Continuing dreams

very recently my dreams have been continuing from REM cycle to REM cycle this is unintentional as I don't wake up after each cycle and therefore can't use any visualizations to consciously move into the same dream that I just came out of. I'm glad this is happening, because the fact I am able to recognise this at all points to my dream recall improving, But I want to know whether I could use this to my advantage in that I could realise that I have just appeared in a similar place with the same characters after I had just fallen out of that same situation and this realization could turn me lucid. has anyone done this successfully?

I've done it a few times, whenever you have deja vu, do an RC

I can relate -- I sometimes have these continuing dreams, I think of them as "dream sequels". Sometimes in the same night, sometimes days or even weeks later, I'll pick up where a previous dream left off. Unfortunately I have no advice for using this to help lucidity, since I haven't been lucid yet. But I'm with you: I HOPE to use them to help me become lucid in the future.

Out of curiosity, what are your continuing dreams like?
My "sequels" aren't very pleasant ones... like a continuing dream saga that began with me suddenly "realizing" I'm still supposed to be in high school (even though I graduated 8 years ago!) and then trying to sneak into various classes and pretend I know what's going on... it's stressful! I had quite a few dreams of that "story" and each time I'd wake up thinking "WTF?? I'm finishing my degree now!"
I had a similarly-themed series of dream sequels where I discovered I'd been hired at a couple different businesses and completely forgot, so I find myself frantically rushing to each business to see if I'm fired or not! Equally stressful. And it makes no sense, since I've been at my current job 7 stable years.

Again, I'm with you... I'd LOVE to become lucid during one of these sequels, and affirm that I'm long past high school and I know where I actually work LOL. Maybe we can use it as a tool.

Mine usually one after the other in the same night and I am able to recall each of them on a good night, they seem to work pretty fluidly and continue on a specific theme but they often get sidetracked. basically the dreams are myself and my friends in our university's TV studio (most of the time, this is a re-occurring setting in my dreams for some reason I'm assuming 'cause I spend so much time there) just doing stuff anything riding bikes (they were all fluro green was really nice) more often than not were shooting a show of some form. unlike yours they are always set in the present I'm always the same age and I'm always aware that I'm still in Uni which makes it difficult to become lucid I think because I never really question whats going on I just do what I know I have to do (I do the same thing when I'm awake) sort of an actors bad habit I think what with being trained to accept situations that we find ourselves imagining in a scene as real. I guess it crosses over. it's unfortunate that some of your dreams are so stressful I don't recall having a stressful dream in the last few years but I'm sure that these sequels can be used to achieve lucidity and because frustration is such a strong state I'd suggest using it as a trigger so in waking life everytime you feel even a little stressed or frustrate, question the situation in the way you would perform reality checks normally, that's what I'd do anyway, aside from the fact that it must suck to wake up with that emotion I think your brain might have given you a nifty little trigger there. my emotions are usually very mild and so In dreams so I have to work with regular architectural dream signs etc. good luck keep me updated ai :) I'm really interested in others individual experiences as well.

Thanks Petchy! Definitely, it's always interesting to compare your dreams with others. Ever since I got into the subject of LDing, I've been asking everyone I know about their dreams... some of them have ended up with unintentional improvement in their own dream recall just because I keep talking about it LOL!

Anyway, yeah I guess having lots of dreams about stuff you do in real life must really make it harder to get lucid. Good point about acting making it tougher, I had never thought about that! Btw I greatly appreciate the suggestion of using stress/frustration as a cue to do a RC, I think it's a great idea for me! I will start doing that. That's one of the great things about forums -- sometimes a person will point out a simple thing we somehow miss. We can keep each other posted on progress. Thanks for the invite btw.

There's also a 3rd continuing dream story I had that I didn't mention earlier: I suddenly realize that I had found some small birds and put them all in a cage, but forgot to give them food/water for about a year. Then I frantically search for the cage, to find some dead and some still alive. That was especially upsetting because I've actually had pet birds. I know it sounds like a single dream, but somehow it managed to drag out in several. So yeah... my continuing dreams always seem to involve a severe extreme of procrastination or forgetfulness LOL. Thank God that's not the norm for my dreams... my typical ones are just very weird.

Are you waking up between each cycle? I mean consciously recognising this inter-dream awakening?

No I haven't been able to wake myself up during one yet

Justen Learns to Lucid Dream If you feel like having a read my dream journal is kept on this blog it's pretty short at the moment and since the UNI year ended I've been distracted by my friends at home and hanging out with them so it's unfortunately lax towards the present but I'll be updating it pretty soon so yeah just have a look if you like

Just thought I'd re-visit this thread now that I've had another kind of continuing dream... and for once it was a PLEASANT kind, as opposed to the ones I described above! These were spread out over a few weeks this winter: I find myself in what I know is my mom's house, only it looks different, as is common in my dreams. I'm roaming around and somehow discover a hidden portion of the house, centrally located, as if the rest of the house was buit around it. It's beautiful! In complete contrast to the familiar part of the house, this secret part is brightly lit and beautifully decorated (picture pink velvet cushions & drapes, gold gilding on decorative door frames & furniture). I realize it's my mom's secret retreat area. Unfortunately these dreams were not lucid ones, but I plan to re-visit and explore this secret area in future lucid dreams. As beautiful as it was, if I ever get good enough to have lucid sex, I'd like to bring my dream lover there.

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Originally Posted by ninja9578

I've done it a few times, whenever you have deja vu, do an RC

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what is RC?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mrsf0011

what is RC?

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Reality check... a test to determine whether you're dreaming or awake, in case you're unfamiliar with it.
There are quite a few to choose from. Myself, I regularly use the finger-through-palm, nose pinch, and reading a digital watch or anything with writing.
If you're unfamiliar and want to know more, just search "reality checks" on here and read all about it.