need your help to figure something out

**nickholden** · 03-27-2012 10:02 AM

So it's like this. first time I ever heard of lucid dreaming was 10 years ago. a friend of mine gave me the wonderful book of Stephen laberge and told me to just read the chapter about MILD. after 2 days of not even realizing what I have read or what lucid dreaming was, I had my first lucid dream. it was, to say the least, incredible! Sleeping was never the same again. to this day I remember that dream as if I have just woken up from it.

I never had good dream recall. I have kept journals on and off, one week remembering at least 1-2 dreams a night, the next week I'd be lucky to remember one. usually when I do remember a dream I can fill at least one page. most of the ones I really remember I fill about 1-2 pages. again, that's when I remember which doesn't occur very often.

I have tried many techniques. from meditating before going to sleep, repeating "the next time I wake up I will remember my dreams", really meaning it, while going to sleep, waking up every 90 minutes, waking up and staying up for an hour...you know the rest, I even bought Calea Zacatechichi, which sadly - didn't work(I don't smoke weed or cigarettes, so the effect wasn't cancelled.

That dream 10 years ago changed my life. I'm not about to give up on the dream of having lucid dreams at will. I ask for your help..

**louie54** · 03-27-2012 10:26 AM

You just got to keep practicing. What other techniques have you tried?

**nickholden** · 03-27-2012 02:25 PM

this past 6 months i've been keeping a journal. every morning i tried to remember what i was dreaming about, and 80% of the time i came up with nothing...
i'm open to practically any idea.

**Chewnie91** · 03-27-2012 04:10 PM

When you awaken, don't open your eyes. Just keep them closed and dont try too hard to REMEMBER the dream. You almost have to let it come back to you, while slightly willing your brain to remember. Eventually if you lay there you should at least get bits and pieces. Then just try to work backwards and think about how you got there. Give it a good 5 to 10 minutes and see what you come up with. If you wake up and stand up and try to remember while making coffee you will never remember them.

Also when saying your mantras like "I will remember my dreams" you need to say it with confidence. Not just to say it. But again don't say it mindlessly and also dont say it with too much intent. Its an almost passive suggestion to your mind to remember your dreams.

**nickholden** · 03-28-2012 03:15 AM

Chewnie91

as i said, i tried many methods. of course i stayed in bed, eyes closed... the who 9 yards. same result.
and when i tell myself something while going to sleep, i don't say it just to say it. i think my post kinda showed how much i actually want it, and mean it...

**AjWasHere** · 03-28-2012 03:30 AM

Originally Posted by Chewnie91

When you awaken, don't open your eyes. Just keep them closed and dont try too hard to REMEMBER the dream.

This is really the best advice anyone can give when it comes to this situation. I have trouble with just jumping out of bed and remembering everything as well. I myself really need to take a minute to sit back and catergorize and consider what I dreamed about to be able to remember it to write it down. Focus less on "I need to remember this" and more on just not forgetting what you remember already. Otherwise your mind will wander and you'll lose everything.

**nickholden** · 03-28-2012 07:48 PM

i appreciate you taking the time to comment, but i get the felling you didn't really read my post... i do that every morning. it's lucid dreaming dream recall 101. every single book/ tutorial/ video explanation/ help/ guide/ *enter whatever other lucid dreaming reference here* - says the same exact thing you've just said. and so did i...
i'm not asking for the usual method. i'm looking for the "that's the craziest solution i can think of" idea...

**nickholden** · 03-28-2012 07:48 PM

i appreciate you taking the time to comment, but i get the felling you didn't really read my post... i do that every morning. it's lucid dreaming dream recall 101. every single book/ tutorial/ video explanation/ help/ guide/ *enter whatever other lucid dreaming reference here* - says the same exact thing you've just said. and so did i...
i'm not asking for the usual method. i'm looking for the "that's the craziest solution i can think of" idea...

**nickholden** · 03-28-2012 07:49 PM

sorry for double post, have no idea why it did that....

**Chewnie91** · 03-28-2012 08:05 PM

There's nothing crazy you can do to make yourself remember your dreams. If you try to hard you wont, thats that unfortunately. All you can do is wake up after each dream cycle so your mind doesn't overload with all the dreams.

**nickholden** · 03-28-2012 08:26 PM

almost every night i do that..

**AjWasHere** · 03-29-2012 04:55 AM

I'm wondering if maybe you aren't taking enough time and thoroughness with each of these techniques. You said you've tried many. For how long? I would recommend taking a month or two straight just attempting to begin inducing lucid dreams through daytime awareness (reality checks) and by attempting to remember and write down dreams as best you can. You should have positive results if you stay committed and optimistic.