I've seen the opinion a lot that using lucidity for super powers is a "newb" mistake (or at least something a newb always does). Personally, I tend to do that, probably because I started LDing at a young age, and never really had a purpose for it except fun. However, I've recently found that it's a good way of maintaining lucidity for me.

I've been having multiple dreams where I gain lucidity, start using a super power, and then get so used to using it that I lose lucidity, but keep the super power. My problem is usually that when I gain lucidity, my body still sort of feels like the dream is real, even though my mind is saying "it's a dream", and I can change things, my body feels like the situation is still a real threat (because it's usually scary). Because of that, I've decided on a new technique for maintaining and developing lucidity:

When you become lucid, try to use as many super powers as you can think of. If you can't do one, move on, and return to it later. Using these standard "newb" powers is a good way of asserting control over the dream, and keeps you from getting locked into one or two powers (which generally causes me to lose lucidity).

The important part (at least for me) seems to be that after you fail at one super power (maybe "force push"), you come back to it and work on it until you get it. This means you really have to push the boundaries and shake off some of the dream shackles, which means they're less likely to tighten and make you non-lucid again (or, if they do, at least you'll have more super powers).

And (yes, I started a sentence with a damn conjunction. Live with it) you don't even have to stick to conventional super powers. A really good way to broaden your horizons is just try and do ANYTHING that pops into that creepy head of yours. If you can't do it, keep trying (this is AFTER you've established a pretty good level of control; while you're still establishing your control, skip things you can't do, and come back later, or you risk not keeping your momentum).

This is based on personal experience, so it might not work for you. But (oops, I did it again.. damn conjunctions), for me, super powers are a familiar thing to do, so it's an easy place to start gaining control, and helps me slowly establish my control over the dream world.

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