Thread: Xanous' Workbook

Those are some very good points Xanous. Tim seems to be pretty well informed and experienced in the subject. There are two things I would add that may serve to broaden your perspective.

1.

A few days ago I was thinking about the biggest obstacle to getting lucid. It's memory and forgetting to be aware. I can spend days focusing so hard on awareness and when I sleep I miss every dream sign ever. So, I started thinking how I can fix this.

This problem relates to intention. I have found the strength of your intention is based in the present rather than the future. Then once the intention is satisfied(which is not always required because we can change our minds), that strengthens the intention even further.

2. It seems Tim has misunderstood meditation in a way. The practice he describes resembles descriptions of Zen meditation techniques. These generally focus on concentration exercises, I popular one being when one concentrates on the flame of a candle. The converse meditation form was developed by another Buddhist group which generally focuses on vast awareness exercises. Those are the kind that he describes in which the meditating person simply allows thoughts to arise, then lets them pass through and out their mind. This technique can also be combined with concentration techniques in beginning practices so people can get a good foundation for future practice.
What he says is basically true. There must be give and take when in transition stages. Its still true that meditation is a great help to passing through those stages. He seems to dislike meditation only because concentration is difficult. That doesn't diminish the benefits of meditation.

anyway, awesome post Xanous!

Originally Posted by Chimpertainment

Those are some very good points Xanous. Tim seems to be pretty well informed and experienced in the subject. There are two things I would add that may serve to broaden your perspective.

1. This problem relates to intention. I have found the strength of your intention is based in the present rather than the future. Then once the intention is satisfied(which is not always required because we can change our minds), that strengthens the intention even further.

I'm really not understanding what you mean. Are you saying it is still just as easy to forget regardless of any daytime exercise?

Originally Posted by Chimpertainment

2. It seems Tim has misunderstood meditation in a way. The practice he describes resembles descriptions of Zen meditation techniques. These generally focus on concentration exercises, I popular one being when one concentrates on the flame of a candle. The converse meditation form was developed by another Buddhist group which generally focuses on vast awareness exercises. Those are the kind that he describes in which the meditating person simply allows thoughts to arise, then lets them pass through and out their mind. This technique can also be combined with concentration techniques in beginning practices so people can get a good foundation for future practice.
What he says is basically true. There must be give and take when in transition stages. Its still true that meditation is a great help to passing through those stages. He seems to dislike meditation only because concentration is difficult. That doesn't diminish the benefits of meditation.

Yeah I get what you are saying. I am pretty ignorant with much of meditation but I have totally seen the benefit of strengthening concentration in ways that I hadn't realized where possible. So, I don't throw traditional meditation out completely. I was just looking at it something more practical helping specifically with WILDs and I thought what he said made sense. I really don't get to meditate that often nor have I tried his technique.

Originally Posted by Chimpertainment

anyway, awesome post Xanous!

Thanks. Those were some good thoughts you offered as well. I appreciate it.

Monthly Update

Well, it seems my count was cut in half (10) in June. I'm not sure what the cause was probably tiredness and stress. Think there for a while I just got really exhausted doing WBTB every night and not getting quality sleep. I took a little break to rested up and went back to the basics, re-reading some of ETWOLD and refining my techniques. Things seem to be picking back up now.

OBE's

I had a few OBE's and I did a little experimentation with the card trick. I think I mentioned this before but keep a playing card blindly placed in the house and if I get the chance to sneak a peak in the dream, I'll then go and check to see if I was right after I wake up. I've been way off but the last time I was really close. I think I saw 9 of diamonds when I was really 7 of diamonds. Maybe it was just luck I don't know.

It seems to me that my OBEs are just a form of lucid dreaming and nothing more. I do think that it's possible to pull information in the dream state but its really hard to control. I have had a few encounters with other DV members in while lucid and non lucid and have found a lot of similarities in appearance and voice with out prior knowledge. It wasn't until later that I found out and was really shocked how close I was. I'll keep an eye for these thing but I am mostly discouraged from hoping that any kind of OBE or shared dreaming is actually happening though I do believe an exchange of information is possible.

RLS

For some reason this time of the year I deal with restless leg syndrome. I've tried over the counter drugs and supplements and some seem to work for awhile but my symptoms quickly return. I don't need to explain how annoying this is for lucid dreaming. One thing I have done last week was drastically cut my caffeine intake back and keep it to early morning hours only. For now it has made all the difference in the whole and I hope it continues. (Knock on wood)

LDS Dream Enhancers

I've been experimenting with various lucid aids some of them are really effective and some only work for awhile. Caffeine and mugwort used to be super effective but only seem to be dream enhancers now. Which is the way to look at it after all. I not longer expect the LDS to give me the lucid dream but only act as a dream enhancer and significantly increase my odds. I mean I've always told myself this was the way to be but the whole point of taking them is the get lucid. But now, If the most that happens are some vivid dreams with better recall then it's a win.

The best I have found are Galantamine and Huperzine-A. Though they are super effective, they do seem to desensitize me and I appear to build tolerance even with limiting use to once 1-2 weeks. I've actually been using Galantamine since January and Huperzine since March so it stands to reason that long term use would eventually catch up to me. These supplements have been great but I think it attributed to my dry spell. I began to rely too heavily on them and my techniques got sloppy and lazy. So now that I am rebounding, I think I will cut all cholinergic aids until I have 5 LDs unaided or a month has passed which ever is first. Even then I'll probably cut back on them anyway. I love the effect these bring me but I need to know that I am not dependent on them. I may add a little B6 or menthol here and there but nothing significant. I'm not knocking LDS in anyway. If a person can take them every night and still have lucids then more power to you. This is just my personal preference for now.

MILD

I am solely focusing on MILD in July and really going to work on visualization, teleportation and dream building. I like LaBerges style of MILD. I plan to build my prospective memory during the day with RC and RRCs. WBTB will be kept to a minimum only doing it every other night versus every night. On the weekend I'll have longer 30-60min WBTB and use that time to meditate or focus on dream goals.

Darkness Issues

I was having darkness issues but thanks to the latest podcast I really have been able to change my thinking on this. Not only is it super effective to "ignore your problems" but I have also learned a lot from observing my NLDs. These dark periods do mean you are waking up or the dream is fading. It's only a transitional phase or a slight blip in the dream. If I can build my visualization skills like I want to I'll be able to use these dark periods to transport myself to whatever location I choose. Or I can even induce the void using something similar Rare Cola's phase teleport idea. I've already made excellent progress in my latest LD. Very exciting stuff!

It seems u know yourself and the way u work very well! That is a very good report and I'm happy ur no not taking any supplements for awile and taking the natural route... Glad to hear ur RLS is easing that would b tough to WILD with keep up the good work bro!!