STAYING lucid

[Zhaylin]

I'm sorry to bring an old topic back to life, but I've tried the things in the suggested threads before posting this. Even though I'm relaxed when I discover I'm lucid, I start to wake up almost immediately. I'm starting to wonder if lucid dreaming occurs more naturally during certain phases of sleep? If I hold onto my lucidity, I find myself slowly waking up. But if I tell the lucidity to go away, or I let it otherwise slip away, I'll continue dreaming though I still *seem* to wake up a tiny bit and the dream I was having either shifts or ends in another one. I frequently tell myself: "You're lucid!" then "stay asleep, continue the dream" and even though I go through the motions of the dream, I'll start waking up. I was able to do this months lucid task but it was very rushed. Slowing down doesn't seem to help me hold on. Suggestions?

[Taromon777]

I had a similar problem a few nights ago. Have you tried rubbing your hands together, or spinning around?

[kingofhypocrites]

I'm sorry to bring an old topic back to life, but I've tried the things in the suggested threads before posting this. Even though I'm relaxed when I discover I'm lucid, I start to wake up almost immediately. I'm starting to wonder if lucid dreaming occurs more naturally during certain phases of sleep? If I hold onto my lucidity, I find myself slowly waking up. But if I tell the lucidity to go away, or I let it otherwise slip away, I'll continue dreaming though I still *seem* to wake up a tiny bit and the dream I was having either shifts or ends in another one. I frequently tell myself: "You're lucid!" then "stay asleep, continue the dream" and even though I go through the motions of the dream, I'll start waking up. I was able to do this months lucid task but it was very rushed. Slowing down doesn't seem to help me hold on. Suggestions? Don't get excited... Remain passive and calm. This is absolutely essential or you will wake up everytime. I started hypnotizing myself and giving myself suggestions to remain calm and passive when I become lucid, etc. This is just the goal to remain calm has helped solve this problem. Although, I did get too excited two nights ago and instantly ruined the lucid. Avoid sex or anything exciting until you have stabalized the dream and got some practice. Rubbing your hands helps as the other has suggested, but often it is too late once you get too excited.

[jeffd]

I have found recently that looking at my hands,along with rubbing them together,works extremely well. Another less discussed technique worked great for me the other night,it was the 1st time I tried it; While Lucid,things strarted to fade and I grabbed on to a nearby fence and held tight.Everything blanked out visually while my tactile and spacial senses remained.After a moment of this ,the same scenery reemerged and I continued on... For me,staying lucid means constant vigilance.Also,I think the mind can get habituated to doing the same tricks over and over again.I try to switch it up a bit. Like others said,remain calm. Steven Leberge wrote somewhere that the ideal attitude is like a poker player with a winning hand that is bluffing...

[J.D.]

What I usually do if I feel it slipping away, or if I've just WILDed into a dream, is to take it easy for a few seconds. I'll try not to give my mind too much to worry about at once (such as creating a vast landscape), so I'll look at the floor, maybe do some stretches and really feel the muscles moving. This is to get myself focused on my dream body rather than my physical body. I try to avoid getting into any position that is remotely like lying down. It reminds me of my real body and sometimes wakes me up. After things have settled, I'll do a RC and head off.

[Moonsong]

I have found recently that looking at my hands,along with rubbing them together,works extremely well. That's my favorite technique as well. I've also found that during times that I'm not feeling very confident in myself (in a very general sense) I have more trouble getting through stabilization and into the LD. It can be difficult to tell a groggy self "Hey, I can LD, anybody can" because we tend to revert to instinctual, gut reactions.

[Requiem]

I have found recently that looking at my hands,along with rubbing them together,works extremely well. Another less discussed technique worked great for me the other night,it was the 1st time I tried it; While Lucid,things strarted to fade and I grabbed on to a nearby fence and held tight.Everything blanked out visually while my tactile and spacial senses remained.After a moment of this ,the same scenery reemerged and I continued on... For me,staying lucid means constant vigilance.Also,I think the mind can get habituated to doing the same tricks over and over again.I try to switch it up a bit. Like others said,remain calm. Steven Leberge wrote somewhere that the ideal attitude is like a poker player with a winning hand that is bluffing... What I usually do if I feel it slipping away, or if I've just WILDed into a dream, is to take it easy for a few seconds. I'll try not to give my mind too much to worry about at once (such as creating a vast landscape), so I'll look at the floor, maybe do some stretches and really feel the muscles moving. This is to get myself focused on my dream body rather than my physical body. I try to avoid getting into any position that is remotely like lying down. It reminds me of my real body and sometimes wakes me up. After things have settled, I'll do a RC and head off. These work well because it focuses your attention to fixed symbols within the dream. Same with movement in the dream body. Do something that defies physical laws to affirm a new set in the dream.

[Robot_Butler]

How are your normal, non-lucid dreams? Are they normally short, also? You may just be prone to short dreams. You can try to get some REM rebound. Do something to suppress your REM, and you will double up the next night. Of course, this means you have to be able to have a lucid dream during the long dream period. It is not always easy to plan something like that.

[Zhaylin]

A million thanks everyone/ (I'm using my cruddy Averatech and periods and commas don't work so "/"= period; "-"= comma) My dreams vary in length/ A lot of times they're very long- but by the time I get around to recording them- I've forgotten most of the story Spinning doesn't work for me/ Spinning is as enjoyable as flying but more rare/ I spin very fast and there's a sense of freedom I'll try rubbing my hands together or stretching/

[louie54]

Becoming aware of your environment does it well for me. I usually focus on a tree or something and I end up with a lot more detail and I get so much more tuned in with my lucid dream. Try that if you haven't yet