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One time at school, I heard some of my friends discussing "lucid nightmares." These friends weren't the lucid dreaming type, nor did what they describe sound like the lucid dream I know. What they described was perposefully forcing your subconscious To shove it's deepest fear down your throat. It sounded pretty creepy. Has anyone heard the term "lucid nightmare" used like this? Has anyone done this?
Eh, I've never heard anyone describe it as a 'lucid nightmare', but I heard of this practice alright. It's a very powerful way of attaining a state of gnosis(complete no-thought) and I know of people who use it for ritualistic purposes. I've never done it myself, but I have a couple copies of texts that describe how it can be done. Most of it is pretty advanced stuff though.
Hm, could you elaborate a little? I know of lucid nightmares such as when you become lucid when something very unpleasant is happening in a dream but can't wake yourself up, but I don't think that's what you mean. I'm guessing it's not just any simple induction of nightmares either. I haven't heard of the term used in that way.
I've vaguely heard of things like this before also but not in terms of a nightmare...is it some particularly unpleasant way of trying to attain the state, or just difficult?Quote:
Originally Posted by proctree
Attaining gnosis is not unpleasant, in fact, I would classify it as enlightnening. Reaching it through fear, which paralyzes the mind, stopping all thoughts, isn't particularily pleasant but it doesn't cause any permanent or even short-term mental damage. In short, the process itself is difficult, but not harmful. Liber Null by Peter Caroll has more information on gnosis induced through fear, although it does not contain a method for such a procedure.Quote:
Originally Posted by vasiona
The method I would use would be meditating while laying down on something that scares you. Eventually, through hypnagogia and SP, you will have to face your fear. I'ne never really tried this before, but it seems like something that might work. I've often meditated on different aspects of life and received vivid, interesting dreams which furthered my understanding of the world, so I cannot see why meditating on fear wouldn't have the same effect.
I've had a lucid nightmare before. In practicality it seems pretty common for most nightmares to be lucid since most people have the awareness that they're in a dream and use that incentive to wake up, so in context I'd guess all nightmares are lucid in one form or another. But I had one nightmare where I was being chased by a masked man with a chain saw (cliche, I know) and instead of trying to wake up from that dream I decided to do the opposite, so I lay on the ground, closed my eyes and covered my head, and kept saying to my self "it isn't real it's only a dream, it isn't real it's only a dream" and to my surprise the noise from the chain saw stopped. When I opened my eyes I found my self to be in a completely different environment, a totally positive dream almost as if I had been rewarded for being brave and fighting the nightmare with knowledge as opposed to escaping the nightmare with fear.
Interesting... if you have ever seen the movie divergent, the ruling system basically puts children at a certain age through a lucid dream test and based on the results they know which "faction they are to join. If you happen to know you are dreaming and "escape" the test by knowing the events aren't actually happening... then you are a divergent and the ruling system doesn't want you. You don't fit in anywhere.Quote:
Originally Posted by AstralFlare
I have gone through similar things in lucid nightmares where I realize I'm dreaming and wake up or go into a different dream to escape the horror. It's knowledge that what's happening isn't actually happening, but it also seems very flighty to me as well. Instead of facing fears and going through a difficult situation, we choose easy street and just say ehh it's a dream I can get out of this. A week ago I had a lucid dream and i simply flew away from the unwanted situation (I guessed it was a dream and I knew it once I started flying). I agree though that brain is rewarding you for figuring it out though... but is it always the best thing just to run? I like the idea of this thread intentionally facing your worst fears and overcoming them.