I have had unplanned lucid dreams on rare occasions throughout my life as well as sleep paralysis/terror. They have always happened spontaneously when I have awoke in the early hours and couldn't sleep for a while before dropping back off. They never lasted very long at all and I was rarely able to manifest anything in the way I wanted.

Just recently, the game has changed for me. Twice this past week (including last night) I have had multiple lucid dreams after waking unintentionally around 3-4am and falling asleep a couple of hours later. Its got to the point now where I know if I wake at this time I am almost guaranteed lucidity. What has been most exciting is that the paralysis and terror have been absent and I have been able to stay in the dream much longer than ever before. The transition from waking to dream has been almost seamless, starting with hypnogogic images and a loud ringing sound in my ears which has always been the number one cue for me that a lucid dream is imminent if I can just ride it out and not succumb to fear. I have felt myself either float up out of bed or, as was the case last night, "fall" down into a dream. These recent dreams have all taken place in a surreal, underground place with lots of narrow corridors and a sense of confinement. I wondered if this was common?

Last night was the best lucid dreaming experience I've ever had because I had determined whilst awake that I would search for answers in my dream to solving issues I have in real life. And this is exactly what happened. I came across a table filled with books and figured the "answer" would be in there somewhere. My question was unfortunately very vague, basically "How do I improve my life?". I picked up a book and the cover contained strange symbols which I simply could not decipher. I tried to figure out if it was an ancient script or something but it was nothing I'd ever seen before. Then when I read a passage inside the book, it was written in English but was nonsensical and I can't remember it now anyway. So I was part of the way there but when it came down to actually receiving a coherent message, none was there. I think maybe I need to be more specific with my questions. I don't mind, I have felt a real progression in my lucid abilities without actually setting out to do so in the first place. I am much calmer in my dreams, perhaps due to me meditating in everyday life and just general dreaming experience. Or maybe I just got lucky!

This was such an exciting experience for me. Lots of other stuff happened and there was a surreal false awakening at the end too. But I won't describe the whole dream here.

So I can now induce lucidity and maintain it. I still don't feel 100% in control all the time and I can't manifest things exactly as I want to. But I know I can work on this. My question really is, how should I best go about finding genuine guidance to my real life issues through my dreams? Or is this not even possible or necessary? I still get caught up in the novelty or trying to fly and have sex etc. Whilst this is fun, what I really want is to delve into my subconscious and see if I can do some personal "healing".

Apologies if this is a long winded and confusing post. This is all still relatively new to me. I have felt great today but also unable to focus properly at all.