Thread: What Reality Checks do you use and when?

Mine is gravity RC, do it all day long.
There is only another one I ever try, which is air-RC and only when its foggy or very windy.

Originally Posted by Hukif

Mine is gravity RC, do it all day long.
There is only another one I ever try, which is air-RC and only when its foggy or very windy.

What do you to check it - jump? lol

lmao everyone seems to assume that, not at all. I just check my weight all day long, no need to jump or the like. Can PM a link if you want, but can't post it <.<

Yeah sure, so long as it doesn't involve you literally weighing yourself on electronic scales.

;p

I find that the only reality checks I succeed in remembering are counting my fingers to make sure I have five, checking the time twice to make sure it hasn't, and the usual asking myself if I'm dreaming. I used to be able to attain lucidity all the time with these

Lately I have been using a coin I always have on me as a totem it can be associated with dreaming for me. I'm testing and creating some induction techniques though I've been lacking on my RCs lately.

I always found it strange that it was assumed in Inception that spinning a spinning-top would result in perpetual motion in the dream world. Why would it? But because of that film and its implication, you'll most certainly find it is the case in dreams.

Finger to palm and nose plug, sometimes the clock one.

Fly.

Originally Posted by Wolfwood

I always found it strange that it was assumed in Inception that spinning a spinning-top would result in perpetual motion in the dream world. Why would it? But because of that film and its implication, you'll most certainly find it is the case in dreams.

Not to sound naive, but what do you mean exactly?

Last LD I wanted to try the finger through palm method but it didn't work. Nose plug always works for me. Funny thing; in my last LD I wanted to go outside to fly but before I closed the door I did an extra RC just to make sure I was dreaming and not be standing outside in the dark in my PJ and not be able to get back in.

I do the nose-plug and count my fingers. So far counting my fingers worked once.

However I have a problem with RCs. Firstly, in my normal dreams I am usually the opposite of lucid. By this I mean that I have NO control over anything, no control over my actions, no nothing. So I can't just look at my hands, most of the time. Does anyone have this same problem?

Also, I have only recently started RCing, but when I do RCs, I don't think of them as 'questioning reality', but more as 'checking if I'm in a dream'. Maybe that could help some, especially if your dream world is against you.

Originally Posted by NickCamp

Not to sound naive, but what do you mean exactly?

Also I think he means that while in the movie, spinning a spinning-top in a dream would result in it spinning forever, while in a real dream that doesn't necessarily happen. However, if you expect it to spin forever, it most likely will.

Nose-plug (cleverly disguised as just wiping my nose), finger-counting. I check to see if the scars on the back of my hands are still there, and I think back on the previous events of the day to see if it makes sense. I check signs with writing and books if I can, to see if they make any sense in context.

Nose-plug has been my most successful RC; it hasn't failed me yet. I usually try to do a variety though, and make sure to switch around which ones I do to force myself to really think about it and not just do it automatically. I try to include both physical and mental checks, and some are a combination of both. Some of the ones I do commonly are counting my fingers (and then asking myself if that is the number of fingers I usually have), trying to push my hands through walls (this doesn't usually work, even in dreams, but when it does it is usually fun, so I am always hoping it will work), reading a piece of text or digital clock and seeing if it stays the same, looking around me and thinking about if my surroundings make sense, and asking myself questions (who am I? is this who I usually am? where am I? how did I get here? does this explanation make sense? what was I just doing? what was I doing before that? and before that? do these things make sense?).

I am trying to get in the habit of doing a quick nose plug RC every time I wake up or write in my dream journal. Looking at my surroundings would be another good check for these circumstances, as I often don't wake up in my usual bed when I have a false awakening. Seeing if text stays the same is also a great one when I'm in the middle of writing down my dreams. I don't like to get too elaborate with RC's right after I wake up, though, as I'm more concerned about remembering my dreams to write them down. Other than that, I just RC whenever I think about it.

I use the nose plug RC and general awareness almost exclusively. Plugging my nose has never failed me and I even do it in public; who cares what anyone thinks (that's how I roll).

Its a film, a good film but its fake. Films aren't necessarily real and don't represent reality, especially films about dreams. Like how speaking in a German accent means you're German,even though the character is speaking English.

Another example: Theres no air in space yet we can hear an X-Wing flying and shooting a TIE fighter. It's just something for the plot.

I hope I don't sound condescending.

P.S
If you(theoretically) believe that then it will work, like how some light switches work in dreams and some do not.

I believe what you're saying to be true; however, I and i'm sure many, have had light switches not working in dreams from when we've been mere little kids. Well before anyone would say 'light switches don't work'. There is no expectation from anywhere. They just never worked. I'm talking about 15 years ago now.

Sometimes they do work you have to be aware. (I'm not doubting you however) I can only remember handful of dreams from my childhood.

I mainly use the nose pinching reality check. I don't really have a specific time at the moment. About once and hour and whenever I remember too.

I look at my hands throughout the day, any time I'm dreaming and notice my hands they're usually missing a finger or have additional fingers. An easy tell.

The nose plug technique works great for me every time, then I do the old rubbing hands thing and call for clarity to enhance my dream