A Dog Chasing its Own Tail

**Earthatic** · 03-24-2013 09:43 AM

When it comes to lucid dreaming, can anyone relate to this analogy?

It's a sporadic, hard to control process. Because of the way our survival instincts work, our dream function is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to utilize in a satisfactory way to fulfil our fantasies. I really don't think it's supposed to be used this way.

This could be described as a psychological obstacle course that reinforces associative memory functions, which you can have fun conquering and exploring; however, just because you desire something, you cannot always expect the unconscious mind to meet you halfway.

I have had some very worthwhile experiences, yet I cannot help but feel that there will always be room for improvement. I've learned to accept that I might not fully achieve what I want, since dreaming is almost entirely based on resolution and impermanence. There might always be an issue present, in one form or another.

Obviously, I'm speaking from a subjective standpoint, but perhaps this might help put things into perspective for those who are struggling to make dreaming into what they want it to be.

**paigeyemps** · 03-24-2013 11:21 AM

In my opinion, there can never be a perfect lucid dreamer or a perfect lucid dream. Sure, the dream may seem perfect to the dreamer, but that is, by itself, subjective already. Anyway, i agree and i think there is always something to be improved upon, with every experience. Every attempt is a learning milestone, and every dream will always be different in some way. Just as your imagination can never run out, the possibilities and areas for improvement are also bottomless. But that does not mean we should fret over it or obsess over perfecting every single aspect. We should learn to adapt to the changes in every unique dreaming experience, and only then can we truly say that we are actually good at what we do. I do believe the best lucid dreamers are not those who get lucid every night, but they are those who take every opportunity and make the most of it, even if it does not end in lucidity every time.

LOL what am i even saying, i went all deep and dramatic for a bit there, sorry. Anyway that's just my two cents.

**Earthatic** · 03-25-2013 03:52 AM

Well, that is a good point.

It's hard to determine how a person could perfect this practice, and that could be left for another thread, as opinions and goals tend to change over time.

The little things, like being able to maintain lucidity without waking up, being able to move freely through a dream space without being distracted, preventing a dream from cutting out at an important event, ect... These are just different means to an end, but if a person can't retain this stability, lucid dreaming will leave them feeling very disappointed.

The slot machine-like randomness of autopilot creativity, for better or worse, is what makes lucid dreaming so interesting. I agree with you there, but not being able to cross the threshold on every attempt is what is so disconcerting. Still, even after this happens, the urge to LD gnaws at me, so I find myself going back. In this way, it's sort of like a dog chasing its own tail.

**pog** · 03-25-2013 03:05 PM

Sporadic: tick
Hard-to-control: tick
Always room for improvement: tick

Yup - that's not just LDing, I think that's pretty much life!

But since I can improve, and can exert at least some influence and freedom, I choose to do so, however imperfectly and sporadically. And I'll get better. Who cares about perfection, the journey is enough.