Lucid vs. Non-Lucid

[thedogsmeow]

Lucid or Non-Lucid: which do you prefer? This may seem strange, but I find that I actually prefer to have normal, non-lucid dreams some of the time, for a few reasons: 1. Logic: I find my sense of logic is better in some of my non-lucid dreams than in my lucid dreams. Think of it this way, when we're lucid, we're in a state of mind where we can "do anything," so real-world logic is lost. But, when we dream normally, we tend to have real-world logic and think as we would when we are awake. This can result in more logical dreams in terms of the "real-world" and can make you wake up feeling more of a sense of "reality" than of fantasy. 2. Plot: The plot of many of my lucids tends to have no rhyme or reason, as I'm usually so excited to know that I'm dreaming that the dreams will quickly switch from one subject to a completely different one with no real storyline. Whereas when I'm dreaming without being aware of it, the dream scenes will still shift as in a lucid, but the subject and plot of the dream will remain consistent throughout the dream. 3. Dream Length: The length of my non-lucid dreams seem to last longer than in some of my lucid dreams as well. Some of this could have to do with the fact that my brain tells me I'm not dreaming even though I am, so I will just "live life" in the dream as I would in real life. When I'm lucid, I know it is a dream and therefore know it has an end, so even being aware of that fact could help to wake you up earlier than in a normal dream, resulting in a shorter dream length. 4. Emotions: I also notice that the emotions I experiece in my non-lucid dreams can be a lot stronger than those experienced in a lucid dream. Usually when I'm lucid, because I know that everything I encounter is merely a dream, the human emotion can get lost in the dream. But when I'm not aware that I'm dreaming, I can have those emotions, and wake up feeling like I experienced something real, rather than something detached and "imagined" - even though it is all imagined. The thing is, when I'm not lucid, I can still have amazingly vivid dreams that are not at all boring. I can meet my favorite celebrities, fly, etc., thinking it's just part of life. But I can do these things with the mentality that they are real while they last, not knowing that everything I experience is a dream. Any thoughts on this?

[Spamtek]

It's a troubling dichotomy. Lucid masters will tell you as plain as day that lucid dreaming is "more real" than any normal dream - colors more vivid, details more detailed, sensations more immediate - but it doesn't matter how real it feels; when you're lucid dreaming you approach it from the absolute position that beyond all those frills what you're experiencing is fake. With a normal dream you take the fuzzy, vague, nonsensical situations you have to be true. And there are parts of experience - like those you mentioned - that stem from that faith in reality that I think no amount of lucid control can replicate. I hope someone proves me wrong on this.

[therpgmaker]

I like lucid dreams better because my normal ones are extremely boring for the most part.

[wisp]

Hum, yes, you have some points. Logic: well, yes, you're right. A non-lucid can be much more logic. But why would you care much about logic, when you have power!!? ^_^ Plot: I know what you mean. It feels like normal dreams have a purpose. Sometimes, when becoming lucid, my dream tries to distract me, or ejects me because the goal can't be achieved. The plot can't be fulfilled. It's like my subconscious doesn't really want to give me LDs, but plotted stories. Well, fuck my subconscious! Nah, plots are nice. But LDs are nicer. Length: I agree. Long LD would be nice, but i prefer short LD than long normal ones. Emotions: First: i get really excited while flying, and i don't care much about the fact that it isn't the real deal (i would get excited also in a virtual reality machine). Second: you can also control your emotions in a LD, if you wish. You can decide that any event has the power to make you happy, or sad, or aroused, or whatever you want to feel (this happens to be true in waking life also). If you don't like that, well, maybe you just don't like control much. Good subject. Edit: With enough control you can get all of that in a LD also. You can get logic, plots (you can be like the writer, director, or you can even be surprised and leave anything you want to "chance"), length and emotions. And if that's hard, or you're just not interested, you can give your lucidity up at any time.

[Oneironaut Zero]

I like my lucids slightly better than my non-lucids. They actually end up fairing very close, though. My non-lucids are often oustanding, in that they have some crazy/off-the-wall content, that just blows my mind. For that reason, I love having my non-lucids, because I get to experience things that I couldn't even imagine, consciously. On the other hand, most of my lucid dreams are DILD, so I'm usually in the middle of one of those crazy scenarios, when I realize I'm dreaming. Because of that, I usually end up just going along with the content of the dream, but only changing a few things because of the fact that I know I'm dreaming. They end up coming pretty close, but the fact that I have the choice to either go along with the dream or completely change it and do whatever I want, whenever I want, (not to mention how much I love the feeling of being there - in the moment, while lucid - makes me love my lucids a bit more than my normal dreams.

[wisp]

You're right about that. Same thing happens to me. All of my LD are DILD. So the choice of going along is there. I seldom take it though. At a time i was flying above a suburban area (i fly in my non lucids also), and suddenly i realize it's a dream. I kept flying looking for a quiet spot to land, and started practicing passing my hand through the wall. It was cool. The dream tried to distract me with a group of little white flies buzzing around, but i calmly commanded them to go away, and they did. The wall felt very hard, but i managed to make it behave like vertical quicksand, and passed my hand through. It was very cool. While retreating my hand, at the last moment i pulled hard, and broke the wall. Violence ejected me from the dream (i.e. i woke up), but i was satisfied. ^_^

[thedogsmeow]

Thanks for all your replies!

[Xox]

I like my non-lucids much better than lucids. IMO in my lucid dreams, my "concious mind" dominates what happens. In my non-lucids, for me it's like my subconcious speaking out. It's more interesting to see what it has to say then letting my "concious" mind control everything. My feelings are much stronger in non-lucids. I have deep emotions in them. In my lucids, it's almost like I have no feelings at all. The length of my non-lucids is much longer. It can feel like I've been dreaming for days and days. Whereas in my lucids, It feels like a few hours or a few minutes. It's good to know Im not the only one who feels this way.

[awoke]

every now and then I'll have some long intricate dreams, that im glad didnt go lucid. some have had really detailed plots, like a tattoo on my hand matching up with the tattoo on the hand of a serial killer, and when joined together expose his evil plot etc... I always wake from those type dreams and am glad I didn't become lucid, because I probably would have just flown off.

[roguext22]

i wish i would not even dream.

[27]

Lucids. I wish I could LD 100% of the time

[lizmunchausen]

i wish i would not even dream. why?