Is There A "time"?

[OneRyt]

I remember a time when I was really young (probably like.. 10) when I had been reading a book on dreams etc. which I got through Scholastic. In this book, the author (name escapes me now, but it was a lady) stated that it was possible to become aware of your dreams by simply telling yourself what to dream about over and over again before bed. I did this exercise alot, until one day I finally succeeded. Now this is what brings me to my question. When I became aware, I was walking along a very murky swamplike area, which I then took note that I could do whatever I wanted to. Upon realizing this, the first thing my brain thought of was flying, so I started to take flight... almost immediately however, I hit my head on a bridge I didn't know was there, and forgot I was dreaming... My question is... do you think there is a point where your brain might think you aren't ready for it? Or perhaps that it knows you should wait longer for whichever other reason? (i.e. fate...)

[Don Juan]

I remember a time when I was really young (probably like.. 10) when I had been reading a book on dreams etc. which I got through Scholastic. In this book, the author (name escapes me now, but it was a lady) stated that it was possible to become aware of your dreams by simply telling yourself what to dream about over and over again before bed. I did this exercise alot, until one day I finally succeeded. Now this is what brings me to my question. When I became aware, I was walking along a very murky swamplike area, which I then took note that I could do whatever I wanted to. Upon realizing this, the first thing my brain thought of was flying, so I started to take flight... almost immediately however, I hit my head on a bridge I didn't know was there, and forgot I was dreaming... My question is... do you think there is a point where your brain might think you aren't ready for it? Or perhaps that it knows you should wait longer for whichever other reason? (i.e. fate...) [/b] To answer your question I would have to ask first if you have had any lucid dreams since you were 10? Are you wanting to get into lucid dreaming or are you experienced? (Gee sounds like J. Hendrix! .) You are ready for it no doubt. Your brain wasn't trying to stop you. You simply hit your head on a bridge and lost your conciousness in your dream. How cool is that! Sure hurts less than the real thing eh? You have to manifest your desire for a lucid dream in your waking life. It is akin to planting a seed. You can stare and stare at the newly planted seed and it does nothing immediately, but given what it needs such as water and light, and proper soil it will grow and then flourish into a plant. I would practice several induction techniques. Are you keeping a dream journal? What reality checks do you practice each day? You are ready to fly. It just takes practice and patience.

[OneRyt]

To answer your question I would have to ask first if you have had any lucid dreams since you were 10? Are you wanting to get into lucid dreaming or are you experienced? (Gee sounds like J. Hendrix! .) You are ready for it no doubt. Your brain wasn't trying to stop you. You simply hit your head on a bridge and lost your conciousness in your dream. How cool is that! Sure hurts less than the real thing eh? You have to manifest your desire for a lucid dream in your waking life. It is akin to planting a seed. You can stare and stare at the newly planted seed and it does nothing immediately, but given what it needs such as water and light, and proper soil it will grow and then flourish into a plant. I would practice several induction techniques. Are you keeping a dream journal? What reality checks do you practice each day? You are ready to fly. It just takes practice and patience. [/b] After it happened, I gave up entirely for whatever reason. (I had been fascinated wth the concept, so I really don't know why I stopped) so it's been 10 years since I've tried again. The thing I was just thinking is that... well.. I'm not sure if that bridge HAD been there when I was ready for liftoff in my dream... So I was thinking my sub-conscious might have been like "Hey guy, it's not time yet, wait till' later." ... I would think that to be a plausible idea. I stumbled on this site last night after recollecting I had controlled my dreams before, and googled "Controlling your dream" or something of the like... Regardless, it lead me to the "Lucid Dreaming Quick Start Guide" which I read, and immediately acted upon. I broke out my old work notebook (pretty big) and a pen (still need a couple highlighter) and stuck them next to my bed. So I WILL be taking journals (I could write 3-4 of them as if they were yesterday if I wanted to, but I'm sure my memory has changed them at least a little) For reality checks, you mean, the things I've highlighted so far? if so, I started last night, and I think my anxiety to fall asleep led me to not remembering my dream. Aside from that, I make it a point to ask myself if I am dreaming at odd points during the day. (Points that don't usually happen etc.) So you would definitely say that there is no "time"?

[M-Cat]

Nah, you're ready to lucid dream any time YOU want to. Remember, it is your conscious mind that controls you, not your subconscious, so you have to overcome it. Yes, your subconscious was trying to stop you, as your subconscious controls what you dream, but... thats a problem with everybody, really. I've had like five lucid dreams already and I couldn't get control of a single one because something stupid happened. It is an unfortunate fact of lucid dreaming that this will happen. If you are dedicated enough, though, you should be able to lucid dream when YOU feel the time is right. Furthermore, if you just wait for your subconscious mind to give you the okay, or to tell you its "time," well, you might be waiting a couple of hundred of years to tell you the truth. The subconscious is really stubborn on this issue, at least in my experience

[Don Juan]

M-cat is correct. Reality checks are important. I'll give you an easy one that has worked for me. When you become more proficient in LD then you will find that there are natural reccuring signs in your dreams themselves that you might incorporate. Here is the easy reality check, a ticket to ride if you will. Go to a document program such as word and type in letters as large as you can that will still fit on a buisness card size piece of paper the following: Is this a dream? Also do not use any weird fonts like gothic. It needs to be easily readable. Cut this to the size of a buisness card or print it on one. As you may or may not know the written word in dreams is one of those things that does not remain a constant. When seeing something written in a dream if one looks away then looks back there is a very high percentage (95% or so) that it will not say the same thing. So during your waking hours simply take out this simple cue, read it, flip it over and if it says the same thing then you are not dreaming! You must do this multiple times a day every time that you think of the subject. Whip the card out and really really ask yourself if you are dreaming. Turn the card over and look at the blank side for a moment then turn it back over. This seems silly at first but when you do this really ask yourself if you might in fact be dreaming. Analyze and really think if you might be. Our dreams often are manifestations of our waking life. If one incorporates a cue such as this during their awake life enough it will manifest itself in their dreams, One day (or night) you will flip that card over in your dream and pow! It will not be what you are expecting and you will become lucid. This has worked for me when I was first getting into this subject 15 years ago. Also whenever I become lucid or think that I am I look at my hands in my dream. This seems to be my personal dream cue as everthing becomes in focus and crisp. I then know that I am in a full blown lucid dream! Best wishes!

[Chatter-Box]

That is an interesting technique, Don Juan. I'd try it but I think kids at school would eventually notice me doing that every day and want to know what's up. Some people do not understand LDing and find it weird, pointless, dumb, etc as well as the people who do it. It is a shame, they are missing out big time.

[OneRyt]

Thanks for all the advice guys... It&#39;s pretty common for me to have dreams every night all the time (except when I want to >_<) so I should be able to "git er&#39; done" pretty quickly. Questions I have I guess: Does meditating during your waking life affect your ability to LD? Do drugs affect anything in a positive and/or negative way? (i.e. salvia, marijuana, pyotee etc.) When lying down, are you better off to have relaxing music? (i.e. Kitaro type music... click link for his myspace w/ music...) If so, should it be like what I provided? or different? When just starting out, is it best to stick to a quiet environment while sleeping, and gradually switch to other forms of activity? Does diet affect anything? ... Basically all my questions... I&#39;m sure there are plenty of answers to them already as well, but I figured as I was already writing a reply, I might as well add some questions. Thanks alot&#33;

[Don Juan]

That is an interesting technique, Don Juan. I'd try it but I think kids at school would eventually notice me doing that every day and want to know what's up. Some people do not understand LDing and find it weird, pointless, dumb, etc as well as the people who do it. It is a shame, they are missing out big time. [/b] I assume then from your post that you are in High school? If you have a locker then tape it to the inside of the door. Folks are busy in between classes and won't notice you glancing at your "reality check" especially if you have other things taped around it as well. Also if you really don't want to answer that question of "what the hell does that mean" then think of a canned response that best suits your personal situation. I would suggest taping it in the inside covers of your textbooks as well. This way you are not taking something out of your back pocket and looking at it thus drawing unwanted attention. It looks natural. You won't be able to flip the cards but it works just the same if you look away then look back at it. If it says something different or is blank... you are in a dream! Just be sure and pay attention to your studies in class! And yes they ARE missing out big time!

[Chatter-Box]

Yeah I'm in high school. They took out our lockers because of problems every other school on earth has with them. They didn't solve any problems by doing that they just created more. The more I think about this technique the more I think I will do it. I will make a nice looking "buisness card" that says "Are you dreaming?" or "Reality Check" or whatever I decide on and I never actually have to explain myself. It's fun to bug people too, so them not knowing will bring more entertainment to my day.

[Don Juan]

Thanks for all the advice guys... It&#39;s pretty common for me to have dreams every night all the time (except when I want to >_<) so I should be able to "git er&#39; done" pretty quickly. Questions I have I guess: Does meditating during your waking life affect your ability to LD? Do drugs affect anything in a positive and/or negative way? (i.e. salvia, marijuana, pyotee etc.) When lying down, are you better off to have relaxing music? (i.e. Kitaro type music... click link for his myspace w/ music...) If so, should it be like what I provided? or different? When just starting out, is it best to stick to a quiet environment while sleeping, and gradually switch to other forms of activity? Does diet affect anything? ... Basically all my questions... I&#39;m sure there are plenty of answers to them already as well, but I figured as I was already writing a reply, I might as well add some questions. Thanks alot&#33; [/b] If you dream alot like me then be sure and create a journal. It helps in your progress alot and also just by reading it before you go to sleep. Drugs: To each their own. My work has a strict drug policy and random testing. My field is very specialized and so I won&#39;t risk losing my job. Salvia is not regulated as far as I know but can be hard to find the correct form of it. Lucid dreaming in my opinion is better than shrooms or LSD. I used to smoke (really good) weed but have found that I have had more lucid dreams since I quit than I had when on it. That is not to say that if you enjoy these things that they will inhibit your LD work. I think that this is an individual choice and won&#39;t comment as to the effects on LD as I don&#39;t personally have any anecdotal evidence pro or con. Music: Again find what works for you. I would experiment both ways. Diet: YES&#33; At least for me. I have found that processed cheese has an effect on how vividly I dream as crazy as it sounds. Again experiment with different foods, spices etc. and be sure to record this data along with your dream journal.

[OneRyt]

Nice... I usually eat one or two slices of processed cheese before bed. edit: and a tall glass o' milk

[Don Juan]

Yeah I'm in high school. They took out our lockers because of problems every other school on earth has with them. They didn't solve any problems by doing that they just created more. The more I think about this technique the more I think I will do it. I will make a nice looking "buisness card" that says "Are you dreaming?" or "Reality Check" or whatever I decide on and I never actually have to explain myself. It's fun to bug people too, so them not knowing will bring more entertainment to my day. [/b] Cool! And your closest friends you can give these cards to and explain how they are used. You have to think of this as important however so that it will manifest into your dreams. Really ask yourself when doing this check "is this real...am I dreaming?" Think of it as the easiest homework assignment you have...only one sentence!

[JaphyR]

I'd try it but I think kids at school would eventually notice me doing that every day and want to know what's up. Some people do not understand LDing and find it weird, pointless, dumb, etc as well as the people who do it. It is a shame, they are missing out big time.[/b] ChatterBox, I like that there are a bunch of high-school age people on this forum. This is one of the things I wish I knew about back in high school, and could have made a lifelong pursuit. LD'ing is one of those things you can only build experience with slowly. If you want to learn to play the cello, you can choose how many hours to practice every day, no matter what your age. If you want to learn LD'ing, you only get so many shots at it. I like that you continue with this despite what some of your friends and classmates think. Most of them are too insecure about their image to consider taking it seriously. It's too bad for them. You will keep doing the things you are interested in throughout your life, and growing older will be a pleasure because you're always learning more, and experiencing more. Many of the people who don't take you seriously now will look back on their high school years as the best years of their life, because they are too afraid to learn anything for themselves. I'm in my 30's now, and I'm a teacher. I first heard about LD'ing when one of my students wrote a paper about it. I was skeptical at first, but I am grateful to him for having introduced me to something so cool. It's one of the reasons I love teaching, I find that being open to young people's ideas keeps me young as well. I am always happy to read your posts, and happy to hear that you are staying strong in the face of high school skepticism!

[Vespertine]

When I first started flying (I wonder why so many people wanna try this first), I hit a lot of stuff because even though I was flying, I wasn't physically aware of how to fly. I guess because it was so real I had to think how it would be in real life. So, next time, I took it slowly. I'd run then jump. It'd be a normal jump. Then I'd run and jump really high, kinda floating, then land and I'd get the feeling in my stomach like I was riding a roller coaster. Finally, I took flight, leearned how to lean to turn and stuff, but I had to start slow. Like learning to walk.

[Meidi]

You sound a bit like me! I had my first LD at age 9 or 10 (happened without me knowing what it was), then it's been happening sporadically throughout the years until I had some kind of breakthrough a few months ago. I don't know if there's a time when you're ready, but maybe lucid dreaming has been subconsciously on your mind all these years and your mind has been working on it without you knowing? Just a thought. About the drugs: if you smoke a lot of weed it kinda messes with dream recall, for most people at least. I don't get this side effect that much though but try to take a pause and see what happens to the vividness in your dreams. As far as psychedelics go you really shouldn't be messing with them more than once a month (if you want to keep both feet on the ground, lol), if that, and I don't see how that would affect your lucid ability. This year has been a big weed/psychedelics year for me and it's only now that I've started seeing some real changes in my lucid development. I'm NOT saying that you should use drugs to become more lucid though (my success is probably due to other causes), it goes without saying that drugs mess with your ability to focus on what you want to attain. I haven't smoked for about a week now and I find that a pause, coupled with healthy sleeping habits really does wonders. Sorry, didn't mean to write a novel really, haha. I hope you find some of it helpful at least. PM me if you want

[Poison Apple]

You sound a bit like me&#33; I had my first LD at age 9 or 10 (happened without me knowing what it was), then it&#39;s been happening sporadically throughout the years until I had some kind of breakthrough a few months ago. I don&#39;t know if there&#39;s a time when you&#39;re ready, but maybe lucid dreaming has been subconsciously on your mind all these years and your mind has been working on it without you knowing? Just a thought. About the drugs: if you smoke a lot of weed it kinda messes with dream recall, for most people at least. I don&#39;t get this side effect that much though but try to take a pause and see what happens to the vividness in your dreams. As far as psychedelics go you really shouldn&#39;t be messing with them more than once a month (if you want to keep both feet on the ground, lol), if that, and I don&#39;t see how that would affect your lucid ability. This year has been a big weed/psychedelics year for me and it&#39;s only now that I&#39;ve started seeing some real changes in my lucid development. I&#39;m NOT saying that you should use drugs to become more lucid though (my success is probably due to other causes), it goes without saying that drugs mess with your ability to focus on what you want to attain. I haven&#39;t smoked for about a week now and I find that a pause, coupled with healthy sleeping habits really does wonders. Sorry, didn&#39;t mean to write a novel really, haha. I hope you find some of it helpful at least. PM me if you want [/b] drugs are bad for your health - but it is your choice <div align="center">BACK ON TOPIC</div> Flying is Definitly worth practising if you don&#39;t get the hang of it at first.

[Chatter-Box]

ChatterBox, I like that there are a bunch of high-school age people on this forum. ...edited for length ...rateful to him for having introduced me to something so cool. It's one of the reasons I love teaching, I find that being open to young people's ideas keeps me young as well. I am always happy to read your posts, and happy to hear that you are staying strong in the face of high school skepticism! [/b] I don't talk about at school. I brought it up once and my friends didn't seem interested at all, kind of like my mom "When I'm asleep thats what I want to do, sleep". It helps that my little sister is interested and there is a forum (the best one ever&#33 about it, this tides me over very well. I think that's cool how a student introduced it to you. I hope some day I can write a paper on it, maybe I can give first hand experiences.