Is a ball a reliable RC?

**illusionust** · 05-19-2013 07:54 PM

So I recently had an idea. A quick reality check involving a small ball, guitar pick, anything one can fit in their pocket. When you RC, take it out of your pocket, and grasp it in your hand so that you cannot see it. Then tell yourself, "If I am dreaming, this will disappear." If it does, then you ARE dreaming, if not, then you're not dreaming. My question is if this is a reliable RC? Do youthink this qould work, coupled with counting your fingers, etc?

**Xvaiuer** · 05-19-2013 08:03 PM

I think that's actually a really good idea for a RC.

**GuitarShot100** · 05-19-2013 08:19 PM

It's reliable if you really expect that the object will disappear, it may fail in the first times but after you see that works will be much easier to believe

**illusionust** · 05-20-2013 12:54 AM

Thanks! Will get to doing so now

**Darkmatters** · 05-20-2013 01:11 AM

Why would the object be in your pocket in a dream? The RC could fail before you even try it because you could reach in your pocket and there's nothing there, and you'll be like "oops - guess I forgot to bring the ball!" and reason yourself out of lucidity. This is why the good RCs don't rely on any object that you need to have with you - just your own body.

**Xvaiuer** · 05-20-2013 01:20 AM

Originally Posted by Darkmatters

Why would the object be in your pocket in a dream? The RC could fail before you even try it because you could reach in your pocket and there's nothing there, and you'll be like "oops - guess I forgot to bring the ball!" and reason yourself out of lucidity. This is why the good RCs don't rely on any object that you need to have with you - just your own body.

If you make it a habit of having the ball in your pocket in waking life, it may carry over to dreams.

**Darkmatters** · 05-20-2013 01:29 AM

Originally Posted by Xvaiuer

If you make it a habit of having the ball in your pocket in waking life, it may carry over to dreams.

it may carry over to dreams.

may

may

**Xvaiuer** · 05-20-2013 01:32 AM

Originally Posted by Darkmatters

Like all RC's, it may not work in a dream. Many people have had dreams where they do a RC and do not become lucid, and I am included in this category. No RC is completely foolproof, so may applies to all of them.

**Darkmatters** · 05-20-2013 01:37 AM

This is all very true - which is why you want to eliminate anything that could screw it up before you even do the RC. How do you do this RC if you're naked in the dream for instance? Or only wearing underwear? No problem doing a nosepinch or fingerpalm or counting fingers in ay of those situations. Or maybe you reach in your pocket to pull out a ball and instead you find a guitar pick, and you sit there staring at it wondering how in the world did that happen, completely distracted from doing any RC at all. RCs should be kept simple, and not rely on any props.

**illusionust** · 05-20-2013 01:47 AM

Originally Posted by Darkmatters

This is all very true - which is why you want to eliminate anything that could screw it up before you even do the RC. How do you do this RC if you're naked in the dream for instance? Or only wearing underwear? No problem doing a nosepinch or fingerpalm or counting fingers in ay of those situations. Or maybe you reach in your pocket to pull out a ball and instead you find a guitar pick, and you sit there staring at it wondering how in the world did that happen, completely distracted from doing any RC at all. RCs should be kept simple, and not rely on any props.

That really does shed some light. Thanks a ton. Do you have any suggestions then, something specific to me, simple but reliable? I think it may be easier to remember for me.

**Xvaiuer** · 05-20-2013 02:28 AM

Originally Posted by illusionust

That really does shed some light. Thanks a ton. Do you have any suggestions then, something specific to me, simple but reliable? I think it may be easier to remember for me.

Okay, I guess you are right that this doesn't work in all situations so it's not completely reliable.

**JoannaB** · 05-20-2013 02:35 AM

From what I have read no single RC is going to be reliable always, so it is best to do a combination of multiple RCs (for example both the finger threw palm and try to read something and look away and reread it or nose pinch and try to breathe, and have a set of like three RCs that you usually do), combined with questioning reality seriously and asking yourself how did I get here and such.

**Scionox** · 05-20-2013 09:19 AM

I'd say that reliability of any specific reality check varies from person to person, so reality check specific to you you have to find by yourself by experimenting with various ideas. Also as JoannaB says, doing multiple reality checks is better. But anyways i recommend reality check that involves looking at your hands and counting fingers / searching for weirdness, seems to be generally pretty reliable and it can be easily used everywhere.

Remember though that reality check should not be done as just an mechanical action, but to heighten awareness. Before doing reality check, look around, search for anything weird and completely believe that you might be dreaming, then put emotions into it, like "Wow, am i dreaming?" and then do reality check itself, while fully expecting it to show you that you are dreaming.

Also check out this thread: http://www.dreamviews.com/dild/13212...ods-dilds.html

**realdealmagic** · 05-20-2013 12:52 PM

Another thing that may plunder this RC is the fact that you don't yet know if you're dreaming. If you say "If I'm dreaming, such and such will happen..." but you haven't actually checked that you are dreaming, you may end up just having a failed RC and not becoming lucid. Just my thoughts