Totorobens Workbook

Reality Checks:
- Looking at hands and counting fingers
- Looking at business card with "You Are Dreaming" written on it
- Plugging my nose
-asking myself how I got somewhere.

Dream Signs:
- Weird street vendors
- Cobblestone roads
- Out of context situations
- Being in School
- Talking to my sister

Short-Term Goals:
-Have a lucid dream within a week and once weekly thereafter
- Have a dream in which I am flying
- Changing into another animal

Long-Term Goals:
- Dream Sex (of course)
- Have lucid dreams every other night a month from now.

Lucid/Dream Recall History:
- I can recall once or twice per night
- No lucid dreams yet.

Current Technique:
- WILD
- DILD

Hi first post! Welcome. It looks like you got a good start there. Feel free to post questions or give one of a PM if you need anything. I would suggest you start a dream journal or if you keep one offline that is fine. Make sure to write in it everyday even if you only have a few fragments or no recall. I feel that doing so will help your recall even more. Good luck!

:welcome: to the intro class!

Xanous is right, get your dream journal going if you already have one :)

See ya around. And happy dreaming!

I've been writing a couple dreams into my journal every morning, but it's a pad of paper because my computer screen wakes me up. I will type out my interesting dreams later.

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Originally Posted by totoroben

I've been writing a couple dreams into my journal every morning, but it's a pad of paper because my computer screen wakes me up. I will type out my interesting dreams later.

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Welcome, totoroben!

Sure, a pad of paper or a notebook is just fine for a bedside dream journal. I, too, like the written journal for the "immediate" dream content simply because it's easy to just grab it and start writing. You can always clean it up and transfer items over to your online journal later (especially memorable dreams and lucids!)

Keep us up to date with your dream recall progress and especially let us know how your induction attempts go. Your chosen technique (WILD) is one of the intricate techniques around, so be sure post up the details of your attempts. DVA staffmembers that have some WILDing experience will then be able to help point you in the right direction on how best to progress with it.

I actually chose WILD because I usually get up around 4-5am to use the bathroom anyways, but I'm also hoping to use DILD.

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Originally Posted by totoroben

I actually chose WILD because I usually get up around 4-5am to use the bathroom anyways, but I'm also hoping to use DILD.

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That's great. This Wake Back to Bed routine you have going enhances just about every LD induction technique out there. This will help you with the vast DILD category of techniques as well.

Well I kind of fell off the bus here. The last two nights I haven't done any dream journaling. I couldnt really remember my dream last night. It's like walking into a different room and forgetting what you walked in there for. I also haven't done much reality checking during the day. From now on I will do a reality check while
1. Getting up
2. taking a shower
3. riding my bike to work
4. eating breakfast
5.eating lunch
6. Riding home from work
7. eating dinner
8. brushing my teeth
9. before I go to sleep.

I will continue to update you guys on my progress.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by totoroben

Well I kind of fell off the bus here. The last two nights I haven't done any dream journaling. I couldnt really remember my dream last night. It's like walking into a different room and forgetting what you walked in there for. I also haven't done much reality checking during the day. From now on I will do a reality check while
1. Getting up
2. taking a shower
3. riding my bike to work
4. eating breakfast
5.eating lunch
6. Riding home from work
7. eating dinner
8. brushing my teeth
9. before I go to sleep.

I will continue to update you guys on my progress.

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Don't worry if you have a few bad nights. I only recalled two fragments that I recorded in the night. When I went to read them later it was just gibberish.

And that list! Pretty heafty! If you can handle it, great but I worry you might overload yourself. I can barely remember to RC when I see my wife (she's a dreamsign). bleh!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by totoroben

Well I kind of fell off the bus here. The last two nights I haven't done any dream journaling. I couldnt really remember my dream last night. It's like walking into a different room and forgetting what you walked in there for. I also haven't done much reality checking during the day. From now on I will do a reality check while
1. Getting up
2. taking a shower
3. riding my bike to work
4. eating breakfast
5.eating lunch
6. Riding home from work
7. eating dinner
8. brushing my teeth
9. before I go to sleep.

I will continue to update you guys on my progress.

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I don't think that stating when and where you are going to do your reality checks is a good idea, it's better to just spread them all over your day time activities, and don't forget that awareness is what brings you lucid dreams, so it's better to really question whether you are in a dream or not before doing the RC, and not going through the motion mindlessly.

I've been logging about 1-2 dreams nightly on my notepad. I got a little reading light from the dollar store because too much light wakes me up and makes it hard to sleep again. I've been doing reality checks itermittedly during the day and like areyoume said, I've been trying to bring awareness to my everyday activities. The dream I had an hour ago made absolutely no sense, and I was explaining to my sister in my dream about doing reality checks such as plugging her nose. It didn't dawn on me that I was dreaming, but at least my attempts to go into lucid dreaming are getting closer. I want to go back to sleep but I'm tossing and turning a lot and cant really get comfortable. Oh well.

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Originally Posted by totoroben

The dream I had an hour ago made absolutely no sense, and I was explaining to my sister in my dream about doing reality checks such as plugging her nose. It didn't dawn on me that I was dreaming, but at least my attempts to go into lucid dreaming are getting closer.

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That's actually pretty cool! It's not uncommon at all to have nonlucid dreams where you discuss lucidity with another dream character, where said dream ends up preceding a full-on lucid. It definitely means you're on the right track, because you have the thought of lucid dreaming on your mind alot.

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I want to go back to sleep but I'm tossing and turning a lot and cant really get comfortable. Oh well.

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I have this issue alot when my room is too hot. Don't know if that's a problem for you or not, but it sure prompted me to get a nice big box fan for my room!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by totoroben

The dream I had an hour ago made absolutely no sense, and I was explaining to my sister in my dream about doing reality checks such as plugging her nose. It didn't dawn on me that I was dreaming, but at least my attempts to go into lucid dreaming are getting closer.

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Yeah!! I think that OpheliaBlue is 100% right. This is a really great sign. I remember this kind of thing happening to me really often the more lucid dreaming permeated my thoughts. Heck, it still happens!

These "near misses" can make you slap your forehead but they make for great stories. :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by totoroben

I want to go back to sleep but I'm tossing and turning a lot and cant really get comfortable. Oh well.

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Let me give you the method that I use to fall asleep when I'm having a little trouble.

First, figure out your very favorite sleeping position. Get into that position and then really try to hold still. Any time you move, it's generally going to be a little while before you can fall asleep.

After this, slow your breathing down dramatically, taking long, deep, calming breaths. Think of nothing but your breathing. Perhaps visualize some abstract shape like a sphere expanding and contracting along with your breathing. Use this image to push out any racing thoughts that might be throwing you off track. Really try to think of nothing but your breathing and how relaxed you feel.

Anyway, that's just what works for me. Good luck and congratulations on these good milestones!

I got some blue blocking amber colored glasses. I was reading a study about how blocking blue light in the evening can signal your brain to produce more melatonin, and blue blocking/HD glasses are pretty cheap so I thought what the hell.

Wanted to mention here that I became lucid twice tonight, but only a few seconds until I woke up. I tried spinning/looking at my hands to stabilize, but I lost it. Wrote it down in the dream snippets.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by totoroben

Wanted to mention here that I became lucid twice tonight, but only a few seconds until I woke up. I tried spinning/looking at my hands to stabilize, but I lost it. Wrote it down in the dream snippets.

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Excellent!! That is great news! :bravo:

Look, don't worry at all that these were short LDs. Almost everyone's first LDs are short. Getting lucid is what it's all about! The more of these you have under your belt, the better you will understand what lucid dreams feel like and the more prepared you will be next time. Big success!

Several things begin to change for you now. You'll now continue to develop a clearer and clearer sense of what the LD experience is like. More importantly, LDing is something you can (and should) genuinely expect to happen to you going forward. This will make you less likely to shock yourself awake.

Eventually your reaction will change from "HOLY CRAP!!" to "Ah, here it is." Get into that dream scene and just start drinking in those details. Eventually this will become intuitive and you'll more often than not find yourself locked in tight.

thanks for the response. I like what you said about just sitting back and drinking it in. I try to quick to jump into it and try and control it. Maybe I should just be a casual observer for a while.

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Originally Posted by totoroben

thanks for the response. I like what you said about just sitting back and drinking it in. I try to quick to jump into it and try and control it. Maybe I should just be a casual observer for a while.

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Fortunately, you can both jump into the scene actively and drink in that scenery! Active engagement in the dream scene and its details is a great way to both experience the dream and get really anchored into the dream. It's all about remaining super engaged without getting SO excited that you wake up. (Edit: You're very right about dialing back the hardcore dream control, at least at the very beginning part.)

Since your dream body is generally available, doing things like rubbing your hands over each other and over your forearms is a great starting place. Touching the scenery around you and marveling to yourself that "I'm dreaming all of this" is a great way to not only enjoy the hell out of your dream but also to get nicely buckled in for whatever ride you have planned. The hand/forearm rub is nice because it's super quick. You can follow it up by looking at the incredible detail of some object, be it your hands or whatever cool dream scenery you've conjured up.

More advanced lucid dreamers often don't feel the need to stabilize. (Paigeyemps is a good example of someone who pretty much never does this anymore.) I think that these dreamers can just intuitively pull themselves completely into the scene once their awareness skills reach a certain level.

Got Lucid Dreaming Gateway to the Inner Self by Robert Waggoner from the library. I'm going to have an OBE in which I visit my old supervisor and punch him in the face! I'm coming for you!

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Originally Posted by totoroben

Got Lucid Dreaming Gateway to the Inner Self by Robert Waggoner from the library. I'm going to have an OBE in which I visit my old supervisor and punch him in the face! I'm coming for you!

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Ahahaha you have no idea how many professors I've punched and tortured in lucids :3

I added being in school to my dreamsigns, because I've had a couple different dreams about field trips. I always write the time I wake up in the morning in my dream journal so I'm curious what would happen if I woke up 30 minutes earlier. I think I would probably be in a deeper REM state, because usually my dream recall is when I'm just waking up and most of the time I just catch the end of the dream. I will try this tonight and let you all know. I will also work on my reality checks and awareness during the day.

October Goals:
- Log 2-3 dreams a night into my dream journal
- Do a sitting meditation before going to sleep for 15 minutes
- Keep a day journal and write in it after I get home from work.
- have a sustained lucid dream
- Continue practicing all day awareness and reality checks during the day. I need improvement with involving my senses in the present moment because I do everything in a fast pace, and am always thinking about the next thing I have to do.
- Practice drawing and do my exercises when I get home from work.

I find that the internet is distracting. This forum seems to be a constructive use of time, in that it helps me to think about my lucid dream goals, but I need to not spend as much time elsewhere on the internet such as checking facebook obsessively. This alone would help me to achieve my goals of getting more exercise and drawing and having a higher awareness. The internet is a time suck lol.

Ahahaha yea the internet is a time suck indeed. Also, I agree with you in that this forum is a good place to spend some time in. Just reading other people's posts and experiences boosts your lucid mindset. If you spend a longer time here, you'll find that the posts and members will seep into your subconscious and you'll even dream about them! Haha

Also, your goals look very nice. Keep us posted! :)

I haven't been practicing the last few days. The last dreams I logged were from the 17th. I'm going to try and refocus my intention and get back on my lucid dreaming again.

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Originally Posted by totoroben

I haven't been practicing the last few days. The last dreams I logged were from the 17th. I'm going to try and refocus my intention and get back on my lucid dreaming again.

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Yeah, if you're not maintaining a dream journal regularly, I can't recommend it highly enough! I'd even go back and write down those two lucids from a few days back if you haven't already. The lucids are especially important to write down and relive IMO because this keeps the experience fresher in your mind and will help a great deal with training the habits and skills you'll need for control, stability, etc.

Fortunately, it's never too late to get back on the wagon! I'd say start by writing down (and reliving) those two lucids. Then once you make regular journaling a part of your routine, it will give you something to review before falling asleep. Lots of benefits there!

well totorobens, you keep practicing, and we will keep lurking in the forum waiting for your return. :pirate:

Keep it loose, keep it real!

Finished reading Lucid Dreaming Gateway to the Inner Self by Robert Waggoner. Good book. This weekend is going to be pretty busy for me. I have a lot of social things going on, but I'm going to make an extra effort to be more aware of my waking state by engaging my senses more and looking at my hands throughout the day. This morning I woke up from a dream at 4am and I tried to go back to sleep continuing where I left off, but I didn't attain lucidity. Before I go to bed I think to myself "tonight I will become concious in my dream. I will look at my hands and become lucid." I go to sleep focusing my awareness on my breath.

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Originally Posted by CanisLucidus

I'd even go back and write down those two lucids from a few days back if you haven't already. The lucids are especially important to write down and relive IMO because this keeps the experience fresher in your mind and will help a great deal with training the habits and skills you'll need for control, stability, etc.

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I wrote down two dreams from this morning. Except for a few days I have been logging in my dream journal every night. I will go back over and reread some of the entries and look for dreamsigns. I will try to revisit those two dreams. I think they occured when I was already waking up.

This is all sounding good to me, totoroben! I'm glad that you're staying consistent with the dream journal. That'll help you in so many ways going forward. This morning I spent a few minutes reviewing some entries from early September and found some fun ones that I hadn't thought about in a while. Reading them brought it all back for me. It's amazing how much dream content you retain once you take journaling seriously.

I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed the Waggoner book. This is one that I'm also very excited to read!

First sustained lucid dream. I wrote it in the dream snippets. Fun fun fun.

Yes! All your work paid off!

bat totoro

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Originally Posted by totoroben

bat totoro

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Hahahahahahahhah!! Dat avie. So cute. I wanna eat it.

Also, congrats! :3

haven't had too much dream recall lately. I think it's because I had a lot on my mind lately and things going on. I haven't been bringing much awareness in the present lately. When I started this workbook I would write a couple paragraph dream description in my journal and now it's just one or two sentences. Gotta work at it a little harder.

I know that dream recall and even the right amount of sleep can be hard to attain when your mind is preoccupied with real life stuff. I'm sure your progress will pick back up as soon as you have the freedom to focus on it again.

I had a very short lucid dream this morning before I woke up. The setting of the dream was a little off, so I looked at my hands and began to float around. It didn't last very long.

Congratulations toto :)

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Originally Posted by totoroben

I had a very short lucid dream this morning before I woke up. The setting of the dream was a little off, so I looked at my hands and began to float around. It didn't last very long.

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Congratulations!! :goodjob:

Enjoy it, relish it, and shamelessly congratulate yourself for your success! :) Be sure to write down every detail that you can remember. Studying it periodically, especially before bedtime, will also help cement the experience in your mind.

This will be the second of many for you... looking forward to hearing about more!

okay I'm going to sleep. Hoping tonight is going to be the night to get another lucid.

How did it go? Any lucids?

Nope. I'm still working on it.

I'm back. Sorry I haven't been here for so long. I haven't been practicing lucid dreaming lately, so I'm going to get back into it. While I was gone I was living with a fancy lady, but then we broke up after 5 months. We were too different.

Welcome back, Totoroben! :)

Logging in my dream journal again, and I will be doing more reality checks during the day. My younger sister appears in many of my dreams, sometimes my first ex girlfriend appears in my dreams (I'd rather she didn't, but it's not quite as hurtful anymore because I have a better girlfriend now ;) ). I dream a lot of places I'd rather be. Sometimes they are tropical warm climates such as places with palm trees, or the other night I distinctly remember walking along the coast of Africa and checking where I was on Google Maps on my smartphone. I was right next to the water and actually a meter below sea level because there was a retaining wall I was next to. Where I wanted to be was right across from a gulf course.

Cool! Great to see you back! :)