so how long do they last?

**Raish** · 07-09-2011 10:22 PM

i just read somethin here about lucid dreams only lasting a few seconds. this relates to dream control im fairly sure, but since this is a question ive decided itd be best to put it in this topic. so they only last a few seconds? any way to increase the duration? i know that spinning works 96% of the time, but even if i spin how long will it continue?

**Dreamer4127** · 07-09-2011 10:26 PM

Who on earth said that? Lucid Dreams can last HOURS! They can last a few seconds but it's mostly hours or at least minutes.

**Raish** · 07-09-2011 10:27 PM

oh phew cuz i was bout to say
thanks for the clarification, i was worried.

*breathes again

**Alucinor XIII** · 07-09-2011 11:43 PM

5 minutes is a decent length for me. I've rarely been lucid longer than that; usually shorter. Despite my understanding and knowledge of dream control, my efforts rarely succeed to sustain the dream.

**Raish** · 07-10-2011 12:18 AM

hm. well the only one ive had seemed to last maybe an hour, but i wasnt lucid for that long. i was maybe lucid for... ehh, 4 minutes it seems. i mean, that was when i didnt know anything about lucid dreaming or what it was, but i just woke up and knew that i had been in control somehow. but anyway, im gonna try tonight, and see how long i can continue.

**Mancon** · 07-10-2011 12:39 AM

It depends. When your first learning usually lucid dreams are short. But as you get more experienced and more confident they will last longer. Most of my last 20-60 minutes and working hard in order to lucid dream was definitely worth it.

**Oneironaut Zero** · 07-10-2011 12:45 AM

It's really hard to try to quantify exactly how long lucid dreams can actually last, but I've had some that feel like maybe up to an hour. Sometimes that involves slipping in and out of lucidity, once or twice.

There are definitely methods by which to lengthen dream time, though. My favorites are; looking at my hands to stabilize the dream, and then looking back at the rest of my surroundings and reaching out and touching things a lot, just getting more involved with the 'sensory' aspect of the dream. It helps ground you, and can completely solidify a dream, even after you've noticed it beginning to fade.

Also, if you feel yourself waking up, relax completely. Just lay there like a dead animal. At the worst, you may get a dream scene change, but it usually drops you back off into a lucid dream. Moments like this are a good time to try dream chaining/re-entry.

I also tend to repeat 'I'm dreaming, I'm dreaming..." under my breath, while I'm lucid. It helps 'remind me,' and usually keeps me from losing my lucidity, too quickly.