Is there a purpose to this?

You know, when I first signed up here, I didn't really expect the way people saw dreams here. I mean.. Lucid dreaming would, to me, be a powerful self-examination tool, something I could use to explor my subconscious, and maybe, just maybe, find others in my dreams, you know?

Here, it seems that people see lucid dreaming as a play-thing, something to amuse yourself in your sleep. Now, I know there are those who think otherwise, and this is a very wide generalization, but that's the feel I get here. Some conjure up zombies to blast away with ki energy. Others want to fly or swim or walk through walls or bring a celeberity into their dream.

Is that all there is to lucid dreaming?

What if you can't get rid of the zombies? What if your mind is, like... Invaded and you can't kill them.. I know this is contradictory to the idea of lucid dreaming, where you can control anything, because, after all, it is your mind. But I don't think you can just play with your unconscious like that.. It can have dire consequences. I don't think your unconsious is just some play ground to gof off.

Now, I don't think it shouldn't be done at all, it is fun, and gaining control of your dreams is an exciting idea, but after a while, doesn't it get boring? Don't you want to do something more constructive with this skill or gift?

I dont' know, just wanted to bring this up, just to debate or get others to add or subtract from this. I didn't know where to put this, but since this is general dream discussion, I thought it'd go well here.

Sorry for rambling. ^^;

Yeah, okay. So in a lucid dream you can do anything. Man, I know I could sure get bored doing anything! Anyway, as for the unconscious thing - doubt anything bad happens. Some little kids have LD's regulary each night, and none of them have suffered ill side effects, as far as I'm aware. Well, actually, think of all the people that LD - there's an awful lot. None of them have come back with anything bad, so I see the chances of something like that happening pretty slim (or nonexsistent, but I wouldn't go that far).

PS: Good topic, btw. Debating is fun - and this category is just fine for an expansive post.

Hello DracaEna !!

To me Lucid dreaming is an endless attempt to gain knowledge from your subconcous. I find the subconcious remarkable in the fact that it looks at things in such an abstract view whan compared to your regular conciousness.
And to get bored of it would be like getting board of your own mind.
There are so many questions to be answered, being bored is not an option.

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Howetzer
Hello DracaEna !!

To me Lucid dreaming is an endless attempt to gain knowledge from your subconcous. I find the subconcious remarkable in the fact that it looks at things in such an abstract view whan compared to your regular conciousness.
And to get bored of it would be like getting board of your own mind.
There are so many questions to be answered, being bored is not an option.

---

Well, what I'm talking about are those who just go into lucid dreaming to like.. Kill zombies and gain super powers, not looking any further than that. I do believe there is more to this ability than entertainment, and you can gain so much more knowledge about yourself if you really wanted to. More about who you are, how you see things, whether conscious or not! Lucid dreaming is really a remarkable thing! With some practice and time, you really could gain a control of yourself, and explore rather than your unconscious showing it to you.

I don't know, I could be wrong. *Shrugs softly.*

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Kaniaz
Yeah, okay. So in a lucid dream you can do anything. Man, I know I could sure get bored doing anything! Anyway, as for the unconscious thing - doubt anything bad happens. Some little kids have LD's regulary each night, and none of them have suffered ill side effects, as far as I'm aware. Well, actually, think of all the people that LD - there's an awful lot. None of them have come back with anything bad, so I see the chances of something like that happening pretty slim (or nonexsistent, but I wouldn't go that far).

PS: Good topic, btw. Debating is fun - and this category is just fine for an expansive post.

---

Well, I have heard of very extreme 'cases' of lucid dreaming, where the dreamer gets hurt in the dream and get shurt in real life when they wake up. They have been asleep for a day two straight before, just dreaming, and would not have woken up if some one had done so. I know this is something totally different, very, VERY rare, and isn't really on-topic, but it can and does happen. Some have been to other worlds, and still others have met other real people in their dreams. I just don't see why lucid dreaming has to be such a toy. *Shrugs*

I know this sounds really critical, but lucid dreaming can be very handy, you know?

Part of the purpose for me is further understanding reality, both awake and asleep. The more I learn, and the more I ponder on it, the more arbitrary the separation seems, and the more beneficial a combining of the two sounds.

I can't really comment too much on people using it as an amusement. While it doesn't seem to me to be the way to go, I lack the control at this point to have playing as a consistent option. I'm still trying to remain lucid when I get there, then remain in the dream w/o waking up. It's possible I could eventually get caught up in the 'playground' aspect of it, though it's not part of my plans.

Quote:

---

Originally posted by DracaEna+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DracaEna)</div>

Quote:

---

<!--QuoteBegin-Kaniaz

---

Quote:

---

Yeah, okay. So in a lucid dream you can do anything. Man, I know I could sure get bored doing anything! Anyway, as for the unconscious thing - doubt anything bad happens. Some little kids have LD's regulary each night, and none of them have suffered ill side effects, as far as I'm aware. Well, actually, think of all the people that LD - there's an awful lot. None of them have come back with anything bad, so I see the chances of something like that happening pretty slim (or nonexsistent, but I wouldn't go that far).

PS: Good topic, btw. Debating is fun - and this category is just fine for an expansive post.

---

Well, I have heard of very extreme 'cases' of lucid dreaming, where the dreamer gets hurt in the dream and get shurt in real life when they wake up. They have been asleep for a day two straight before, just dreaming, and would not have woken up if some one had done so. I know this is something totally different, very, VERY rare, and isn't really on-topic, but it can and does happen. Some have been to other worlds, and still others have met other real people in their dreams. I just don't see why lucid dreaming has to be such a toy. *Shrugs*

I know this sounds really critical, but lucid dreaming can be very handy, you know?[/b]

---

I'm sort of lost there... But getting injured in dreams is, well, an unlikely thing. Self-inflicted harm is the only possibility there (within current boundaries of science). And as for real people, no, they haven't. I could go into detail *why* they haven't, but it would take too long.

I don't understand the bit about being asleep for two days.

And as for being a toy - why the hell not? Alot of people do use it for other tasks, anyway, like incubating of ideas, helping with storylines, developing sense of self, etc.

Entertainment is one use for lucid dreaming of the virtually infinite applications it can have. There are two reasons that I think it's used more commonly as entertainment than anything else. Having fun provides us with instant gratification. Since the logical parts of our brains aren't functioning well during dreaming, we're more likely to go for instant gratification than enlightenment. The second reason is that our waking lives are often so hectic that lucid dreaming is the only time some people have to unwind, to take a break from all the trials of the world.

The problem with that kind of entertainment is that eventually, you'll get bored. Just like a good song can sound horrible if you hear it too much, something thats fun while dreaming eventually becomes something normal and everyday, which isn't so interesting when you're dreaming. Which is, of course, where things like what you're talking about come in. They provide us with a different kind of stimulation, something that we can't get so easily. It's requires more work, and more thought, but it's also much more rewarding.

Then, of course, there's the more mundane, yet still useful aspects of LDing. It's been shown that you can learn things in dreams, whether its mental or physical skills. Dreams are an excellent place for problem solving because of how much we can manipulate the environment, and we are also much more creative. They're also great for rehearsing in preparation for scenarios you may face in real life, whether it's a natural disaster or public speaking. Dreams hold so much more potential than many people realize, but even the most novice LDer is far ahead of the general population.

I guess my question is: why NOT use it for fun? We all need an escape from the real world from time to time. Sure, you can use it for more serious things as well, and I think that's great, but you make it sound like using it for entertainment is bad in some way. I don't get it.

And I can't see myself ever getting bored with it. Of course, I'm not to the point where I can do it anytime I want, so when it happens, it's a pleasant surprise and rare opportunity to experience things that I cannot in real life. Maybe if I LDed every night I could get bored, but somehow I think I could always find new ways to enjoy it.

As for it being dangerous -- sorry, but I just don't buy that at all. Everyone dreams all the time, and lucid dreams are no more or less dangerous than any other kind. That's the kind of talk that makes people lump LDers in with people who practice witchcraft, voodoo and what-not (no offense to Wiccans or anyone else -- I respect your right to believe what you wish as long as you're not hurting anyone, but IMO there's a big difference between that kind of activity and lucid dreaming).

I've been lucid dreaming for about half a year now and have them regularly, and I definitely have my share of zombie killings and walking through walls. I think that really, no matter what you do in your dreams, it's still an enlightening experience. Through messing around, I learn about my subconscious. For example, flying in a dream in a truly glorious experience. I get a mental massage every time I take a spin throught the clouds. Something about how you can do impossible things in dreams is what really makes it so freeing.

As for LDing being a danger, there is nothing dangerous about that actual exercise. The only times people have gotten injured or stuck in dreams is when there was something else to cause the event, or when the person was tampering in other more volatile areas like psionics or astral projection.

Lucid dreaming is like a form of meditation. It can't be abused, it's enjoyed. There's nothing wrong with a little fun, especially when you wake up 5 pounds lighter (in figurative terms).

As with everyone, I'm enthralled by LDing for several reasons. Yes, I would love to LD to enjoy myself. I've loved dream flying ever since I first experienced it. Not to mention this one little test that I failed in a normal dream where I was supposed to turn a red rose silver and couldn't do it. I've still got a beef with that one.

I'm also a Christian and am tyring to think of ways I could use LDing to grow closer to Christ. So, lately I've been wondering what it would be like to sing praises during an LD. I'd imagine the experience would be amazing!

I don't think LDing harms the subconscious, as any night of healthy dreaming usually makes me feel better (or at least more focused) than the day before. Normal dreams are great, but LDs are perks :D That's how I feel.

-Amé

I agree that lucid dreaming can be used for many more things than just playing around. My first LD caused me to completely reevaluate my assumptions about the permanence and immutability of reality, and LDing has definitely had a major effect on my life. I do try to use my LDs to explore matters of my subconscious, but as they say, "All work and no play makes Jack a very dull boy." Sometimes after a long day, it's just cathartic to kill a hoard of zombies. Besides, real life is far more uninteresting than dreams, and we put up with it without getting so terribly bored that we stop living. So why should dreaming be any different, especially since there are so many more options?

Amy I have a question for you. I know that you haven't had many LD's, but when you have, did you have any luck with the Jesus thing? I am interested because when I am lucid I can't even say his name. It comes out something like "bulumerwullimblup"

Quote:

---

Originally posted by DracaEna
Here, it seems that people see lucid dreaming as a play-thing, something to amuse yourself in your sleep.

---

Wow, I've been stuck with dialup for too long, sorry I mised this!

I agree with you, many people do use lucid dreaming as an amusement. I cannot count how many times I've heard people compare it to a video game.

I would like to throw my hat in the ring and say that for me, lucid dreaming is 90% about exploration and learning about myself and the worlds around me. (10% is still fun, you've got to admit there is nothing like a good flight!)
I never fight, kill, or commit any acts of violence in my lucid dreams.

I've gained such a sense of peace in my soul since beginning to lucic dream, although I've never been attacked by anything, I feel that lucid dreaming has somehow calmed or eliminated some of the demons in my subconcious.
I feel such peace and love for everything around me.

maryjane, I haven't, mostly because it's been a recent idea and I haven't been able to test it. If I can motivate myself, I'm going to try and get back in a WBTB routine to see if I can induce more LDs, although it'll be hard without my alarm clock. I was smart enough to leave it at school. (Where's that "slow" smiley when you need it?)

Speaking of what Seeker said, I think it'd be a good idea for me to try and overcome a few of my "quiet demons" that like to lurk around my head. We'll see which I can remember first.

-Amé

Whats the purpose...well lets see...

You can control your dreams, to do...whatever...you want.
I heard about Lucid Dreaming at a young age, around 7, and when I heard about it, you can imagine the millions of idea's that went through my liittle-kid brain. "SUPERMAN!!! WOOHOO!!!" Hehehee well now I use it for ultimate fun, and for meditation with my martial arts, and a way to simply see how my mind really is.

And yes I was quite taken back on how you said the "to amuse ourselves in our sleep" thing, as if you were implying that fun and pleasure were a bad thing.

But yes, we are amusing ourselves, and much MUCH more, in our sleep.