Need some info on my reality check.

**Komisoft** · 05-07-2012 05:56 PM

I have just started with using reality checks. I use the finger through hand check and more commonly, reading my palm. I often look at my palms (I did it in a dream and became lucid for a few seconds, although it's my only time lucid.) but I was wondering if I'm doing this right? I have 'L' on my left palm and 'D' on my right palm. Is there anything else I shoud be writing? Or maybe I have written on the wrong side of my hand? Any information is appreciated.

-EDIT- I think I may have posted this in the wrong forum, I have just started today D:

**Hwen** · 05-07-2012 08:19 PM

Hello! welcome to the wild and strange reality of dreams!
first of all, congrats on a first lucid! it's fairly normal that the first one usually ends up ending prematurely, my first ever LD went something along the lines of this:
(sitting in bed) i wonder if this is a dream... (makes my bedside clock go backwards) YESSSSSSS! I DID IT I DID IT I DID...(wakes up) crap...
anyway, when it comes to RCs (Reality Checks), there is really very few ways you can go wrong. the recipe is pretty much this:
something to remind you of dreaming (writing on your hands is one way, other people look for elements that they know occur frequently in their dreams, or just noticing anything out of the ordinary)
and then a quick, simple test of something that is either very unlikely or just impossible in real life, yet simple enough that it WILL work in a dream. finger-through-palm is a pretty good one, there is also plugging your nose and yet still breathing through it, and, of course, if there happens to be an analog clock handy nearby, make it go backwards.
the third aspect is mindset, believe, just for a moment, that the RC will succeed and prove that you are in a dream. picture it working very clearly.
sorry if i just spouted a ton of crap that you probably already know, i sort of enjoy the long way of putting things

**below is the quick version and summing up**
what you have sounds about right, but everybody's different. if you feel you need more writing, or writing on the other side of your hand, then by all means GO FOR IT! Lucid Dreaming is a very personal process, do whatever works for YOU. though i would advise looking for patterns and strange things in dreams, in addition to writing on your hands.
in a way, you're lucky, just starting out. there are times when i think LDing is easier when you really have no idea what you're doing, before people have the chance to tell you what is supposed to happen and not happen and completely screw up your mindset.
GOSH! that was supposed to be the short version... i apologise for babbling. i'm quiet IRL, but when typing, I JUST WONT JUST UP!
happy dreaming

**Raspberry** · 05-07-2012 09:26 PM

I think that the best way to RC is to do it when something strange happens, and only when something strange happens. A lot of people RC in dreams and then don't get lucid, because when they do it in real life, it's automatic and they don't really question. They instantly pass it off as "of course I'm not dreaming, I feel like I'm awake" and this carries on into their dreams.

When you RC, treat it as if you're really unsure. Look around, check your surroundings while you RC. The fact that you just saw something strange should help with this.

You may think that you don't often see things strange in your day to day life. It doesn't have to be a huge deal. Maybe someone treated you in a way they don't usually, or you swore you put something in a certain place, and it's not there. This should help with ADA (if you plan to do it) because it causes you to look for reasons to RC, instead of just doing it robotically.

**benzoe590** · 05-10-2012 10:39 PM

I might suggest trying a few RCs in a row. whenever I do an RC, I rarely just do one, usually 2-3.
(then again, I'm pretty new to this and haven't done an RC in a dream yet, but if for whatever reason one RC didn't prove you were dreaming, one of the others likely would.)

**gab** · 05-19-2012 03:43 AM

I would recommend doing RCs together with some awareness training, because it's the awareness that gets you lucid. You RC after you get lucid, just to confirm. Feel free to try this:

Ask yourself a question "Wow, am I dreaming?" that jolts your attention and makes you stop doing whatever you doing. For a moment, entertain the idea, that you are sure this is a dream or false awakening and feel the excitement in the pit of your stomach. Just pretend, that you have had a lucid dream before that was indistinguishable from waking reality, so this moment could also be a dream and you don't know for sure untill you RC. Really consider the answer. Don't just automatically answer "Of course I'm not".

Look around and notice details. Look at your hands and count your fingers. Do you have the right amount? Do they look normal? Do a reality check. Try to gently push your thumb through your palm and expect it to go through. Is it going through? Pinch your nose and expect to be able to breathe. Can you? Can you levitate? If not, tell yourself "I am not dreaming. Next time I'm dreaming, I look at my hands and realize I'm dreaming". Repeat this mantra a few times while looking at your hands.

Do this couple times a day.

Pretty soon, this behavior will start manifesting itself in your dreams and you'll be asking yourself if you dreaming, while in regular dream. That will make you lucid. You will do a couple of RCs to make sure.

I don't really recommend writing something on your hands, because if in your dream there will be nothing on your hand, you will loose your chance to become lucid. Also, is good to do RC at both times - when you see something weird and at mundane, everyday situations. Reason is again, what if nothing in your dream strikes you as weird? Nothing will prompt you to do RC.