Thread: What's going on here...

I would read the tutorials and the book ETWOLD, if you have the time. They should explain everything, or at least tell you where to go from here. In general, doing intentions is very, very good. In addition, while you do your intentions, you should also consider increasing your awareness; that is, question everything around you. Tell yourself that you're in the dream state. Really convince yourself of this, then reality test to back it up. If you're in reality, they should pass no problem. Remember, though, that the dream state will be just as vivid and lifelike as reality.

Good luck!

Originally Posted by Mario92

I would read the tutorials and the book ETWOLD, if you have the time. They should explain everything, or at least tell you where to go from here. In general, doing intentions is very, very good. In addition, while you do your intentions, you should also consider increasing your awareness; that is, question everything around you. Tell yourself that you're in the dream state. Really convince yourself of this, then reality test to back it up. If you're in reality, they should pass no problem. Remember, though, that the dream state will be just as vivid and lifelike as reality.

Good luck!

This is what I don't get. Doing reality tests in the world, what do you judge, and do you say your dreaming when you really aren't just so you will get used to saying your dreaming or say your in waking reality.

Originally Posted by ElectricJolt

This is what I don't get. Doing reality tests in the world, what do you judge, and do you say your dreaming when you really aren't just so you will get used to saying your dreaming or say your in waking reality.

The idea is to start questioning reality. If you're able to convince yourself that you're really in a dream, or at least speculate upon it, your chances of becoming lucid will increase. When you dream, the logic centers of your brain shut down. What you hope to do is "awaken" a small portion of them, and use this small amount to pull yourself into lucidity, so to speak. Some people snap into lucidity very quickly once they realize something is askew, and for others, they have to really sort of convince themselves.

Reality checking via alertness, and also by using physical factors such as the finger-through-the-palm, nose pinch, and levitation methods, among others, are aids to help you become lucid. Alertness helps you to search for things out of the ordinary, and the physical factors can help by creating something out of the ordinary. Also, if you get in the habit of doing reality checks, this habit is likely to carry over into the dream world and assist you in becoming lucid.

Think of of this way:
If you never question reality while awake, how can you expect to do so in a dream?

This is exactly what I started doing today... questioning everything to really understand if I'm dreaming or awake. And it's a great day to start this, because it's all misty outside and it's like 50 degrees, after two weeks of almost zero degrees!!! Plus I was really tired, so I really had to push my logic to make sure I was awake. Mostly I went with "I can remember everything I've done since waking up", but I also checked things against what time it is and how they should be... ie "I know it's 8:30 at night, and it's dark outside, and the store across the street is starting to close up, so this fits with the way things should be."

Ayup, you sound like you're right on track. Carry on, my good man, and best of luck to you!

Thanks Mario!!