Thread: Why Is Lucid Dreaming Not A Commonly Known Topic?

Neruo: "I guess the current society isn't willing/able to accept such a spiritual thing."

I don't buy into this "spiritual" thing at all. To me, LD is about practicalities, a most practical thing.

They instantly go to what they've experienced in dreaming, A weird state of mind where you have tunnel vision and will believe anything you hear. This brings them to the conclusion:
"Lucid dreaming is a blurry retarded dream where you can make things appear and stuff, its nothing like real life, I'll forget what I did in it 5 minutes after I wake up, and everything that I did will just be something I remember doing a long time ago."[/b]

you know, when I started my pursuit for LD I was probably thinking like that without being aware of it, because the amount of felt reality when I entered my first LD (induced by WILD) was so shocking that I only cared about how to wake up again. It did not at all feel like the things that I had filed under "dream" in my memory.

I just today told a friend that I had managed to LD for the first time, because he was sort of skeptical that the whole thing existed at all and today he was skeptical still (as if I had sort of imagined that experience), but mainly he said that he wasn't sure wether he wanted to pursue that as it sounded to weird for him.

I think it has to do with how strong your desire for introspection is.

I do a bit of that in waking life already, taiji, reiki and meditations... things like that. LD is just another fascinating tool of introspection.

And as there are people out there who either don't care for introspection/reflexion/spiritual contemplation or those who are actually afraid of it, you get quite a few questioning looks.

But yea, above quote struck me as I have the feeling that this was exactly the case with me even though I did want to try and become lucid. It is an experience which is hard to describe in a way that others see how amazing it can really be.

I think its due to lack of word of mouth. People arn't taking the time to listen to us, they just have preset sterotypes of dreams. I've actually been spreading the word on other forums and with my friends. Spread the word! provide forum links, e-books, wiki links ect.

Lucid Dreaming seems rare because NO ONE I know can do it. And when I talk to people about it they disregard me as mad.

As I talk with people more about it, I am amused by the reactions. I don't care much if other people think I'm nuts. It always disappoints me, though, when they dismiss this as insignificant, as just a funny dream, or we're just lucky to have ld's. It's like anything that's worthwhile; you have to work a little and pay attention to things you might not otherwise pay attention to, but anyone can do it.

I will continue to talk with people, though, because I believe that even when people react with skepticism, they really want to believe us. So continuing to mention it, not in an attempt to convince our friends of anything, just sharing it because it is part of our lives, will bring some more people into the experience.

most people, which is most of people in general....don't believe it's possible...although they say 'I remember my dreams' when they wake up - so you are not unconscious in a sense - they say LDing is NOT possible when they remember their dreams upon awakening..which i find interesting....most people - one person in particular i tried to get to learn LDing thought it was 'crap' why should I..it doesn't work, etc...Another person told me that I really was dreaming if i could LD...

They haven't tasted the pudding yet, but the prove is in (eating) the pudding....

I think it is one of those things everyone think of: 'Hey that sounds cool', but say to their friends: 'Ha! What a silly thing, I am not going to waste my time to that'.

If people would have an Own freaking oppinion, more people would at least try it

I think people don't really eaven have a slightest idea what lucid draeming could be. And if you start explaning it to them they would probably think of it as some religious/drugs/hippi stuff, and would block you out and nod saying "that's nice".

Anytime you even mention the word the phrase "I had this dream...." peoples mind wanders and they stop listening. Unless they've experianced a lucid dream, they have no idea how realistic they can be. And even those who do understand how real it can be, just say "Its only a dream, so when you wake up, none of it happened" or something like that, and so they aren't interested.

Even when I try to explain to them in the most detail possible about Lucid Dreaming, they never listen.

I recently got my dad into it a bit by buying stephen laberge's book "Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming" and he started to read it. I think if more people would read books like that, that go into the same kind of detail, they would appreciate more of what lucid dreaming is.

It is very frustrating when people disregard you or "switch off" when you are talking anout LDing. Some people think that I am some wacko that should go to a mental hospital when I talk about it. I recently found one or two open minded friends who listen and are interested in the subject. but NO ONE i know can LD. And i find this very frustrating

i'm not sure i understood leovolont's entry...
so in your opinion the phenomenon of Ld is just a sleep disorder? or a "first simptome of more serious problems"? (i am talking from the "naturals" point of view)
that's quite strange...
and really don't sound much different from old clerical instances on the harmful effects of masturbation!

but i think i misunderstood

Before I had probably one Dream a school year, two in the summer.
(sad isnt it...) The first time i heard of lucid dreaming (on a different forum which is not based on LDing) i was like "this sounds Awsome!!".

A little after joining I have on average one dream a school week (even if I only remember I had them and not remember THEM im still happy because im progressing) and a unrecorded amount in the summer(didnt get there yet).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


So before I knew about it I didnt even have the slightest clue it was even possible to recall more dreams, let alone be lucid in one!

My point, people dont know and most that heard of it mentioned blow it off as somthing impossible.

Some people I have told about LD say : "Oh that's wicked!" And then, they find out what they have to do to experience it and they go: "Nah, stuff that! I'd rather enjoy my sleep for what it's for..."

I think some people are a bit narrow when it comes to learning and experiencing new things, and it's so damn annoying when they don't bother understanding the possibilities or even trying it out!

Originally Posted by italianmonkey

i'm not sure i understood leovolont's entry...
so in your opinion the phenomenon of Ld is just a sleep disorder? or a "first simptome of more serious problems"? (i am talking from the "naturals" point of view)
that's quite strange...
and really don't sound much different from old clerical instances on the harmful effects of masturbation!

but i think i misunderstood
[/b]

I think he is saying that once one becomes an expert of lucid dreaming, he will start failing at it untill loosing the skill to remember dreaming and lucid dreaming completely.

But I think I misunderstood aswell

Here, read some essays: http://www.sawka.com/spiritwatch/tableof.htm[/b]

Thanks for the link, there are some very interesting articles there

Yeah if it was as easy as eating a cracker off a silver plater i think there would be many more LDers.

There are several reasons I can think of that explain why Lucid Dreaming is not a commonly know topic:

1. Such practices are seen as "strange" or "unnatural" by the rest of society
2. There is hardly any media coverage
3. Lucid dreaming is still not scientifically proven
4. People cannot cope with the commitment and motivation that is required
5. There's not many books that can easily be found on the subject
6. People don't share their dreams much nowadays
7. Haven't you noticed that most people give you funny looks when you talk about lucid dreams
8. The moral and phychological implications of lucid dreaming are not yet fully understood

I personally think that Lucid Dreaming will NEVER be a widely know phenemenon

I asked some friends why they wouldn't try it, they said either: "I don't have enough spare time", or "I don't dream". I tried to explain that it wouldn't take up time, and that they did dream, just they didn't recall it. But they wouldn't even begin to listen, they even argued against me.

this topic somehow reminds me of that 4400 series, where this one woman can create dreamworlds...

when talking to 2 friends we randomly came across the topic of lucid dreaming, one of them has bought an EEG, he does some dream research at home...
the otheronce has never heard of lucid dreaming, and that applies to lots of people i know :/

I think the reason that people disregard LDs so readily is the fact that they dont appreciate the brain. I'd say at least 20% of my waking day is devoted to just thinking about the brain and all its functions. it's incredible, it's so immersive. Thats the reason I started LDing, i want to experience my dreams on a whole other level. The brain is just to amazing to ignore, I cant believe people disregard its' abilities so quickly.It blows my mind that people just automatically reject the idea of "excercising" your brain at night. those 90% of closed-minded people dont even appreciate whats inside their heads, and it pisses me off.

Then again, i find solace in the fact that not many people know about lucid dreaming. when i ask someone if they know what lucid dreaming is, and they reply with a stark "no", I feel almost enlightened. I get the sense like im "above" them, from a nueral standpoint. When someone tells me theyve never heard of lucd dreaming, i feel sorry for them. i cant figure out why people would deprive themselves like that.

Originally Posted by Deus

I think the reason that people disregard LDs so readily is the fact that they dont appreciate the brain. I'd say at least 20% of my waking day is devoted to just thinking about the brain and all its functions. it's incredible, it's so immersive. Thats the reason I started LDing, i want to experience my dreams on a whole other level. The brain is just to amazing to ignore, I cant believe people disregard its' abilities so quickly.It blows my mind that people just automatically reject the idea of "excercising" your brain at night. those 90% of closed-minded people dont even appreciate whats inside their heads, and it pisses me off.
[/b]

Why stop at the brain. Everything around me blows my mind. I mean, think about it. Matter is mostly (or just is??) empty space for example, from that you can say that there is no such thing as solid, and all is just a bunch of information. How can some people use their mind over matter, change the structure of water molecules, create complex organic structures out of basic elements, throw a needle through a window,... What if we are all "gods" (Not in a holy way... but! Who knows!?) that blocked out their powers, and by exploring the universe we are just redescovering ourselves, I say it's all possible.

Back on topic... If people could just think about it and realize what Lucid dreaming really is, then there wouldn't be a problem. If we only think inside the box, who can say no to power over everything, and that's just thinking inside the box.

Originally Posted by Bonsay

Why stop at the brain. Everything around me blows my mind. I mean, think about it. Matter is mostly (or just is??) empty space for example, from that you can say that there is no such thing as solid, and all is just a bunch of information. How can some people use their mind over matter, change the structure of water molecules, create complex organic structures out of basic elements, throw a needle through a window,... What if we are all "gods" (Not in a holy way... but! Who knows!?) that blocked out their powers, and by exploring the universe we are just redescovering ourselves, I say it's all possible.

Back on topic... If people could just think about it and realize what Lucid dreaming really is, then there wouldn't be a problem. If we only think inside the box, who can say no to power over everything, and that's just thinking inside the box.
[/b]

EXACTLY, just fact that our brain communicates with chemical and electrical signals is unbelievable. and to me, the most amazing part is its all natural. the brain is argueably the most complex strucure in the universe, yet it arouse naturally. our brain is the product of thousands of years of evolution. great stuff. i wish i found this site earlier.

How can some people use their mind over matter, change the structure of water molecules, create complex organic structures out of basic elements,[/b]

People can't change the structure of water molecules, unless you're talking about the metabolism that goes on inside our bodies.

On the original topic, I've been surprised to find that most times I've brought up LD recently, at least half the people present have been aware of it. They just haven't been taken by it enough to continue giving it attention.