Shadowwolf6tail's DILD Workbook

[shadowwolf6tail]

Hi, I'm Will and my username is shadowwolf6tail. Before the age of 15, I disregarded dreams and didn't understand them at all. I remember maybe 5 dreams from that time. At the age of 15 I started a dream journal around my birthday, just because that seemed like an interesting thing to do. My dream journal has helped my dream recall improve greatly. At the age of 16, I learned about lucid dreaming from an American Dad episode and have been trying to have them ever since. My first lucid dream was spontaneous. I had actually decided to give up on lucid dreaming, but this dream made me want to again. I've had 5 lucid dreams since, but they haven't been very clear, even when I try stabilization techniques I read about online. I've tried WBTB maybe 15 times but DILD is my primary technique and I realized recently I don't know much about it! What do I do during the day to incubate lucid dreaming? Whenever something strange happens I'm sure to do a reality check and also every time I look at my watch (Not very often). Dream signs? I'm horrible at noticing any similarities in my dreams, but the only one I've noticed is a large body of water such as a lake, river, pool or ocean. What are the reality checks you use? My primary one is trying to push my fingers through my hand, but if I feel i need to do more than one, I plug my nose and/or look at words. Any goals? I'd like to attain lucidity regularly, fall asleep faster and also to find a way to do more reality checks more often. In-dream goals? I would like to increase the vividness of my dreams while in them and also perfect dream control. How did I sleep last night? I woke up at 3:14 in the morning and decided to do a WBTB. After what felt like 20 minutes of lying still, I rolled over and opened my eyes. The clock read 5:34(digital) and I couldn't hear my analog clock ticking. Everything was blurry so I tried 3 reality checks but they all passed. So I just want back to bed. I'm still wondering if I missed a chance. It felt wrong, but everything was in its exact place.

[fogelbise]

. Welcome! What do I do during the day to incubate lucid dreaming? Whenever something strange happens I'm sure to do a reality check and also every time I look at my watch (Not very often). We can talk about different ideas on this subject if interested. Dream signs? I'm horrible at noticing any similarities in my dreams, but the only one I've noticed is a large body of water such as a lake, river, pool or ocean. When first laying down for the night remind yourself how large bodies of water often show up in your dreams. For me dream signs seem to serve as more of a hint and my awareness and how clear my mind is are more important. Any goals? I'd like to attain lucidity regularly, fall asleep faster and also to find a way to do more reality checks more often. The last item there should help you with the first one. I use the 'Awoken' app for android as it features truly random reminders, but you can also decide to reality check every time that you enter a new room or "scene" in waking life. When you RC, ask yourself what was I doing 15-20 minutes ago as well or "how did I get here?" To me the biggest simple step during an RC is to really stop what you are doing and intently look around in wonder. In-dream goals? I would like to increase the vividness of my dreams while in them and also perfect dream control. There are some great ideas throughout this site for both of those things. For dream control a key factor is to just KNOW that you can do pretty much anything and have no doubt as you attempt any dream control items. For vividness, paying attention to the little details in waking life can help among other things. Visualization can help with both of these goals as well. How did I sleep last night? I woke up at 3:14 in the morning and decided to do a WBTB. After what felt like 20 minutes of lying still, I rolled over and opened my eyes. The clock read 5:34(digital) and I couldn't hear my analog clock ticking. Everything was blurry so I tried 3 reality checks but they all passed. So I just want back to bed. I'm still wondering if I missed a chance. It felt wrong, but everything was in its exact place. Was that 3 different RCs that passed?

[shadowwolf6tail]

Thanks. And in response to your question Was that 3 different RCs that passed? Yes. They were: looking at text looking away and looking back (This one I have had no luck with in the past because in my dreams, text tends to stay the same), pushing my thumb through the palm of my hand and looking at my reflection in the mirror I have beside my bed.

[shadowwolf6tail]

No dream recall for last night because I was awoken by a big crash at 6:00 in the morning and immediately went to investigate.

[fogelbise]

Thanks. And in response to your question Yes. They were: looking at text looking away and looking back (This one I have had no luck with in the past because in my dreams, text tends to stay the same), pushing my thumb through the palm of my hand and looking at my reflection in the mirror I have beside my bed. Usually 3 different RCs is enough, so perhaps you were awake. If you ever have that lingering doubt, it wouldn't hurt to try them again or try another different RC and always believe that they will work to give you the best chance to discover that you are dreaming. No dream recall for last night because I was awoken by a big crash at 6:00 in the morning and immediately went to investigate. Wow, crazy! I guess you are sure that wasn't a dream...

[shadowwolf6tail]

Wow, crazy! I guess you are sure that wasn't a dream... My dog had gotten into the trash and had pushed the can over a small 2 step flight of stairs.

[fogelbise]

Ah...I was imagining some kind of vehicular crash...either way that would indeed make it harder to recall dreams you hadn't recorded or thought about during any earlier, less eventful awakenings.

[shadowwolf6tail]

My dream last night was really depressing with lots of people I know dieing but one thing I noticed was that I wasn't a part of it. It was like a movie, scenes but no me! How would I go about making a reality check for when I'm not in my dream? I was thinking about trying all day awareness.

[fogelbise]

Well, 'you' are basically there...it is you that is there watching the scenes. If you have enough awareness to realize that it is a dream, then there are quite a few options. If you are hoping to trigger yourself doing an RC in those kinds of dreams I would try closing your eyes and thinking of a new scene. If the whole scene changes, then you are dreaming. You can even use this when you realize it is a dream...a kind of closed eye teleport (idea from BrandonBoss). If you decide to try ADA, perhaps start with one sense or item (by item I mean awareness of a dream sign or breathing or gravity for example). You can always add other senses or items after you have the feel for the initial one that you chose. Starting off trying to be aware of all of the senses so often may be hard to maintain. Have you tried mantras?

[shadowwolf6tail]

Have you tried mantras? I use a dream clarity mantra sometimes. Although I haven't used it in a while and seem to have completely forgot it.

[fogelbise]

You can just write a new one if you want to add it to your arsenal. I recommend thinking about lucid dreaming as you lay down to go to sleep for the night, jot a few notes in your DJ noting date and time going to bed along with any goals and then you can recite a mantra several times if you choose to. If you have trouble getting to sleep with such activity then you can try it earlier in the evening before going to bed.

[shadowwolf6tail]

No dream recall for the past few days.

[fogelbise]

You may already know how to improve recall, but if you need a boost, check this out: http://www.dreamviews.com/dream-sign...reams-try.html

[shadowwolf6tail]

Thanks for that link, I've never heard of that before.

[shadowwolf6tail]

Last night I had a dream after a dry spell for a week. It was pretty short and not lucid but at least I had one.

[fogelbise]

Last night I had a dream after a dry spell for a week. It was pretty short and not lucid but at least I had one. Nice. Do remember that, in general, you dream every night. It is remembering the dreams that is the trick.

[shadowwolf6tail]

Had a dream about zombies last night and this marks the 17th dream about zombies (Although in one they were zombie muffins)

[shadowwolf6tail]

After another dry spell I had a dream last night about sitting on a hill by a road. I noticed clouds in the sky and realized I should take cover to avoid getting wet. Then I woke up.

[fogelbise]

I love dreams where I am looking to the sky. I have found that I often notice something unusual the times that I do remember looking to the sky and this often helps me to become lucid. Since you have been having an off and on dry spell with recall I would recommend working on that. Do you try to lay still while keeping your eyes closed when you wake?...Or perhaps you always wake by alarm? I know when I was in my teens all the way up until more recently I was not paying attention to dreams at all and missed years of LD opportunities.

[shadowwolf6tail]

Do you try to lay still while keeping your eyes closed when you wake?...Or perhaps you always wake by alarm? I have 2 alarms set. One at 6:20 and one at 6:40. Normally I don't remember any dreams at 6:20 but I lie for a while just to make sure. Its at 6:40 I remember most of my dreams. Its pretty much WBTB.

[fogelbise]

I have 2 alarms set. One at 6:20 and one at 6:40. Normally I don't remember any dreams at 6:20 but I lie for a while just to make sure. Its at 6:40 I remember most of my dreams. Its pretty much WBTB. Oh, ok. Do you get up at 6:40 for the day or for a while and then go back to sleep? Just looking for ways to help you with recall.

[shadowwolf6tail]

I get up at 6:40 for the day.

[fogelbise]

If your alarm is a little jarring it can make it harder to recall as much. If the one at 6:20am shuts off by itself, that is better. If not, you can also use one of these ways to wake up more naturally: by mantra; by drinking water before bed; or by a more gentle alarm.

[shadowwolf6tail]

I've hooked up my iPod to my speakers and used that as an alarm before. I think i'll try doing that again because I have much nicer wake up music on it.

[fogelbise]

Sounds like a great plan. Especially with some soothing music that puts you in a good mood. It could wake you up smoothly so that you can lay there and let the dream recall start to flow but you may have to experiment with it. You can try listing your dream recall in your head to write down when you turn over or get up. Some people do better by just taking the first fragment they remember and start writing and then it starts flowing better. I used to wake up to soothing music similar to your idea and I loved it...I should find a way to go back to that.