Thread: Odd occurence in a lucid dream.

I've been having semi-lucid dreams for years, been finding out how to exert more control on my own for the most part. Last night, I was dreaming and realized almost instantly that I was in a dream; the day before I'd read an article which the writer described the spinning technique so I figured I'd give it a shot. So I started spinning, but as I kept spinning the dream went completely black. All of the characters and the environment and everything in the dream was gone. I also lost sight of my avatar which is extremely rare for me as that usually stays very consistent during my dreams. I stopped spinning and immediately thought "fly", so I started flying but the problem of the dream being dark was still there. I felt like I was flying but I couldn't see myself doing it and I couldn't feel the dream state as I usually do. In addition, spinning made me actually feel very dizzy.

Eventually I stopped flying and went back to the previous dream, things started to fill in a bit more so I figured I'd add a few things. I threw in Pamela Anderson and the Mad Hatter etc, but every time I added something parts of the dream went black again. Eventually, I got tired and the dream going black constantly started to freak me out so I went back to the normal dream and decided to just do what I usually do: enjoy the boundaries of the dream while exerting my own control of the situation.

I don't know if that is normally considered lucidity, what I've been doing in my dreams is exerting influence over where the dream goes or sometimes I'll just talk to the characters in the dream about themselves and analyze their makeup or whatever. Is it normal to feel dizzy or for parts of the dream to go black when you find yourself in a state of control? I'm not quite sure what to make of this. I'll keep trying, just not sure if I did something wrong or not.

i think you need to stablize the dream once you go lucid. just try touching things around you and try to stimulate as many senses as you can your sight should come back once you do that. try rubbing your hands together

Lucidity is simply being aware that you're dreaming, as I'm sure you're aware. Therefore, there's no such thing as a semi-lucid or half-lucid; you either know you're dreaming, or you don't.

From what I've read of using the spinning technique, you need to spin and expect to see a new dream scene by the time you've stopped spinning. What you likely had happen was a lack of expectation. You had great control alright, but you were focused on what you were doing or what characters you wanted in the dream, and not so much on the environment itself. Next lucid, challenge yourself to pay attention to the environment more, as well as retaining control over different aspects of the dream. That'll help keep things from going black on you.

Originally Posted by Clyde Machine

Lucidity is simply being aware that you're dreaming, as I'm sure you're aware. Therefore, there's no such thing as a semi-lucid or half-lucid; you either know you're dreaming, or you don't.

you're right about awareness, but I think the effect of being "semi-lucid" is still an experience valid enough to warrant it's own description, even if it is technically incorrect.

In a semi lucid dream, you may be aware of the fact that you are dreaming, but the reality of that awareness may not fully slap you in the face.

Kinda like how we can be awake and aware of the world around us, yet monitor it somewhat passively perhaps due to being tired.

So yeah, you're right, but it still means something when someone says they were semi lucid.

Originally Posted by 44CalibreSunlight

you're right about awareness, but I think the effect of being "semi-lucid" is still an experience valid enough to warrant it's own description, even if it is technically incorrect.

In a semi lucid dream, you may be aware of the fact that you are dreaming, but the reality of that awareness may not fully slap you in the face.

Kinda like how we can be awake and aware of the world around us, yet monitor it somewhat passively perhaps due to being tired.

So yeah, you're right, but it still means something when someone says they were semi lucid.

Are you talking about being lucid but being passively involved in a dream? That would still qualify as a lucid, just one that you're in a passive non-controlling state within. I think I have an idea of what you're talking about, but there is a line of whether or not you're aware that you're dreaming, regardless of what you do after the fact.

You know when you focus on something so hard that everything else in your periphery seems to fall away? Well, maybe when you went lucid something similar happened. You were so conscious of the fact that you were dreaming that the awareness that usually creates your dream landscape seemed to disappear, but in fact it only did because you were so focused on maintaining control of the dream.

That's just a guess... maybe next time try to stay more relaxed and just "let it be" when you become lucid - don't try to assert too much control, just get used to the feeling of being there. Over time maybe the blackness will go away.

For me it's like, knowing I'm dreaming, but being too tired to do anything about it. So yes, this could place me in a dream passively interacting with things.
Maybe it doesn't make much sense, I could dig myself a hole if I wanted, maybe it'd be better if I just said forget it xD

Originally Posted by Clyde Machine

Lucidity is simply being aware that you're dreaming, as I'm sure you're aware. Therefore, there's no such thing as a semi-lucid or half-lucid; you either know you're dreaming, or you don't.

^ This. But! There is an accepted term of pre-lucidity where something reminds you about dreaming, but you did not actually snap into consciously recognizing the dream for what it is.

Originally Posted by 44CalibreSunlight

For me it's like, knowing I'm dreaming, but being too tired to do anything about it.

IMO, this is still a lucid dream. Control (or even lack of desiring control) doesn't even factor into it. Did you know you were dreaming? Yes? Grats, you had a lucid dream. There are times when I know I'm dreaming, but I'm enjoying the plot so I go with the flow and don't try to control it. There are times when I realize I'm dreaming and for the life of me I can't get anything to do what I want! And then there are times when I realize I'm dreaming and I get full control.

These are all lucid dreams, nonetheless.