Thread: HanZartaC's Workbook

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!

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!