Thread: Can you still be lucid dreaming and not be flying?

Last night I had a dream that I KNEW for sure I was dreaming in. I even asked myself out loud if I was really lucid dreaming. I wasn't flying though...so...was I lucid dreaming?

I know I'm dreaming most of the time in the back of my mind when I'm dreaming. I guess I simply don't care until I meet with something that I don't like then I can change it if I feel like it. Flying in my dreams is off and on. It's more like I'm hovering behind someone or something most of the time, like a camera looking from a higher angle or over someone's shoulder, but not flying (frankly I don't think it counts as flying when you're close to the ground, but still not touching it ^_^)

Oh! And when you fly, do you see yourself? Like in 3rd person? or is it from a 1st person point of view? Thanks for your help!! ^_^

Welcome to Dream Views, Gaarnet.

Well, since many of my lucid dreams don't involve flying, I would have to say the answer is yes! Lol. When I do fly, I usually am still in first person, though. I only rarely have dreams that are in 3rd person - flying or not.

Enjoy your stay!

Hi Gaarnet and welcome to DV! ^^

Being lucid is essentially just "knowing and being aware that you're dreaming", so as long as you have a heightened sense of mental clarity and awareness, feeling like you're more 'present' than normal in the dream, you are lucid. You don't necessarily have to be flying, or even doing anything in a dream to be lucid. You just have to be conscious (there's varying levels of consciousness though; sometimes you may be semi-aware, while other times you may be almost as conscious as real life).

Personally, I always see myself in first-person when I'm lucid; only once have I ever seen myself in third-person, and this was during a lucid nightmare where I had zip control over the dream. In my normal dreams, it's usually first-person but sometimes switches to third when a dream involves more intense scenarios, like chases or fights.

If you have any other questions feel free to ask!

Thank you both for your help and the warm welcome! You don't know how many sites ONLY state flying is a part of them, but don't specify that it's only sometimes! Lol But if both of your statements are true, then I've been lucid dreaming since I was a young child (flew all the time!) and never knew it! For me it's not unusual to switch between 1st and 3rd person in the same dream (within mere "dream seconds" even), whether it happens by itself or when I want it to (that last doesn't usually happen lol except like Puffin said during the intense senes). The only thing I can really liken the experience to is the changing of a camera angle (and it's EXACTLY like that!) Oh! I have another question! Is it common to see and do things from the point of view of another person - even having to seperate trains of thought simultaniously? Mine and Theirs? Thanks again for the help! ^___^

Different points of view are common in dreams. I frequently catch myself playing different characters, switching between points of view in the dream.

When I am lucid, I can maintain a couple different points of view simultaneously. I can duplicate myself to be in two places at once, or possess different dream characters to see things from their point of view. I'm glad I'm not the only one who does this

I typically am in the first person, I tend to be more actively in the third person when i start to lose consciousness.

Me too! Though since I never knew I was LDing, I never really tried to control the switching, so it does it on its own.

Hey I am the first to attest that it is perfectly normal to lucid dream and not fly. I to this day still have issues flying. I have played around and the iron man method has worked best for me, where I imagine rockets under my feet, but this works for only so long eventually i fall to earth eventually i succumb to gravity. I guess the problem is, I don't know what it is really like to be weightless. I only know gravity, falling on a roller coaster perhaps but never really just flying like a bird with agility. If I fly it is like a rocket straught up or across, it is not really very easy. Any tips? I know its all about perception.

Usually when I'm very sure that I'm flying (not hover/camera angle-ing lol) I have wings. First time I remember the wings they were white and big like angel wings. For me I don't think it's the feeling of weightlessness that allows me to fly, but the freedom that I feel within the dream. I'm no expert on flying in dreams, but you could always just try feeling free, though that may sound silly. Though now that I think about it...I hardly every feel gravity as it is in reality. Most of the time it just feels like everything is off kilter. Kinda like I'm leaning to the side (tin man in wizard of oz anyone?).