New to this site, just learned about lucid dreaming

[Todd J.]

Im 16, just learned about lucid dreaming about 2 months ago. Thought this might be a good site to get some facts and make some friends in the process. It's pretty hard for me to grasp the concept. I mean when you are asleep, you're out for 6-8 hours average. Lucid dreaming is where you control your dreams ,right? When you sleep, time passes by instantaniously! I mean its seems like two minutes later, you're awake. Ever since I learned about lucid dreaming, ive been interested in it. So yup It's cool to see that there are people my age interested in this as well. Who has done it? What does it feel like? Some crack pot I was talking to in DV chat said it was like the matrix. He said lucid dreaming was lke living a second life or in another world. An example he gave me was "If you make a fist right now, or look somewhere, it will be as if it is actually happening." Is he crazy or does that sound about right? It sounds pretty cool I guess. Is there a way to induce it? I've never had one and would like to see what it is like.

[Umbrella]

I guess it can be like the matrix. It depends, really. Your first few lucid dreams will be different from the ones you have when you've gotten used to them (especially the first one). If you're motivated to learn how to do it, and follow some of the tuturials on this site (or elsewhere), you'll eventually have your first lucid dream. You'll realize as soon as you become lucid that you were 100% sure you were awake before you did. It's like if you were to realize you're dreaming right now. Of course, you'll be amazed and maybe overwhelmed by this experience. That's why there's a chance you'll wake up right away the first time (many people do), but if you stay calm and use a technique to prevent awakening (like for instance rubbing your hands together), you could stay in the dream. At this point you'll have the chance to look around more calmly and notice how amazingly real (or strange) everything looks, sounds and feels. Maybe you can even do something cool like walking through a wall or flying. After a while, when you've had more lucid dreams, they won't catch you by surprise as much, and it'll become easier to stabilize. However, the experience is always amazing to some extent, unless, maybe, if you're so good you can practically do it at will. One of the lucid gods would have more to say about that. Of course, this is just my experience. I'm not you, and there's no telling what your exact lucid dreams will look like. I would just recommend to you to practice some of the techniques so you can see for yourself. LD's come in all sorts of forms for all sorts of reasons.

[KuRoSaKi]

Yes you could have a Lucid Dream like the matrix where you move in slow motion and leaves trail behind. You could ride a dreagon. You could fly to the moon and back. You have a dream with harry potter. You could be in a lord of the rings movie. The only limit to a LD is your very own imagination. As for what Lucid Dreaming feels like. I would say that it feels on par with your waking reality although with some very minor differences. No he's not crazy it is the truth you can make a fist as if you were actually doing it. Another good reference would be your dream is a movie and you are the main actor. Yes there are many ways to inude it head over here ------> http://www.dreamviews.com/community/...splay.php?f=25 For a list of tutorials and things that can help to bring about a LD.

[Seeker]

Hi! Welcome on board! Lucid dreaming is one of the most amazing thing. It's more than just controlling your dreams. In fact, it IS just like visiting another reality. Let me give you my standard hook, line and sinker pitch I use when describing it to someone that has never heard of it. Person: You run that dream interpretation forum, right? Seeker: Me? No, I help run a Lucid Dreaming forum? Person: Lucid dreaming? Isn’t that some kind of dream control thing? Seeker: Well yes and no, lucid dreaming is one of the most amazing things. You know how realistic dreams can seem, right? Person: Uh, yeah, but I rarely dream anymore. Seeker: Yeah, but can you remember a dream where you thought is was actually real at the time? Person: Yeah, I remember one, really vivid. Seeker: Right, now imagine that at the time, you realized it was a dream. It’s just like being awake, but instead you are awake within the dream with 75% or more of your waking mind available to examine, question, and explore the dream. All of your senses are active, you can for example walk over and pick up a rock. It will have weight, texture, temperature and maybe a scent. Person: Uh, OK. Seeker: How can this be? You know you are asleep and in your dream, but you can think, reason, feel. It’s just like being awake. It’s a pretty cool thing. Seeker: Every night that you are able to have a lucid dream, it is like being on a vacation to a strange foreign land, but you don’t have to worry about drinking the water. Person: OK, sounds interesting. Seeker: I look forward to going to bed each night, always ready to see where my dreams will take me. Perhaps I might visit a mountain top, or have a conversation with someone in my dream. Remember, you are awake and can think logically about it and bring all of your memories back with you. It’s no different than visiting a new place. Person: Oh, I’m going to have to try that! Seeker: There is more though, after a while, you come to the realization that it is a dream, all in your head, and that since it is your dream, you can control it. Some have compared it to being in the matrix. You can fly, you can move objects with your mind. In fact you are only limited by your imagination and belief. Person: This is a little too much to absorb right now, just a little too freaky for me. Seeker: Please think over what I’ve said, if you have any questions, please see me. Better yet, please visit with us at www.dreamviews.com/community there are hundreds of experienced dreamers that are eager to help you. [EDIT] Wow, while I was creating this loooong post, two others jumped in ahead of me, I wanted to be the first to welcome you

[Todd J.]

Thanks for everything guys! Hope I can have one. By the way are there age limits. Such as the older you are the easier it is. Or the younger you are the easier it is. One last thing about dream recall. I have heard since i was on here people saying that you must learn to recall your dreams. I cant recall nothing! I fall asleep, wake up and remember pitch black with a slight reddish color. If you cant recall, then does that mean you will never have a lucid?

[Todd J.]

If anyone else reads this please feel free to post your thoughts! I want many answer!!!

[Umbrella]

No, that does not mean you will never have a LD. It does mean however, you'll never (or rarely) remember one. This, of course, is just as bad as never having one, because you can't tell the difference between an experience you've never had and one you don't remember having. You don't know anything about either. This means you will have to train your dream recall. This takes some energy, but the mere fact that you joined DV means that you're probably motivated. The best way to train recall is to keep a dream journal, as you may have read. You can do so right here on DV or in your own notebook or something. The point is that you tell yourself before you go to sleep that you want to remember your dream and when you wake up next morning, ask yourself what you were dreaming just now before anything. Before you even move. Then you write down whatever you remember, whether that's a detailed dream or just a person, place or mood or something. Like I said, doing this will take some energy, but I can assure you that it can be a lot of fun too. You'll be amazed at some of the things your mind can come up with and besides, you'll be able to learn a lot about yourself too, because the things you dream about are connected closely to who you are, but maybe I'm going a lil too fast now. Just know that it's really important to keep a dream journal and that it's not a terrible thing to do. Also, don't give up if you don't remember anything the first couple of days. Just be patient. This is the key to everything in lucid dreaming.