Thread: New to Lucid Dreaming

I spoke with my Doctor and he has said that I can continue my Practice of Lucid Dreaming and also wished me Good Luck.

I have a few Questions.

Do people dream almost every day?
I had short dreams early in the morning when I was napping after waking up but since they were very short dreams I did not write it down in my dream Journal, but I still remember what I dreamt.
So do I have to also write down short dreams in my dream journal.
Sometimes I get dreams about unpleasant people, and I do not like to write down about the dream I had about those unpleasant people. So is it a must to write down all my dreams weather I like the dream or not?

I have not been able to write down my dreams every day. Is that normal?
I wrote down my dreams on 14th June, 19th June, 22nd June, 25th June,28th June, 2nd July. After 2nd July I had 2 short dreams on 4th July morning and an unpleasant dream on 5th morning which I did not write down.

Based on this within how many days or months will I be able to become a frequent Lucid Dreamer ?

Eagerly waiting for your reply...

Originally Posted by devotee013

I spoke with my Doctor and he has said that I can continue my Practice of Lucid Dreaming and also wished me Good Luck.

I have a few Questions.

Do people dream almost every day?
I had short dreams early in the morning when I was napping after waking up but since they were very short dreams I did not write it down in my dream Journal, but I still remember what I dreamt.
So do I have to also write down short dreams in my dream journal.
Sometimes I get dreams about unpleasant people, and I do not like to write down about the dream I had about those unpleasant people. So is it a must to write down all my dreams weather I like the dream or not?

I have not been able to write down my dreams every day. Is that normal?
I wrote down my dreams on 14th June, 19th June, 22nd June, 25th June,28th June, 2nd July. After 2nd July I had 2 short dreams on 4th July morning and an unpleasant dream on 5th morning which I did not write down.

Based on this within how many days or months will I be able to become a frequent Lucid Dreamer ?

Eagerly waiting for your reply...

Some of these questions are quite difficult to answer. But I'll give you my answers, so far as I have them. Please note, I have not followed this thread from the start.

> Do people dream almost every day?

They probably do, but most people forget most of their dreams very rapidly after waking up.

> So do I have to also write down short dreams in my dream journal.

The more, the merrier.

> So is it a must to write down all my dreams weather I like the dream or not?

Good question! My instincts tell me that not writing them down would be wrong. But you might spell the bad ones out in less detail than the pleasant ones.

> I have not been able to write down my dreams every day. Is that normal?

Yes, very normal.

> Based on this within how many days or months will I be able to become a frequent Lucid Dreamer ?

That question still has far too many variables to answer with any kind of certainty. But my guess is that such commitment would lead to some sort of lucidity within weeks, maybe two-three months at most. But it still depends a lot on your intentions. The more lucid dreaming is on your mind, and the more intensely so, the sooner - and the more frequently - lucidity should pop up.

Originally Posted by Voldmer

But it still depends a lot on your intentions. The more lucid dreaming is on your mind, and the more intensely so, the sooner - and the more frequently - lucidity should pop up.

I wish it felt that simple for me.

Originally Posted by devotee013

Sometimes I get dreams about unpleasant people, and I do not like to write down about the dream I had about those unpleasant people. So is it a must to write down all my dreams weather I like the dream or not?

Since Voldmer already gave you quite decent replies on each of your questions, I will only address this question above.

I personally don't think you have to write down dreams that you find distressing to have good dreaming practise, but I do feel there is some value in writing them down.

Especially for people with recurring themes/nightmares, the value of writing down distressing dreams and their elements can be that it lets you confront any issues presented by those dreams. When you have a dream with distressing elements, in reality you're not in any danger, even if it can feel like you are, and writing down these dreams also lets you feel like there can be some closure and control over dream content that you might otherwise be afraid of. You are also free to reimagine those dreams and write your own altered versions of the dreams, if that was something you might like doing.

One way or another, I feel that if you don't deal with your "bad" dreams, you will run into those topics sooner or later in your dreaming journey, possibly even while lucid, because lucidity alone does not keep out intruding thoughts, worries or fears.

For me, it was only because of bad dreams/nightmares and my intents around them that I was able to deal with some of my own fears, so I'd say that the practical usefulness of dealing with bad dreams goes beyond just keeping a record of them.

If you feel uncomfortable about writing them down in detail, then I would suggest that you try to write down what you do feel able to, and leave the rest out if you really don't feel able to handle it in that moment. If you choose to not write them down, you're not making a mistake or wasting an opportunity, feeling comfortable about these parts of the process can also be important.

Thank you Voldmer …Thank you Darkest Darkness....

I think I will not write down Unpleasant dreams.. Not because of fear but simply because I don't like that person.. I simply hate him...

Originally Posted by devotee013

Do people dream almost every day?
I had short dreams early in the morning when I was napping after waking up but since they were very short dreams I did not write it down in my dream Journal, but I still remember what I dreamt.
So do I have to also write down short dreams in my dream journal.
Sometimes I get dreams about unpleasant people, and I do not like to write down about the dream I had about those unpleasant people. So is it a must to write down all my dreams weather I like the dream or not?

I have not been able to write down my dreams every day. Is that normal?
I wrote down my dreams on 14th June, 19th June, 22nd June, 25th June,28th June, 2nd July. After 2nd July I had 2 short dreams on 4th July morning and an unpleasant dream on 5th morning which I did not write down.

Based on this within how many days or months will I be able to become a frequent Lucid Dreamer ?

Yes, people dream every night. Not always during a nap, depends on how sleep deprived you are. Even if you don't remember your dreams at night, you still have them.

About journaling short dreams: what you give is what you get. If you write down your dreams, including short ones that you can remember, you are setting a stronger intention. That will help you improve recall further. I recommend writing short dreams down. If you really don't want to, an alternative is typing them in your dream journal the next day. That will still help build intention.

If it is a particularly unpleasant dream, I do not write it down. That's OK. Although sometimes you can gain some insight if you type them out.

Did not become Lucid in any of my Dreams

Thursday Night I had 4 dreams consecutively. I woke up four times in the night and had 4 dreams which I wrote down.

Here is a brief
1] I dreamt about market … then I dreamt about having Liquor
2] I beat up 2 guys and then all their friends came to my house and fought with me.
3] I dreamt about smoking joint with my friend and I also dreamt about the guy whom I beat up in the previous dream.. one of the guys recognized me..
4] I explained to my friend that I had a fight and I want to make a police complaint....

In the 3 dreams that I had the same characters reappeared.. but I still not not able to become Lucid... And also yesterday I did reality check by looking at my digital watch and also by counting my fingers …Still did not become lucid.

Any HELP on how I should proceed right now... How do I become Lucid in my Dreams ??

My LOGIC is not working in My dreams.... HOW do I do reality Check ??

Yesterday night I dreamt of my late father ... it was a long dream .. but still i did not realize that I was dreaming...

Every time I do a reality check and ask the question " Am I dreaming ???" the answer is always NO... so how do I do a reality check ???

Here are some of my dreams
Mon, 18 Jul ---- My PC kept near to confession place inside CHURCH....
Sun, 17 Jul --- Environment --- I was in roaming in a Boat in Kerala
Sat, 16 Jul -- A rocket was talking , Earth was covered with snow
Sat, 9 Jul --- Crows were Talking in my dreams

These are Few of my dreams where if I had to use a little bit of login in my dreams I would have become LUCID.... But my LOGIC does not work in my dreams ... I feel I am half conscious so I am not able realize I am dreaming...

How do I proceed ??
What Kind of REALITY CHECK do I do and for HOW LONG should I do reality check ?? 2 weeks ? 1 months ? 3 months ??

I am really disappointed with my progress It seems like it will take me forever to become a Lucid dreamer ??

ANY TIPS/ADVICE/HELP on how I become Lucid in my Dreams ???

Please do reply....Eagerly waiting for your reply...

How are you performing your reality Checks? I think you may want to develop a more detective mindset. Of course, that takes practice.

Spoiler for REALITY TEST:

1) Using one's dream journal compile a list of "dream signs", a dream sign is any theme that regularly occurs in one's dreams.

2) During one's waking hours regularly perform your chosen reality check whenever something unusual, unexpected, or dreamlike occurs. Be especially vigilant to perform a reality check whenever a waking event closely resembles one of your dream signs. Regularity and consistency are absolutely key, you are attempting to develop a new default lifestyle behavior. When you think about lucid dreaming, Reality check as soon you think about it.

3) Be certain to perform each test seriously and with full critical awareness—do not simply assume that you are awake. Do not allow yourself to perform a test on "auto pilot", it is vital that you perform each reality check with a critical mind and full lucid awareness.


4) Perform a minimum of 10 reality checks each day, ideally many more. Reality testing should become a natural default behavior, performed daily, for the duration of your life as a lucid dreamer.

5) As dreams closely mimic our waking life events and thought patterns, the idea is that developing the habit of regularly reality checking during one's waking life will eventually transfer into the dream world, at which point it will instigate a Dream Initiated Lucid Dream (DILD).

Hints & Tips:
Reality checks are as much a state of mind as they are a test. There is no point in performing a test if one's mind is not fully engaged in the process and is open to the strong possibility that one is dreaming.


Ideally one should perform multiple different tests during each reality check. This allows for a fail-safe should one of the tests provide false results. Two reliable tests to combine are the Nose Pinch Test and the Text Test.


Rather than enter a reality check with the assumption that one is awake, reverse this concept, assume that the very act of performing a reality check implies that one is most likely dreaming. The burden of proof should be on proving that you are awake. This way, should a test give false results, you will assume that you are dreaming rather than awake.


Reality checks are not optional, without them you will miss potentially thousands of possible lucid dreams. They are an act that reflects the core philosophy of lucid dreaming.


Reality checks are primarily used to induce Dream Initiated Lucid Dreams (DILD) but can be used to stabilize, build confidence, or confirm one's state during a Wake Initiated Lucid Dream (WILD).

Reality Check or test RIGHT NOW!!!

Hope that helps?

Originally Posted by devotee013

I am really disappointed with my progress It seems like it will take me forever to become a Lucid dreamer ??

One critical thing that can get in the way of lucid dreaming is a mindset where you feel you have to lucid dream or you will be disappointed. It's better to create a mindset where you're celebrating the progress you've made, even if it's small, such as increasing your sleep quality, increasing the amount of dreams recalled, increasing semi-lucid dreams, experiencing failed reality checks in dreams, almost lucid moments, etc.

Keep a positive focus. Enjoy the journey and keep the pressure off. Know that it WILL happen, but perhaps not on your timetable.

Hope this is helpful.

Quote from Andrew Holecek (writes about Dream Yoga, etc):

"What makes advanced practitioners of LDing advanced is that they never give up.
The single most important factor for success is perseverance and determination, tinged with a sense of humor.
It's not any different than any skill or virtuosity in sports or arts: if you want the benefits of expertise you have to stay with it. By applying the efforts you are starting to "heat up the pot" and you are changing and improving whether or not you consciously realize it."

I did not read the whole thread but wanted to make a few comments.

Yes, pot is terrible for dream recall.

Alcohol is a more interesting beast. It is a strong REM suppressor. So typically what happens is if you go to sleep buzzed or drunk you won't recall any dreams early in the sleep cycle. However, you will tend to have REM rebound later on. So if you've not drank too much and manage to get rid of most of the alcohol in 5-6 hours you are quite likely to have increased REM and potentially recall.

Melatonin is similar. Other than helping you sleep, it also suppresses REM and tends to induce REM rebound later in the evening.

5-HTP is similar. It does not help you fall asleep. But does promote the suppression/rebound effect.

I've always found Melatonin and 5-HTP to be very helpful when taken at bedtime. To induce more dreams and potentially lucidity later on.

Thank You Lang,Thank You Hilary ,Thank You FryingMan ,Thank You DrTechnical

I am a little Bit Worried... for the past 3 days I have Not been able to Recall my Dreams in Detail... I have been able to write down only One sentence regarding the Theme of my dreams.
Have I Lost my ability to Recall Dreams Or this is only Temporary ???

Any Guesses ??

By NOV 2022 I want to become a Lucid Dreamer

I have a Goal and that is to become a Lucid dreamer in the Next 4-5 months.
You people are my Only HOPE.. I feel I am alone in this world and I am 100% certain that without your Help I will Not be able to become a Lucid dreamer.

Thanks a lot to ALL for replying to my post ... This keeps me going.. I really appreciate all your Effort..
I am willing to Do whatever it takes to be a Lucid dreamer...

Thank you again.

Temporary. Sometimes recall disappears without an obvious reason. But it WILL come back. Give it time. Usually, I find the culprit to be a schedule change, in the form of going to bed later. Nothing kills my recall more.

Don't stress too much. It will come. Just relax and know - you are already a lucid dreamer.

Originally Posted by Hilary

Temporary. Sometimes recall disappears without an obvious reason. But it WILL come back. Give it time. Usually, I find the culprit to be a schedule change, in the form of going to bed later. Nothing kills my recall more.

Don't stress too much. It will come. Just relax and know - you are already a lucid dreamer.

Just relax is good advice.

The other thing you may wish to educate yourself on is lucid dreaming supplements. The book by Thomas Yuschak is the bible of lucid dreaming supps. But you'll find tons of posts on any LDing site on this subject. Including here.

Only down side to a supplement like Galantamine for example, is it tends to produce insomnia in some. And you've been complaining about your sleep quality.

I would say relax, and get your confidence back on your dream recall. Which is the foundation anyway. And at least read up on supps. To see if that topic intrigues you at all.

There are other aids. Dream masks for example. Some people do well with those. See for example "Smart Lucider"

Adding onto what DrTechincal is saying about supplements, I would say save the supplements for when you're a more experienced lucid dreamer. Galantamine works better when you have a solid lucid mindset to go with it. It also builds tolerance very quickly. When I've used it in the past, I could expect it to work no more than 1-2 times a week, at most. Furthermore, if you bypass the skills needed to learn how naturally lucid dream, your lucid dreams under the influence of galantamine are likely to be shorter and less stable.

It can be fun. It can increase motivation. But, make sure you're practicing the real skills, too. The accomplishment you're seeking, of becoming a lucid dreamer, will not be felt through using supplements. There's only one way to achieve that, and that is through effort and hard work.

Also... galantamine gives me restless leg syndrome!!

I have the Smart Lucider. Just my opinion... but it's a piece of junk. An expensive piece of junk, waste of $60. But... to each their own.

The Smart lucider is highly cost reduced. I don't care for it because the controls are too overloaded/cumbersome. But for 60 bucks what do you expect?

I use to be keen on dream masks. The REM dreamer was pretty good. At a still reasonable price point. They really do affect each person differently. For me they induce false awakenings. Very reliably. So if you just do a reality check when you "wake", boom you're lucid.

I agree that you really want a foundation. But you might be surprised as to what even a small dose of G can achieve. But yeah, you need to core skills to do something meaningful with it.

Anyway, I feel like we're digressing some from the original topic. But you've got a few ideas to chew on.

Oh - final comment. I would try not to put a timeline around your goals. Everyone is different. May take few weeks. May take a year. Patience is key.

[QUOTE=Hilary;2247766]Adding onto what DrTechincal is saying about supplements, I would say save the supplements for when you're a more experienced lucid dreamer. Galantamine works better when you have a solid lucid mindset to go with it. It also builds tolerance very quickly.

Also... galantamine gives me restless leg syndrome!![/QOUTE]


I have used Galatimine it gives me Insomnia

MEDITATE is what I think I need to DO

I think I simply need to Meditate 24x7 that is the ONLY way I can Become a Lucid Dreamer

I am used to Repeating Mantras to meditate

Is there any other way to Meditate ... Is there a Special Meditation that I can do in order to Become a Lucid Dreamer ??

Originally Posted by devotee013

MEDITATE is what I think I need to DO

I think I simply need to Meditate 24x7 that is the ONLY way I can Become a Lucid Dreamer

I am used to Repeating Mantras to meditate

Is there any other way to Meditate ... Is there a Special Meditation that I can do in order to Become a Lucid Dreamer ??

Meditation is one tool. How effective it will specifically for lucid dreaming may vary from person to person. I have had little success with pure meditation. Others may have had more, so I do not discount it.

What I will say, is that what I think you would benefit the most from is a reality checking system. The key is a "critical reflective attitude", a concept by Stephen Laberge (author of Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming). I would also suggest building prospective memory skills through reality checking to pre-determined triggers.

-Reality check to anything weird or strange.
-Reality check to several pre-determined triggers, such as: whenever you see a red car, whenever you hear a phone ring, or whenever you smell cooking. Try to vary the senses used. Also, add in some active and passive actions, such as: whenever you use a key to unlock a door, or whenever you sneeze or feel something cold.

Doing this for the course of weeks is hard work, but I have always found it to be successful for me (when I actually do it). This technique is great for increasing DILDs.

As for meditations, I think the best one you can do is a relaxation meditation where you shift the focus of your attention to all the different little areas of your body, starting with your toes and working your way up. Do this why lying in bed or during a WBTB. This meditation, when used in conjunction with other techniques, is great for increasing WILDs.

MANTRA - "I WILL become Lucid in my Dreams"

If I repeat this mantra 24x7 will I become Lucid ??

Of course I cant repeat the mantra whenever I am doing some work... for eg office work... but whenever I am free I think I should simply keep on repeating the Mantra "I WILL become Lucid in my Dreams" whenever I get Time.

Will this work ???

This isn't said enough: Lucid dreaming is hard work!! It may take longer than you think. Prepare to work hard.
And will this work? Honestly, I don't know.

I Agree Lang,

I will keep trying ....

Actually I just started watching a Video about Astral Projection and it said that I have to meditate and stop all my thought.

So If I use a Mantra I think It will Help me to stop ALL my thoughts .

Am I correct ?

Originally Posted by devotee013

Actually I just started watching a Video about Astral Projection and it said that I have to meditate and stop all my thought.


Am I correct ?

What video?

Originally Posted by devotee013

MANTRA - "I WILL become Lucid in my Dreams"

If I repeat this mantra 24x7 will I become Lucid ??

Of course I cant repeat the mantra whenever I am doing some work... for eg office work... but whenever I am free I think I should simply keep on repeating the Mantra "I WILL become Lucid in my Dreams" whenever I get Time.

Will this work ???

I doubt it, because that is mindless. To increase awareness, we need to practice mindful techniques.

Stop worrying about doing things "24/7". Just focus on tried and true foundational techniques.

Get yourself a copy of Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming by Stephen LaBerge, and practice the techniques within.

Rather than repeating a mantra, why don't you try reality checking to triggers in the work setting? That would be more effective. Try doing a reality check, such as counting your fingers, every time you hear someone call your name at work. Reality check every time you see someone wearing a green shirt at work. Reality check every time you smell coffee. Reality check every time you use the restroom. You want about 3-4 triggers to focus on at first.

I have started Reading the Book Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming by Stephen LaBerge

It says that I have to think of the Universe as a reflection of your mind... An Illusion that the Mind is producing...A dream.. This world that I see is a Dream .