Mantra assistance

[imJB]

Hi I'm keen to get a better understanding from experienced LDs when they employ mantras. Is it typical to employ them before bed? As we fall asleep? During the day? I suppose I am trying to figure out what works for me but also try and get a good system in place. With work 9 - 5 I think it's important for me to really nail down an effective process. In between RCs through the day it gets hard if I'm also trying to recite mantras! I've had pretty quick success with the mantra "I wake up and remember my dreams" generally when I'm in bed. My recall has improved to 2-3 dreams per night and generally I'm waking up right after them. When do people recite their mantras? And how often do they switch them up? Like when do I switch from dream recall to lucidity prompts? Do I use several at once? Say one for recall and one for lucidity, one after the other? And for that matter what is the general consensus on how to word a mantra if I make my own. I've seen a lot of comments about not being open ended so the mind knows the intention is immediate. Does anyone use a mantra to increase vividness? Sorry for the twenty questions!! Thank you, really appreciate your comments! Cheers John

[DreamscapeGoat]

I use mantras all throughout the day, usually after an RC. It does help to say them before going to bed, just don't let it keep you awake. I use the mantra "I will become lucid and remember my dreams", to try and nail down both (No results so far, but I am making progress!) recall and lucidity. It may work for you, just tailor it to your needs, because a mantra should have personal meaning. Mantras are used to give positive reinforcement. The belief that you can, and will, usually provides positive results, and vice versa. Generally, a mantra should hold personal meaning, and should use "I will". NEVER USE NEGATIVES IN A MANTRA! I try to have a new mantra per week. Don't know if there's a set thing for how often you should change it. Try one for a week, and if it isn't showing results, change it. Mantras can be used to increase vividness in dreams. Just make one like, "I will have vivid dreams". Hope I helped!

[duke396]

Personally I use them only as I'm going to sleep. Because of that I try to keep it simple so I don't keep myself awake trying to remember what I'm supposed to be repeating, or lose track of half of it. I seem to remember someone suggesting to use mantras in the present tense so instead of saying "I will become lucid" I now often say "I am dreaming" as sort of a reminder to myself with the hope that the idea will carry over into the dream. Also I used to say "I will remember my dreams" during particularly dry spells. Is present tense really better than future tense? I have no idea.

[imJB]

Thank you for your thoughts, if there are any others reading this please add your views!!

[Tradl3s]

Thiss guide should help you out: http://www.dreamviews.com/attaining-...firmation.html

[imJB]

Definitely does. Thanks!

[AnotherDreamer]

It all depends on how intense I want to be about it. Usually if I just want to become lucid, I'll just say something simple right before I go to sleep, and that usually works because I believe it will. Sometimes if I'm really determined to get a more complicated dream experience, I'll meditate in the shower on it for about an hour before bed. The water sound helps me focus. I don't think it matters that much what the words are as much as the meaning behind them. The words could be complete gibberish as long as the idea is completely solid in your mind as to what it is that you are bringing into being. When I meditate in the shower, I oscillate back and forth between giving intention for the dream to come, and doing nothing. So with each consecutive oscillation the intention grows stronger until my whole body is vibrating almost violently, I feel like I'm exploding with will for it to happen, and sometimes I start to hear music? Not any kind of music I've ever heard before. I don't know why, but when it gets really intense I sometimes hear a deafening sound and then beautiful tones. And if I ever even begin to ask the question, will this work? It greatly weakens all the intention that I just put into the meditation. I've never used a mantra to increase vividness but I really like that idea! I think I'll try it