Azaleaj

I've been trying to be more mindful in waking life. I think lucid dreaming is helping me appreciate the details of waking life more. I found myself having more moments of wonder just petting the cat, listening to music and closely examine flowers. If dreams are so amazing then waking life is pretty amazing (and mysterious too). We are just used to it. Had a long lucid last night.

I'm in bed then get up and go out to the back yard and become lucid. It's really realistic and I wonder if I'm having an OOBE. I walk around noting snow on the ground. I think to fly and find myself riding my dog up in the air over the neighborhood. My vision becomes blurry and dark for maybe 30 seconds, I spin to try to come out of it.
Now I'm flying solo flapping my arms trying to gain altitude. I remember the contest and try to remember my 3 step goals. I think it was to phase through something, telekinesis and to summon my dream guide( I was a little off on this). I started trying to move objects on the ground. At first I'm unable but after a few tries an object moves. Yahhh. Next I see big, looming, cold, metal buildings. I fly to one and try to pass through the wall. I hit it and it feels solid.
Now I'm inside one of these buildings. It's ominous, stark and empty. It's all grey metal. I float on the tall ceiling looking around. I remember reading something about how when having an OOBE (or lucid dream) one can change their thoughts and outlook and the surroundings will change. I wonder if I chant OM whether things will become less stark. I start chanting and other voices join in. It sounds beautiful.
Now I'm in a small basement sitting on the floor. I'm surrounded by colorful walls and shelves of objects. (Not sure what the objects were). I decide to really look closely at the objects memorizing what I see so I'll remember it really well. I note that the colors change as I stare at them. I stare at a chartreuse wall that becomes banana yellow. This feels really fun and fascinating. I remember reading about a person who would experiment with asking DCs what they saw and they would often report different surroundings. I want to ask a DC this but do not see anyone to ask. I go up some stairs and out a door into a green beautiful landscape with a dark night sky.
I come across a friend's husband and friends. I wonder if he is dreaming. I tell him to remember 10+10=20. I plan on asking him about it when awake. I follow them to a car and get in. We drive to a farm and when we pull up into the barn I see an old desk and joke that the kids could use it. For some reason everyone thinks this is hilarious.
At some point I did math in my head to increase lucidity. I started with 2+2=4 then 12+8=16...no..20. Apparently that one was a little challenging ha ha. I also rubbed my hands together. I was quite pleased I remembered to do these things. I also remembered the goal to look for a fellow dream contestant. The name Joe came into my head and I wandered around looking for him.
I was aware of waking up and had that sucking down a tunnel into my body sensation that I have had before.

I was a little better about being mindful and did a few reality checks during the week. I also stayed up a little longer with WBTB and focused more on visualizing becoming lucid and remembering my goals. 2 lucid dreams last night, one DILD and I believe a WILD.

I laid down to try to have a WILD. I fell asleep but then woke back up. I tried again. Next thing I remember I was observing a dream form before my eyes. It faded in and out for a few seconds. I was careful to not try to join it too soon as I've seen recommended on here. I was trying to figure out the best moment to get up and enter the dream. Lost some here.

Next, I was walking in a mall empty of people with a woman with blonde curly hair. I remember my goal of finding the woman with the blonde bob (a dream guide?) I ask this woman if this is her. She look down and does not respond. I take this as a no. (I often encounter dream characters sort of turning off, or looking away and not wanting to interact at different times. Sometimes when I ask the questions and sometimes if I'm sexually forward.) we continue walking toward an escalator that goes to the basement. I realize we are walking when we could be flying. I choose to continue to walk just to mix it up as I usually fly in LDs. We go downstairs.

Once downstairs I remember my other goal of surrendering to something greater than myself (whatever that might be). I let go and find myself floating 3-4 feet above the ground on my back. I feel a palpable sort of vibrating, peaceful, borderline blissfully energy enveloping me. I find myself floating along the winding mall hallway observing the window displays of clothing. I see lots of various blue fabrics. I feel I'm sort of meditating, or mindfully observing. Sort of like a walking (floating) meditation. Lost part of the dream again.

Now I'm upstairs. I find myself with an attractive man and we come close to having sex but not quite.

I remember thinking (as I often do during longer LDs) that this is a long dream and I hope I don't forget parts of it, which I did. I woke up, went over the dream in my head and set my intention to LD again as I had another 1.5 hours to sleep.

I had a semi long dream about being in the country (on the ranch). I'm exploring the layout of a property with various houses and outhouses on it. I go into an octagon dome type house. Sort of a hippie house nestled in the tree. I notice lots of windows with gorgeous views of oak trees. There is a weird shoot type window in a tunnel. I think that that would be a good escape route in case of an emergency. I then go outside. I became lucid here. I see a cat I think is my deceased cat Reeses. I get excited to go see him. As I get closer I see it's a different, kind of ratty cat. I give it a few pets. I then remember my ongoing goal of tasting and smelling. I pick up some pine cones and branches and breathe deeply. I think I also tasted them. Nothing. I clearly see the colors and feel the texture but no taste or smell. I then look closer and see the branches are actually fake and crafted out of craft supplies. I can see the papers amd pins holding them together. They are very colorful. I'm not sure if I lost lucidity here or just don't remember the rest of the dream. I had 3 other dreams full of adventure and strong feeling as well. I think I may have had a few other moments of lucidity but can't be sure.

Last night I did WBTB With a brief and lazy MILD practice.

I dreamed I was with two of my best friends on a journey of sorts. We had to climb up over the top of a house and I was struggling with this. My friend Emily was encouraging me and waiting for me. I made it to the top of the house then remembered I could just fly down to the other side where my friends were waiting. I floated down to the ground. (It's been a long time since I flew in a non lucid dream). I then became lucid spontaneously.

Right away my vision started to fade in and out of focus then in and out of darkness. I lost part of the dream here then I believe I woke up. I stayed still and the dream formed before my eyes to my delight! It was crystal clear for a few moments then faded again.

I'm not sure if I woke up at this point or just transitioned to another dream. I was very happy to have had 3 and possibly 4 LDs in 3 days after an almost 2 week dry spell. I think I'm back on track. Yahhhh

I then had 3 other dreams and one fragment with ok recall. The themes were trying to find a sex partner and then in separate dreams, going on a road trip with my family and hanging out with my sisters in an arcade. One standout image was driving through a tunnel and realizing it was dark because I had my eyes closed. When I opened them I saw that the tunnel was filled with beautiful spring flowers!