lucid

I came across a discussion about this, and I thought I'd put down some of my ideas for good "totems". First off, a "totem" is a device or personal affect that only the owner thoroughly understands that is used as a means of separating the dream world from the real one. I've used "totems" for years as a for of reality checking, only I referred to them as charms

#1 - Rosary
One I used myself was a rosary with a few specifics...

• rose scented beads
• a small hole drilled into every third bead
• a pewter crucifix with a sterling silver dove for a hail holy queen bead
• the 10th bead of the 4th decade was missing
• the dove was attached with gold chain links - all the others were silver
• INRI was inscribed upside-down on the cross

#2 Matchbox Car
Another one I used myself with fair success was a 1976 Metal Canary yellow jeep wrangler car with an angel wings decal on the hood.

• It sat on it's axel wrong so it wobbled
• it drifted to one side when pushed
• had a specific model number on the bottom

#3 Weighted Turtle
The third one I used was a pewter turtle with a jade shell.

• I was the only one who knew how it was weighted
• Only I knew about the small heart etched on it's underside

#4 Spoon

• Ever seen a waitress check her reflection in a spoon? The concave side turns the reflection upside-down - if it's right-side-up, you're dreaming!

#5 Marble

• Flatten one edge of a marble. Be careful to do it not so it's obvious at plain sight, but that when the marble is gently rolled it will come to rest on it's own accord.