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Originally Posted by
imJB
Despite some considerable effort both days it goes to show I'll need to keep working away to increase consistency.
This is normal when you are starting out and if you keep it up you will see your consistency go up considerably. I definitely feel it is possible to have an LD whenever you want with the right effort and planning assuming you don't have factors working against you. I am not at that level, but I only put considerable efforts in during weekend sleeping. I am confident that it is achievable not only from my own increasing consistency but from other people's accounts. That kind of consistency would take considerable effort I am sure. You can have a whole lot of fun and great experiences without ever taking it to that level, so no need to commit to that level if you don't wish to.
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Last night I had two WBTB opportunities and with both I tried the 'In 20 mins I will realise I am dreaming' mantra.
No LDs to recalls but in both instances I remember fairly long dreams with good clarity.
That's probably the next area of improvement I am seeing, on days when I have good recall the dreams I can are typically less fragmented. I can recall a more direct narrative through them and specifically recall conversations. I have been consistent in my meditation practise and I wonder if this is assisting my dream focus. I've read that it can.
I see this as a positive, normal progression for someone who is apparently putting forth a good amount of effort. I definitely feel that meditation is helpful, especially with some of the more advanced stuff.
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How 'planned' should I be with my WBTBs? In both cases I woke around the 4-6 hr mark so figured they were good opportunities, both were also waking after a dreams. Do I need to set alarms for specific moments in my sleep cycle or should I just wait until nights I wake at approx. those times?
Based on your concerns regarding sleep I would do the latter: "just wait until nights I wake at approx. those times" unless you are in the weekend and want to make sure you don't miss that sweet spot, then you might consider an alarm. I don't like them waking me up too early in the night but last night I tried something new for me during my last 90 minutes of sleep that I read about and it gave me an LD. This method here: http://www.dreamviews.com/attaining-...-lucidity.html (I will also answer your SSILD question further down and I think either of these methods would be great for you to try next...the alarm one mentioned in this paragraph I used vibrate and stuck the phone in my pajama pocket for the last 90 minutes of my schedule sleep). Edit: this method involves the chance of waking you up *during a REM cycle thus allowing the chance to fall quickly back asleep and right into a dream with a much better chance to recognize that it is a dream...much easier for someone with experience but I wouldn't count it out for beginners without at least trying.
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I haven't really kept track how long I've stayed up each time either to see the impact it has, perhaps I should?
If you can mentally estimate how long, sure. I wouldn't watch the clock as it may keep you awake.
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I've got a long flight home today (13hrs) and will have jet lag to deal with at the other end so I suspect it will take a week or so to get back into a groove. All my entries thus far have been done during a work trip so a challenge of sorts will be for me to work a schedule at home where time commitments are a bit different.
Try to see it as a new challenge...don't let your rediscovered toy slip away as another memory of something you tried...I really wish I had kept it up years ago! :)
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Originally Posted by
imJB
I've been doing some reading just now - StephLs workbook in fact - and it led me to reading about SSILDs. This method is very intriguing and for someone like me it seems perfect as I often wake once or twice in the 4-6hr period each night without an alarm. It seems simple, not particularly time consuming and conducive to sleep. It sounds too good to be true?
Is it really as simple as monitoring your minds eye vision, sound and body touch for a few cycles and then sleeping!?
I have found it to be quite a consistent method for me...not 100%, but I worked it up to a well over 50% success rate. Practice it during the day once or twice when your mind is not foggy from waking up in the middle of the night. I wouldn't say it only requires a few SSILD cycles though, the process as the author outlines it was taking me 4 to 5 minutes to complete and I have played with it longer and shorter and eventually started doing it my own way.
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I feel like all I need is a method that can unlock a few LDs in a short timeframe and my confidence is gonna do the rest. That LD the other night was a WBTB DILD I suppose (maybe a bit of MILD - but really what's the difference apart from a mantra or two) but this method sounds very practical for my sleep habits.
Would love your thoughts on it.....cheers
Sure John, I think you could pick one of those 2 techniques above to play with for 2 weeks to a month(then try the other if you wish...start with whichever feels right for you) and you should be able to put some more LDs under your belt to give you that confidence you mentioned! Let me know if you have any questions. :)