Some Useful Lucid Dreaming Control Tricks
How many times has something like this happened to you?
You have finally gained lucidity, taking a quick look around, marveling at the detail and wonder around you, you decide to fly. Unfortunately you float up into the air uselessly unable to move. The dream starts to get fuzzy and you can't focus on your surroundings any longer, you flail around or try to use some stability techniques but it feels like you have lead weights on your limbs impeding your movement. You find yourself dragged into reality, laying in bed frustrated.
Many a good opportunity for lucidity has ended in this way for me. Here are some things I have learned from MANY disappointments and lost opportunities, each of these suggestions has worked for me at least once.
Flying
One of the favorite hobbies while lucid, many people have a hard time passing this hurdle. Or, when they do achieve this goal, find it difficult to control or stay aloft. A great trick is to use something else to help you fly. The most successful tool for me has been to use Iron Man boosters on the palms of my hands to fly, but it's not limited. Use a kite, grow wings, borrow a jetpack, grab the tail of a bird, seek and ye shall find. There is something around you that will help you stay airborne if you look. Summoning is a useful skill to have in this instance, there are many schools of thought that I won't go into here though.
Clarity
Does anyone else feel like they are slowly losing their vision as their lucid comes to a close? Like you cannot force your eyes open enough to keep everything in focus? I laughed out loud when this was happening to me and in a stroke of either genius or stupidity I removed the obviously faulty glasses that were on my face and the dream became as clear as a summer day. This may be more difficult for someone who does not wear glasses daily but the merit is still there. Make the problem into an external removable issue...and then remove it!
Another useful trick for clarity at the moment of lucidity is to take a second to think back over the dream you just "woke up" from and to state, out loud, the dreamsigns you missed during that dream. This serves to ground you in your lucidity, reiterate any signs right off the bat so you learn from your mistakes, it gives you a moment to collect yourself, and curb that pesky rush of excitement that ends so many lucids.
Length
I was astounded at how well this trick worked for me. Especially when other traditional stability techniques have failed it is prudent to sit and meditate while in the dream. There is an inherent rushed feeling that comes with lucidity to complete as much as you can with that ominous inevitable deadline of waking up looming over you. This feeling is counter-productive. Sit, stare, listen, smell, breathe (it may not be the best idea to close your eyes for this practice, instead, look at your surroundings) An important goal in this instance I found was to feel your whole body there physically, feel yourself take up space and feel your lungs fill with dream air. Do NOT sit impatiently waiting to fly off and achieve some goals. The longest lucid I ever experienced I sat and meditated at three different times within the dream between accomplishing my goals. It was amazing.
Movement
Similar to the trick with Clarity, if you feel like you are suddenly running through mud and restricted in your movements get out of the mud! Look for the physical reason around you that you can't move well. I usually have to remove those exercise weights that keep seeming to attach themselves to my ankles so I can move freely again. If you look for it, there will be a reason. Fighting your dream on the issue is a sure fire way to lose it. This kind of thinking puts you working with the dream to achieve what you wish.
Magic
Useful for nearly any kind of supernatural powers you want to wield this trick brought me much enjoyment and success. The only word I need is PLAY. That's right. Use that withered imagination of yours. Take time while you are conscious to imagine the feeling of using that power, feel it well up in you, point at things and make blowing up noises. Dive under your desk and throw imaginary fireballs at imaginary bad guys. If you can give up that much self-importance while you are awake you can drop that disbelief easily while you are asleep.
Good luck with these tips! Let me know if you try them and how well they work for you.
