I didn't know lucid dreaming existed before I stumbled upon DV. Since joining I've had 4 lucid experiences - not much I know, but for the first 18 years of my life I didn't had any. So I guess you can call that an improvement.
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I didn't know lucid dreaming existed before I stumbled upon DV. Since joining I've had 4 lucid experiences - not much I know, but for the first 18 years of my life I didn't had any. So I guess you can call that an improvement.
I have improved.
My personal story: At first (late 2005) I didn't remember a single dream, and I certainly didn't have any lucid dreams. I just wan't interested... Until, all of a sudden, I had a lucid-like experience out of the blue; not even a lucid really, but more waking up after an extremely intense dream and remembering all of it... vividly. For somebody who had "dreamt" very little in the past, this really intrigued me. I searched online for answers, and found DV and more. Now I know all the terminology and methodology and techniques, etc...
Have I improved, though? In terms of dream recall, not much! I've gone on week-long streaks where I remember a dream every night, but most often I only recall 2-3 dreams a week. I'm confident I'll get better; I haven't been putting in as much effort as I could or should. Strangely enough, in the dreams that I do recall, I can become near lucid often! Furthermore, if I REALLY put the effort in, I can enter SP and even WILD once in a while, though the dream is extremely short.
I think improving is absolutely possible. Improving to the point of having a lucid once a month is a common occurence. Even improving to master level from virtually no prior experience or natural ability is possible!
Thing is, "natural LDers" always seem to say one thing: "I've been doing it since I was young/born." No "techniques" were needed, as the correct methods were used from the start. They've had the experience and practice of 18 years minimum. Naturals have made a HABIT of being aware for 18 years; non-naturals have made a HABIT of NOT being aware for that same amount of time.
It would be illogical to think that this bad-habit would be replaced in a short time... a short time being a couple weeks or months. To say it would take 18 years to learn how to lucid dream may be a stretch, but I don't think it's far-off that it might take a good 4-6 years to truly become a master. As they say, the only way to get rid of a bad habit is to replace it with a good habit. If a habit's been ingrained for a long time, it'll take a long time to replace.
I would ask, how many people on DV have been really implementing the lifestyle changes necessary to be a master LDer, for a long time? Maybe a few, but most have only been at it for a year at most. Understand, it took Stephen LeBarge years to alter his dream awareness to a high level, and he had the use of collegiate-level lab equipment and volunteers. It took YEARS.
I'm not trying to dishearten anybody, but IMHO, to become a master or even proficient may take a decent amount of time, and will not happen overnight. Or over a month. Or even a year.
I had my first LD on August 19th of last year, almost a full year ago. Since then I've got to the point where I have lucid dreams on a regular basis, but most of them are still far too short. I haven't yet found a way to stay asleep long enough to do anything really worthwhile, like flying. I don't plan on giving up any time soon though!