Thread: How much contol?

I'm curious, in an LD, exactly HOW much control do you have? I mean, when you think about it , even in non-lucid dreams, we have a certain amount of control, even if it's very little. I guess I'm just trying to understand just how LUCID these dreams actually are. When you enter these dreams, is your mind in a state of consciousness? Can you say to yourself, "Right, I'm dreaming. Now I can do what I want."? And are these things realistic? Do you control EVERYTHING, or at some point does your power ween and your subconscious take over? Is it even possible to come to a point in your dream where you get bored?

I'm sorry I post so often, with such basic and probably common questions, but you know I'm curious. Tell me if it gets annoying.

from what I understand there are varying degrees of lucidity, sometimes you will be aware you are dreaming, but not enough to really have any control, sometimes you will have these amazingly life like dreams in which you have amazing control

Originally posted by zooeyglass03
When you enter these dreams, is your mind in a state of consciousness? Can you say to yourself, "Right, I'm dreaming. Now I can do what I want."? And are these things realistic?.

Yes Yes and Yes. you can even remember to do things you thought about doing the day before, for example, you can remember that you wanted to try summon a dream guide the next time you're in an LD. As soon as you become lucid you remember that you wanted to do this.
As for being realistic, there is no difference to the level of realism you have when you're awake. I sometims RC and still can't believe i'm dreaming because it seems too real. I'd also go so far as to say that some lucid dreams are even more realistic that waking life, e.g. some of the colours and intensity of detail i've seen in my LDs are overwhelming and compare to nothing i've ever experienced while awake.

As for being realistic, there is no difference to the level of realism you have when you're awake[/b]

Incredible.

Originally posted by Ubik

As for being realistic, there is no difference to the level of realism you have when you're awake. I

Ubik, you are a better lucid dreamer than I, or perhaps you are overselling lucid dreams a little. For me, the harsh reality is that an LD has never really quite lived up to the immersion of reality, there has always been some disconnection. I think it is best to be honest to the fact that the quality of at least initial LDs are highly subjective to the dreamer; they may be absolutely captivating, or just a little muted.

you are correct. However I can only post my own personal experiences and when I become fully lucid that is the experience I have.
As for overselling LDs, I disagree. The posibility's in lucid dreams are endless, they are not yet fully understood or explored enough but in my own opinion lucid dreams can be more realistic than waking reality.
I suppose trying to explain any LD experience is a bit like describing the colour red or a certain smell, unless you have had the exact same experiences it will be difficult to comprehend.

You've already heard some good information from others -- just thought I'd throw in my take on it...

Originally posted by zooeyglass03
Can you say to yourself, "Right, I'm dreaming. Now I can do what I want."?

Yes, that's basically how it works, if you are truly lucid. Although being aware that you're dreaming (which is what lucidity is) does not always mean that you will be able to control things.

Originally posted by zooeyglass03
And are these things realistic?

I'm not sure if you're asking "do they seem as real as waking life" or "are they things you could do in waking life".

If it is the former, I would say that if you are fully lucid, then yes, it seems pretty much exactly like reality.

If it is the latter, the answer is not necessarily. If you are at a level where you have completel control, you can do anything that you can imagine -- grow extra arms or wings, turn yourself into an animal, climb walls like Spider-Man, etc...

Originally posted by zooeyglass03+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(zooeyglass03)</div>

Do you control EVERYTHING, or at some point does your power ween and your subconscious take over?[/b]

For me, the answer is that I cannot always control everything. Many times in LDs I struggle to control things. I usually have a high degree of control over myself, like being able to fly and such, but creating a new dream scene, or summoning specific people to meet in my dream can be tricky, if not impossible. I know that this varies from person to person, and from night to night. You might find one night that you can do everything you want to without any problem, and the next night, you might find yourself crashing into buildings when you try to fly around.

Originally posted by zooeyglass03@
Is it even possible to come to a point in your dream where you get bored?

I can't say that I've ever been anywhere near the point of boredom yet. Then again, I'm not one of those who can have a lucid dream any time I want -- they are much more frequent than they used to be before I found DreamViews, but they're still rare enough that I fully enjoy each and every one until the point where I wake up -- which is always too soon to suit me.

I'm sure others may say that they have grown tired of doing certain things in their dreams, or of LDing altogether, but personally I don't think it's likely that will ever happen to me.

<!--QuoteBegin-zooeyglass03
I'm sorry I post so often, with such basic and probably common questions, but you know I'm curious. Tell me if it gets annoying.

Don't worry about it. That's the purpose of this forum. If some people get tired of seeing the same questions and answers repeated from time to time, that's their problem. I for one never get tired of helping people understand lucid dreaming. Keep asking -- that's the only way to get answers!

:happygolucky:

Originally posted by Ubik+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Ubik)</div>

I suppose trying to explain any LD experience is a bit like describing the colour red or a certain smell, unless you have had the exact same experiences it will be difficult to comprehend.[/b]

I concur. The best way forward for people like zooeyglass is to try lucid dreaming for yourself and then you'll understand. And, perhaps just as importantly, persevere! Good luck with it.

<!--QuoteBegin-zooeyglass03
"Right, I'm dreaming. Now I can do what I want."?

That's exactly how my dream logic works, although being dumb I sometimes don't take in the full scope of it all at once.

For instance, I had a lucid dream were I got a five pound note to buy an easter egg. I woke up, and on going to sleep again I found myself at the supermarket ready to buy the egg. But, the dream had forgotten the fact that I had the £5 in my pocket! I was ready to go home and get it, but then I thought, "Can't I just summon a £5 note?" so I did so. So I got this egg, but had to queue for it. Half way through the queue, I thought, "I can do anything! Why then do I need to queue?" and just opened the box and ate the thing.

For me, it was like I was unlocking doors to higher lucidity. One more lesson came from this dream too - at one point, I thought "Hell, why do I need to even go to the effort of eating?" and induced the chocolate taste in my mouth. But that was no fun, and this disconnection from physicaol activity caused me to lose lucidity for a brief while. So I find it's best to at least do some things manually...

Anyway, I liked that dream