Thread: Ever feel like you were getting nowhere with trying to learn how to LD?

Hi, just signed up to Dream Views, used it before but didn't have an account until now, anyway I have been practicing Lucid Dreaming for about 6 months now, I have had a few semi-lucid dreams but not a fully conscious one, I'm doing reality checks all of the time and trying my best to keep a dream journal but I feel like I'm getting nowhere, I haven't had any lucid dreams even at their most basic level for a long time and I'm really starting to wonder if I will ever get to the point where I can have them by will like 75% of the time like some people claim they can, hell, I even wonder if I will ever get a full conscious LD, so have any of you been in a similar situation as this and how did you get out?

If you think you're ready, the WILD technique could be a good way to have a fully conscious LD. At any rate, you've made better progress than I did in that time frame.

I came back to the hobby about 5-6 months ago, after about 20 years of not practicing LD. In the past 5-6 months, I have succeeded only 4 times, and yes, there have been times when I have doubted whether I could do it. I am in a better situation than you because I know I can do it though because 20 years ago I remember being good at it, but I do not remember why I quit, and frankly I expected to be much better at it faster when I joined here in February.

So how come I do not give up? I have decided that I really enjoy the process of getting to lucidity, and I realized that I have gained benefits of greater self awareness in waking life and better memory and a general spirit of self improvement and questing that appeals to me and which is due to lucid dreaming practice. I am learning patience. I am enjoying my non-lucid dreams. I have decided that lucidity will come, well it has four times already but none of those dreams were nearly as good as the ones I remember from 20 years ago, but I have decided to not mind that. A lot of lucid dream practice is about expectations, intensions, and attitude, I think. At least for me it is. I would not give up for the world. I keep wondering whether by now my low success rate thus far is contributing unfortunately to my expectations not being quite up to par (do I really expect to be lucid tonight?), and my acceptance and enjoyment of the non-lucid dreams and the process may mean that I am less single mindedly focused on having lucid dreams right away. However, I know I am a happier person than I would be if I were less accepting and more disappointed. And ultimately being a happier person is a large part of my end goal.

And I got to have a lucid dream tonight, damn it, because there are only a few more days left in the lucid dreaming challange that I am participating in on DreamViews, and I got to be lucid before the challenge is over!!! You hear me my subconscious? No more procrastinating tonight!

I know this feeling as well. I have tried last year, but then I stopped after not succeeding (bad idea) and now I re-started trying to achieve lucidity. To be honest I really regret having stopped....

Even though you might be disappointed at times because you didn't really get there yet that really doesn't mean that you're getting nowhere! In my opinion it's not all about lucidity... As Joanna said there are many more benefits like learning to analyse and enjoy your dreams more and being more aware in your daily life. Isn't that something great? It might also be helpful not to try too hard. And whenever I feel a little demotivatied I just read DJs of other forum members or watch topic-related movies and that always inspires me to keep going.

King Yoshi's guide about ADA really helped me heaps. You might want to read it if you haven't done that so far. I've instantly had my first lucid dream after re-starting and my dream recall has improved dramatically since then so I think ADA is great for achieving results fast

I have herd about people saying that they have been more aware in waking life from learning lucid dreaming but truthfully I feel no different, is this something you gain with experience from analysing the dream world and seeing what is real and what isn't?

Have you considered making a dream catcher? I know it sounds lame and gimmicky, but the physical act of making a simple dream catcher (which can honestly be made out of an old coat hanger and yarn), can be a big help. Traditionally, these items are intended to catch bad dreams and let good dreams flow in. I built mine to catch all the dreams and funnel them to me regardless of content. It's all about the intent you put into it when you build it.

1) The act of creating the dream catcher can serve as a ritual to reinforce your intent to dream. During construction, concentrate on how you want to lucid dream. Concentrate on what you want the dream catcher to do, what you want it to represent. This helps give your mind a firm anchor point to reference the point where your intent to become lucid manifested. In our dreams, we tend to experience what we prepare for. This is part of that.

2) The dream catcher will serve as a physical representation of your intent to lucid dream. You'll see it often, it'll work it's way into the background of your mind. You'll forget about it and take it for granted, but every time it enters your field of vision, your subconscious will be reminded of it's construction and the intent which went into it, thus priming you for lucidity.


Don't lose heart. It took me two years before I had my first lucid dream and it was an uphill battle. I didn't have access to the wealth of information now available so I had to figure it out all on my own. You live in a great time for lucid dreaming. I'll tell you. This is what progress looks like. You're making progress. You're doing it right now. You've gotten the first steps. You're on your way. In the meantime, enjoy the process. Even non-lucid dreams can be pretty cool. Relish them. Analyze them. Remember them. Study them. Discover common themes (which can help you realize you're dreaming). This stuff is cool. Sure you've got a goal in mind, and you'll get there. You're on your way. In the meantime, don't forget to have fun with the process.

Legacy, I think that feeling simply comes from practicing ADA. Lucid dreaming certainly helps, though.

I used to think that Lucidity Control would not become a reality for me, I have been trying for a good couple of years with different methods, Then suddenly I have two of have them without really trying. I was really surprised and sorry for ever doubted the possibility. My dreams have always been ultra realistic just could never realize i was dreaming until i woke up.

I feel the way you do tonight man...I had one amazing LD experience (the first one after a few weeks) but it took so much energy to enter into it and for some reason I'm just discouraged. I feel like It won't ever happen again. But reading about all this inspires me again.

Never doubt that you can have a lucid dream. Anyone can do it, it might be hard at first but anybody can do it.

What everyone else has said before me is true. The act of lucidity is all about expectation and attitude and determination. Being negative won't ever help you in this hobby.

I'm about where you are now, except at this point I've come to accept that I'm not going to have a lucid dream every night (at least, not right now ) and to just enjoy the process. If you can do this and put all of your negative emotions aside, then you'll be much happier about the whole thing. If you quit obsessing over lucid dreaming and quit being upset, then you might just have your first one.

*Moved to General Lucid

Legacy, have you read Stephen LaBerge's book Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming? This book got me started. I highly recommend it. The first few chapters really explain the techniques.

Hey Legacy, you're not alone!
I've been trying for over year now and have had just 5 very brief LDs (just a few seconds each).
I continue to hope that it will just click sometime soon, but it is very disheartening at times!

I think you have to treat it a bit like learning a musical instrument - I'm also learning guitar when I can grab a few moments, and that is hard!

As has already been said, one useful approach is to treat it like a journey and enjoy the scenery. I think my rpoblem is I am too intense. I've lately been trying to get a better balance between being keen, but being relaxed about it. It's a difficult balancing act.

It REALLY doesn't help having a busy stressful day though, that's for sure! Weekends and holidays are best for me.