Thread: Mindraker's workbook

Dream signs

• Text or speech in a foreign language
• Garbled or incorrect speech but I "understand" the meaning of the text
• Familiar scenes from local city
• Significant characters from my life (ex-girlfriends, parents, brother...)
• Familiar scenes from places in which I spent a long time (Belgium...)
• Sexual scenes
• Fantasy elements (Dragons, space travel, aliens...)
• Religious elements (Christian, Muslim, Buddhist...)
• Events from earlier that day or week
• Military dreams
• Being driven in a vehicle or driving a vehicle or plane

Reality Checks

I need to improve on this part... a lot.

• The letter "a" written on my hand in ink.
• The letter "a" written on a little card on my wall above my computer.

Current Technique

• WILD. It reliably gets me good (non-lucid) dreams with good dream recall.

Goals

• Continue improving dream recall
• Eventually have a lucid dream.
• Have "dream control".

Yay, hey Mindraker, nice to see you posted a workbook.

So have you say you've never had a lucid dream in the past, do you feel you ever got close?

Originally Posted by OpheliaBlue

So have you say you've never had a lucid dream in the past, do you feel you ever got close?

I honestly can't say that I have said in a dream, "this is a dream!" I think I've gotten /closer/ now that I'm realizing what to actually look for -- for example, talking to a relative who has been dead for 20 years is a pretty strong sign I'm in a dream!

I'm getting "false awakenings" more frequently now, and I'm taking that as a good sign that I'm not "jumping" out of a dream into full consciousness. The only problem is, trying to remember everything. I think just having everything well-documented in the Dream Journal is half the battle.

I like the letter "a" idea I'm wondering if a more traditional RC would help as well mabey doing more than 1? have u thought about hand checks or nose plugging? How long ago did u start this? I'm glad there's another in the class!

Originally Posted by Wurlman

I like the letter "a" idea I'm wondering if a more traditional RC would help as well mabey doing more than 1? have u thought about hand checks or nose plugging? How long ago did u start this? I'm glad there's another in the class!

That's a good idea. I'm trying some other reality checks to see what works right now, and what's most comfortable for me. Right now, I like the little reminder when I hear birds singing as a mental reminder to be aware of the world around me. It's surprising how fast my mind will filter out background noise, and the birds will snap me back into awareness.

For right now, I think the letter "a" on my hand really only works if I'm already aware enough to make a conscious decision to look at the palm of my hand. But the birds singing is something outside of my control. So I need something, like what I might see in my dream -- for example, a car, a tree, which I might *also* see in real life that readily triggers a reality check.

Ahhh... Perhaps the problem is the "a" is on the palm of my hand, and I never see it, because I'm always typing on my keyboard. I should put it on the *top* of my hand!

Originally Posted by Mindraker

Ahhh... Perhaps the problem is the "a" is on the palm of my hand, and I never see it, because I'm always typing on my keyboard. I should put it on the *top* of my hand!

Haha that's where I used to write "lucid", and honestly, I rarely saw it, but someone would ALWAYS point it out to me. For me though, when I do my daily awareness is when I look at the clock. I'm a big time looker-at-the-clocks because I have 10-15-hour shifts at work, and I'm always looking for it to be time to go home. And when I'm off, I'm always looking at the time for #DVA classes, and when to make the kids meals etc. I'm a true slave to the clock, so that's why it works well for me.

I really like your bird chirping awareness technique. I know I filter out sounds alot too, but I think that's really good that you hear them and pay attention. Do you live in the country, or work outside or something to be able to hear them often? I work in the city so I only hear them in the early hours at home, if the fan doesn't drown them out.

Originally Posted by OpheliaBlue

Haha that's where I used to write "lucid", and honestly, I rarely saw it, but someone would ALWAYS point it out to me. For me though, when I do my daily awareness is when I look at the clock. I'm a big time looker-at-the-clocks because I have 10-15-hour shifts at work, and I'm always looking for it to be time to go home. And when I'm off, I'm always looking at the time for #DVA classes, and when to make the kids meals etc. I'm a true slave to the clock, so that's why it works well for me.

I really like your bird chirping awareness technique. I know I filter out sounds alot too, but I think that's really good that you hear them and pay attention. Do you live in the country, or work outside or something to be able to hear them often? I work in the city so I only hear them in the early hours at home, if the fan doesn't drown them out.

I'm on the edge of a mid-size city and a very small town. But there's a lake nearby with a bird sanctuary, so there are enough chirping birds, especially when I go out in the morning to go bicycling -- the mockingbirds are very protective of their territories. A mockingbird will inevitably sing its little heart out while I'm swimming or waiting at the bus stop or bicycling. Eventually I'm going to inadvertently stumble across something which occurs in my dreams a lot, if I am just more and more self-aware.

Originally Posted by Mindraker

For right now, I think the letter "a" on my hand really only works if I'm already aware enough to make a conscious decision to look at the palm of my hand. But the birds singing is something outside of my control. So I need something, like what I might see in my dream -- for example, a car, a tree, which I might *also* see in real life that readily triggers a reality check.

That's a good observation, Mindraker. Also, if that "a" isn't present in your dream, will you still remember to RC? Will the lack of "a" trigger your memory? It's possible, but it's also possible that you'll forget. RCing sporadically could be helpful too. Or RCing when you see dream signs. Cars/Vehicles are one of your dream signs, so doing some RCs when you are in them could be helpful. Use some awareness too: notice how your hands feel against the steering wheel, where are you driving to and why? What route do you need to take? I can never visualize or plan anything in my dreams, so if I can't visualize something, it's easier to realize that I might be dreaming. Do what you think would be best for you! Think of what happens in your dreams, and use that to determine when you should use some RC/awareness. It's also always good to RC whenever you notice something unusual too.

That's really cool that you took time to figure these out. I'm gonna go ahead and analyze my dreams as well. Been kinda putting it off lately. Thanks for the idea, Mindraker!

Bingo!!!!! That's a great idea

Just a thought: August is coming up! Why don't you create a list of personal lucid goals you would like to achieve this month? It can help motivate you and put you in a better mindset to get lucid sooner! Good luck.

Originally Posted by paigeyemps

Just a thought: August is coming up! Why don't you create a list of personal lucid goals you would like to achieve this month? It can help motivate you and put you in a better mindset to get lucid sooner! Good luck.

I actually had a *very* short lucid dream last night, so I'm very pleased that I'm doing something right. The lucid dream was very different from my regular dreams. I think if I continue sharpening my dream recall, looking for general patterns in my dreams (such as recurring DCs, themes, and the times that the dreams happen), and keeping a good DJ, I will do alright with getting lucidity.
I'm starting to recognize things like sounds and vibrations and no longer being frightened by them... so I think I'm certainly on the right track. I'm learning what I should and should not do.

Ur lifestyle sounds like a dream my friend!

I'm adding more dream signs, as I've come across them:

• Talking to dead people (whom I know or knew)
• Everyone in the dream world is facing me
• People refer to me by my online nickname, even though in real life this doesn't happen
• My nighttime "teeth grinding" is carried over into the dream world as sounds or images
• My snoring is carried over into the dream world rather consistently as laughter
• Pain or discomfort is represented as images (e.g., my shoulder injury pain was a "stick" or "splinter" stuck in my shoulder.)

• Everyone in the dream world is facing me

I don't know if this is actually true, or if this is merely how I perceive it to be true, even in real life.

For example, I was on the bus today, and when I paid attention to other people's faces, I had the sensation that I was the only one facing outward and everyone was facing inward or towards me.

Maybe this is why I'm getting this notion that I can't control Dream Characters that face towards me; they are Other People.

But I'm also starting to (slowly) develop a different, distinct notion of Dream Characters that face away from me -- off to the sunset, off to the horizon, over the city, off towards infinity, with wind blowing in the hair. Usually male characters, thin, mysterious, lone wolves, introverted, quiet, overlooking the chaos of the world. These characters are clearly distinct from the ones looking at me.

Originally Posted by Mindraker

But I'm also starting to (slowly) develop a different, distinct notion of Dream Characters that face away from me -- off to the sunset, off to the horizon, over the city, off towards infinity, with wind blowing in the hair. Usually male characters, thin, mysterious, lone wolves, introverted, quiet, overlooking the chaos of the world. These characters are clearly distinct from the ones looking at me.

Have you noticed these characters more in your dreams lately? You mentioned before that the last DC you saw that wasn't facing you was 15 years ago. Do you think that's supposed to represent some facet of you, or perhaps a relative? You're very good at picking these details out of your dreams, Mindraker, I'm impressed!

Originally Posted by Caenis

Have you noticed these characters more in your dreams lately? You mentioned before that the last DC you saw that wasn't facing you was 15 years ago. Do you think that's supposed to represent some facet of you, or perhaps a relative? You're very good at picking these details out of your dreams, Mindraker, I'm impressed!

I definitely am noticing these characters (that look away from me) more; as I'm focusing more on faces and able to discern and remember more details of the faces. These characters definitely behave differently. It's like a longing, a yearning...







Heh, I always had an eye for detail, I get it from my Mom. Almost to the point of missing the Big Picture. I loooove small details. I think these characters (the ones that look away from me) are me.

Very nice good awareness!! What happen to ur shoulder?

Oh, about 12 years ago, someone rear ended my car, and for some reason even though it was a minor accident, my shoulder has "popped" ever since. I've walked away from far worse accidents without a scrape.

Ugh ignorant drivers. I'm going to make a new list of dream signs tonight reading yours got me thinking!

Yea very cool interested to see what u make of this!

That last picture has only one person in it, but the water is reflecting two. o___O

A longing for what? Exploration, solitude, a different career, passion?

Originally Posted by Caenis

A longing for what? Exploration, solitude, a different career, passion?

I'm kind definitely the "loner" type. It's like the scene of Batman looking out over the chaotic city. In a way, there's a certain beauty to it -- but it's quiet because Batman is detached from it all and high up enough to be away from it all.



But he knows he is not permanently detached from the mess. He knows he will have to return to the chaos. Maybe there's a certain tranquility in my mind that I can't find in the real world?

Sounds peacefull and the visuals look very peacefull as well! At least they are happy thoughts!

I tried the technique of "drinking lots of water" before I fell asleep, just to see what it would do. It had positive and negative aspects to it.

Yes, I did see different (and maybe more) images, but at too high of a cost. The cost was, I wet the bed. Also, I wasn't able to have a LONG sleep, precisely because I had to go to the bathroom! Personally, I don't think that's worth it...

I do think it was worth at least trying it, to see what the results would be.