Spinning Revisited

[The Cusp]

I've long been opposed to the spinning technique used by some people in lucid dreaming, on the basis that it is unreliable. Half the time, it causes you to wake up, the other half it has unexpected or unintended results. I saw something on TV last weekend that made me reconsider my definition of spinning. I've only ever thought of spinning as throwing your arms out and spinning around until you make yourself dizzy. It's disorienting to say the least, which may be why this technique has been so unreliable for me. So anyways, I saw this show with Boston Rob (of Survivor fame) where he investigates various paranormal things. I can't stand Boston Rob, which is the only reason I was watching the show (Does that make sense?). THey were investigating life after death, and Rob wanted to ask a neurologist about the possibilities of life after death. The neurologist they got was a complete nut job. This neurologist started rambling about lucid dreaming, and was trying to explain it to them as a means to explore life after death. He took them on a literal walk through of a lucid dream, demonstrating various techniques. And then he got to spinning.... This neurologist was demonstrating spinning not by making himself dizzy as I had done, but as a small quick spin. He would either do a 180 and look behind, or do a complete 360. The way he moved was like a ninja, all in one swift, crisp move. It was funny to watch, especially the look on Boston Rob's face. In retrospect, it seems my spinning attempts were too intense, i got carried away and overwhelmed. Now I'm going to have to try smaller more controlled movements. For anyone who uses the spinning technique, what kind of spinning do you do? How do you do it?

[GestaltAlteration]

My spinning attempts were like yours-- too fast and unreliable. In addition it rarely got me the dream change I desired and only served to weaken the lucidity. Some of the time it worked moderately, but still... I'll have to try the version of this neurologist. Thanks for sharing.

[Clairity]

Spinning sadly only woke me up but, maybe as you said.. I wasn't doing it properly. At the moment, I'm so gunshy about spinning that I'm hesitant about even trying to spin again to try to change locations. But maybe I'll give it a try the next time I feel my dream starting to fade.. what have I got to lose then?

[Moonbeam]

Interesting. I always try to turn into a human whirlwind. It hasn't worked that well for me; sometimes I get the velocity and speed, but I don't end up anywhere good; other times I just feel like I'm flopping around and can't even really do it. I'll try it this way, next time I remember. Spinning has such mixed results, maybe half of us are doing it wrong.

[DuB]

While dream spinning has never caused me to wake up, I do consider it to be a rather unreliable technique. Among the results I've gotten are: I finish spinning and am in the exact location I wanted to go to. I get extremely dizzy, even more dizzy than I would get in real life from spinning in circles. Nothing happens at all (the most common result). The quick spin sounds like a good idea.

[Think0808]

I breifly attempted last night will trying to WILD to take an image in my head and spin it around and around. I was thinking of the bible, and spinning it in my imagination, and it helped me have better visuals before sleeping.

[Misbijoux]

I've used the spinning techinique a handful of times, and about half the time it worked. I've always done the "quick spin", no twirling and twirling until I felt dizzy. I saw the word "spinning" as just a quick spin, like in martial arts (spinning kicks). I was in martial arts about 12 years ago (I'm dating myself, here), and my favorite moves were the spinning kicks. So, when I read people used the spinning technique to keep from losing lucidity, I just figured it was a bit like the kicks I used to do. A quick 180 spin would do it for me. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't.

[Theskit]

Yea I never tried to make myself dizzy. I always just did a small spin.

[Holiace]

I did a spin and for a reason I don't know, I got dizzy... Stupid brain, why did you have to remember that I get dizzy?

[Dreams Rock]

Whenever I spin, usually nothing happens... I just keep spinning and spinning even after the dream fades away, and I'm reluctant to stop because I know that I'm just going to wake up. It worked a couple of times though... and both times, it was because I started spinning the other way. =/

[Menthol]

Whenever I spin it is to induce a FA, and it has never failed me. I just close my eyes, have intent to "wake up" in bed, and do a quick little spin. I go through some vibrations/rolling sensation, and end up in bed.

[Mysteryhunter]

Come on, The Cusp Why be opposed to the spinning technique so long? Eventually at some point a lucid dreamer will want to create a way to prolong the dream. A powerfull movement of some manner such as spinning may help but if not, just simply do not use it. It/s an established technique used by the Sulfis and a mystical arm of Islam I do a quick spin or quick whirrling that works for me. Try falling backwards, or take your hands into a fist and slam them infront of your stomach I donna know be creative in use of your own technique sometimes a certain burst of activity can help push you to remain alert when you find yourself slipping into unconsciousness. Try in spinning in the waking state to see if you notice heightened lucidity.

[Iamerik]

Did you guys ever try spinning, but with your hands in front of your head (30 cm or so)? My hands, like the rest of the landscape, got distorted. Looked funny.

[yay]

Funny seeing this thread , since I just tried spinning last night in my WILD. It wasn't too vivid or clear, so I tried looking at my hands at first, they were all wavy and weird, but it didn't help. Then I tried spinning. I did a quick spin but it didn't help either. Then I tried rubbing my hands, and I think it helped a little, but not much. There was one thing I tried after that though that helped a lot. I squeezed my eyes shut. I am not sure if it is because it was a WILD , and I wasn't completely asleep, or in deep sleep, but when I was doing it I could still see. I've heard about people closing their eyes in lucid dreams, and sometimes it wakes them up, so I don't think it will work for everyone, but it worked really well for me and I'm going to try it more now. I'm excited because I have a few lucid dreams where they aren't too vivid or clear and nothing has seemed to help, but squeezing my eyes shut tight helped so much!

[AURON]

tried the spinning thing the way you explained twice....and it didn't work for me...the first time, I wasn't thinking about anything behind me or a possible scene change, but the second time I did. I just got dizzy for a couple of seconds and woke up. Hehe, oh well. Different strokes maybe?

[mathieu]

i tried this last night and it worked, it changed the scene from being in the woods to a school. but after that i was to caught up in the dream an lost it.