Staying Lucid

**bula** · 10-12-2013 08:57 PM

Last night, I had my first success with an intentional LD since my old LDing days years ago. Anyways, I had been trying to incubate a certain dream for the past 3-4 days, and sure enough, last night I encountered the DC I was wishing to encounter. After only ~30secs of dream time, I realized I became lucid and decided to go through with my plans

The problem is, after only about 1min of dream time, I basically lost my lucidity even though my dream went the way I had intended/incubated. When I woke up this morning, I realized part of the problem was the inevitable sex in a LD which always seems to last... well, not that long. However, I still can't help but wonder why I lost my lucidity. I didn't have a false awakening or anything, and my dream did go in the direction I was hoping, but I didn't have the distinct control that I know is possible.

It was as if I became lucid and set in motion my "plan" that I've been incubating for days but then lost lucidity and my dreaming self took over control. I really hope this makes sense.

Anyways, how and why did this happen? I have probably 4 or 5 dozen LDs so I have some idea of losing lucidity but it's always been in the form of a false awakening or complete awakening, never just losing lucidity and going on "auto-pilot". Is this because of the dream and the fact that it was sexual? Could I have done some stabilizing techniques to keep lucid and in complete control?

Any help with this?

thanks.

**LucasPotter** · 10-12-2013 09:15 PM

Hello, bula!

Yes, dream stabilization would probably have helped you in this scenario (well, not just this scenario, it's obviously something that will always help you). May I suggest you check this out? Dream Stabilization and Clarity Tutorial. There are MANY tips on how to stabilize your lucid dream there.

**bula** · 10-12-2013 09:29 PM

Thanks for that!

I've read that (and other stabilization tutorials/tips) and I guess part of my confusion is whether I actually lost lucidity. All my other experiences with this (getting overly excited that I'm lucid, doing something in my dream that wakes me up, etc) have always led to either a false awakening or a true awakening. However, this time I just feel like the clarity and control was all that was lost; the dream itself went on perfectly vividly and just as I wanted although I'm wondering if that was me actually being lucid, or if it was because I had spent so much time incubating the dream that my dream self just "took over".

Does it sound to you like I actually lost lucidity because the experience was much different than other times that I know I lost lucidity (leading to a false awakening or actually waking up)?

**CNGB** · 10-13-2013 05:40 AM

By definition, lucid dreaming is knowing that you are in a dream. One can still be technically lucid but not be thinking clearly, though this state of mind is preferably called semi-lucid. Even knowing that, from what you have typed so far, it sounds to me like you lost lucidity. Having sex in a lucid dream often causes people to wake up--or, in this case, to lose lucidity.

Just for the sake of your knowing, my first lucid dream was similar to this one. I became lucid for a few seconds but then lost it and went on with the otherwise boring dream. It happens pretty often.

Like Angelpotter said, though, I think that practicing stabilization techniques would have prevented your loss of lucidity. Be sure to try that out next time you become conscious in your dream!

**bula** · 10-13-2013 06:00 AM

Thanks for the help and experience. I was thinking that I could have prolonged the vivid lucidity by stabilizing (it never hurts in my experience) but I was curious about if I even lost lucidity in the first place. Like you said, it was semi-lucid (I just didn't know that was an actual phenomenon).

I always thought (and experienced) that losing lucidity due to being excited for whatever reason, either ended up with a false awakening, but more often a true awakening. I'm glad to hear that there is a middle ground between those two as that explains my experience well.

Just out of curiosity, even with stabilization techniques, is it possible to have sex with DCs in a LD? I've never really "gone there" in my LDs before and so I don't know if it's something that will always excite the body and therefore wake one up. If it's possible, are there certain specific techniques for stabilizing a sex LD?

**CNGB** · 10-13-2013 04:54 PM

I'm not sure if there are any specific techniques for sex exactly, but I can tell you that it's certainly possible. From what I hear sex is one of the harder things to control and so it does take experience and a bit of practice, but of course that amount would vary with each individual. Sorry I couldn't be of more help!

**LucasPotter** · 10-13-2013 04:58 PM

Originally Posted by bula

Thanks for the help and experience. I was thinking that I could have prolonged the vivid lucidity by stabilizing (it never hurts in my experience) but I was curious about if I even lost lucidity in the first place. Like you said, it was semi-lucid (I just didn't know that was an actual phenomenon).

I always thought (and experienced) that losing lucidity due to being excited for whatever reason, either ended up with a false awakening, but more often a true awakening. I'm glad to hear that there is a middle ground between those two as that explains my experience well.

Just out of curiosity, even with stabilization techniques, is it possible to have sex with DCs in a LD? I've never really "gone there" in my LDs before and so I don't know if it's something that will always excite the body and therefore wake one up. If it's possible, are there certain specific techniques for stabilizing a sex LD?

If you know you're dreaming, you are lucid, even if you don't get lucid enough to take control of the dream (that actually happens a LOT to me

), but it still is a good sign. It means that you're aware enough of your surroundings and it should only be a matter of time before you start becoming more lucid.

And sex in LDs is definitely possible, so... just keep trying?

hahaha Not sure about specific techniques for that, though... I guess maybe you could work on dream control, try simple things first?