Thread: HanZartaC's Workbook

Okay, so I forgot to write yesterday, so I'll do it now.

Friday night:
It took me a while to fall asleep, probably because I wasn't following my sleep schedule. However, five hours later for my WBTB I woke up naturally! This is a step in the right direction considering I'm a heavy/deep sleeper. Nothing really else happened, I forgot to do the dream recall technique friday night and yesterday, but I will do it tonight. I didn't remember any dreams, but I think I remember some images...

Saturday Night:
April 27th was the date, the date where I got back into lucid dreaming! I'm back baby! I had my fourth LD last night!. But from the beginning...
I fell asleep quite quickly. Six hours later I was woken up by the alarm. Note to self: Never EVER do six hours for a WBTB because I am too awake at that time. So I had a hard time sleeping, but I tried to WILD anyway. I got comfortable, tried to relax, listened to theta waves and beach waves, and eventually fell asleep. I was trying to WILD, but I fell asleep. I wish I stayed with WILD because the dream was right around the corner. Anyway I fell asleep and entered the dream without lucidity. (I'm just gonna get to the point in the dream). I was in a house, more and more people came. It was a family vacation. We went out and I noticed I wasn't wearing a shirt, and I realized I was dreaming! It was a weird trigger, but I think I did an RC too though. It felt really real, and I was even convinced by my cousin that it wasn't a dream. But then I realized that it in fact was a dream! Oh and when my dad tripped, he started hovering over the ground, so it was obviously a dream. I started floating a little bit, and the dream ended abruptly because I got a little...*ahem*...excited, if you know what I mean...
This has been the best lucid dream I have ever had. My dream control has been improving, though my dream self-control has not . I was able to summon simple objects and float. So yeah! I am really happy about this and I think that I am progressing. This has really motivated me to keep getting better.

Oh and I also remembered a non-lucid dream. Whew! Two vivid dreams in a row? I am very happy about this. And in this NLD, I also wasn't wearing a shirt. I'm weirded out, I have no idea why I wouldn't wear shirts in my dreams. I don't know, maybe another dream sign? Most lucid dreamers would ask their subconsciousness deep questions about themselves, next time I'm asking why the hell I'm not wearing a shirt!

So yeah now I just want to continue practicing getting LDs. I also want to practice my dream control, instead of starting with a handful of roofies and a hot girl, which ended in waking up. Lol
...I really have no shame.

EDIT:

I just wanted to add that in the lucid dream, I felt like my senses were amplified. It was the most real lucid I've ever had, with clarity and control. I still need to work on control though. Funny, I didn't have to stabilize the dream for once, when I got lucid, the dream didn't change or start to fade. Have you ever felt like your senses were heightened in a dream?

Okay another progress report. It's gonna be thin.
So no progress has been made, rather the opposite. No dreams remembered and no lucid dreams. I tried a WBTB with a little prospective memory (Just saying "It's critical that I remember when I'm dreaming" and "It's critical that I remember to remember my dreams" once). Then I tried SSILD, but I'm not sure if I did it right. I don't think I focused enough, or long enough on the senses. However I am motivated to try another WILD tonight. I'm not giving up! My last lucid dream really spiked my motivation. I am going to try counting as an anchor, I will try counting to 20, then space off a little, then count to 20 again. I got this from one of Sivason's posts. Do you think that will work? However I don't want to get sidetracked off WILDs and SSILDs considering it's a DILD class. Though I am motivated to try different techniques. I am going to continue with RRC/RCs and writing in my dream journal. I will also try some more in-depth prospective memory during my WBTB, and continue to experiment with my WILD technique. I think I'll revisit SSILD at some point during this week too. I'll let you know how it all went tomorrow.

EDIT:

I tried the Dream Recall technique, but it didn't prove useful to me. I will try it again tonight. Did you say you had some tweaks to it? Do you have any other advice on dream recall? And do you recommend waking up after every dream (with an alarm, I'm a deep sleeper) to try to remember my dream? And also, do you have any ideas/advice on my "plan" above?

Congrats HanZartaC on what sounded like a very nice lucid dream!!

I'm weirded out, I have no idea why I wouldn't wear shirts in my dreams. I don't know, maybe another dream sign?

Missing clothes is a common dream theme/sign. You could definitely use it as a dream sign if you don't normally walk around shirtless in a particular scenario.

Have you ever felt like your senses were heightened in a dream?

Absolutely! You may also notice heightened senses in waking life.

Did you say you had some tweaks to it?

Only if you are remembering so much that you find it tiring. Is that the case?

Do you have any other advice on dream recall?

Recite a mantra before bed that when you feel yourself back in bed (waking up) that you will lay still, keeping your eyes closed. When you wake you will ask yourself "What was I just dreaming?"

And do you recommend waking up after every dream (with an alarm, I'm a deep sleeper) to try to remember my dream?

Not after every dream by alarm. Drink a lot of water before bed which will wake you up more gently. Resist the urge to jump up straight to the bathroom and use the mantra/plan above when you do wake needing to go to the bathroom.

And also, do you have any ideas/advice on my "plan" above?

Which part?

Again, congrats on your LD!! Ride that exhilaration to continue your progress! To further success!

Originally Posted by fogelbise

Congrats HanZartaC on what sounded like a very nice lucid dream!!

Thank you! I couldn't have made it without you, fogelbise! It was also only 6 days after I got back to lucid dreaming so hopefully another one is right around the corner!

Missing clothes is a common dream theme/sign. You could definitely use it as a dream sign if you don't normally walk around shirtless in a particular scenario.

Okay so it's not just me! I never walk around shirtless, so maybe that's something I can try to be aware of.

Absolutely! You may also notice heightened senses in waking life.

Yes! I know exactly what you're talking about. I'm also taking sivason's Dream Yoga class. The first basic skills lesson focuses on heightened sensory awareness during waking life. I can see how it relates to dreaming. It is very interesting, but it is not easy. Though it is my fourth day I think so I'm gonna keep practicing.

Only if you are remembering so much that you find it tiring. Is that the case?

It is not tiring, I do remember my whole day in detail, but it's tiring in the sense that it's worthless if it's not paying off.

Recite a mantra before bed that when you feel yourself back in bed (waking up) that you will lay still, keeping your eyes closed. When you wake you will ask yourself "What was I just dreaming?"

Not after every dream by alarm. Drink a lot of water before bed which will wake you up more gently. Resist the urge to jump up straight to the bathroom and use the mantra/plan above when you do wake needing to go to the bathroom.

Okay, I will definitely try these techniques. So I recite the mantra before bed, and during my natural WBTB? Hopefully that will work. My dream recall is disappointing. I remember no dreams, and I feel lucky if I remember a fragment or a short dream. At this point I am willing to try anything. How long does it on average take for dream recall to improve through dream journaling? I've heard 2-4 weeks. I've been doing it for one week so I can't expect much, but hopefully it will improve.

Which part?

I was just describing my short-term plan. I will continue with RRCs/RCs and dream journaling (and other dream recall techniques). I will also continue experimenting with my WILD technique. I will try prospective memory and mantras during a natural WBTB. I will also revisit the SSILD. Oh and guess what happened last night again, it took me 2 hours to fall asleep. I try to get ~9hrs of sleep every night, but sometimes my body just doesn't want to. How can I fix this? I've tried binaural beats (which worked after a while) and some relaxation techniques. Do you have any suggestions?

Again, congrats on your LD!! Ride that exhilaration to continue your progress! To further success!

Thank you! Again you've really helped me to achieve it. Also I noticed that my LD was triggered simply by awareness, I never RC'd once during the dream. Do you think I should try ADA? I'm not sure, but I feel like it's something for me. Again thank you very much!

Okay so I have made progress! Yesterday was a very busy day, so unfortunately I had to wait to try the new techniques. I didn't get to do as many RRC's/RC's. I went to bed a little later than usual, again, I had a lot to do yesterday so I had to put lucid dreaming on hold. I fell asleep fairly quickly because I was tired after a long day. I decided to cancel my WILD attempt and I just wanted to sleep. When I woke up, I woke up during the end of a dream. I remembered the whole dream. It was quite vivid and long. I didn't have time to write it down yet but I remember most, if not all of it. I will write it down when I have the chance to. I am pretty sure that I remembered the dream because I woke up at the end of it. I hope I can continue like this and improve recall.

I will try to practice the new techniques, and continue with the same ones. I haven't practiced dream yoga in a while, which I will try to continue to do. Today, and yesterday have both been busy days, so I will try to get back into lucid dreaming for real tomorrow. Though I will probably attempt a WILD tonight depending on when I go to bed. Other than that there isn't really a lot to say.

Originally Posted by HanZartaC

Thank you! I couldn't have made it without you, fogelbise! It was also only 6 days after I got back to lucid dreaming so hopefully another one is right around the corner!

It's all you HanZartaC! I appreciate that very nice compliment though. I think the next one could very well be right around the corner!

It is not tiring, I do remember my whole day in detail, but it's tiring in the sense that it's worthless if it's not paying off.

It also has the benefit of "flexing your memory muscle" for general memory as well, but it sounds like you have pretty good memory if you are remembering your whole day in detail. The tweaks are to recall a general overview of your day and then pick a smaller segment to recall in detail. Each day choose a different segment of the day to remember (e.g. lunch, breakfast, driving to work). The tweak shortens the time the exercise takes.

So I recite the mantra before bed, and during my natural WBTB? How long does it on average take for dream recall to improve through dream journaling?

Yes, anytime before bed and ideally also during WBTB *as long as it doesn't wake you up too much. Sometimes these sort of things keep me awake even at bedtime, so earlier in the evening is an alternative. / Different for everyone, but with DJing, mantras and if you can keep trying the day recall, between 2 or 3 of those things I think you will see improvement soon.

I was just describing my short-term plan. I will continue with RRCs/RCs and dream journaling (and other dream recall techniques). I will also continue experimenting with my WILD technique. I will try prospective memory and mantras during a natural WBTB.

Sounds good, especially RC/RRC combo. Prospective memory exercises are best done during the day since you have trouble since you have trouble getting back to sleep. Mantras can have a prospective memory component such as "I remember I am dreaming when I see ____."

Oh and guess what happened last night again, it took me 2 hours to fall asleep. I try to get ~9hrs of sleep every night, but sometimes my body just doesn't want to. How can I fix this? I've tried binaural beats (which worked after a while) and some relaxation techniques. Do you have any suggestions?

Was this at bedtime or during WBTB? Look at FryingMan's profile and search his past posts. He came up with a variety of methods to get back to sleep. For me, it took practice to calm my thoughts and release any day time worries (usually mentally "checking off" any worries, but sometimes I needed to get up and set a reminder on my phone or roll over and jot down a note in my DJ regarding what I plan to do to take care of a day time worry in order to stop thinking about it and drift off to sleep.)

Thank you! Again you've really helped me to achieve it. Also I noticed that my LD was triggered simply by awareness, I never RC'd once during the dream. Do you think I should try ADA? I'm not sure, but I feel like it's something for me. Again thank you very much!

It is very encouraging to hear such kind words. Sometimes it feels like my time spent helping in the workbooks falls on deaf ears or goes unappreciated...so thank you. As far as ADA, I think it is a good thing taken slowly...it can get very involved. Whatever you do, I highly recommend that you also keep up the RRC/RC. I feel that it was the primary reason I was so present and so much in control in most of my lucid dreams including good memory from waking life to help remember tasks and all. For ADA-like exercises I really like what this author is suggesting in this link: http://www.dreamviews.com/blogs/cvdmehden/ Scroll to bottom for chapter one, then continue if you like it. I believe he will be adding the other chapters later but he started beta versions of them elsewhere on DV already (you can check under his profile - past posts).

Edit: I was working on my reply yesterday when your last post came in so responding to it now.

When I woke up, I woke up during the end of a dream. I remembered the whole dream. It was quite vivid and long.

Very nice!

Also if you want to just continue with the dream yoga instead of the link I put above, it also helps with ADA.

Originally Posted by fogelbise

It's all you HanZartaC! I appreciate that very nice compliment though. I think the next one could very well be right around the corner!

Hopefully it will, I haven'y gotten back into lucid dreaming completely yet. I'm still performing RC's, though not as many RRC's. Also yesterday I was sick with a fever so I spent my entire day in bed. Hopefully I'll get back today.

It also has the benefit of "flexing your memory muscle" for general memory as well, but it sounds like you have pretty good memory if you are remembering your whole day in detail. The tweaks are to recall a general overview of your day and then pick a smaller segment to recall in detail. Each day choose a different segment of the day to remember (e.g. lunch, breakfast, driving to work). The tweak shortens the time the exercise takes.

That's true, though my waking life memory is very good. I can do well on tests without studying, I am very grateful for this ability as some people need to study a lot for tests. I can remember my whole day in flashbacks almost, so I'm not sure if I even need to write things down, but maybe just think about it. But if I shorten it, like you suggested, then it might be more worthwhile doing as it would be less tiring. I will definitely try this.

Yes, anytime before bed and ideally also during WBTB *as long as it doesn't wake you up too much. Sometimes these sort of things keep me awake even at bedtime, so earlier in the evening is an alternative. / Different for everyone, but with DJing, mantras and if you can keep trying the day recall, between 2 or 3 of those things I think you will see improvement soon.

Okay it is motivating to hear that. I will try the prospective memory, mantras and the DJ exercise and see if it works. I think I will attempt a WBTB, it doesn't take me long to fall asleep during WBTB's, only occasionally at bedtime. As long as the WBTB is not at six hours where I am too awake. Around five hours works well for me. I think it's close to my REM period, and I am very tired at that point. I think I'll combine the mantra with prospective memory and say "I must remember to remember my dreams". What do you think about that?

Sounds good, especially RC/RRC combo. Prospective memory exercises are best done during the day since you have trouble since you have trouble getting back to sleep. Mantras can have a prospective memory component such as "I remember I am dreaming when I see ____."

Yeah I've been slacking off with the RRC's, due to being busy and sick. But I also think it's a little confusing to do the RRC's. I usually spend more than an hour in the same environment, and sometimes, I don't know how I affect my environment and vice versa. I feel like my RRC's are very short and sometimes meaningless. At this point I could really use some advice. What do you do for awareness exercises/reality checks? How often? How long for? Etc.

Was this at bedtime or during WBTB? Look at FryingMan's profile and search his past posts. He came up with a variety of methods to get back to sleep. For me, it took practice to calm my thoughts and release any day time worries (usually mentally "checking off" any worries, but sometimes I needed to get up and set a reminder on my phone or roll over and jot down a note in my DJ regarding what I plan to do to take care of a day time worry in order to stop thinking about it and drift off to sleep.)

This was during bedtime. Okay I'll take a look at FryingMan's posts. I get what you're saying, but for me, it's not that I mentally can't fall asleep, but physically. Hopefully I'll learn something from FryingMan.

It is very encouraging to hear such kind words. Sometimes it feels like my time spent helping in the workbooks falls on deaf ears or goes unappreciated...so thank you.

Well you're time spent in my workbook is very helpful! I learn a lot, things that I could not learn from tutorials or other posts. I always read that people are different and everything is different for everyone, so
personalized help is perfect. It really is. Thank you

As far as ADA, I think it is a good thing taken slowly...it can get very involved. Whatever you do, I highly recommend that you also keep up the RRC/RC. I feel that it was the primary reason I was so present and so much in control in most of my lucid dreams including good memory from waking life to help remember tasks and all. For ADA-like exercises I really like what this author is suggesting in this link: http://www.dreamviews.com/blogs/cvdmehden/ Scroll to bottom for chapter one, then continue if you like it. I believe he will be adding the other chapters later but he started beta versions of them elsewhere on DV already (you can check under his profile - past posts).

Okay, my question above applies to this part too. I have been reading some of cvdmehden's chapters and I like what I read. I haven't tried his exercises though but I will. Have you been trying them out? Have they proven successful?

Edit: I was working on my reply yesterday when your last post came in so responding to it now.

Very nice!

Also if you want to just continue with the dream yoga instead of the link I put above, it also helps with ADA.

Okay, I really want to continue with Dream Yoga, do you think I should do just one of them? So yeah I'm kind of lost with awareness exercises and I could use some guidance here.

Thank you in advance!

Around five hours works well for me. I think it's close to my REM period, and I am very tired at that point. I think I'll combine the mantra with prospective memory and say "I must remember to remember my dreams". What do you think about that?

This sounds good to me. If I were to make one change, it would be to make it more present tense like "I remember to remember my dreams!" (the exclamation or inflection when saying/thinking it replaces the word "must")

Yeah I've been slacking off with the RRC's, due to being busy and sick. But I also think it's a little confusing to do the RRC's. I usually spend more than an hour in the same environment, and sometimes, I don't know how I affect my environment and vice versa. I feel like my RRC's are very short and sometimes meaningless. At this point I could really use some advice. What do you do for awareness exercises/reality checks? How often? How long for? Etc.

Sageous is the expert on RRCs but when it really started clicking for me it had more to do with the "really stop and look around in wonder" part. So I use a random reminder (android app "awoken"), averaging once an hour, to remind me to RRC/RC and I really stop what I am doing and really look around with wonder + what was I thinking about ~20 minutes or so ago. I also got good at visualizing myself in whatever environment I am in. A little shortcut you can try and see if it feels different is when you are looking around also make sure you have a good sense of you in that environment. Have you ever noticed how you don't normally "see" your nose when looking around but if you close one eye, your nose stands out more. It was always visible, you just stopped paying attention to it or "seeing" it. Instead of closing an eye while looking around I like to put my fingers around my mouth much like the way a guy might stroke his mustache and beard (or goatee) and when doing so you feel a little shift while looking around and feel yourself much more so in that moment.

I have been reading some of cvdmehden's chapters and I like what I read. I haven't tried his exercises though but I will. Have you been trying them out? Have they proven successful?

I am having frequent LDs and more vivid dreams that could have been aided by his exercises. I know for sure that I am experiencing and seeing the world around me better IWL since starting the exercises and found them to be fun.

Okay, I really want to continue with Dream Yoga, do you think I should do just one of them? So yeah I'm kind of lost with awareness exercises and I could use some guidance here.

You can definitely do both if you want but definitely at least Dream Yoga based on your statement above. Go with your gut feeling.

Thank you very much! That cleared things up for me. I will try the same thing. I have an app which reminds me every hour to do an RC. I will try to do the RC more like an RRC and do as you stated above. The exercises don't seem too hard, so I will try them, cvdmehden's that is. I have also decided to continue with Dream Yoga, even though it is difficult and I'm not sure if I am doing it right, but I will talk to sivason about that.

Also, I have not attempted a WILD/WBTB/mantra or the dream recall techniques. It is simply due to the fact that I am still ill and have just been slacking off a little and not having the energy/motivation to do it. I think I will try it tonight (I have said that many times so don't take my word for it), but I'll see what happens. I am eager to get back into lucid dreaming though.

There is not a lot more to say than that. I will hopefully try the new techniques out, and get better so that I will have the energy and motivation to perform thorough RRC's. I think I had some questions, but I don't remember them. If I do I'll post them here.

I have an app which reminds me every hour to do an RC.

Just one quick note here. If it is exactly every hour, try to find an app that randomizes the time. My first app was exactly every hour, and although I would change the start time frequently, my mind's internal timer was basically expecting the alarm just before it came which is not ideal. It is better if the alarm is unexpected and whatever moment you are in at the time, you take the time to really stop and look around in wonder.

Originally Posted by fogelbise

Just one quick note here. If it is exactly every hour, try to find an app that randomizes the time. My first app was exactly every hour, and although I would change the start time frequently, my mind's internal timer was basically expecting the alarm just before it came which is not ideal. It is better if the alarm is unexpected and whatever moment you are in at the time, you take the time to really stop and look around in wonder.

Actually, I have noticed the same thing. I expect it to happen, and I know when it's happening. Every day, it changes the time it reminds me, but throughout the day it is the same time. I will try to find another app I can use. Maybe the Awoken app exists for iPhone. I'll look into that.

Anyway, last night I got back into lucid dreaming. I am feeling a lot better and have more energy and motivation. I am still a little sick, but not too sick for LDing! So I did my WBTB after five hours, then I tried some prospective memory mantras. All I did was repeating "I remember to remember my dreams" and "I remember to remember that I'm dreaming when I'm dreaming". I repeated it a couple of times before I went back to bed. I was going to try WILD, but I fell asleep before I could start doing my anchor, I have some questions about WILD but I think I'll ask Sageous just because this is a DILD class.

When I woke up, I remembered at least one long vivid dream. I remembered another one, which I suspect was a lucid dream. I remembered dreaming something about another person and I in my bedroom. I was saying I'm lucid to the other person and something like that. It was either a very low lucidity lucid dream, or just me dreaming about a lucid dream. I'm not sure which one it is, so I'm not going to count it. Anyway when I remembered the long vivid dream in the shower, I was ecstatic. I am really happy about this and will continue with the prospective memory mantra, and I will try writing the mantra too. I did not get to try the other dream recall technique, the one about writing your day, but I don't think it's worth my time. I don't think it's going to help my dream recall. So I will continue doing what I'm doing, and I will try to further improve on my RRC's, which are already improving. So yeah, progress makes me happy!

EDIT:

I just wanted to add to this. Even though it has only been one night, I am feeling confident towards the new exercises. Oh and given that I will stop doing the "waking life journal" dream recall exercise, do you have any other exercises for dream recall? I'm going to continue the prospective memory+WBTB mantra thing, and I am going to try writing it tonight. I think prospective memory is going to help me. I will also train my prospective memory.

Just one more quick thing as a note to self: Write down the dream in my journal immediately after I remember it, instead of relying on memory so that I can write it down later. Now I only remember a part of it and some other fragments of it. I also think I'm going to pick up LaBerge's book as I haven't already. I think there are some prospective memory exercises there in addition to a ton of others. I will try these things tonight an wrote about it tomorrow.

Nice progress! Well, you might not need anything new for recall then...just keep working on the methods you are using and perhaps add writing your mantra as you mentioned and you should continue to progress. Keep up the good work!

Originally Posted by fogelbise

Nice progress! Well, you might not need anything new for recall then...just keep working on the methods you are using and perhaps add writing your mantra as you mentioned and you should continue to progress. Keep up the good work!

Thank you, fogelbise! I am very grateful for the advice you have given me. Last night I WBTB and I started writing "I remember to remember my dreams" and "I remember when I'm dreaming". I wrote both of them around 15 times each, then I said them out loud a couple of times while sitting on my bedside, and then I went to bed while saying them internally, then I went on to WILD.

WILD ended because I fell asleep. I tried the "counting to 20 then drifting off then counting to 20" anchor, but it didn't work for me because when I drifted off maybe the third time, I fell asleep. I need an anchor which helps me stay aware. I think, in further helping with my prospective memory mantra MILD thing (I still don't know what to call it), I will use "Remember" as a mantra, or "Remember to remember" because it's a little longer and will maybe keep me more aware.

So how did all of this go, you might ask? Haha, well when I did the WBTB I faintly remembered a dream, but I was too tired to remember vividly, so I didn't write it down (HUGE MISTAKE). When I woke up, I again faintly remembered a dream or two. All of my dreams last night are a little foggy, and I let it slip out of my hands and I remember one fragment now. I think I need a bigger journal just because I have a small one and it's harder to write in it, especially in bed.

Anyway, I am ecstatic to see that the techniques are paying off. I hope that my dream recall will increase even further as I keep practicing it. I have never ever remembered three dreams in one night, even if they weren't vivid. I mean I think the were vivid, but I just let them slip. I will take care of this issue though.

EDIT:

I feel like I'm editing all of my posts lol. It's just that I remember things and experience new things and want to add them. Hope you don't mind. So I just wanted to add that I ordered LaBerge's book, EWOLD. It should come tomorrow. I am very excited because I think I can learn a lot from the master itself (except you ). Have you read this book? I feel like it's a necessity for anyone interested in lucid dreaming. It might not be to those on DV because of the extensive information found in the forums though.

Also, I asked Sageous a question about WILD in the WILD attempts thread. I got a quick response and it cleared up some questions for me. I will post my results tomorrow there.

3 dreams, very nice! Keep up the nice progress!

Have you read this book?

I started reading it and set it aside somewhere. I will have to find it and get back to it! Everyone says that it is a great foundation for lucid dreaming and I thought the parts I had read were good. It should definitely be worth your time.

Originally Posted by fogelbise

3 dreams, very nice! Keep up the nice progress!

Thank you! It keeps motivating me and I am pretty sure I will have another LD soon!

I started reading it and set it aside somewhere. I will have to find it and get back to it! Everyone says that it is a great foundation for lucid dreaming and I thought the parts I had read were good. It should definitely be worth your time.

Yeah I think it could be interesting. Also, I found an app which reminds me to RRC at random intervals between 30-60min! It is unexpected and works pretty well, it also improves my RRC's. I think that's it so I'll continue doing what I'm doing and update on progress tomorrow!

Yay my book came! LaBerge's book came which I am pretty happy about. Now I have something meaningful and LD related to do during my WBTB's! I think I will enjoy his book and learn new exercises.

Also, I am almost completely healthy again and feel great! My cold is going away, which means the RRC's are getting better. I am taking the effort to do them at unexpected times.

Last night I went to bed and I couldn't fall asleep. I think I just can't sleep 9hrs, I can't fall asleep 15 hours after I wake up. There might be a way to make it work for me. I think I'll revisit the Delta binaural beats again. It is getting bothersome having to change the alarm to an hour later for my WBTB. Do you have any tips? I was looking at FryingMan's posts but I couldn't really find anything. I don't think the 61-point relaxation technique will work either. Binaural beats might work, I'll give it a shot tonight. Do you have any suggestions for falling asleep quickly (10-30min?)

So I fell asleep after about an hour. When i woke up, I didn't remember any dreams yet...As I was in the shower, it all came back to me (Haha I can already picture this as a movie), I remembered one event of a dream, I tried to remember what happened before that, and before that, I remembered all the way back to the beginning. As I was writing it down, I tried to remember what happened after that, and after that, all the way till the end. Suddenly, I remembered another dream. I was shocked, surprised, and very happy for remembering two, vivid dreams. Here is the twist...I FELL ASLEEP THROUGH THE WBTB ALARM AND DIDN'T PERFORM MY TECHNIQUES! DUN DUN DUN!

Haha in all seriousness though, I slept through the alarm which was supposed to wake me up for my WBTB after five hours. It was either some technical problems or me being a deep sleeper, or both! I am happy that I don't have to rely on my techniques every night for improving dream recall. It seems like they have a longer effect than just one night. It is very motivating and keeps me being persistent and consistent.

I am making another attempt for WILD and MILD (I guess the techniques are considered MILD, aren't they?). Also, last WILD attempt I tried counting to 20, drift off, then counting to 20, drift off as the anchor. I fell asleep after the third drift off. Now I am going to try using a mantra as an anchor, and in the spirit of the MILD technique, it will be: "Remember". I post my results in the 'morrow! Also, you may notice my fancy signature! I finally got around to making one, it's quite simple really, just LD's and goals.

Okay so last night I made some more progress. I fell asleep after an hour again, I think I only need 8 hours, but I want a full 6 cycles of sleep, so I'm not giving up. I woke up extremely tired and groggy for my WBTB. I got up and did the exercise. I went back to sleep trying to WILD. I repeated "Remember" in my head on every exhale. I got auditory hallucinations too, I've never gotten that before. I heard a sort of chime in the wind. I fell asleep unconsciously quickly. I have asked Sageous already what I did wrong, but do you have any ideas?

When I woke up, I didn't remember any dreams, but then I went in the shower haha. I remembered mostly everything, and I tried to go through the dream to remember more, which I did. It was long and vivid, as usual.

Highlight of the dream: A girl had a vagina under her foot, and yes, I did...

Other than that nothing else happened. I'll continue with what I'm doing and see what happens!

Your shower dream recall seems to be working great for you! Nice! Yes, perhaps you are better off with just 8 hours of sleep and that may help with the other issues you are having with getting to sleep quickly. I am out of ideas but I did remember FryingMan had put together a long list of things he found out about sleeping quickly in one of his posts several months back.

Originally Posted by fogelbise

Your shower dream recall seems to be working great for you! Nice! Yes, perhaps you are better off with just 8 hours of sleep and that may help with the other issues you are having with getting to sleep quickly. I am out of ideas but I did remember FryingMan had put together a long list of things he found out about sleeping quickly in one of his posts several months back.

Yeah the shower is where I remember most of my dreams, I don't know why, it's weird, but I'm not complaining! Yeah I'll just sleep 8 hours until I'm able to sleep 9. I think I'll PM FryingMan and ask him for a link. I think I had something else to say, but I forgot, so I'll let you know if I remember.

Okay nothing else has happened. I have not remembered or had any lucid dreams. I have not done my RRC's as carefully, nor have I done WBTB's, PM exercises, or WILD attempts. My sleep pattern has been shifted, and I have not been paying attention to it. What's going on!? Am I slacking off? Have I quit trying? No, none of the above! The explanation is quite simple...

On Friday it was my birthday! So the first thing I remembered when I woke up was not, "What was I just dreaming about?". Friday was very busy for me. We went out of town this weekend too and my sleeping pattern has been shifted. Now that I've gotten back it's going to take a little effort to get my sleeping rhythm back, and my RRC's and my dream recall back. I am not worried about any of it though, as my exercises have proven to work. I will attempt a WBTB+MILD+WILD tonight too.

On Sunday it was two weeks since my last LD. Hopefully I have will have one soon.

Oh and one more thing, I am actually slightly worried about the RRC's. Sageous said:

Here’s what to do: At random intervals during the day – at least once an hour but no more than three times in that hour – stop what you’re doing and wonder. Just hold still for a second and remember where you were five minutes ago, imagine where you’ll be in five minutes, and know that everything you’re doing right now has an effect on everything and everyone around you, and everything and everyone around you has an effect on you – even if you don’t realize it.

Will this exercise only help with WILDs, or will it help with DILD's too? Am I supposed to ask how things affect me and vice versa? I don't feel like there is any "affect" going on at all times. These are my concerns.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Okay, I meant to post this on Sunday, but now it's Wednesday. Anyway I attempted the WBTB+WILD+MILD last night, but I slept through the alarm. I think I'm going to try a little earlier tonight. I'm going to try to wake up after 4.5 hours. I think it might work better, because I am way too tired for 5 hours. I will try that, and I might ask Sageous these questions too, if you think that's better.

Originally Posted by HanZartaC

On Friday it was my birthday!

Oh and one more thing, I am actually slightly worried about the RRC's. Sageous said:

Here’s what to do: At random intervals during the day – at least once an hour but no more than three times in that hour – stop what you’re doing and wonder. Just hold still for a second and remember where you were five minutes ago, imagine where you’ll be in five minutes, and know that everything you’re doing right now has an effect on everything and everyone around you, and everything and everyone around you has an effect on you – even if you don’t realize it.

Will this exercise only help with WILDs, or will it help with DILD's too? Am I supposed to ask how things affect me and vice versa? I don't feel like there is any "affect" going on at all times. These are my concerns.

-Happy belated birthday!

-I feel it definitely helps with DILDs too! My understanding is that it is an exercise to strengthen self-awareness and memory. Remembering where you were or what you were thinking 5 minutes or 15 minutes ago works on both of those things. It is very hard to get the feeling of your "affect going on at all times" but Sageous does state "even if you don't realize it" and it is something that may take time and practice to feel the shift. Try this: really stop what you are doing during the RRC and just slowly look around in wonder. Next, look at one object and tap your index finger on your nose while looking at the object...see if you feel a little shift. I liken it to what Laberge describes as "I am he who is aware!" (I am the one who is experiencing this awareness, a perspective on self-awareness).

Originally Posted by fogelbise

-Happy belated birthday!

Thank you very much!

-I feel it definitely helps with DILDs too! My understanding is that it is an exercise to strengthen self-awareness and memory. Remembering where you were or what you were thinking 5 minutes or 15 minutes ago works on both of those things. It is very hard to get the feeling of your "affect going on at all times" but Sageous does state "even if you don't realize it" and it is something that may take time and practice to feel the shift. Try this: really stop what you are doing during the RRC and just slowly look around in wonder. Next, look at one object and tap your index finger on your nose while looking at the object...see if you feel a little shift. I liken it to what Laberge describes as "I am he who is aware!" (I am the one who is experiencing this awareness, a perspective on self-awareness).

Okay that really did clear a lot of things up for me. I guess the hard part for me is really just putting the effort into doing them and doing them correctly. I will try what you suggested. I will also try the good ol' WBTB at 4.5 hours. I'll let you know how it went!

I hope all is well Hans. Please consider this challenge for yourself as well...it is something I thought of especially for the younger DV members:

Link to specific post in>>http://www.dreamviews.com/dild/15062...ml#post2089545

Originally Posted by fogelbise

I hope all is well Hans. Please consider this challenge for yourself as well...it is something I thought of especially for the younger DV members:

Link to specific post in>>http://www.dreamviews.com/dild/15062...ml#post2089545

fogelbise, I cannot thank you enough. You are clearly meant to teach. It has been days since I have done a proper RRC. I attempted a WBTB earlier this week but I didn't feel like doing it so I went back to bed. I haven't remembered a dream in a while, just one very small fragment. My sleep pattern has been way off and unbalanced. I obviously have not been trying, and I lost complete interest and motivation (almost) in lucid dreaming. I was in fact even contemplating writing an official indefinite goodbye post in my workbook, so rah I can return fully motivated instead of pressuring myself. As you know, the end of the school-year is nearing upon me, and a lot of things are happening. I also have another problem. I have never ever been able to keep several interests. For example, I might be very interested in a subject or activity, then suddenly I become interested in something else and I lose my former interest like that *snaps fingers*! This is very bothersome, as I can't choose a future easily. On the other hand I guess it is a good trait as well, as I can explore many things and find what I like. I have always seen myself as an explorer, I am very curious. Last weekend this happened, I lost interest in lucid dreaming. However, your post described exactly what I am going through. It was incredibly inspiring. Sadly I can't say my motivation, inspiration, and interest has spiked, but they have gone up at least enough for me to try a WBTB MILD WILD combo. I have promised to myself that I will go through with it. I also think I'll read my dreams and my goals as you suggested the last time I had the same issue. I also think part of why I stopped trying is because, well, I think RRC's are bothersome and boring. I know it's a bad excuse, but I might be really busy, then my phone reminds me to RRC and I put it off. Do you think I could substitute RRC's with something? I don't think they have proven very successful to me.

I am sorry for making you read that wall of text. But I want you to know that I appreciate you teaching me!
May 5th-9th was teacher appreciation week, I'm a little late, but I want to thank you for taking time out of your day to share knowledge and wisdom and guiding a dreamer.

Thank you!
-Hans