Dweller at the threshold.

[Ev]

I'm talking about fear. Right now I found myself afraid of lucid dreams. I cant really state why, maybe cause I never could face serious adversary in open fight. I either ran or woke up... I'm afraid of waking up in a dream and being attacked by monsters/spirits/whatever (even tho there's little fear inside a lucid dream) A lot of my WILD/MILD attempts are interrupted by fearful thoughts like "something bad may happen in a dream"... :/ tonight I'll try to face my fear, as I should have done a long time ago :/ any thoughts on how to defeat teh fear?

[sorewahimitsudesu]

Stop being afraid Sorry, I'm not much help...

[spairearhrke]

I had a similar problem recently. I was meditating hoping to go into a WILD maybe and I had this evil...I don't know what to call it....feeling maybe? I felt like there was a sinister/evil presence that was attempting to do me harm. I snapped out of my state pretty quickly. I tried again and the next time I tried confronting the fear (having an intruder in the house with me is one of my biggest fears) and it worked kinda until I couldn't breathe because I felt like someone/something was holding my head underwater. Needless to say here I could use some advice on how to deal with this too, because lately it has been affecting my desire to LD or meditate or anything like that. Ev: facing the fear is very brave of you...just remember you are in control, it is your mind and your subconscious. Let me know how it goes and maybe you can help ME out.

[Life]

Well I never had a WILD so I can't really say nothing but I guess if you tell youself that some good spirits will come and rescue you, the evil may leave you alone.. who knows ? maybe FAITH is the key Did I just say something stupid or intelligent ?

[sorewahimitsudesu]

Well.. since you said it... it was stupid... I'm kidding, don't hurt meee!

[Life]

Originally posted by sorewahimitsudesu Well.. since you said it... it was stupid... I'm kidding, don't hurt meee! I can't wait to squeeze your neck, you hurt my feelings

[sorewahimitsudesu]

I was only joking..... Why does everyone hate me so much....

[Orin]

Ev, The very thought of fear is enough to stop you becoming lucid. When dealing mind you are dealing with a subtle entity which will be easily effected by your thoughts and fears. Expectation plays a big role in what happens in the dreamworld whilst lucid. If you are expecting something bad to happen it may well do. Try to think of positive experiences you could have whilst in the dreamworld and focus on incubating those types of dreams. For banishing fear try drawing on the experience of ancient ritual for example using a protection symbol, such as a pentacle which you could either wear round your neck or just mentally draw around your sleeping space with your mind. It of course does not have to be a pentacle but maybe some other symbol you feel an affinity with as a protector, maybe even just drawing a magic circle around your sleeping space with your mind, which will keep out negative energies. Another thing I use is my 'Dream staff' this is made of a tree branch which I sanded smooth and embedded a Quartz crystal in end. It is like a real magic wand whereby it is a physical object that I take into the dreamworld with me and use it for the purposes of finding things, making things materialize or to magically transform things that are negative or obstructive. I keep it by my bed at all times and it serves as my protector and my ally in the dream world. If you choose to employ this method, once you have made the wand, take it into your dreams and perform a ritual within the dream whereby you empower the wand and ask it to always be readily available for your use in the astral planes. I found this method very effective and it it also nice to have a physical wand which you know has very real power!

[Ev]

Thanks for informative reply. funny thing - the wand was one of my first ideas, and I have a polished wand with a crystal/glass thingie on the end. However I found how easy it is to manipulate dreams using mind, so I abandoned my wand. As for fear - I'm ready to face it, but every time something spawns in my dreams , the initial shock of finding a monster close wakes me up :/

[Orin]

What about trying encasing yourself with an inpenetrable force-field when you first enter the dream and then if something appears, monsters/demons etc, you will know that they cannot actually get to you and you will hopefully be able to stay in the dream so as you can deal with it without waking up.

[Ev]

well, here's an example: I'm in a house and suddenly I realize it'a a dream. It is dark, and I quickly rush to the only dimly lit room. For some reason I have almost 270degrees vision and see a vacuum cleaner being knocked out behind me. Turning around, I find huge nonhuman skeleton behind me, ready for attack. Initial shock of such discovery is tremendous. In a few moments I regain contol, but it's too late .... next I'm in RL bed ... I can fight or talk to the creature, but I'm 'waking up too fast

[Orin]

What about re-entry? If you lie pefectly still without moving a muscle on awakening from a lucid dream and simply fall back to sleep it is very easy to re-enter and you will most likely be somewhere completely different. I quite often find on re-entry I am simply in my bedroom, I feel as though I have literally just stepped out of my body... Its a good method if you can't stop the dream from going.

[Ev]

when you wake from such dreams, it's very hard to keep calm and reenter the dream

[Kaniaz]

I've read about this before. Remeber dreaming is just yourself. Being afraid of something is being afraid of yourself. Next time you see it try and think of everything in a funny light, ask it stuff like: "What do you have to tell me?" "Why are you here?" "Why are you doing this?" "How can I help you?"

[evangel]

Originally posted by Ev when you wake from such dreams, it's very hard to keep calm and reenter the dream It is hard to calm yourself at first, but it can be done with some practice... After waking up, immediately REALIZE it's just a dream (or try waking up and listening to soothing music). Try deep breathing techniques - even and unforced, while focusing on your physical body, especially your center and your heartbeat. This will calm you by taking your immediate attention off the fear, hopefully... As for combating fear in general, I pray. I will also read or recite scripture or listen to soft music. I try to stay away from defensive mechanisms involving magic because for some reason, for me this tends to invite more attacks and negative content. I have had many similar dreams, usually involving zombies or "evil spirits," and prayer and seeking God has been the most effective means of ridding the mind of fear.

[Orin]

What you have to remember when trying to re-enter is that the fear itself is the substance of the dreamworld and is a trace that you have bought back with you, try using it as something you can grab onto to get back in rather than an opposing force keeping you out. Remember it is very important to re-entry to make sure you don't move a muscle.

[Jammy]

Then i suggest you turn up your lucid stereo on blaster volum and do what no monster ever is exepting you to do! ... Take a dance on the wild side!! And i bet your monster, like this: cant withstand it so now the monster becomes like "Freak out!" and goes like "Wuhu!! Paaaarteyy!" And then suddenly you all stands there like and the audience goes like :bravo: :bravo: :bravo: :bravo: and it becomes the most hilarious dream you ever have had! The next time i meet fear i know this is what i gonna do! im gonna dance like ive never danced before!

[Kaniaz]

Originally posted by Jammy Then i suggest you turn up your lucid stereo on blaster volum and do what no monster ever is exepting you to do! ... Take a dance on the wild side!! And i bet your monster, like this: * cant withstand it so now the monster becomes like \"Freak out!\" and goes like * \"Wuhu!! Paaaarteyy!\" * And then suddenly you all stands there like * * * * *and the audience goes like * * *:bravo: *:bravo: *:bravo: *:bravo: and it becomes the most hilarious dream you ever have had! * The next time i meet fear i know this is what i gonna do! im gonna dance like ive never danced before! * WTF.