Lucid dreaming in mainstream society

Lucid dreaming should be a main part of our culture today.

It should be educated and taught, that way it can be further perfected by the population of people in society.

Everyone is capable of doing it, some are more lazy than others, but I believe its a beautiful part of life that most people are completely unaware of. This should be fixed.

Imagine a world where everyone had that connection with each other;

"Are you a dreamer?"
"Yeah man, had a great dream last night where I lived out all my fantasies. I feel better as a person because of it"

Everyone could relate to each other. It could be studied more in depth. It could potentially expand the potential of the human brain.

I just think its a beautiful thing that everyone should be aware of, and its a shame that most people go through their lives in oblivious sleep.

That would be cool, the only problem right now is that if it did get mainstream I'm sure it would be protested by various religious groups as "demonic." I obviously realize that it's not, but I feel kind of protective of it. I wouldn't want people tarnishing it's name.

Oh, and digging the avatar by the way.

It would be cool if we got more people to know about and practice it... but eventually society would limit things by putting its own set of ethics and morals on it, then urban myths would take hold, and then all kinds of religious fanatics would call it Satanic and start segments on it at the end of the local news...

If it became mainstream like a religion I think the world may be a more dangerous place. The weak minded will 'merge' dreams and reality as one and there may be more violence/crime as I have seen some posts here that involve killing someone or sexual urges that have been suppressed. So with the current state of human behaviour..No...it's not a good thing. If you remember the movie Matrix...there were some guys who followed that movie and started a shooting spree so same goes for dreaming..there is a tendency to spill over into waking perception if it gets out of hand.

IMJ

I wouldn't like it to become mainstream because I feel a kind of intimacy, knowing that I do something special. If it became huge, it would no longer be "cool" or "unique" for me to be keeping a DJ or doing anything associated with it. I still like the uniqueness, and I don't want that to go away. It has kind of a cult following, and only a few people in my school do it.

A tad off topic, but this thread reminded me of this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxAz9hHfhzE

Don't worry, its not a rick roll.:)

I kinda agree with this one. Not even become a part of mainstream culture but like most people don't even know the phenomenon exists or is controllable, proven, and can be consistently done with some work. I wish there was some sort of general public knowledge on the subject anyways but there doesn't seem to be much of it in many demographics.

I have to disagree. I think of lucid dreaming as being untarnished the way it is now. If mainstream media got a hold of it, who knows what they would make of it. They could advertise it to be useable for a single objective, misleading potential followers of it's true freedom.

Right now it is clean, fine the way it is. Simple, and that is the way I like it.

People are not openned minded to it anyways. I've tried telling people but there not interested... People that are interested in dreams will find it, I'm sure.

I would personnally like for at least people to be more openned minded. They look at you weird if you talk about it. I mean, no one at my school does it (from my knowledge). But I do like it that way too, I mean its cool to be unique, but if I ever told anyone my 'cool' hobbie, they wouldn't think its 'cool'. That's what I dislike...

Indeed, the world would not take Lucid dreaming the way that it's current followers already do. If you want more people to know about lucid dreaming, introduce it to your friends that you know would respect the process. Lately I've intorduced it to some Co-workers, one of which who has already had a short lucid dream since.

There's no telling how people would react to the idea that they could live out their wildest fantasies every night, and it would surely lapse into their waking life. If people choose to remain ignorant to the subject, let them. Many of the people I've discussed lucid dreaming with just think I'm lying, so it's their loss, you know?

here is what is needed for this to happen:

a BLOCKBUSTER movie or popular TV show on the subject of lucid dreaming. something that PROMOTES it as a good thing (how can it be a bad thing?). hey, it worked for poker... how many people were playing no limit texas hold 'em before the movie Rounders came out? yes, it was played, but not NEARLY on the level it is now. it's not even close. that movie really got people excited about poker.

we have Waking Life, of course, which is amazing. but not at ALL something that most Americans can identify with. most of US can identify with it, but many others can't.

we need a CHAMPION... you know, if Bruce Willis publicly starts talking about how cool it is to lucid dream.... BAM, it's mainstream. until something like that happens, it'll stay obscure and we'll be having this same conversation.

by the way, i also agree that it's something that humans are MEANT to do, we're "supposed" to do this. just like we're "supposed" to pee when we have to. if we were taught this growing up, we could probably all lucid dream at will and think nothing of it.

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Originally Posted by SleepyCookieDough

People are not openned minded to it anyways. I've tried telling people but there not interested...

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i get this too. friends and family rarely get it. but if a celebrity starts championing (is that a word?) this cause, all of a sudden we won't seem so "out there". most of us don't care that we're viewed that way (maybe you aren't), but it's amazing how putting something on TV suddenly makes it "normal". ooh, have Oprah talk about it!!! if she mentions the phrase "lucid dreaming", in 5 minutes it will be the #1 most searched phrase in Google.

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Originally Posted by fleeee1

if we were taught this growing up, we could probably all lucid dream at will and think nothing of it.

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I'm planning to teach my kids.... But that's in a long time. I'm only 15... :banana:

I wish people maintained a higher level of awareness, in general. More aware of their lives, their actions, their thoughts, their dreams. Lucid dreaming would just be a natural side effect of that awareness.

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Originally Posted by Robot_Butler

I wish people maintained a higher level of awareness, in general. More aware of their lives, their actions, their thoughts, their dreams. Lucid dreaming would just be a natural side effect of that awareness.

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yes :)

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Originally Posted by Robot_Butler

I wish people maintained a higher level of awareness, in general. More aware of their lives, their actions, their thoughts, their dreams. Lucid dreaming would just be a natural side effect of that awareness.

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very well put.

Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. On one hand I do, on one hand I don't.

They say space is the last unknown frontier to be explored..... well I think the mind is the last unexplored frontier.... Are you familiar with the 2012 theory, it is the end of the Mayan calendar, it is what they believed to be the end of the world as we know it. A big theory around it is that people have reached a point of the highest development; (just look at the technological advancement in the 20th century compared to any other one in our history) and that we have reached a peak, the theory goes on to say that at this peak (around december of 2012) we will have to start exploring the unexplored, like the mind and the spiritual world. It pretty much says we must live more lucidly, to be aware of ourselves and our thoughts and our dreams. It's a lot to explain, for those who haven't heard, google the 2012 theory.

I think our dreams will begin to mean a lot more in the coming years and for those of us who are already exploring them, I think we are one step ahead....

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Originally Posted by dreamingofdreaming

They say space is the last unknown frontier to be explored..... well I think the mind is the last unexplored frontier.... Are you familiar with the 2012 theory, it is the end of the Mayan calendar, it is what they believed to be the end of the world as we know it. A big theory around it is that people have reached a point of the highest development; (just look at the technological advancement in the 20th century compared to any other one in our history) and that we have reached a peak, the theory goes on to say that at this peak (around december of 2012) we will have to start exploring the unexplored, like the mind and the spiritual world. It pretty much says we must live more lucidly, to be aware of ourselves and our thoughts and our dreams. It's a lot to explain, for those who haven't heard, google the 2012 theory.

I think our dreams will begin to mean a lot more in the coming years and for those of us who are already exploring them, I think we are one step ahead....

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Interesting, I'm googling it! That means that everyone else will join us but we're kinda more evolved! lol!

Honestly I don't even see the world that practices lucid dreaming, I don't even see a world that has a grasp regarding what it is. Perhaps if some really cool and accurate movie was made, maybe a general concept of what it is would arise and things would continue from there- it may come quite unexpectedly at any given time in history or not at all. All I know is that if I try to explain to ppl that I'm LD-ing at this stage in history they think I'm nuts. Hmm perhaps when dream-recording devices are perfected we will be able to demonstrate our abilities.

however I was surprised that one of the ppl I know online for a long time was in fact a DV member :)

It would be nice if people finally understood what lucid dreaming is, but like it has already been mentioned before, a lot of bad things would come from it going mainstream... like radicals saying that it's " satanic " and weak-minded people who really cant handle it would not be able to tell the difference between dream and reality, and do all sorts of crazy things, and information on it would become very diluted and inaccurate... :?

I guess I don't see how a bunch of people knowing about lucid dreaming would effect the actual practice negatively; church groups could protest it all they want as "demonic", they can't ban its practice because it all takes place inside your head.

That said, it could possibly reap positive benefits perhaps if it was a mainstream activity but right now it seems to be only people who are really into it that are devoting the time and resources to improve techniques for attaining lucidity, and that is probably just as well.

As someone else mentioned, the best part about people knowing about lucid dreaming is that it increases awareness in general and awareness of the inner in particular.

It's not so cool when everybody does it, right? LDs went mainstream in my country a while ago and now I don't feel so special anymore XD

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Are you familiar with the 2012 theory, it is the end of the Mayan calendar, it is what they believed to be the end of the world as we know it.

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Urban legend, it's where a new millenium starts in Mayan calendar (13:0:0:0).

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Originally Posted by Robot_Butler

I wish people maintained a higher level of awareness, in general. More aware of their lives, their actions, their thoughts, their dreams. Lucid dreaming would just be a natural side effect of that awareness.

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Not to mention all the other resulting effects of such a society in all matters of our lives.

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Originally Posted by Mertruve

LDs went mainstream in my country a while ago and now I don't feel so special

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where do you live?

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Originally Posted by yuriythebest

where do you live?

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was wondering the same thing

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Originally Posted by SleepyCookieDough

was wondering the same thing

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was also wondering the same thing :eek:

Poland. There was a boom for LD-related books that were later discussed in the media. Now the whole magic of being a part of LD community is gone when you go to a mall and see people reality checking. :/

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Originally Posted by Mertruve

Poland. There was a boom for LD-related books that were later discussed in the media. Now the whole magic of being a part of LD community is gone when you go to a mall and see people reality checking. :/

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oh, lol! I know a girl from poland... She doesn't know about this.... :roll:

Mainstream society doesn't like anything it can't control, regulate and put laws around. They're still freaked by the internet. LDs would totally psyche them out.

Honestly I would love for this to happen.

Technology follows the interest of the masses, the masses follow the media, influence the media with a crazy story~ you will have more money devoted to researching dreaming.

Maybe they will make those DreamLights or whatever again, and they could be cheap- $10.

It could also provide new windows for science and sleep medication. Perhapse even a little pill that will make you instantaniously lucid >_<

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She doesn't know about this....

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Ask about conscious dreaming ;)

Terrible idea, i would like people to know more about it, but i don't want to see it on the news and tv programs, People would take major advatage of it to hurt other people and just tell lawyers that they thought it was a "Dream".

I highly disagree with this! :(

I wouldn't mind it, if lucid dreaming went mainstream. But people would look for the easiest way to do it. Lucid dreaming would become commercialized, and then fade out.

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Originally Posted by Abra

I wouldn't mind it, if lucid dreaming went mainstream. But people would look for the easiest way to do it. Lucid dreaming would become commercialized, and then fade out.

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you cant really say that.. Ld isnt something you can do in 1 shot, there be alot of greedy companys out there and new programs to suck up all our money to learn how to LD, and it wont work and people will spend even more money, making it harder and harder to LD! meaning it will make LDing even rarer, but for us. we be like gods to everone.

HOW CAN I LD Pl0x!!!

Ok, there are like a zillion of these ridiculous 2012 apocalypse theory threads all over the world, so this is your warning: Take that nonsense elsewhere. Do not post that into the on topic sections.

I don't know how I feel about the idea of LDing becoming "mainstream," but I like the idea of removing the "new age" stigma from it. Too many people think it's not possible or that someone is super-mystical/religious/philisophical if they even mention they're interested in dreams. Why shouldn't we take the time to enjoy and explore this world that's already in our heads? It's not going away any time soon.

I don't like the idea of it becoming a source of competition and profit, though. There are already sites claiming they have a "100&#37; success lucid dreaming pill" which is just a label attached to a little white piece of disolvable (sp?) substance. I don't want to start seeing commercials on TV about the latest LD-inducing gadget announcing that for four payments of $39.95 + shipping you can become aware you're dreaming. I'd rather keep lucid dreaming within the part of society that is actually interested in it and feels that it can make a difference in our lives individually and as a whole.

As has been said before, part of me likes the idea and part of me does not. In the words of Morpheus: "You take a chance either way; I leave it to you."

:)

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Originally Posted by dreamingofdreaming

25,000 years ago was when dinosaurs went extinct (top of the food chain)

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I really hope you're not serious :shock:

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Originally Posted by Neko-san

I really hope you're not serious :shock:

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Yeah I kind of questioned that entire post, and I'm fairly certain that full moons, half moons, eclipses, etc. all end up being at specific places because of a mathematical reason. o.o

I think if it became mainstream it would then just be commercialized and then some one out there will try andbecome millionaires off of a pill that "induces LDing"(we all know someone would try and create it,and where would the fun be in that?). I dont mind it the way it is. I dont care what people think of me when I say that Im into it, I get mixed reactions from people but who cares...More people should know about it and they will find out soon enough and the ones who do are the poeple who wont try and screw it up somehow because they may actually be interested in LDing.

:oops: :oops: Ok I have to apologize for the rambled post I put up.... I did not read it over and did not edit it like i usually do, i was in a hurry and i guess a little excited. Of course i know dinosaurs went extinct millions of years ago, i mean to say that it was during one of the 25000 cycles. Anyways this is it for that topic, it was the wrong section. However, it is a breath of fresh air to see that there are intelligent and well educated people at DV. Sorry again and lets continue with the topic...

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Originally Posted by Amethyst Star

I don't want to start seeing commercials on TV about the latest LD-inducing gadget announcing that for four payments of $39.95 + shipping you can become aware you're dreaming. I'd rather keep lucid dreaming within the part of society that is actually interested in it and feels that it can make a difference in our lives individually and as a whole.

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I agree, once something like LD goes mainstream people will be quick to capitalize off of it. People will miss the real meaning and start grouping it with ESP, UFOs and ghost stories.

So on this topic, Im in my training class for work right now and the guy nxt to me asked waht "dreamviews" was, I explained about LDing and its something he never heard of before and has every reason why its not real and that for example when you guys say you had an LD its just some story your coming up with. I feel that alot of people will be this way because this is something so out of the ordinary they wont let themselves believe it. I dont see myself ever living an interesting life being so close-minded to things that are unknown....

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Originally Posted by Patrickstar12

I feel that a lot of people will be this way because this is something so out of the ordinary they wont let themselves believe it.

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It's that old idea of the only things in life that are real is what we can hear and touch and taste and see and feel. Some people don't factor in that there are more to experiences than just physical sensations. They've never experienced it and since dreams are not important to them, they couldn't care less.

Most people shrug it off, but some people take it personally when you try to describe it to them. I suppose some are afraid that if it's true, something bad will happen in their dreams so they don't want to even go in that direction. For others, they may lack the confidence that lucidity is something they can attain, so they don't even try and don't want others to suggest that they do. I wish those people wouldn't get so upset. It's not like we're going to invade their dreams and steal their soul :P

I guess the issue for the present is not how to make LDing mainstream, but how to project the image of lucid dreaming in its current form of "popularity."

Yeah it definitely depends on the person. I just recently told my sister about it and she said she had already been experiencing lucids and even wilds! She explained the vibrations and the voices and thought everyone had them! I then told my brother about it and he was VERY interested, he got right on DV and read everything he then told his fiance and she was just as interested.

Its interesting how some people are very open and interested in these kinds of thoughts and possibilities while others are completely closed minded. It makes you wonder if some people are by nature more in tune with the "unknown" like dreams and the power of the mind.......

I definately think that some people are just as you say in tune...and I feel bad for those who just cant open up to it. but then there are the stubborn people who just dont want to...or are scared of it. its funny tho to talk to someone about LDing and you can just tell by the look on their faces that they think you are full of it.

I was very disappointed after opening my Psychology book (titled Psychology: Themes and Variations, Briefer Version, Seventh Edition, by Wayne Weiten, and was published in 2008 mind you) and reading the entire sleep/dream section just to realize that they didn't say a thing about lucid dreaming. Not a thing. I thought that by 2008 there was enough information on lucid dreaming for it to be worthy of mentioning in the dream section of a Psychology book. Who the hell is charge of what does and doesn't go into the dreaming section of psychology books? Who do I have to write a letter to in order to convince them of mentioning lucid dreams in the next edition of this book?

I guess I'm going to have to be the one to spread the word to my psych class maybe in the form of a project or research paper.

I'm quite okay with it not being mainstream.

The main amount of people that LD are very intelligent, and looking to expand their minds.

The majority of Society, can't even be civil with people of different race and religion.

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Originally Posted by KingOfTwilight

I'm quite okay with it not being mainstream.

The main amount of people that LD are very intelligent, and looking to expand their minds.

The majority of Society, can't even be civil with people of different race and religion.

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That made me feel very good about wanting to LD.

I'd give it a month of popularity or less in America before the scare monger religious morons condemned it and the next thing you'd see on the TV is "Fawx News late night report, Lucid Dreaming, BEING USED TO TRAIN TERRORISTS?1!1oneshift!one!11"

I'd like to see it happen, but I also like the idea that lucid dreaming is something special that only those who actively seek it find it, kind of like a selective "cool kids club :cooler:"

Well, I knew people that were natural lucid dreamers, but for them it wasn't nothing, they weren't interested on it, for them it was just other type of dreams...

&#172;&#172;

I don't understand how people can't be interested. it seriously perplexes me. I've only really got into this phenomenon in the past few weeks but i think it's such an amazingly edifying one. Nobody seems to relate though when I try & explain it. I guess it's quite nice like that, like being in an exclusive night time coterie :) I just wish people wouldn't look at me like i'm mad when I try & tell them.. anyone else find this? :P

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Originally Posted by raindroplets

I don't understand how people can't be interested. it seriously perplexes me. I've only really got into this phenomenon in the past few weeks but i think it's such an amazingly edifying one. Nobody seems to relate though when I try & explain it. I guess it's quite nice like that, like being in an exclusive night time coterie :) I just wish people wouldn't look at me like i'm mad when I try & tell them.. anyone else find this? :P

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I've run across one or two of these kinds of people but most are either somewhat interested (but don't pursue it) or are indifferent. One girl actually didn't believe me when I told her that not everyone is aware they're dreaming all the time. That was weird.

I usually don't press the subject unless people seem interested, and only introduce it when I have a good segue in the conversation. It doesn't always sound very interesting if you just mention it out of the blue.

I have a few friends who know I'm interested in dreaming, and I told them about a dream I had where I married one of them and they found that rather weird, more so than I did. So every now and then I'll say, "So, I had this dream last night that..." just to annoy them. It's fun.

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Originally Posted by raindroplets

I don't understand how people can't be interested. it seriously perplexes me. I've only really got into this phenomenon in the past few weeks but i think it's such an amazingly edifying one. Nobody seems to relate though when I try & explain it. I guess it's quite nice like that, like being in an exclusive night time coterie :) I just wish people wouldn't look at me like i'm mad when I try & tell them.. anyone else find this? :P

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I think the majority of them remember one dream a year, so they can't even comprehend what you are talking about and assume you must be spouting BS. Even the people who are interested in dreams, if they've never had a LD, can't really buy into it easily and understandably so. Some people will have a lucid dream or two during their life naturally. These people you might be able to bring around easily. If it hadn't happened to me first hand I probably would have called us paranormal nutjobs :tongue: But 99% of that is the way it gets presented.

It helps to say, "Wow, have you ever had one of those dreams where you know you're dreaming? I had one the other day, I looked it up online I guess they're called lucid dreams." or "Have you ever woken up and been paralyzed? Or had any of those weird hallucinations while falling asleep? That's supposed to mean you're on the brink of falling asleep, and you can trick your body into starting to dream while you're still awake."
Really just have to personalize it- make them realize they've experienced or almost experienced the very thing you're talking about.

Yeah. well it's never happened to me before (before last night anyway :D) well maybe when I was six i could have sworn I had one, but maybe that's just my brain creating a schema.. It's not as though i'll push my views onto anyone. I've been learining about dreams in psychology and have heard about LD's in the past, so I thought i'd look into it. anyway I told 2 friends & they were seriously freaked out.. i felt rather ostrasized tbh! So today because I was excited so i was like 'I had my first LD last night!' and the looks I recieved were positively bewildered :P oh dearie.

I believe that giving the relatively unknowing public some general knowledge of the practice would do nothing but good for society. It's only the fact that most people on this board are pessimists and cynics that is the reason why everyone here thinks lucid dreaming will somehow be abused. Is there a way to abuse something that goes on solely inside your head? I'd submit a frim "No". Thus, I believe the "let lucid dreaming remain pure" rhetoric is kind of silly. Even the belief that everyone religious will deride it as "demonic" is silly; I told my Mormon friend about it and he seems genuinely intrigued...and remember, Mormons are one of the more uptight varieties of Christians.

Now, not only would lucid dreaming help out the countless people suffering from chronic nightmares, help people prepare for social situations in the real world, and give people a chance to practice what they love in a non-discriminatory environment...but it would broadly expand people's imaginations. It would pretty much snuff out the severely outdated "black and white" way of thinking, as well as provide countless new inspirations for books, visual art, movies, video games, music, etc., etc., etc....

But what do I know. I'm just someone who tends to focus on the good in people more than the bad. What do my views matter in a world ruled by cynics?

Well Vulpix seems to have disappeared from this thread but I couldn't agree more with his post! I can't believe what incredible fun and adventure the rest of the world is missing out on. Lucid dreaming is one of the most amazing things I've ever discovered. I have loved dancing as a hobby for over thirty years but I think I've finally found something more fun!

I'm so annoyed nobody ever told me about it as a kid.

Thats a really interesting topic... I dont think I would enjoy lucid dreaming being part of everyday life, on the other hand, i think its something everyone should know about. I mean, being able to do whatever you want is awesome! Just would be pretty cool if my friends were a bit more open so they can see what they were missing. ;P

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Originally Posted by Lëzen

I believe that giving the relatively unknowing public some general knowledge of the practice would do nothing but good for society. It's only the fact that most people on this board are pessimists and cynics that is the reason why everyone here thinks lucid dreaming will somehow be abused. Is there a way to abuse something that goes on solely inside your head? I'd submit a frim "No". Thus, I believe the "let lucid dreaming remain pure" rhetoric is kind of silly. Even the belief that everyone religious will deride it as "demonic" is silly; I told my Mormon friend about it and he seems genuinely intrigued...and remember, Mormons are one of the more uptight varieties of Christians.

Now, not only would lucid dreaming help out the countless people suffering from chronic nightmares, help people prepare for social situations in the real world, and give people a chance to practice what they love in a non-discriminatory environment...but it would broadly expand people's imaginations. It would pretty much snuff out the severely outdated "black and white" way of thinking, as well as provide countless new inspirations for books, visual art, movies, video games, music, etc., etc., etc....

But what do I know. I'm just someone who tends to focus on the good in people more than the bad. What do my views matter in a world ruled by cynics?

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Thing is, your friend is most likely a good guy, as are most people.

Only problem is, for every thousand good people there's one really loud not so good one.

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Originally Posted by Lëzen

It's only the fact that most people on this board are pessimists and cynics that is the reason why everyone here thinks lucid dreaming will somehow be abused.

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Sure, there are a number of cynics on the board, but not all of us are :) I see a difference between informing people about lucid dreaming and making LDing "Mainstream." I'm all for informing people about the potential benefits of LDing, especially those who could really benefit from it: chronic nightmares, confidence building, etc. Psychologists and counselors should consider suggesting LDing to people who come to them for help. It could be addressed in science and/or psychology classes where students could at least be given access to more information. I just don't want businesses to take a hold of the idea and start advertising pills and devices all over the place, saying they have a "guaranteed technique to control your dreams" in order to get people to spend more money on things they don't need.

When something becomes popularized and mainstream, people are more likely to become bored or jaded with the idea. Not everyone will feel that way, of course, and a number will be likely to express interest in the idea, but at the same time those people who are not interested will become even less inclined to listen to someone talk about it or watch a commercial on TV. As far as religous groups, I don't forsee much outcry except from certain pockets here and there, so I agree with you in that respect. I'm a Christian and I'd be happy to address any concerns someone might have about whether or not LDing is evil or demonic.

As far as inspiring books, movies, etc. I'm a little jealous of our little "secret" getting out. I have a few ideas of my own that I'm working on and I don't want dreaming to go be overdone by the time I get there :D

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Originally Posted by Amethyst Star

It could be addressed in science and/or psychology classes where students could at least be given access to more information. I just don't want businesses to take a hold of the idea and start advertising pills and devices all over the place, saying they have a "guaranteed technique to control your dreams" in order to get people to spend more money on things they don't need.

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That's about how I feel. I wish more people were educated about it and knew that it was a possibility. It would be nice if we taught our children stuff like this so they knew what they were capable of. A class on how to be a human. An education that covered how to take care of your body and mind and use it to it's full potential. The basics that make us human.

I don't want it to become overly commercialized. One of the best things about lucid dreaming is it is totally free and available to everyone. Nobody can ever take it away from you. Even just as far as entertainment goes, it is so much better than any movie or video game they charge $$ for. I like seeing people interested in the free and available things that really make life fun. You don't need to buy a bunch of crap to enjoy life.

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Originally Posted by dreamingofdreaming

Its interesting how some people are very open and interested in these kinds of thoughts and possibilities while others are completely closed minded. It makes you wonder if some people are by nature more in tune with the "unknown" like dreams and the power of the mind.......

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Originally Posted by raindroplets

I don't understand how people can't be interested. it seriously perplexes me. I've only really got into this phenomenon in the past few weeks but i think it's such an amazingly edifying one. Nobody seems to relate though when I try & explain it. I guess it's quite nice like that, like being in an exclusive night time coterie :) I just wish people wouldn't look at me like i'm mad when I try & tell them.. anyone else find this? :P

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I work with a large number of various types of people and socialise in a very large dance community. I have probably mentioned LDing to about 100 people over the past months. I found that only a very small percentage of people were genuinely and actively interested, the majority gave the impression of listening to be polite, and about 2&#37; were completely sceptical and/or disbelieving and I would describe those peoples' personalities as arrogant know-it-alls. I just feel sorry for them to be honest because they are missing out on something wonderful due to their closed-mindedness.

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Originally Posted by WolfeDreamer531

I was very disappointed after opening my Psychology book (titled Psychology: Themes and Variations, Briefer Version, Seventh Edition, by Wayne Weiten, and was published in 2008 mind you) and reading the entire sleep/dream section just to realize that they didn't say a thing about lucid dreaming. Not a thing. I thought that by 2008 there was enough information on lucid dreaming for it to be worthy of mentioning in the dream section of a Psychology book. Who the hell is charge of what does and doesn't go into the dreaming section of psychology books? Who do I have to write a letter to in order to convince them of mentioning lucid dreams in the next edition of this book?

I guess I'm going to have to be the one to spread the word to my psych class maybe in the form of a project or research paper.

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I did a psychology degree fifteen years ago and there certainly was no mention of LD. I agree, Wolfe, it's ridiculous.

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Originally Posted by Robot_Butler

That's about how I feel. I wish more people were educated about it and knew that it was a possibility. It would be nice if we taught our children stuff like this so they knew what they were capable of. A class on how to be a human. An education that covered how to take care of your body and mind and use it to it's full potential. The basics that make us human.

I don't want it to become overly commercialized. One of the best things about lucid dreaming is it is totally free and available to everyone. Nobody can ever take it away from you. Even just as far as entertainment goes, it is so much better than any movie or video game they charge $$ for. I like seeing people interested in the free and available things that really make life fun. You don't need to buy a bunch of crap to enjoy life.

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^ I couldn't agree more even if I tried.

This is such a good thread. I feel the same as most of you. I can't believe people (especially certain cultures) have been LDing for centuries yet it is still an obscure topic with only a small percentage of the population practising it. It truly astounds me that LD isn't just something that almost all humans do like the way almost all humans like drinking alcohol, having sex, eating chocolate, watching movies, swimming, riding roller coasters etc! To me, LD is as much fun as all of those things put together. Geez, how can such a fun, free form of entertainment be so overlooked???

But then there are a lot of things about mainstream society that are misunderstood and foolhardy. I could list quite a few but that would open up a big fat juicy can... :P

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Originally Posted by SleepyCookieDough

I'm planning to teach my kids.... But that's in a long time. I'm only 15... :banana:

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haha i loled there

It's unfortunate lucid dreaming is not widely popular in the media. Despite there being a handful movies about the subject, I'm not sure many people understand exactly the implications of being able to remember, control, and actually be aware of your dreams while you're in them. It would be interesting to see a society with lucid dreaming quite popular in the mainstream, but then again, the negative aspects might come into play rather quickly. Some lucid dreamers could be seen as fantasy-lovers, perverts, or violent people. This could be akin to people who are obsessed with gaming, considering it's a fantasy, sex, and violence run industry. Or at least in the western world.

Still, you don't have to pay $50 to do it. Unless you're buying books, apple juice, or those CDs! :P

every one knows it's so true that those damn religious nuts will get on TV and give normal (by normal I mean not crazy) Christians a bad name and make lucidity a taboo

religious nut----:bowdown::pope:

normal Christian in the eye of the world-------:borg:

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Originally Posted by DreamQueen

Geez, how can such a fun, free form of entertainment be so overlooked???

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The problem is that it is not easy as, say, movies or drugs. You do not really need any skill to use this both, but to get decent number of LDs most people need to approach this lik acquiring new skill, and for this one usually need substantial motivation and/or strong interest. Most people do not have it.

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I feel the same as most of you. I can't believe people (especially certain cultures) have been LDing for centuries yet it is still an obscure topic with only a small percentage of the population practising it.

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Actually, major religions such as Christianity and Islam were actively suppressing it, so there is no wonder that LD were not known/used widely.

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Originally Posted by Phantasos

The problem is that it is not easy as, say, movies or drugs. You do not really need any skill to use this both, but to get decent number of LDs most people need to approach this lik acquiring new skill, and for this one usually need substantial motivation and/or strong interest. Most people do not have it.
True indeed :P

Actually, major religions such as Christianity and Islam were actively suppressing it, so there is no wonder that LD were not known/used widely.

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Never heard of this before, so, I can't say I agree :)

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Originally Posted by BigFan

Never heard of this before, so, I can't say I agree :)

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Lucid dreaming for a long time was and still is a base of many mystic and occult practices. When Christianity was in fundamental mode (and it was untile relatively recent times) those practices were prohibited. At the other side, the meaning of dreams were suppressed by a lot of, err, church officials who used to say that it is hard to say who is talking with you in dreams - God or Devil, so it is better not to pay any attention at all to dreams, and listen to the Church(es) instead.

Islam is also not too supportive to dreams. You can do a lot of things in dreams which are clearly prohibited by Qu'Ran, for example to see God in human form!! :shock: Or to see naked women :mad:! Abomination! :D And, of course, mystic and occult practices are not welcome, especially now when even Sufism is not considered as part of Islam by many Muslims.

And I would like to add that most of Christianl would not be considered as such in the Middle Ages :roll:.

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Originally Posted by Phantasos

Lucid dreaming for a long time was and still is a base of many mystic and occult practices. When Christianity was in fundamental mode (and it was untile relatively recent times) those practices were prohibited. At the other side, the meaning of dreams were suppressed by a lot of, err, church officials who used to say that it is hard to say who is talking with you in dreams - God or Devil, so it is better not to pay any attention at all to dreams, and listen to the Church(es) instead.

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I don't have much knowledge here, but, I see your point :)

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Originally Posted by Phantasos

Islam is also not too supportive to dreams. You can do a lot of things in dreams which are clearly prohibited by Qu'Ran, for example to see God in human form!! :shock: Or to see naked women :mad:! Abomination! :D And, of course, mystic and occult practices are not welcome, especially now when even Sufism is not considered as part of Islam by many Muslims.

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That first sentence is not true. Let's say someone had a dream, we try to interpret it to see if it has a meaning. In some cases, they do and in other cases, its obvious that they don't and its just a creation of your mind. Different objects in a dream mean different things (ex. gold means a loss in dreams). As for the rest, while I do see your point, whatever happens in a LD is controlled by the person performing it, so, you can prevent yourself from doing any tasks that are in violation with your religions beliefs. I am interested in lucid dreams mostly for the flying part and maybe some of the fun powers, but, nothing else, so, I wouldn't be trying to do anything against my religion such as you listed above :)