the vividness of your dreams... just wondering if anyone has anything interesting to say/add to this.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kane

Just to throw out something interesting, I read this book by Carlos Castaneda where he learns that pressing against the roof of your mouth with the tip of your tongue greatly increases the vividness of your dreams... just wondering if anyone has anything interesting to say/add to this.

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I'd never heard this before.. but it's certainly easy and would be an interesting thing to try! :)

That would be awesome Clairity, I keep forgetting to try that out when Im lucid... but then I've also been having a dry spell lately.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Adam

I have asked DCs how to become better at lucid dreaming, and how to make my dreams more vivid and this one DC advised me when I was spinning to inrease clarity I was spinning anti-clockwise rather than clockwise, which is why I was not having much success with it. So with this I tried it and it worked a treat, and had one of the longest lucid dreams as a result :)

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Just got that off another thread ... interesting. I never really thought about which direction I've been spinning. Hmm... I should check this out as soon as I can.

Re-entry Technique

Technique
When the dream starts to fade away immediately stop moving and close your eyes. Keep the image of the last scene fresh in your mind. Within a few seconds the dream scene should re-materialize.

Rationalization
You are still in REM brain waves until you move. If you don't move a muscle the REM continues and the body thinks that you are asleep and shuts itself down again like a super-accelerated WILD. This is the DEILD technique if you weren't lucid before, otherwise it's known as chaining lucids together.

Comments
I like this technique the best because it's (in my experiences) foolproof if done correctly. While the other technique may stabilize the dream momentarily, the brain still wants to wake up for one reason or another so it will fade away again quickly. This allows you to wake up and not loose the dream, makes the second part of the dream much longer. I've used this technique many times.

I was searching and found the thread on dream stabilization and wanted to revive it cause its a great idea so....

Convincing yourself you are god

Technique
When entering a dream, it helps to shout with conviction something along the lines of 'I AM GOD'. If you do this with conviction your capabilities within your lucid dream should be limitless and you can do or achieve anything.

Rationalization
In your dream world everything that occurs is a product of your imagination. Since this is the case, you are the god of your lucid dreams its just a matter of actually realizing it.

Comments
The majority of my lucid dreams have come from false awakenings and the lights are usually off. Saying 'Lights on' didn't work for the longest time because I didn't believe it would actually work. Once I realized I was the god of my dreams, well... it works :)
Also a note of caution, the first time I did it and realized what was going on the excitement was overwhelming and I woke up =\

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sniper991122

When entering a dream, it helps to shout with conviction something along the lines of 'I AM GOD'.

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Haha, i really like this one, i may try it out :banana: