Thread: how safe is LD?

Originally Posted by space-cadet

is it safe to induce LD? is it meddling with the unknown? is it pushing out the boundries too far? i ask these questions because i'm a noob to LD, learning the art.

The answer to those questions depends on what one considers to be the nature of LDing. If one thinks that it is purely psychological--an ordinary albeit rare function of the brain--then its harmless. If one thinks that there is some sort of metaphysical higher dimension that is/can be accessed in LDs (if this is what you mean by "meddling in the unknown"), then it could be dangerous.

As I understand it, there is no scientific/medical risk involved. Furthermore, there are many lucid dreamers who have had many such dreams to apparently no adverse effects (mental, physical, metaphysical). From my limited experience, though occasionally I have had frightening experiences, I am aware of being exposed to no "danger."

A word on frightening experiences: some LD techniques (specifically WILD, and Sleep Paralysis), involve episodes that can be frightening (this varies form person to person, from instance to instance). However, ordinary dreams can be terrifying and in those dreams we can believe ourselves and our very souls to be at terrible risk--and yet we wake up and find that it was only a dream.

In short: it depends on who you ask. If you ask me, I would say that in all likelihood there is usually (read as "almost never") any risk involved, and I have no personal experience that would indicate the contrary.

The only reason why I don't say that LDing is completely harmless or that it is a completely psychological occurrence, is that I don't like to make unqualified statements, especially about somewhat mysterious things.

-Lux