Thread: A paradox of lucid dreamers

I had a LD the other day, but it made me reflect upon something in the "real world" upon waking. I'll try and describe.

In the dream (not yet Lucid) I was staying in a ground-floor hotel. Many rooms, all of them surrounding a pool in the center. I went to the pool to have a dip, but it was night time and pool light was not on. The light switch for the pool light was at the WAY far end of the pool, and the switch itself was covered by one of those flip-open electrical covers. You know the ones that usually cover electric sockets?

Anyway, I remember thinking to myself, "I sure wish I could telekinetically open that flip thingee, and hit the switch without having to walk my lazy butt all the way over there." I concentrated really hard -- and IT HAPPENED!

After being ecstatic for a while, I then (rationally) came to the conclusion that I was dreaming. To test the theory I then ran around on top of the water in the pool. That was fun. I then woke up.

THE REFLECTION

I guess this is more about dream signs than it is about LDing in general. I found a paradox in myself. In order for me to try to telekinetically open that flip thing, it took/takes a certain level of detachment from reality. In other words, there's enough believe (hope?) in "Neverland" in me that I even try those things, waking or dreaming. And yet, because of that detachment from reality, the "not so mundane" doesn't catch my attention in my dreams as much as it would for other more "grounded" people. See what I'm saying?

My wife's dreams are TERRIBLY boring and mundane. I laugh at her when she tells me the "scary nightmares" that she has of people entering the house and absconding with our children. I told her when she's sitting in the basement of a 5 story house, where none of the lights come on no matter which flip you switch, and the baby you're holding in your arms is speaking to you in a demonic voice, telling you that you've failed and that it will soon consume your soul: THEN come talk to me about nightmares.

I had another one where my car broke down and all these small children on the side of the road, wearing tuxedos and sporting razor sharp teeth kept chanting to me, "I will bind, and devour your flesh!" *shrug* Anyway.

Nighty night! =)

Originally posted by AdmiralJedi
And yet, because of that detachment from reality, the \"not so mundane\" doesn't catch my attention in my dreams as much as it would for other more \"grounded\" people. See what I'm saying?

I tend to disagree. I think most everyone here, myself included, has anguished over the fact that we often dream about the most bizarre things, yet do not realize that we are dreaming. And I for one tend to be very "grounded" in real life. Your wife my be an exception to that, but I don't think your case is unusual.

I tend to agree with Tygerhawk here.. it's completely 'normal' to have difficulty noticing bizarre situations in dreams.

On a separate note - ever wondered exactly how lucid you are in waking life?
I mean - if a flying pig came over, would you question how the pig flies? Or question if its reality?
See my point?

It's not exactly a new question for me, but I was thinking about it today...

(PS: Its kinda related to the topic of the thread, so I don't feel this is theft )

HIJACK!

if you were dreaming.....why did the light switch work?