Three Lucid questions

[friendlyfro]

Hello. I have three questions which I haven't been able to find much writing on. I've had many lucid dreams growing up, but I never tried it much. I was concerned that I was somehow tinkering with the brain's natural rejuvenation processes. Then I learned that many people have them all the time, and that they're called lucid dreams. I also learned about WILDs which definitely sound like the holy grail of lucidity. First, what is a good way to remember to dream-check? I've never had a problem recognizing that I was dreaming, it's always been immediately obvious the second I think about it. The problem is, I rarely remember to check. I've read about many dream-checking techniques, but nothing about how to remember to check in the first place. Second, what is a good way to control awareness? Recently, as soon as I realize I'm dreaming, I tend to wake up. I think, "Oh I'm dreaming. Which mean I'm lying in bed." And sure enough, there I am lying in bed. Often times, I can go back to the dream, but sometimes I get frustrated with myself for waking up in the first place, then it's difficult to return to sleep. Is it simply a matter of refusing to think about your other half, or are there other tricks? A semi-aware state, a balance between thought and emotion, between will and apathy seems to be the key. Hearing how others have mastered this would help a lot. Third, what is a good way to reach the sleep paralysis stage? The farthest I've gotten with WILDs is to the flashing-lights / faint random images stage. I'll just lay there relaxed for a long time, and nothing happens but the occasional muscle flutter coupled with random little itches (doesn't seem to make a difference if I ignore the itches or scratch them). Random thoughts may pop up, but I just observe or ignore them. I've even tried ear-plugs, but the sound of the plugs crackling in the ear is worse than room sounds because I'm used to tuning room sounds out. Eventually, I get bored of lying there thinking about nothing and I get up. Thanks in advance for your advice.

[Abra]

1. Make reality checking a habit in waking life, otherwise it'll be very hard for the checks to transfer into your dreams. Reality check whenever you see something odd happen in your life, or whenever you see something you usually see in your dreams (for me, it is my fish!). 2. First, you must stabilize your dream surroundings. Know that you are dreaming, but absorb yourself into the environment. Feel the texture of the dream floor under your feet, rub your hands together, see if you can smell anything tasty nearby. Immersing the senses not only increases awareness and depth, but will let you remain in the dream. 3. Focus less on the physical aspect of WILDing. Take your mind off of your body (do not concentrate on relaxing, or try to feel if you are in sleep paralysis), and focus only on thought. Or breathing.

[friendlyfro]

1. Make reality checking a habit in waking life, otherwise it'll be very hard for the checks to transfer into your dreams. Reality check whenever you see something odd happen in your life, or whenever you see something you usually see in your dreams (for me, it is my fish!). 2. First, you must stabilize your dream surroundings. Know that you are dreaming, but absorb yourself into the environment. Feel the texture of the dream floor under your feet, rub your hands together, see if you can smell anything tasty nearby. Immersing the senses not only increases awareness and depth, but will let you remain in the dream. 3. Focus less on the physical aspect of WILDing. Take your mind off of your body (do not concentrate on relaxing, or try to feel if you are in sleep paralysis), and focus only on thought. Or breathing. Thanks, all good advice. I will try these things.