Fear of self, over fear of danger

[Cornelius]

I realize that just beginning here, there are a number of areas which I could probably go and find the information, and it's probably rude to begin like this, but as of yet I haven't found the question on the forums and so I'd like to ask. When I was young I could easily have a LD, it's never been a problem. Hand in hand with the idea that we all achieve things differently, I've always done well with control and self realization in dreams. I've read about the erotic dreams people are having or trying to have, and some beginning views on the ethics of dreaming. Essentially it comes down to that "to thine own self be true" which is where the problem comes in. Does anyone else have trouble keeping themselves from being violent? I can just not try to recognize that I'm dreaming, and I do all right, but the moment I see that I can do as I please, a fairly ugly side of me comes out. Things of note, I'm a decent guy, I like to build, work etc. I love school, college is great, I'm not unhappy in any way I know of, and when I'm awake, I'm not psychotic. Violent thoughts on sex, mayham, and generally uncouth things are par for the course, but it's not even edging on difficult to keep everything under wraps. But in my dreams I let go, and it's to the point that I'd just assume not LD. any ideas? Is this a common theme for others? It's not life shattering to not LD but it takes some fun out of sleep. Any information would be appreciatied.

[DuB]

Well, I haven't done much killing in my LD's (actually, I dont think any at all so far, although I've done a fair amount in my regular dreams!), but I think it's normal. You know that you aren't really killing anybody, and furthermore, no one will ever even know what you did anway, so you basically see it as a realistic video game. And we all love violent video games!

[Oneironaut Zero]

I look at dream-violence this way: (especially in the way of lucids) As a pretty creative person, I think it is important to know the line between reality and fiction. Anyone who has created an artistic piece, whether drawn or filmed, should have this same ability to perceive something without actually succumbing to that perception as their actual, conscious mind frame. More simply put, I'm not a fan of waking-world violence. I do have a respect for martial arts, and I love a good action Movie, Comic, whatever. I've role-played many action characters and I've created more than I've role-played, but I always know that my knowledge of fictional action is completely seperate from my Perception of Waking-world Violence. I'm not sure how ugly your 'ugly' side is, but, now that I think about it, even though I'm constantly having epic battles and things of that nature in my dreams, I don't think I have a problem with Gratuitous (sp) Violence while dreaming. When I'm being violent in my dreams I'm always facing something equally as violent, and it is always done in a tasteful way, on my part at least. I don't think I've ever harmed anything in my dreams that wasn't after me first, and I don't quite go around spilling millions of gallons of blood and ripping intestines out and stuff. More of the Matrix/Marvel/Take-A-Muhfucker-Down-But-Don't-Splatter-Him-All-Over-The-Room violence. Lol. But even though I'm quick to kick someone's ass while dreaming, this is something that is completely dishelved from my waking moral perception of Violence. I don't think it matters too much how violent your dreams are as an individual, as long as you are aware that your dreams are from a realm of infinite possiblity, just like your waking Imagination. As long as you can keep the two seperate from your waking world Personality, no harm no foul. Just because an author births a violent book, or a movie script, does not mean this person is violent at heart. At least that is my opinion as an artist. Action is exciting, and a person's view of action, many times, includes violence. Someone who is more spiritual might be quick to tell you otherwise, but I've been having somewhat violent dreams since I was a child, and I'm still the kind of person that would find a snake in my house, wrap it up in a pair of shorts, and throw it back outside rather than kill it. But remember. If you are lucid, you are conscious. If such a thing truely bothers you, make it a point to stop your violent tendencies while LD'ing, or maybe lower the level of violence to something a little more PG-13? If you can handle being violent in your dreams, knowing you are doing it for non-waking-life-affecting entertainment, I think you'll be just fine. But if you start longing to bring that violence into the waking world, or you feel that its becoming your LD'ing obsession so you can go rip DC's heads off for all hours of every night...you might want to seek a little help. 8)

[Jrels]

I suppose it is inevitable for you to meet your true primal urges when given the opportunity to have a lucid dream. I don't necessarily mean "primal" as in "primitive," but you are given the chance to explore your personality. When I have LD's, I tend to explore the dream world. I enjoy communicating with dream characters, and experimenting with the lack of physics. Undeniably, though, I do tend to revert to my primal urge. This is sex. There is never any violence associated with these "fantasies," and I am glad that I do not find violence in the recesses of my subconscious.

[Wayward Oneironaut]

I am very non-aggressive and non-violent in my waking life as I guess I take a really zen type view on that - that all violence springs from an imbalance within yourself and, also, I try to always live by the philosophy that we should each be free to do whatever we choose as long as it does not take that freedom away from anyone else (and violence is the easiest way to break that objective). Odd or not, I don't find violence in my dreams either, and if I do, its usually someone else pushing it on me or another dream character. In the end, maybe you have to understand that violence is a part of existence, too and that you are being asked to come to some sort of relationship with it - I guess either embracing it more or seeing through it. Either way, I wouldn't worry about it - look at it as a teacher (the Buddhist approach), and observe in what ways it is manifesting in your dreams and if you can draw any conclusions.