Earplug Method Possible Rc

When i attempt LD i now use earplugs to aid in concentration and to focus on my breathing. In the process i now use it as a Reality Check, when i enter a LD usually in the form of a False awakening i get out of my bed and the earplugs are no longer in my ears so i instantly realise im dreaming.

I have asked this question in my first post a while ago, Has anyone who uses earplugs had a false awakening and the earplugs still been in the ears? Because when it happens to me the earplugs are not there.

I try to use this as a RC, that is why i am asking if anyone has had earplugs still in their ears in the dream. If it proves to be a good RC i will use it all the time.

It may be a good dreamsign, but not a RC. Whenever you wake up without earplugs do a good RC by looking at a digital clock multiple times.


When I sleep with earplugs they usually fall out by the end of the night

The earplugs i use dont fall out during the night because they are made especially for sleeping as not to cause discomfort.

I have used the watch/clock RC but i prefer the hold your nose and try to breathe RC technique as it is simple yet effective.

Thx

Stay Lucid

What kind of earplugs do u use? I tried sponge ones but it never did the trick. Anyway, I never had an LD yet (crossing fingers for tonight), but Im rehearsing my RCs during day, usually the hand checks, some the light switch ones too.

Whoa DEJA VU right when i posted that last reply!! Sweeeeeet!

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Originally Posted by secret_neo

What kind of earplugs do u use? I tried sponge ones but it never did the trick. Anyway, I never had an LD yet (crossing fingers for tonight), but Im rehearsing my RCs during day, usually the hand checks, some the light switch ones too.

Whoa DEJA VU right when i posted that last reply!! Sweeeeeet!
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I use ribbed ones which make it hard for sound to get through and alot harder for them to fall out during the night. Ill try to post a picture so you can look for yourself. :)

Thx

Stay Lucid

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Originally Posted by Sostyles

I use ribbed ones which make it hard for sound to get through and alot harder for them to fall out during the night. Ill try to post a picture so you can look for yourself. :)

Thx

Stay Lucid
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Here is a diagram of the ribbed earplugs my camera is broke :-( they are ribbed which helps with the sound and to stop falling out.

http://img108.imageshack.us/img108/8992/earplugsan0.png

Thx

Stay Lucid

hrm, i use a pair of Shure E4's, with tri-flange sleeves. They won't fall out unless you pull them out, the foam sleeves are pretty comfy too, but the tri-flange are easier to clean.

Never thought of it as an RC though, I do recommend a pair of sound isolating headphones like these (i had a pair of E3c's before they were good too), as they block out just about ALL outside noise, so you are not disturbed when sleeping.

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Originally Posted by TheUnknown

hrm, i use a pair of Shure E4's, with tri-flange sleeves. They won't fall out unless you pull them out, the foam sleeves are pretty comfy too, but the tri-flange are easier to clean.

Never thought of it as an RC though, I do recommend a pair of sound isolating headphones like these (i had a pair of E3c's before they were good too), as they block out just about ALL outside noise, so you are not disturbed when sleeping.
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Ill have to take a look at those...

Thx

Stay Lucid

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Originally Posted by Ev

It may be a good dreamsign, but not a RC. Whenever you wake up without earplugs do a good RC by looking at a digital clock multiple times.
When I sleep with earplugs they usually fall out by the end of the night
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Personally I disagree with that. If, everytime you wake up, you check for the earplugs in your ears, then it's RCing. A dreamsign is a recurring impossible thing that happens when you dream, and something you use as a cue to say I am Lucid. For example, one of my dreamsigns I think is the quick changing of day to night/night changing to day (instant, or at least way faster than it should happen). This isn't something I actively check for though. My RCs are the nose and finger through hand RCs (and i add in a couple others depending on the situation (if there's a clock i look at it, etc.). I actively do them when I am suspicious I'm dreaming. This is what you are doing with the earplugs when you wake up; checking that they are there actively. So it's an RC. The earplugs missing may be a dreamsign, but the active check to see if they are there is a not totally conclusive Reality Check.

Anyways, you should wear earplugs even when you don't try to LD, and do the earplug RC every time you wake up. This will make you used to it, and get you LDs on nights when you aren't trying actively to LD maybe. Also, add in the nose RC, and maybe the finger through palm RC, as while the earplugs probably didn't fall out, they may have. Or they might not disappear, and you're still Lucid. The earplugs are a less reliable RC, and should therefore be combined with more tried and true RCs. One more tip, don't get up until after you know you are dreaming, as if you are dreaming, gettting up too fast may wake you up, and if you aren't, the movement will make it harder to fall asleep.

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Originally Posted by PenguinLord13

Personally I disagree with that. If, everytime you wake up, you check for the earplugs in your ears, then it's RCing. A dreamsign is a recurring impossible thing that happens when you dream, and something you use as a cue to say I am Lucid. For example, one of my dreamsigns I think is the quick changing of day to night/night changing to day (instant, or at least way faster than it should happen). This isn't something I actively check for though. My RCs are the nose and finger through hand RCs (and i add in a couple others depending on the situation (if there's a clock i look at it, etc.). I actively do them when I am suspicious I'm dreaming. This is what you are doing with the earplugs when you wake up; checking that they are there actively. So it's an RC. The earplugs missing may be a dreamsign, but the active check to see if they are there is a not totally conclusive Reality Check.

Anyways, you should wear earplugs even when you don't try to LD, and do the earplug RC every time you wake up. This will make you used to it, and get you LDs on nights when you aren't trying actively to LD maybe. Also, add in the nose RC, and maybe the finger through palm RC, as while the earplugs probably didn't fall out, they may have. Or they might not disappear, and you're still Lucid. The earplugs are a less reliable RC, and should therefore be combined with more tried and true RCs. One more tip, don't get up until after you know you are dreaming, as if you are dreaming, gettting up too fast may wake you up, and if you aren't, the movement will make it harder to fall asleep.
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Firstly thx for all the tips they came in very handy, i agree that its not a definate RC as i explained further up the topic that is why i was asking the question has anyone who uses earplugs ever had a lucid dream where the earplugs were still in your ears?

To me they are always missing when i dream so its an ok RC until they start to appear in dreams then its not a RC just a thing i do..

I do also do the nose RC too just to be sure!

Thx

Stay Lucid