Dream Control Vs Roaming Freely

This is my first post, so I want to start by saying, "Hi", to everyone. I've read through alot of the website, and some of the posts, and am looking forward to sharing my experiences and learning from others, as well as gaining insight into the possibilities available through my dreams.

I've been lucid dreaming for as long as I can remember, they come very naturally and often to me. The first time I can recall lucid dreaming, I was nine. Since then, on average, I have about 2-3 lucid dreams per week. Sometimes more, sometimes less, on average its about 2-3.

They come at all times...at night, during a "nap"...various times. Occasionally they are accompanied by sleep paralysis, but always accompanied by the inability to immediately differ between reality and my dream when I first awaken. Sometimes I try to awaken from a dream and found that I could not no matter what I do...only to find out after I really wake up that my attempts to wake up were only a dream.

Its only been in the last ten years or so that I've started on and off reading about it, and learned what it was and that it was possible to attain these on purpose and even control them.

I love my dreams...some are sad, some happy, alot are nightmares...but I love experiencing them all...to be able to taste, smell and feel in my dreams just as well as I see and hear in them is exhilirating, and I consider myself very fortunate to be able to achieve this.

Up until recently, I've never tried to attain dream control...but I would like to. I want to be able to create a certain experience in my dreams. But I have a couple questions and concerns.

1. I don't want to always control them. I love allowing my conscious mind to be set free to roam the corridors of my subconscious without control. I enjoy seeing where it takes me...even the nightmares. They say its hard to change, but thats its even harder to change back to what you once were...so once the ability to control dreams is attained, does it make it more difficult to roam your mind freely without control?

2. What were some of your experiences...how long did it take...what methods/techniques appear to be more effective for you, in attaining dream control?

Thank you for reading this and any advice you can offer!

First off, Welcome to the forum! :D Another seasoned LDer finds us! Thanks for taking the time to introduce yourself.

As for your questions regarding dream control:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DreamAllure

1. I don't want to always control them. I love allowing my conscious mind to be set free to roam the corridors of my subconscious without control. I enjoy seeing where it takes me...even the nightmares. They say its hard to change, but thats its even harder to change back to what you once were...so once the ability to control dreams is attained, does it make it more difficult to roam your mind freely without control?[/b]

---

Control is just that - control. Meaning you can either do it or not do it, depending on what you want. Control and lucidity are not dependant on each other. A lot of people can control certain aspects of their dreams without ever becoming lucid. And sometimes you can be lucid without having any control at all. So you can have one without the other.

If you're lucid, you can simply say 'yes I want to change this in some way' or 'I'll just let events unfold.' It's completely up to you. But I bet you'll find that once you start practicing control, you'll find that it doesn't detract from your lucid dreaming experience, but enhances it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DreamAllure

2. What were some of your experiences...how long did it take...what methods/techniques appear to be more effective for you, in attaining dream control?[/b]

---

The only specific control technique I use is a magic wand. :wizard: Sometimes I have trouble willing something to change - I'm not sure if it's because I'm doubting myself as I'm doing it or what - but someone on this forum mentioned using a magic wand, because it's an extension of yourself, and you'll have an easier time believing you can control something if the wand is doing it. So I tried it and it worked! Now it's a regular tool of mine in my LDs to change or control things when I want to.

There are many other techniques that people use, but the key is finding something that works for you. Since everyone's different, it's hard to know exactly what will work best for you. Just try different things and see where it takes you.