Thread: I want to learn how to LD

I would suggest getting the book, "Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming" from amazon or Borders. It has a wealth of information. For me, these forums can get a little bit too much in terms of information overload. I will switch from one technique to another before the previous technique would ever have a chance of working. It is best to start with one technique and follow through until it becomes successful.

I would definitely suggest improving your dream recall before attempting any LD. The reason for this is because you may become lucid a hundred times, but forget them and figure that you have failed and then quit for good. Keep up that dream journal! Don't fail. Once you are able to remember at least one dream per night then you are ready to begin to do reality checks (RC's). Make it a point to remember a dream. Before you go to bed, lay there and repeat thirty times, " I awake from my dream and remember." Any sort of affirmation has to present tense, positive, and first person. If you awake in the middle of the night, remember a dream, but don't want to take the time to write the whole thing down, then just right several keywords that will help you recall the dream in the morning, at which time you will flesh out more of the dream.

Once you are a capable dream rememberer you can begin by doing RC's. The classic is to pinch your nose and see if you can breathe through it. Even if you know that you are in real life make it real, as if you can not tell if you are in a dream or not. Do this 21 times per day for 21 days. It takes at least three weeks for something to become a habit. Once it is a habit (and sometimes before) it will work its way into your dreams. In your dream you will pinch your nose and breathe through it. You will realize you are dreaming.

Once you realize you are dreaming you must immediately rub your hands together, shout, spin in a circle, etc. in order to solidify your consciousness in the dreamscape. Once you are able to do this you have come a long way. Later you will be able to learn how to control your dreams and last longer in the dreamscape. Eventually you can meet your dream guide. And experience a very unique and surreal inner world. However the most important ingredient is motivation. You have to be tenacious and stubborn not to mention, patient in order to succeed. All that it takes is to taste consciousness just once in the dreamscape in order to become addicted to the experience.

Hope this helped.

Thanks. i think the main problem is that i either have a dream i can remember very well, or i don't even remember having one. I am going to look into that book tomorrow, and as for the RC idea, i like it.

I have had very vivid dreams before, but usually its almost like i'm not in my body but watching from above. So i want to definitely try practicing the reality checks.


Thanks again for the info.

Forget the book, don't waste money. The forums are hard to navigate, but I'll be your guide if you want. If you have any questions, ask me.

To answer your question, I would reccomend DILD. All it requires is practice, instead of the 30-90 minutes of lying awake in frustration that some WILD techniques require.

A DILD is a Dream Induced Lucid Dream. It's the one with the reality checks. It's where you train yourself to do RCs, and then you habitually do them in dreams and realize that you are dreaming (become lucid) when something unusual happens when you do your RC (for example, my fav RC is to push your left index finger into the palm of your right hand. One day in a dream I did that and my index finger went right through my hand, causing my first DILD).

Again, if you have any questions I'll help you out.

i will try that wakatadreamer. The main thing for me is that on the off chance i do remember my dreams, its more like i am watching myself then actually being myself in my dreams. ( kinda odd i know)

i still want to try wilds eventually but at the moment i've decided to practice that technique.

I figure everytime i see a number or something like that, i will see if i can breath through my mouth with my mouth closed

and i do believe i can be patient with this bc it doesn't seem like too much hard work, i just have to practice at it until it clicks. I am definitely willing to do this every night and practice

Originally Posted by WakataDreamer

Forget the book, don't waste money.

It isn't a waste of money. Many consider it the Bible of Lucid Dreaming. To me, LaBerge can explain LD methods MUCH better than others. That's not saying that other explanations aren't good, but it's like his version was made for beginners.

Don't count it out. If you had to read 1 LD book, most would suggest EWOLD.

before i do that, i am doing something to improve my dream recall. Do i have to do anything else besides having a dream journal and using autosuggestion to remember my dreams?


do i need to wake up with an alarm at certain times or just keep working on my DJ?

i'm also working on RCing during the day, but i just keep forgetting.

hopefully once my Dream recall gets better and my Rcing becomes a habit, i will be able to practice DILD.

Dild seems the easiest for me since i just wake up try not to move, and go back to sleep while concentrating on something

Yes, it is very easy to forget to do the reality checks in the beginning because you are not use to it. It happened to me as well, however, over time you will eventually get into the habit of doing it. If you have trouble remembering to do it, write RC on the back of your hand, then, every time you see it, do a reality check. Remember, try to do it at least 21 times per day. Eventually it will work its way into your dreams. Also, don't feel bad about the whole, "I feel like I'm watching myself in my dreams instead of seeing everything from a first person perspective." Happens to a lot of people, myself included. However, whenever you have a lucid dream you will go to first person. It is very common to have dreams from a third person perspective (in fact, I just asked this question the other day, because I thought I was unique for having a third person dream, turns out a lot of people dream like that).

Good luck, but seriously check out the book. It is full of information that is in an easy to digest format that will always be in easy reach for reference, unlike a forum where it is all to easy to forget where you saw that great thread.

Thanks hapkid.

What i plan to do is spend the next 2 weeks practicing improving my dream recall before i even attempt to learn DILD

Now i have a few more questions.

1- During dild i know it's important to not move or do much after waking up so that you are still in a REM state. But while i am learning to remember my dreams, would it be worth waking up every hour and 30 minutes after 6 hours so that i can record my dreams. Or should i just wake up once and see what i remember.

2- How do i train myself to wake up after each of my dreams without the use of an alarm clock for when i decide to attempt dild. Also, my alarm doesn't shut off until you hit it, so i couldn't DILD with it anyway. (i plan to make/find an mp3 file for my ipod that is totally silent for so long and then yells wake up or something)

3- anything else i should know while practicing RC and Dream Recall.


ps. I have another 2 and a half weeks of summer before i have to go back to school. For that reason it would be very easy for me to wake up repeatedly during the night if needed. So if i do need to do that to better my dream recall, i would like to start as soon as possible.

You follow a religion? Yes? Drop it, no? Your in luck. Buy "Exploring the World of Lucid Dreams" it is your new bible. The end.

In all seriousness, buy the book, read it, study it, follow it, and there ya go.

oh, i've already ordered the book on amazon.


I understand a book written by the person who studied and somewhat discovered this technique is an invaluable tool. Until i get it, i plan to practice rc and dream recall. I won't even open the book until i can remember 1 dream per night.


And as for the religion thing, i'm aetheist (spelling?). I dropped the religious beliefs of my family hmm... 5 years ago... maybe 4.

Oh, you're fine. Religion (or non) has nothing to do with Lucid Dreaming.

so, i've been reading an exerpt from the first few chapters of his book that i found online (while i wait for my copy)

its really interesting with the method he uses. Sleeping for 5 or 6 hours staying up for 2 and then going back to sleep. The only way i would be able to do that is if i went to bed really early (because of school.) I like his technique to improve dream recall with the 4-5 different things to remember every day though. I might just try using his technique but not stayingup 2 hours but maybe 30 minutes or an hour.

Originally Posted by taloz

so, i've been reading an exerpt from the first few chapters of his book that i found online (while i wait for my copy)

its really interesting with the method he uses. Sleeping for 5 or 6 hours staying up for 2 and then going back to sleep. The only way i would be able to do that is if i went to bed really early (because of school.) I like his technique to improve dream recall with the 4-5 different things to remember every day though. I might just try using his technique but not stayingup 2 hours but maybe 30 minutes or an hour.

I think most people would view a WBTB (wake-back-to-bed, if you don't know) period of two hours is pretty damn excessive. Especially when you are first starting out. I would recommend trying to keep your normal sleep schedule going, and simply focusing on RCs and improving that recall of yours. I actually think LaBerge might be talking about his early morning naps, not a WBTB but I am unsure. Either way, don't worry about that for now. You can revisit WBTB and WILDs when you get better with your recall and RCs and dreamsigns.

To DILD you don't have to wake up in the middle of night or do anything while you are falling asleep, and I wouldn't worry about moving when you wake up, you can move all you want. Not moving is important for WILD, not DILD (although it wouldn't hurt, but at your level I would just write down the dreams in a dream journal and work on recall for now). Things like the MILD and autosuggestion techniques can certainly help, but to DILD the only requirement is that you sleep, nothing more. Eventually you will learn to either recognize when situations are extremely strange and realize that it is because you are in a dream (Possibly because you understood that was the only logical explanation, sometimes because you questioned the state, and did a RC because of that), OR you will habitually do a reality check that will work and you will suddenly realize you are dreaming.

You don't necessarily have to use an alarm to wake up in the night to record your dreams. Have you ever noticed that you wake up a few times over night? Maybe just to roll over? You usually wake up at the end of your dreams, so if you can get into the habit of waking yourself up mentally when this happens, and recalling and writing out your dreams, your recall will get MUCH better.

Thanks

I really havn't noticed waking up after dreams during the night, but it's probably because i am a pretty heavy sleeper.

I have been working on my dj and recording it. Some of the dreams are only small fragments that i remember, but still. And yea, i was reading some excerpts from LaBerge's book so i don't know the entire context some of the things were in. I just saw something about waking up 2-3 hours before you normally do, staying up for 2 hours, spending the last 30 mins thinking about ld and Rcs, and then going to sleep.

but i am practicing rcs and my DJ. I actually found a guide that gives you 4 things every day of the week that if you notice, you perform a reality check.

btw i revisted that excerpt and it turns out he was talking about rem. And how if you wait 2 hours then go back to sleep, you have a better chance of a LD because your REM cycle is longer. So its not required

Also i was looking up the non moving thing, and i confused DILD with DEILD in the tutorials forum, so thats why. I think i'm going to like DILD though. It seems easiest since i don't have that much time to do WBTB and WILDS. It seems interesting that thinking about RCs in my real life will transfer over to my dreams and help me to become lucid. Until that i thought you had to do some sort of technique like WILD to become a lucid dreamer.

Originally Posted by taloz

Thanks

I really havn't noticed waking up after dreams during the night, but it's probably because i am a pretty heavy sleeper.

I have been working on my dj and recording it. Some of the dreams are only small fragments that i remember, but still. And yea, i was reading some excerpts from LaBerge's book so i don't know the entire context some of the things were in. I just saw something about waking up 2-3 hours before you normally do, staying up for 2 hours, spending the last 30 mins thinking about ld and Rcs, and then going to sleep.

but i am practicing rcs and my DJ. I actually found a guide that gives you 4 things every day of the week that if you notice, you perform a reality check.

btw i revisted that excerpt and it turns out he was talking about rem. And how if you wait 2 hours then go back to sleep, you have a better chance of a LD because your REM cycle is longer. So its not required

Also i was looking up the non moving thing, and i confused DILD with DEILD in the tutorials forum, so thats why. I think i'm going to like DILD though. It seems easiest since i don't have that much time to do WBTB and WILDS. It seems interesting that thinking about RCs in my real life will transfer over to my dreams and help me to become lucid. Until that i thought you had to do some sort of technique like WILD to become a lucid dreamer.

Some people successfully use MILD and autosuggestion to remind themselves to get up after and remember each dream. You may want to look into that angle.

There is a thread like that somewhere on DV, is that the one you're talking about? That thread totally made me realize how bad my memory is and how unaware of my environment I usually am. It can definitely help a lot, so good for you! Keep that up and I think you'll be RCing in your dreams in no time.

Yeah, DILD is definitely easiest for beginners and people who aren't used to being lucid. Read as much as you can about lucid dreaming and all the techniques, and even if you try other things you may still have DILDs all on their own

Autosuggestion to reember to wake-up. Interesting idea. I havn't actually decided whether or not i believe in hypnosis so this will definitely be interesting. For now, i just want to have 1-2 dreams remembered per night. I'll start with small goals. also bc i can't remember to ever RC, i just wrote it on each of my hands and Rc whenever i see my palm. It also reminds me of those 4-5 things i need to rc during. I don't have a great memory

Originally Posted by taloz

Autosuggestion to reember to wake-up. Interesting idea. I havn't actually decided whether or not i believe in hypnosis so this will definitely be interesting. For not, i just want to have 1-2 dreams remembered per night. I'll start with small goals. also bc i can't remember to ever RC, i just wrote it on each of my hands and Rc whenever i see my palm. It also reminds me of those 4-5 things i need to rc during. I don't have a great memory

It can definitely work for basic things like asking yourself to remember to wake up after dreams, lots of people use it successfully.
Try to make RCing a big deal, leave little notes all over your house until you get used to doing them whenever something strange or a dream sign happens. Some other times people use RCs are when they walk through a door, use a light switch, see a digital clock, when you first wake up in the morning, when strange things happen, or when you feel strong emotions.

Thanks. I wrote a note on my hand today, but it apparently got rubbed off and i forgot about it . i would go with leaving the note around my house, but i don't want to explain to my family members why i have random notes saying RC lol.


I am going to stick with rcing whenever i
1- notice something / feel something odd
2- walk through a door
3- am reading something
4- use a tv

i think.


Edit: forgot to ask. I read somewhere that sleeping on your back is the best way to experience a dild wild etc. Is this true or can i sleep on my side like i prefer?

Originally Posted by taloz

Thanks. I wrote a note on my hand today, but it apparently got rubbed off and i forgot about it . i would go with leaving the note around my house, but i don't want to explain to my family members why i have random notes saying RC lol.


I am going to stick with rcing whenever i
1- notice something / feel something odd
2- walk through a door
3- am reading something
4- use a tv

i think.


Edit: forgot to ask. I read somewhere that sleeping on your back is the best way to experience a dild wild etc. Is this true or can i sleep on my side like i prefer?

I'm not 100% sure about sleeping positions. I think it's important that a person can actually fall asleep! I have SP most often when I am on my back, and that seems to be a common trend.

You could leave like little neon postits everywhere, or pennies or nickels or something. I have a quarter that I usually keep in my pocket to do coin tricks with when I am bored or anxious, and I sometimes use it to remind me to RC. You could do that with a special coin, color one black or something and just keep it in your pocket. It'll help you get into a RC habit, at the very least Cause you'll always have to think about it.

thanks. Has anyone ever had a WILD or DILD or just had dreams remembered easily while sleeping on their sides? its not like i hate sleeping on my back but i find it very hard to fall asleep on it for some reason.

Originally Posted by taloz

thanks. Has anyone ever had a WILD or DILD or just had dreams remembered easily while sleeping on their sides? its not like i hate sleeping on my back but i find it very hard to fall asleep on it for some reason.

Yes, I've WILD'ed on my side. It's just too uncomfortable for me to get relaxed when I'm on my back. I've also noticed my best lucids have been when I wake up for 10 seconds on my side and fall asleep again without moving.

Cool, now just a few more weeks of keeping a dream journal and maybe i can try something.