Lesson 3: Applying Dream Control - Flying
So, it seems we have covered the basics and background information on Dream Control. Now it is time to start applying these to the infinite activities within a lucid dream. I will start at the beginning and cover some of the more basic activities first.
I planned on covering several different activities in this lesson, but I really got deep into flying :P. There is some stuff for beginners and experienced flyers in here, so be sure to give it a look (even if you aren't needing/wanting flight advice). I promise I will cover multiple activities in the future lessons. For the time being...sit back, relax, and enjoy your flight via KY Airlines. :P
Flying
So, at one point or another, most people have wished/wondered what it would feel like to fly. Honestly, flying is a staple in most of my lucid dreams. At some point or another, I discard the limits of waking travel and take to the skies.
Flying is really an amazing feeling. When you get into a nice, vivid lucid dream, you can really get wrapped up in the experience. I have spent entire lucid dreams just flying around the dream world. Flying gives you a great sense of freedom and can be a very effective way to travel and search for your dream goals.
There are some dreamers out there who take to the skies right away, with little to no effort. That is great for them, but the rest of us need a little direction. In the early part of my lucid dreaming practice, I really struggled to fly. I could jump really high, but I really couldn't manage to keep myself suspended. Eventually, I was able to keep myself suspended. There are many different styles and techniques out there that can help you out with flying and I will now go over several of them, but first...a quick tip for these techniques.
Tip: When attempting to fly with any of these techniques, try jumping "out," as opposed to jumping straight up into the air. In my experience, it is much easier to stay in the air when you are jumping in a lateral motion. When jumping vertically, it is often difficult to get started in any direction except "up." Also, gravity seems to come into the mind more when you jump vertically. It may have something to do with that bastard saying, "What goes up, must come down!" :P.
Suspension Techniques
If you are really having trouble staying in the air, try out some of these suspension techniques. These will help your mind get used to the feeling of being off the ground.
- Swimming Technique
I have never flown in waking life before, but I have certainly been in the water. The first time I was able to suspend myself in the air, I used the swimming technique. I had dove out of a window (one of my favorite things to do :P) and immediately started a breast stroke. Surprisingly, I stayed suspended in the air. Even though, I was moving through the air pretty slowly, I was delighted to stay suspended. This technique allows the mind to get used to what it feels like to be suspended in the air. It may be slow flying, but it is certainly a start.
- Invisible Rope/Stairs Technique
This technique requires less effort and implies passive control for getting suspended. Basically, act as if there is an invisible set of stairs or an invisible rope in front of you. Slowly begin to walk up the stairs/climb the rope. Don't go too far, just try to get yourself suspended in the air. Once you find yourself suspended, lean in a direction and try to get yourself moving in a slow flight. This technique can be useful, for getting you started in the air. Make sure not to stay on the stairs or rope too long, for this may make these objects actually appear. I never liked the technique much because of this, but for many others, it has worked wonders.
- Levitation
Stand still, hold your arms out, and really sell it. Slowly lift yourself off the ground, purely with power of your mind. It may help to get some DCs to watch you and act as if you are performing street magic (or something similar). The idea is to get yourself suspended in the air and get your mind used to this feeling.
Acceleration
So now, that you are suspended, its time to add some acceleration and speed to your flight.
Magnet Technique
This technique is what really got my flight going. You can try this from suspension or right off the ground. Look out into your environment and find an object. I often used tree limbs or something at a similar height off the ground. Now, stare at that particular object and imagine yourself being pulled toward. Start pulling yourself toward it like a magnet. If you struggle to get it started, thrust your arms/body/etc toward the object. Practice this for a while until you are able to consistently get yourself moving through the air toward the object. Once you start to get the hang of it, switch to a different object while you are in mid-flight. Switch from object to object and try to keep yourself in the air as long as possible.
Limb Thrusts
Once airborne, try holding your arms over your head and slam them down to your sides. This should add a boost/thrust to your speed. Be sure to lean in the direction you wish to travel. You could also pair this with any other flying technique. Don't be afraid to kick your feet either. Use those limbs to add speed and acceleration to your flight.
Bird Technique
This one is simple. Flap your arms like a bird. I personally never had much success with this, but if you are a bird person, this would likely work wonders for you.
Superman Flight
Hold your arm(s) out in front of you and tighten up your muscles. Hold stiff and pierce through the skies like a champ. I find that this method can really get you moving fast, but sometimes it gets difficult to turn. Even still, I like to use this technique to travel long distances quickly as I search for interesting activities to engage in.
Gaining Height
For gaining height, simply apply these acceleration techniques in a more vertical manner. For example, magnet yourself to a cloud and simply break the magnet pull (look away) once you reach your desired height. With something like this, I suggest increasing your height at an angle as opposed to going completely vertical.
For a more vertical height gain, I'd go with the limb thrust technique. Jump straight up as high as you can with your arms above your head. At the peak of you jump, slam your arms down to your side, thus shooting your body up even higher into the air. You should slam your arms before your body begins to fall. Repeat this motion to get into space. Once in space, it seems to be really easy to stay airborne.
Special Flight Techniques
Here are a few special techniques to try out.
DC Assisted Flight
Get a DC to help you out. Many of them are able to fly perfectly and could easily help you get started. Use some passive control and get that DC to hold your hand as they take flight. You can fly around for a bit, then release their hand and try it out on your own. DCs really can be useful for just about anything.
Wings
Try to grow yourself a set of wings or simply flap your shoulder blades and act as if you already have wings (passive control). You could also use passive control to get a DC to grow/give you wings. "Hello, John the Wizard. I have fulfilled your request, now it is time to grant me wings," or something similar.
Vehicle Flight
I love flying vehicles :D. Simply get in a vehicle and pull back on the steering wheel (like you are flying a plane). Use your mind to help lift the car off the ground. Flying vehicles feels really sweet. For me, its like I can feel the weight of the car in my mind and hands. If I let go of the steering wheel, the vehicle slowly moves into a nose dive, and I pull back to raise the car up again. Give it a shot.
Using Special Equipment
Use passive control and get a DC to lend/give you some special flying equipment like winged boots, jet boots, jet pack, helicopter hat, flying broom, etc. There are many things you can request that will add to your flight experience.
Make the most of your flying experiences...
Even if you have no problems flying, try to branch out into other areas of flight. Here are some suggestions for those who have no trouble flying.
Try using random objects as flight vehicles.
- Cars, trucks, vans, etc
- Sit on a broom and fly like a witch.
- Stand in an empty garbage can and fly it like its a mini ufo.
- Get a surfboard/skate board and try flying it through the air while standing on it.
- Find some random rug, sit on it, and make it your own personal magic carpet.
- Mount a random animal and fly it around. Try take flight sitting on a pig or an elephant.
You can try many different things, but notice how different the flight physics are with each object. It is really amazing how the flight experience can vary.
No one likes to fly alone. Round up some DCs and fly together. You may even want to try flying in a V formation, like ducks. I fly with DCs all the time and you never know what type of adventure it might lead to. Maybe you could even start your own "flight gang" (like a biker gang, but in the sky). The possibilities are truly endless.
What else can flight do for me?
Flight can be used in a number of ways to enhance your lucid experience. Travel is one of the most obvious, but many fail to realize the potential. Many people struggle with teleportation (it will be covered in a later lesson) and flight can give you the same results. Lets say you want to go to a beach. Why not take flight and simply fly there. Just because it looks like you aren't anywhere close to a beach doesn't mean you aren't. In the dream world, a beach could be on top of a mountain, on top of the clouds, right down the street, or behind the nearest door. Always remember that this is not the real world. It is not bound by the common rules of waking life. If you ever need reminding of this, tell yourself, "This is my world...and my world is different!"
Flying can also help with extended the dream and keeping it stable. Obviously, flying is a dream activity. It cannot but done in waking life without a flight vehicle. When you are flying around in the air, you are well grounded in a dream activity and very much detached from your waking self. Staying engaged in dream activity is one of the key things to keeping a dream stable. This in turn will help lengthen your experience. It is always good to take flight every so often during your dream, especially if there is some down time. So, you just finished fighting off some ninjas and aren't sure what to do next. Instead of standing there and thinking about it, fly around and think about it. Always try to keep yourself deep within the dream during your down time.
Also, be sure to check out these flying tutorials...
Dream Flying Tutorial - Lucid Dreaming - Dream Views
Flying Tutorial - Lucid Dreaming - Dream Views
Note: Most of these techniques and tips from this lesson have been around Dream Views longer than I have. I only take credit for compiling the lesson. The information is a mixture of my own techniques/styles and information readily available across Dream Views. Many of these things I picked up on and read over the years. Btw, thanks for reading :D.
