Thread: Reliable Reality Checks

Different Rcs are more reliable to some people than others. Personally, the nose pinch technique and hand technique are very reliable for me, but you should try a variety of Rcs and see which one works for you. Another thing, if you end up doing an Rc in a dream, just don't do one, do at least two or three. This way you know for sure if you're dreaming or not and to increase your lucidity. Just remember to keep trying different types of Rcs to see which one is best for you. Well, good luck

Thanks! I will start trying at least three when I RC next. You almost have as many LDs as you do posts

Yeah the nose pinch RC is probably one of the most reliable, and never try the pinching realty check I can almost guarantee it will not work. You should feel pain just like in real life. Also its best to expect to get results, expecting failure will cause failure, expecting success will cause success.

Ahhh! Thanks for the tip, I mean I do expect sucess, I'm doing all this stuff for it. I just thought it took a little while to get used to it before a LD occurs.

The best RCs are ones that really get you thinking, IMO.

Like, when you RC, don't just ask "am I dreaming?" or do a nose pinch and then revert right back to being unaware or stop thinking about dreaming. Also, if you RC at things you don't do in dreams (like every time you check the time if you never do so in dreams), it won't be very effective.

When you RC, it's best to assume first that you ARE dreaming, and take at least 30 seconds to ask yourself, where have I been, what was I last doing, where am I going now, can I make something float (and try it), and most importantly is that logical? So try a few different RCs and really put your mind to work. Because what the RC is about is switching on that logical part of your brain which goes to sleep when you do.

Ahh thanks! Another great tip!

I like the nose pinch and the strategy of trying to look at my nose. If I can't see it (as you can always see it in waking reality in the corners of your vision) then you're dreaming.

Also, Naiya's post is very true. Eventually, you're supposed to evolve from just RCing to being able to realize that you're dreaming in a more logical and relatively natural way. Trying to remember where you were works very well to build up your ability to recognise dreams without a conventional RC.

My first check is the finger-through-palm check.

My second is jumping in the air and watching how fast my feet go back to earth. I think that's a good one because it's a precursor to flying: next time you jump you can look up, feel your feet staying in the air, and start moving slowly.

Ok. So.

The most reliable RC test: Reading text/numbers.
Your brain does not keep text/numbers in memory while you dream. This information is nonsense/garbage and your brain knows it. Unless you dream about something very specific and you tell yourself it's memorable, then your brain instantly dismisses it.

So, ask yourself.
Is this a dream?
and look around the room. find something. anything. SOMETHING's bound to have some words on it. Read it. Out loud. Read it letter-by-letter.
Now glance away quickly.
Read it again.
Glance away quickly.
Read it again.
Did it change? The odds of your brain storing it, while dreaming, for 3 readings are VERY VERY low. I'm talking REALLY low. It just doesn't happen.

You're welcome

Also: Huuuuge tip. Becoming lucid and having trouble staying in your dream (i.e. having trouble waking up prematurely?) ... Rub your hands. The feeling your brain generates keeps you in your dream. I really don't know why, but I swear by it. Also, ALWAYS keep looking around. Don't focus on one too particular thing in a dream for too long. You might think that it WOULD keep you in a dream by concentrating on something, but instead, just glance around the room alot, taking in all the details. It enhances the quality of your dream.

Originally Posted by Naiya

When you RC, it's best to assume first that you ARE dreaming, and take at least 30 seconds to ask yourself, where have I been, what was I last doing, where am I going now, can I make something float (and try it), and most importantly is that logical? So try a few different RCs and really put your mind to work. Because what the RC is about is switching on that logical part of your brain which goes to sleep when you do.

Oh my God! You're a genius! I have to try this!

I personally love the counting your fingers one. It works every time for me. It just worked last night, I looked at my hands while dreaming and i had claws.

I just do an RC everytime I walk through a doorway or see a bird. Then when I walk through a doorway in a dream there is a good chance I will do an RC and become lucid.

im just gona list all the RC's i do.
-nose pinch one
-looking at hand
-finger through palm
-distorting body(pulling on fingers)
- time(look at your watch or time on your cell, then look away, and look back)(if ur dreamin it shud change)
- turn on a lightswitch(dont work in dreams)


Ok those are basically all the RCs i do. My most reliable ones are the looking at hand, finger thru palm and nosepinch. This is because i dont really remember to do the distortion one, the looking at nose one usually dont work for me, and when i dream im usually outside so ther is no lightswitch.

The two only ones that really work for me, is the pinching of the nose. (works everytime) and i just pull out my cellphone and look at the time, turn it around then look again. (this works well, and sometimes too well, ive pulled out an invisible cellphone before haha, and well i became lucid.)