The Big Book of Reality Checks

Hey everyone, I've recently taken a break from my dream journal (15 days) due to stress with my relationship and some of my family.

But everything is sorted now and I'm breaking the "fast" with a vivid dream I had last night, but I decided not to just write it down, but I'm going to revamp my DJ by including significant points of the day before the dream, and include many more emotions.

I am also going to start a new regime of reality checks during the day (I have always had problems with them) then I'm going to write down any succession with RCs that I completed.

My idea is, this involves RCs into my life much more greatly, rather than just a part of memory, I'll be writing it down and explaining them, hopefully leading to more successful DILDs.

Since I have problems with my reality checks, I've decided to use a "brain training" technique I read about here- performing RCs the next time you see traffic lights, hear laughter, hear music, throw something away.

But, I ALWAYS have trouble remembering them, I fail to carry out all my checks, and I am always unsure on what sort of checks to do.

This inspired me to write down all kinds of reality checks I can think of, better yet, get DreamViews to help out :D

So I ask you, do you have/can you think of any wierd and wonderful reality checks?

Write them in a reply and it would be a great help to me and I'm sure to everyone else at DreamViews.

Maybe they could be compiled into a sticky for new/existing users. Who knows :D

Thanks everyone,
Jim.

P.S. I'll start with one...

• Attempt to lick your elbow :D

How about the good ol' pinching your arm? No one else seems to do it anymore.

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Originally Posted by kingofclutch

How about the good ol' pinching your arm? No one else seems to do it anymore.

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:D yea! i was thinking of trying that one! i've never seen it mentioned before :S i thought it was because it was ineffective :P despite the cliche- "Pinch me I'm dreaming."
:D

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Originally Posted by Jimmehboi

:D yea! i was thinking of trying that one! i've never seen it mentioned before :S i thought it was because it was ineffective :P despite the cliche- "Pinch me I'm dreaming."
:D

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Well, it works great for me. I don't understand why people don't use it.

Cause people can feel pain in dreams =p

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Originally Posted by Dizko

Cause people can feel pain in dreams =p

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I hope I can't :'(

I also have another one...
Clench a fist as hard as you can for a couple seconds.

I don't know about anyone else, but I always have trouble with trying to exert all my strength in a dream.

Punch something. Like the strength one, In my dreams, I usually can't punch.

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Originally Posted by Delphinus

Punch something. Like the strength one, In my dreams, I usually can't punch.

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Oh yeah, I think I might try that one.... next time I'm with my boss, I'll punch him and see if I'm dreaming or not. :banana:

I really ment stuff like walls or couches... But sure!

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Originally Posted by Delphinus

I really ment stuff like walls or couches... But sure!

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LMAO!!
My friend is annoyed whenever I do reality checks or talk about LDing.
Whenever he saw me looking down at my hands in class poking my palm with my finger :P he always went ":shock: sad bastard... :roll:"

I think he's just jealous ^.^ i asked him if he would try lucid dreaming and he said that he couldnt be bothered :? he's a very lazy person.
:D

Another one--
(I think this could work)
Feel for your pulse :P
Comments on this? has anyone tried this?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Delphinus

Punch something. Like the strength one, In my dreams, I usually can't punch.

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me too! When I fight someone in my dreams, I feel like I can never unleash my full strenght. I also cant run. I fell like somethings pulling me back.

I used to look at the texture of something, like the ground for example. If the texture didn't have enough detail or otherwise looked unreal then I knew it was a dream. However this stopped being reliable for me when I started having really realistic dreams.

I've heard of walking into a wall as one. I guess it's possible that you'll just hit the wall, and wake up in RL on the floor with a bruise on your head.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jimmehboi

Hey everyone, I've recently taken a break from my dream journal (15 days) due to stress with my relationship and some of my family.

But everything is sorted now and I'm breaking the "fast" with a vivid dream I had last night, but I decided not to just write it down, but I'm going to revamp my DJ by including significant points of the day before the dream, and include many more emotions.

I am also going to start a new regime of reality checks during the day (I have always had problems with them) then I'm going to write down any succession with RCs that I completed.

My idea is, this involves RCs into my life much more greatly, rather than just a part of memory, I'll be writing it down and explaining them, hopefully leading to more successful DILDs.

Since I have problems with my reality checks, I've decided to use a "brain training" technique I read about here- performing RCs the next time you see traffic lights, hear laughter, hear music, throw something away.

But, I ALWAYS have trouble remembering them, I fail to carry out all my checks, and I am always unsure on what sort of checks to do.

This inspired me to write down all kinds of reality checks I can think of, better yet, get DreamViews to help out :D

So I ask you, do you have/can you think of any wierd and wonderful reality checks?

Write them in a reply and it would be a great help to me and I'm sure to everyone else at DreamViews.

Maybe they could be compiled into a sticky for new/existing users. Who knows :D

Thanks everyone,
Jim.

P.S. I'll start with one...

• Attempt to lick your elbow :D

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I find it ironic that people forget to do reality checks in real life. I mean if you are into lucid dreaming then doing reality checks should be on your mind most of the time...:P. Anyway here's one I used and hasn't failed me until lately..:(. Do a reality check whenever a light fails when you switch it on. It's the most basic and easiest way to remember to RC in the dream, failing lights can be rigged so go and rig them and do dream rehearsal...:).
Make it a part of your thought pattern to make sure if the light works or not. In other words make it as big a deal as possible because your lucidity hinges on that light failing...:D.

IMJ

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Originally Posted by imj

I find it ironic that people forget to do reality checks in real life. I mean if you are into lucid dreaming then doing reality checks should be on your mind most of the time...:P. Anyway here's one I used and hasn't failed me until lately..:(. Do a reality check whenever a light fails when you switch it on. It's the most basic and easiest way to remember to RC in the dream, failing lights can be rigged so go and rig them and do dream rehearsal...:).
Make it a part of your thought pattern to make sure if the light works or not. In other words make it as big a deal as possible because your lucidity hinges on that light failing...:D.

IMJ

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I'm def. going to use this one =]
'cause I can use it whenever I use a lightswitch rather than a different check alltogether to the task :P

thanks :D

I look at my hand 50 times a day :D but I really don't remember to do it in my dreams :(

An interesting idea I came up with, which I've yet to use, is to write down a random 4 digit number on my hand each day and then incorporate it into reality checks. Apart from just looking at the hand, it'll awaken the logical side of your brain and force you to think 'was that today's code? Why isn't there a number on my hand?'

Eventually I'd assume that in dreams I'd see some 4 digit numbers, but they probably wouldn't be the same as the ones I'd used that day. Anyone else tried this before?

No, but I like the idea of the daily code. I'll start trying it out.

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Originally Posted by Delphinus

No, but I like the idea of the daily code. I'll start trying it out.

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Me too :O Sounds really effective as well as being a smart idea :O
Thanks!
Jim =]

Here are some good reality checks that helped me when I had trouble achieveing lucidity:

1. Pulling back your fingers. You can touch the back of your hand with your fingernails if your dreaming.

2. Spitting. There's no saliva while dreaming (at least for me).

3. Breathing. Become aware and learn how it feels to breath. The way the air rushes into your nose, the instant relaxation you feel when you inhale, the way your stomach and chest expand. You don't inhale or exhale AT ALL while dreaming (I can't even consciously breath while being lucid).

4. Doubt your feelings. This is what I do personally. Its no good for beginners, but it helps me consistently. When I dream I'm overwhelmed with a "feeling" that makes me believe I know where I am, what I'm doing, whats happening and so on. In actuality you have no idea whats going on and by asking any questions "Who?", "What?", "Where?", "When?", "Why?" or "How?" you can quickly deduce your dreaming because you won't be able to answer any of them. It will also force you to be aware of your surroundings and you'll realize what you see is far from reality.

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Originally Posted by Spades

4. Doubt your feelings. This is what I do personally. Its no good for beginners, but it helps me consistently. When I dream I'm overwhelmed with a "feeling" that makes me believe I know where I am, what I'm doing, whats happening and so on. In actuality you have no idea whats going on and by asking any questions "Who?", "What?", "Where?", "When?", "Why?" or "How?" you can quickly deduce your dreaming because you won't be able to answer any of them. It will also force you to be aware of your surroundings and you'll realize what you see is far from reality.

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That's a really good one, it works suprisingly well considering dreams are supposed to be completely made in your mind, you wouldn't think it would be possible to allow your mind to realise it's lying. :P But it tends to work 99% of the time I use a similar technique.

When I'm on my bike, and usually try to make some sort of wheelie and see if I take off :cooler:

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Originally Posted by Dizko

Cause people can feel pain in dreams =p

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when I was little I had a dream about some ball saying to me that it's a dream. Then I said that if it's a dream then I shouldn't feel pain and pinched myself. And I didn't feel a thing!. That was the oldest lucid I can remember. But yesterday I had a dream and did feel pain.
So I'm kinda puzzled right now.:?

I Jump, it's really effective ;)

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Originally Posted by McLoone

I Jump, it's really effective ;)

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:O! Normally when I remember to do an RC I sometimes pass on the opportunity because they are too long and I often feel to lazy ^.^
But jumping sounds like quite an easy one =/
If I jumped and tried to ahg in the air every so often during the say, this could be successful (6)

Thanks! :D
Jim.

Memory checking is the most reliable for me. Try and remember how you got to your current position and all of the steps that you took, if you have gaps in your memory, then you are dreaming.

I make a lose fist with my hand and try to push my fingers back through their palm, that way its like doing a finger through the hand RC but no one ever notices; this is important since no one around me understands why I would RC in the first place, let alone be interested.

The obvious choice for in bed RC is the blocking of the nasal passage which I'm not sure if everyone can do but I know I can. You try to suck back like with snot but only a little bit and then breath through your mouth.

Plus everyone's favourite which is a dead give away, try to swap gender :D

Lots of people also report weird distortions in mirrors and the like, so maybe trying to find a mirror or carry a small one around will help in some way for RCing.

Oh and try to look through something can work too for being inconspicious, like a wall or desk.

I like the daily code idea, smart.

Cheers

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Originally Posted by Delphinus

Punch something. Like the strength one, In my dreams, I usually can't punch.

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its just because in your dream you think you can't punched because you never learned (I assume).

i can punch without problems in dream - though i remember before i took up any martial arts my dream punches were like throwing paper at someone.

anyways. i say take a look at your DJ and try to find things that are common in most of them - for instance, i dream a lot about games (although I really don't play that much (anymore)). then do RCs about them. i haven't tried it, but i think that if i make up a rule IE every time i get a kill, do an RC, and follow it in real life, it will work in a dream. its like focussing your RCs on events that are more likely to happen in your dream.

I tried to grow a 6. finger on my left hand. It worked so I knew that I was dreaming. :D

i always check my hands.
always seems to work in my dreams.
even if for some reason i think im dreaming, i can think "check your hands"
and i wont look down, then become lucid.

thats a strange one eeeeee! , as long as it works lol