Fade to black...

[WhiteLightsaber]

Now that I got the attention of all the Metallica fans, this has nothing to do with the band. Now I will have a DILD about every 1 - 2 weeks, but every time it happens, I'll suddenly be in a black void. I'll know I'm dreaming, once I was able to stay in SP, but no dream formed. One time, a new dream suddenly appeared, but last night, I just sat in a dark void, and then awoke. It seems every time I realize I'm dreaming, I lose the dream I'm in. I know that spinning and rubbing hands help stabilize, but I don't have the time to do it. What else is possible to help stop this from happening? Or... should I embrace the darkness and imagine my own dreamscape?

[Fenghuang]

Yeh mabye your mind is giving you a blank slate to work with. It would be worth a go visualising a place that is very familiar to you see if you can go there, otherwise, see if you can manipulate yourself in the void or summon an object to you.

[jereb]

Take a vacoom cleaner and suck up the blackness.

[jaasum]

This happens to me. You just have to "step" into a new dreamscape. Don't sit there for too long or you will wake up (I think you know that). Imagine you are in a dark room and you grab a door handle and open it into your next dream scene.

[WhiteLightsaber]

Thanks for all your replies. I ended up having another DILD last night. I just closed my eyes! All I had to do is open my eyes and I could see the dream world. I ended up having a cool flying LD and jumping off cliffs to airplanes.

[jh477]

You must have a clear mind if you're in a black area. I don't see blackness until I'm about to wake up.

[Schmaven]

Haha, the first thing I thought of when I saw this thread was Metallica. The closest I've come to being in a black void was when I was trying to WILD while already dreaming. I closed my eyes, and I was in a world of swirling and rotating patterns of color. I thought "This must be HI" and tried to go with it, but then some guy tried to kill me with a giant axe so I had to stop. If I had a black void, I'd try to use my arms to draw in it.

[WhiteLightsaber]

If I had a black void, I'd try to use my arms to draw in it. Thats a great idea! I might try this the next time a void happens!

[i make it rain]

There are times where I have already started the LD and been doing stuff when I suddenly realize that everything is black. I just look at my hands (but I can't see them so where my hands would be) for about 6 seconds and I slowely get it back. The key is just not to panic. That can easily lead you out of the dream.

[ForgottenDream]

i said this in another thread, but every dream has a lifespan and will end eventually, but that doesn't mean you'll wake up unless you want to. during the transition from one dream to another you'll experience this darkness. this happened to me twice before, one time a door just appeared and i stepped through it and into a dream scene. i just focused on the colors that appeared and they eventually formed a door without me consciously thinking about one. BTW i knew what this thread was gonna be about before reading it, but i still thought about Metallica lol.

[sjones]

This happens to me when a LD is about to end. It somehow seems as if somebody slowly turns off the light by using a dimmer. I tried the hand rubbing and spinning technique but so far it hasn't worked for me.

[acillis]

some people believe the void to be a actual other dimension, but anyway sometimes just running as fast as you can in one direction, can lead you to other places

[The Cusp]

Now that I got the attention of all the Metallica fans, this has nothing to do with the band. Now I will have a DILD about every 1 - 2 weeks, but every time it happens, I'll suddenly be in a black void. I'll know I'm dreaming, once I was able to stay in SP, but no dream formed. One time, a new dream suddenly appeared, but last night, I just sat in a dark void, and then awoke. It seems every time I realize I'm dreaming, I lose the dream I'm in. I know that spinning and rubbing hands help stabilize, but I don't have the time to do it. What else is possible to help stop this from happening? Or... should I embrace the darkness and imagine my own dreamscape? I know exactly what's happening here. Everything in dreams requires your attention to exist. What you're doing is getting too excited when you realize you are LDing. You start thinking too much, and your focus turns inwards so that there is nothing left to sustain the dream outside. You probably stop whatever it is you were just doing as well once you realize you are dreaming, which only compounds matters. So basically don't just stand there going "Whoa! I'm dreaming!". Start interacting with the dream right away. Helps if you have predetermined goals you want to accomplish. Most of all just try not to retreat inside your own head from the shock. It doesn't matter how you interact with your environment. Fly, eat a handfull of dirt, jump up on a table and throw your arms up in triumph, grab the hottest girl, whatever, as long as do something. If you do still spend a lot of time in the void, you can still create stuff from within it. Just don't expect a fully formed scene right away. You have to start with a single image or thought and let it build and grow in increments. Kind of like how HI progresses into a full dream. If you do a search for "Creation in the void" you can can find lots of helpful scenarios for dealing with that situation. I find the geometrical analogies to be pretty acurate, and it's kind of like cellular division, with the creation of new life.

[reapsltd666]

Now that I got the attention of all the Metallica fans, this has nothing to do with the band. Dude, how are you gonna start the thread with "Fade to Black" and then sandbag me like that while I'm listening to Creeping Death. not cool man, not cool. as for the void, try ripping through it with your hands.

[Spores]

Hey there, I haven't been around here for ages (I joined when I was interested, but became very lazy again) I stopped smoking maryjane some time ago and my dream memory is getting better and better. Last night I suddenly became Lucid during a dream, I felt my arms with my hands and it felt very real. Then I got over enthousiastic and wanted to fly, so I jumped, but then the scenery faded to black and I instantly woke up. Positive thing is that I've started my dreamjournal again, so hope to find out more, next time I'll skip the flying part and try to remain calm. It's hard to remain calm though, will search the forum for tips.

[3FLryan]

Next time you Fade to Black, just imagine the song! Hum it or sing or whatever. Maybe you'll get a front row seat to the solo that inspired me to play guitar.