Thread: How to cleanse the palette of unwanted archetpes?

What if one practiced an overall exercise of a sort of mental association version of Image Streaming? Run through associations and archetypes, then land on one and imagine you have to somehow emphasize your lucidity and find a way to change what you have in mind to something positive, something you could use? Or practice taking ordinary things, making them go wrong, and then imagining a way to fix them? Basically, being creative and learning how to mold dream material? I mean with proper stabilizing in your dream you should be able to take a detached view of the dream and control it as necessary.

I dunno, I'll have to think more on this. I've not read anything about it. This is kind of what I naturally do but I'll try to think up a good way to practice it.

My initial thought would be to try introducing another element to counteract and negate the problematical archetype you're facing. In this particular case, a possible solution might be to introduce Duct Tape to the dream. After all, Duct Tape holds the universe together. Of course, that's just for me. You might be able to find some super glue in your pocket if you have stronger associations, of bonding/holding things together, with that.

However, something like this may just create more of a problem. It's hard to know for sure without testing. . .

When I encounter a problem like that in my LDs it can go one of two ways -- I find a way to fix the problem and go on with the dream -or- I get stuck because of the problem. As an example, I often find myself naked in dreams, which always upsets me and leads to all kinds of issues as I try to find ways to cover or clothe myself. If I'm aware enough to remember the principles of dream control I will ignore my nudity and just trust that later I'll be dressed.

Do you think something like that might work with a broken devining rod type situation? To simply ignore that it is broken and to instead focus on any directional pull, etc. you feel through it? Tell yourself that the stick (or sticks in whatever shape they are in) still feel the pull of your goal and will lead you to it.

Originally Posted by The Cusp

First of all, dreams form around what you have your attention focused on. Trust me on that.

Sorry, Cusp, but I can't agree with that. My LDing doesn't confirm this. I first tested this premise 34 years ago, and it has never worked for me.

Since your original thread re. this belief, I again tried out this premise. I got lucid in an "outdoor at dusk" scenario.. I remembered your premise, and focussed on a range of beautifully-coloured mountains in the distance, a "sierra" if ever I saw one. As I focussed my attention on them, the "image" started to break up as if paint stripper had been poured upon it. The 3D image, that I had first noticed with glances, melted and disappeared in a 2D stylee, if that makes sense. This happens when I stare at a dream object, not using my usual "glance-at-everything" technique.

Also..I have an LDing friend who erases all visuals from an LD by focussing her attention on whatever is in her vision. When she reaches the "blackness/void" she starts meditation. She's been using this erasure technique for a few years now, purely by staring at something in an LD.

Originally Posted by The Cusp

I want to know if anyone has any ideas on how to erase or overwrite unwanted influences.. I'm drawing a blank. I'm open to any suggestions, from the psychological to the wacky and outlandish.

How to erase all that baggage that is clogging your brain? All that peer-copying junk that we all have? I've got three suggestions:

1) Recapitulation;
2) Electric shock treatment;
3) Toxocara Gondii purge.

Of these, I wouldn't touch 2) with a bargepole.. but the other two are worth considering IMO.

A question: Did you feel frustrated during the dream? What were your thoughts about breaking the stick during the dream?

Dreams partially depend on your current mindset, and partially on past experience (whether your mindset agrees with past experience or not!). As of yet, I haven't been able to find any one "thought process" that consistently overrides past experience.

Originally Posted by Oneiro

I've got three suggestions:

1) Recapitulation;
2) Electric shock treatment;
3) Toxocara Gondii purge.

Of these, I wouldn't touch 2) with a bargepole.. but the other two are worth considering IMO.

Aw, but EST is good for depression! =D

Originally Posted by Mzzkc

My initial thought would be to try introducing another element to counteract and negate the problematical archetype you're facing. In this particular case, a possible solution might be to introduce Duct Tape to the dream. After all, Duct Tape holds the universe together. Of course, that's just for me. You might be able to find some super glue in your pocket if you have stronger associations, of bonding/holding things together, with that.

However, something like this may just create more of a problem. It's hard to know for sure without testing. . .

That just introduces another element or layer that brings my farther from my original goal.

Originally Posted by seeker28

simply ignore that it is broken and to instead focus on any directional pull, etc. you feel through it? Tell yourself that the stick (or sticks in whatever shape they are in) still feel the pull of your goal and will lead you to it.

That sounds more like it.

I suppose there really is no quick fix for that problem. I've just been getting sloppy with my dream control. I'll just have to be more careful what I focus on in the future.

Originally Posted by Oneiro

As I focussed my attention on them, the "image" started to break up as if paint stripper had been poured upon it. The 3D image, that I had first noticed with glances, melted and disappeared in a 2D stylee, if that makes sense. This happens when I stare at a dream object, not using my usual "glance-at-everything" technique.

Very rarely are things perfectly stable in dreams. Perhaps you noticed some inconsistency in your field of vision which triggered the decay. And once it did start to melt, your attention sustained that dissolution.

The fact that it melted on you doesn't mean much. Looking at something doesn't guarantee your attention is on it. Even so, attention is only the catalyst for change, the actual change that takes place is determined by your own personal archetypes or schemata.

Besides, you went about it wrong. Looking at a sunset mountain scene like that involves too much peripheral vision, there are too many elements in play to clearly sort out what is happening. Instead focus on one thing, something smaller, something you find interesting or disturbing. If you focus on something like squirming insects, I can almost guarantee they will begin to multiply.