Lucid Dreaming...hereditary??

[nina]

So I was having a drunk conversation with my sister the other week at like 4am at some diner over huge ass egg white omelets. I was talking to her about lucid dreaming and I asked her if she ever had a dream where she knew that she was dreaming and was able to control it. And she's like, yeah I have those all the time...I thought everyone has those. And I was like...well alot of people do but most people do not. And she's like, oh I just thought it was something everyone could do. Then last Saturday I was at dinner with my parents and I had had a few glasses of 20$ champagne...another drunk lucid dreaming conversation, this time with my dad. He's like, oh yeah I do that alot. I was like...WHAT!? I never knew you could lucid dream! And my sister is like, you're an idiot, you think it's rare or something but everyone can do it (in this little smart ass tone that she gets) and I was like, no really...there are alot of people who try but can't! Conclusion...my sister and I are naturals...and so is my Dad. My mom really had no clue what I was talking about...and neither did my Aunt who is my Mom's sister (I had had a lucid dreaming convo with my Aunt a few months ago). Could being a natural lucid dreamer maybe be something that is hereditary? Might be an interesting research project?

[Tornado Joe]

I sure wish that would be the case. When I first mentioned to my sister about me joining this site and what I was trying to do, she was the same way- "Oh, that happens to me all the time. I think that's just part of dreaming". I told her she was full of it, that she may have had a very vivid dream, but not lucid. But she described the things she does and they are lucid dreams. I never asked my other sister if she's had lucid dreams, hmmm.... It's been over a month since my last LD. Thought that last full moon would help (remember this?) But no luck. I tried BWGen before that and setting an audible command to go off on my iPod before that. Last night I tried the B-6 thing, but no luck yet. Anyway, we were sober when we had the discussion... maybe we'll kick back a bottle of wine next time. I'll try anything at this point!! This is getting depressing

[Peregrinus]

I had that same sort of conversation with my mom a month or so ago. It wasn't over champaign, but rather over a batter of Ghirardelli chocolate brownies. When the topic of dreams came up and I asked whether she ever knew she was dreaming and had control of her dreams, she was like, "Yeah, of course. All the time. Don't you?" She also thought it was completely natural. My dad doesn't remember any of his dreams as far as I know. I think LDing is a lot like playing a musical instrument. Some people just have a knack for it and can pick it up really quickly even without formal instruction (like those people who LD and have since childhood and think everyone can do it), and some people have to practice. But there is definitely a learned component. Even those who are, for lack of a better word, naturals at it can learn to improve their frequency and control.

[TygrHawk]

This is interesting. Nobody that I've ever talked to about it thought that it was "natural" -- most didn't even know it was possible. Geographic clusters, anyone? It seems to me that an abundance of our members seem to be from Canada and Australia -- but those may just be the ones that I notice for some reason.

[InTheMoment]

Two night's ago I asked my mother and stepfather the same question as we were dining at an Italian restaraunt (no alcohol). My mother also made a nonchalant remark about how natural she could control her dreams and that she could always tell that she was lucid (she used the word only after I explained it to her) when she was having a nightmare or something terribly wrong was happening. My stepfather just sort of stayed out of the conversation...whether it was out of shyness or that he thought we were both a little cuckoo, I don't know.

[nina]

Originally posted by Peregrinus But there is definitely a learned component. Even those who are, for lack of a better word, naturals at it can learn to improve their frequency and control. This is SO true. My dad and sister can lucid dream, but they know nothing of how to induce them...how to gain control...you know, all the little tricks that you learn on a site like this. I gave her the link and told her to come visit but she hasn't yet. She doesn't seem at all interested. She's still convinced that pretty much everyone can do it. How little she knows.

[Imachinchilla]

I think we should do some sort of poll to see the percentage of naturals there are. I think it seems rare to us because we don't talk about it with many people and most lders here aren't naturals because they came to learn about it. I think about 1/3 of people are naturals. Not sure though. I definitely believe kids and teens can ld easier and are more likely to be a natural.

[Tornado Joe]

Geographic clusters, anyone? It seems to me that an abundance of our members seem to be from Canada and Australia -- but those may just be the ones that I notice for some reason. ---TygrHawk[/b] I haven't noticed that, interesting. I can understand Australia, "Dreamtime" is a term used by the Aborigonal people (I think it's like a religion and about the time before men). Anyway, it sounds like there is a lot of dreaming in their culture (at least the natives). I think part of the reason might also be because we (Americans) stress too much over all kinds of crap - we get so involved with others that we become less in touch with ourselves (this is a generality, I'm not saying we're ALL like that). But I'm getting off the topic here.

[luckegrlGC]

I can sure do it, but i know for a fact no one else in my family can. Well, out of the people i'm able to ask.

[Barbizzle]

I didn't know lucid dreaming wasn't the norm until I joined here. My grandmother has horrible dream recall, but every dream she remembers, she lucid dreams and just tries to wake up after realizing she is dreaming( I don't think she likes dreaming, lol) My cousin Michael lucid dreamed when he was a kid. Now he just got back into lucid dreaming, and he can have them some what frequently. I love those He's really into to it like me. Also, My younger cousin Brittany lucid dreams too, she thinks its normal, and I was so happy when I found out she was a natural too My history teacher last year used to teach the class how to lucid dream, because he does it. Also, my contemporary issues teacher I have this year lucid dreams too.

[Howie]

From what I have noticed it seems that the older a person is the less likely they will adhere to such a notion that they find hard to believe. They are too set in their ways. And it is not thier fault. Once your brain has been conditioned a certainn way it is very difficult to change that. The older you get the more set in those conditions your mind is. That's with anyhing. With Lucid dreaming you have to believe it to be real for it to happen. This makes it more difficult. That is why there are so many young people that are great lucid dreamers. Young and impressionable. And you can't teach and old dog new tricks. If it it is pasted down from generation to generation it is likely everyone involved can Lucid dream.

[Lucky27]

Originally posted by barbizzle I didnt knwo lucid dreaming wasnt the norm untill i joined here. My grandmother has horrible dream recall, tbu every dream she remeebrs, she lucid dremas and just tries to wake up after relaizeing she is dremaing( I dont think she likes dreamig, lol) My couzin michael lucid dreamed when he was a kid. He always used ot have flase awakenign and lcuid nightmares... He also has sleepign problmes so he takes sleepign pills, and relaly hates having lucid dremas, beacse all of hsi are scary... Oh well, at leats there is one naturla in my fnialy line that love it. I talk about lucid dremaing alot in real life too, so i knwo alot of my finreds have one every once in a whiel and they are excited to tell me about it. I really do belive that natural lcuid dreamers are not rare at all, and even if a perosn doenst lcuid dream alot, that they will have at leats lucid dreams a few times a year. My history teacher last year used to teach the class hwo to lucid dream, rbacse he does it. Also, my contemporary issues teacher I have this year lcuid dreams too. Are you doing that on purpose?

[green1152]

Originally posted by lucidnina So I was having a drunk conversation with my sister the other week at like 4am at some diner over huge ass egg white omelets. I was talking to her about lucid dreaming and I asked her if she ever had a dream where she knew that she was dreaming and was able to control it. And she's like, yeah I have those all the time...I thought everyone has those. And I was like...well alot of people do but most people do not. And she's like, oh I just thought it was something everyone could do. Then last Saturday I was at dinner with my parents and I had had a few glasses of 20$ champagne...another drunk lucid dreaming conversation, this time with my dad. He's like, oh yeah I do that alot. I was like...WHAT!? I never knew you could lucid dream! And my sister is like, you're an idiot, you think it's rare or something but everyone can do it (in this little smart ass tone that she gets) and I was like, no really...there are alot of people who try but can't! Conclusion...my sister and I are naturals...and so is my Dad. My mom really had no clue what I was talking about...and neither did my Aunt who is my Mom's sister (I had had a lucid dreaming convo with my Aunt a few months ago). Could being a natural lucid dreamer maybe be something that is hereditary? Might be an interesting research project? Yes, I'm quite sure that it is hereditary. Just like physical traits like eyes, nose, shoe size, height, etc.. are all related to either your parents or grandparents in some way. I wouldn't be surprised if one or two of your grandparents can also lucid dream quit often. Seeing as your dad is your only parent who can lucid dream quite often, then one or both of your grandparents can. It's usually a 50% chance of recieving the hereditary gene for lucid dreaming, if it exists, which I'm almost positve does.

[nina]

Originally posted by Lucky27+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Lucky27)</div> <!--QuoteBegin-barbizzle I didnt knwo lucid dreaming wasnt the norm untill i joined here. My grandmother has horrible dream recall, tbu every dream she remeebrs, she lucid dremas and just tries to wake up after relaizeing she is dremaing( I dont think she likes dreamig, lol) My couzin michael lucid dreamed when he was a kid. He always used ot have flase awakenign and lcuid nightmares... He also has sleepign problmes so he takes sleepign pills, and relaly hates having lucid dremas, beacse all of hsi are scary... Oh well, at leats there is one naturla in my fnialy line that love it. I talk about lucid dremaing alot in real life too, so i knwo alot of my finreds have one every once in a whiel and they are excited to tell me about it. I really do belive that natural lcuid dreamers are not rare at all, and even if a perosn doenst lcuid dream alot, that they will have at leats lucid dreams a few times a year. My history teacher last year used to teach the class hwo to lucid dream, rbacse he does it. Also, my contemporary issues teacher I have this year lcuid dreams too. Are you doing that on purpose? [/b] LOL.

[SleepSpirit]

my brother told me about lucid dreaming when i was like 10 or something, I don't know if anyone else in my family can do it though.. maybe ill ask, I do'nt think it's hereditary, although, I haven't given it much thought.. hmmm. .

[Howie]

Originally posted by green1152 Yes, I'm quite sure that it is hereditary. Just like physical traits like eyes, nose, shoe size, height, etc.. are all related to either your parents or grandparents in some way. I wouldn't be surprised if one or two of your grandparents can also lucid dream quit often. Seeing as your dad is your only parent who can lucid dream quite often, then one or both of your grandparents can. It's usually a 50% chance of recieving the hereditary gene for lucid dreaming, if it exists, which I'm almost positve does. Although heredity may be able to play a role in how good you are at lucid dreaming I don't think lucid dreaming is in itself hereditary. I don't know of any hereditary trate that can be learned. You can't learn your shoe size. I guess you could argue that the people that can learn it can because they have inhereiteded it.

[Tornado Joe]

what about chemical balances in our brains? If that plays a role in awareness levels during sleep (or even sleep patterns) then theoreticaly that should be hereditary - no? I only know the basics of our sleep cycles, but maybe one of you could shed some light on this aspect. Like most things, it's probably a combination of both - physical makeup and psychological beliefs or attitudes.

[irishcream]

my mum told me years ago about her ability to lucid dream, we were talking about dreaming, and she said that when things got really, really bad, she'd imagine an exit, and just walk herself out of it. and i find that now i've got the hang of it, i'm starting to do it quite frequently myself. I kept a dream journal before i joined this site, and after being on it for a while, i read my journal back, and found that i went lucid quite a lot, and since then i've done a bit more reading, and managed to achieve a bit more. i seem to have picked it up pretty fast, now that i've really set my mind to it, i think i must be averaging one a week or so, that's how it seems to be going.[/list]

[Amethyst Star]

I don't think LDing is necessarily hereditary. I am wondering, though, about naturals who gain their abiltiies through proximity with other natural (or non-natural) lucid dreamers. Maybe there's unconscious dream sharing going on (skeptical, but still an option). Maybe just the general frame of mind in the household. Who knows. That's just another option, though. I don't think anyone in my family besides me knows much about lucid dreaming. We're a "family of realists" (to some degree)... excepting me. I'm the dreamer. -Amé

[plobable]

i talked to my sister about lucid dreaming the weekend after i joined this site i went and visted her and we talked about it and she said that she had them since she was little and i was like psht and i asked if she every tried spinning and she said no so etc and yea i thought i knew my sister prett damn well then...