Tenacious' Workbook

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Originally Posted by Tenacious

I've been lacking motivation recently, despite having a brief Lucid Dream a couple of days ago, I think it's to do with the fact that I've had a cold for the past week or two - but I seem to have shaken it off today, which is a plus.

Also, something I noticed this morning - this was the first time in a long time that I've been able to sleep in, so when I woke up I checked the time and went back to sleep. I woke up again and only like 15 minutes had passed, and I could recall a dream, but it felt like it was a daydream if you understand what I mean. Like, it's like I just thought that up in my head and thought it was a dream. I'll be amazed if anyone understands what I just wrote, I can barely understand, lol.

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Believe it or not, I actually understand exactly what you mean, heh heh... when you do a WBTB in the late sleep cycles, you are just sitting right on the border between wakefulness and dreaming. Waking sensations, hypnogogic imagery, and dreams can often coexist and jumble together. It can be very confusing at times, but I find that I often have moments like this on mornings where I will experience a lucid dream. It just seems to make it that much more likely that your conscious mind will engage during the dream and bring you into a full-fledged lucid dream.

I'm really sorry to hear that you've been sick! It really is a bummer, and I feel for you. I had a lot of trouble keeping up with my practices when I last had a cold (with WBTB being particularly unpleasant.)

Once I felt better and was all done indulging in self-pity (which I tend to do, lol), it was great getting back to it. I'm glad you are feeling better!

Attempted a WBTB last night, my dog woke me up in the middle of the night so I thought I might as well attempt one. Didn't become Lucid though, but I did have some interesting dreams through the night. I've noticed that my dreams are taking on a more dark tone now, I'm always involved in something nightmarish now. :lol:

Decided to post a goals for December list:

- Achieve three or more Lucid Dreams
- Continue to improve recall
- Try to implement some form of Dream Control when I become Lucid
- Fly again, but this time in a Lucid and not a normal dream
- Attack Santa's slay and steal all of the presents :evil:

Welcome Tenacious!

nightmarish stuff can suck...maybe this will help. Before bed, feel as positive and optimistic about the dreams you will be having. Be fully accepting of whatever it might be that you will experience. And know, that nothing lasts forever, good or bad. Lucidity is the best defense against nightmares, so keep up the good work :)

^ Thank you :)

Finally updated my Dream Journal with my dreams from last night, and in those dreams just had to be a nightmare, haha. Funnily enough, I don't actually mind having nightmares now, I find them interesting.

My awareness training is coming along nicely, still doing RC's and will be having more time now to try WBTB more. It's been a good technique for me so far, that and MILD so looking forward to trying them both together again.

I agree with you on the nightmare thing. Really interesting stuff. One repeating nightmare I've had is one with tornadoes. They happened so often that they became a dream sign and have helped me become lucid a couple times. I had the same thing happen with nightmares about drowning: I would just suddenly be able to breathe underwater, which also helped me get lucid before. Any of your nightmares recurring like that?

^ When I first read that I thought you wrote Tomatoes instead of Tornadoes. :lol:

Luckily I read back over it, haha. I haven't really noticed a stand out recurring theme unfortunately, they can range from nightmares in my own home to a random building like in my last dream, but I guess a recurring theme is that I'm always being chased by something, only I don't know what that something is.

Apologies for the lack of updates in this workbook, been swamped recently with coursework.

As for what I've been doing dreaming wise, since I've been so busy I've not been able to put a lot of effort into attempting to attain lucidity. I've been remembering my dreams, some of which I've noticed some really strange things, like before I discovered Lucid Dreaming I was having really boring, mundane dreams, but now I seem to have really weird dreams where something is really strange. I imagine once I'm able to get back to normal, with my awareness training kicking back in, I'll be able to notice these things and become Lucid.

Again, apologies for the lack of updates, but in a couple of days I should be less busy and able to put more time in Lucid Dreaming.

:)

Oh hey, where am I??

It's been a while since I've updated this, and basically it's because there has been nothing to update. I've been swamped with coursework for the past month which has destroyed any sleep routine and Lucid Dreams attempts.

Although saying that, just a few minutes ago, I had a nap because I was feeling really tired, and I had a short Lucid Dream which reminded me of this and how much I enjoyed it the first time. And with things clearing up in my schedule, I'll be able to get back into the LD swing of things. Will be re-establishing a sleep routine in the next few days and getting my recall up.

Speaking of recall, for the past month, it has actually been rather good. I could remember the dreams when I woke up without setting the intention to, but I wouldn't document them because I wouldn't have time. So hopefully that recall continues.

Hopefully I'll have more updates in the next few days. :)

Awesome, congrats on your LD! Naps are great for that, especially when you're extra tired.

Glad your recall has been great, especially with all that coursework taking up your time. I look forward to more stuff from you. :) What was that lucid about anyway, the one you had during your nap? And was it a DILD? I usually DILD when I nap. Anyway, just curious. And welcome back!

Nothing really huge happened, just felt something was strange and realized I was dreaming. I didn't do an RC though, in hindsight I probably should have as I woke up almost immediately.

But thanks for the welcome. :)

Little update from me - I've started up my Dream Journal after not using it for a while since I was so busy. This time I'm using a paper one instead of using my phone for it, let's see if that changes anything. I'm set up a routine before sleep which I think will help and will start incorporating awareness training into my day, like I used to. I attempted to do the awareness thing today but completely forgot about it but hopefully tomorrow I'll be able to focus on it more.

I used to read a lot of people's dream journals because it kept me motivated as some people had some epic dreams which I would've loved to have. I've noticed the dream journal system has changed from last time I checked it, going to take some getting used to.

I've been having a lot of dreams involving cars, be it driving one, being in the passenger seat or simply, quite morbidly, being ran over or running someone over. I think it's because I've got my driving test on Wednesday and I might be subconsciously stressing out over it. :lol:

It's great to hear that you're getting back into your dream journaling Tenacious. I used a paper journal for several months and really enjoyed the experience. Particularly nice was being able to include illustrations. I'm a horrible artist, but these illustrations helped to get these experienced deeply ingrained in my memory.

I also suggest using the opportunity to draw maps. This gave me a great feel for the geography of the dream and really helps get these worlds burned into your hippocampus. Unfortunately, because of my lack of time in the mornings and slow handwriting, I've moved over to a typed journal on my Google drive. But I miss the ability to freehand some illustrations and maps. Definitely take advantage of this while you're using a paper journal!

Like you, I'm a huge fan of the Dream Journal system! The imagery you encounter in dreams is just amazing stuff. It really inspires me to try to get lucid and to really pay attention to my own dream life. DJ comments have recently been fixed, so it's working much better now that DJ entries can foster much smoother discussion.

Good luck on your driving test! Just don't start lucid dreaming in the middle of the exam and you're going to do just fine. :D

^ I've started drawing my dreams in my dream journal, so all those years of learning art in school have finally became useful. :D

Last night I was able to get a lot of sleep/dreaming and that resulted in some fun dreams and one Lucid Dream! :banana:

I simply became aware of something being strange and done a reality check (nose plug). Then took part in a stand off between two armies where I fell down a staircase. :?

Next week I'm going to start doing WBTB again as I've got more free time now, and continue to practice awareness throughout the day. Here's hoping these Lucid Dream's become more frequent now.

Congrats Tenacious! :party:

Pleased to report that I've had another Lucid Dream, (:banana:) it was rather short though, but something happened in it which requires me to ask a question. When I became Lucid, it was through the nose RC after becoming aware of my surroundings, and while I was Lucid I pressed my lips together and tried to breath through my mouth, while still keeping my lips closed. If I do it in real life then my cheeks will simply expand but in the dream, I breathed as normal, as if my mouth was open but it was closed. I don't know how well I explained that, but has anyone else experienced that??

I have been recalling my dreams like always, having some surreal experiences which I find just as interesting as LD's. I've downloaded a dream journal program for my laptop, I'll still use my paper one and then transfer them onto the program when I have time.

I've already read Stephen Laberge's Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming, so after I finish Clash of Kings I'm going to start reading Lucid Dreaming - Gateway to Inner Self.

Last night, I attempted a Wake Back to Bed for the first time since I started actively trying again. I woke up, recalled my dreams and went to the bathroom, only stayed up for a few minutes and I think that's where I went wrong. The other time's I've done it, I've stayed up for fifteen to thirty minutes, which I think does more for me.

Congrats Tenacious! :muffin:

OOOOOH I have been meaning to try out that RC. The one you just explained where you blow out of your mouth with your mouth closed, yet still being able to breathe s if the air went right through your cheeks. I haven't done it though, but I've read about it a few months ago and i thought it was interesting. Anyway, great job!

^ I'm going to add that RC to my day to day business as it seems like a really easy quick RC to do.

Since it's the first of the month, I've decided to draw up a list of goals for the month, and hopefully I'll meet all of them before the end.

February Goals:
Achieve 5 Lucid Dreams
Recall 30-40 Dreams
Complete the basic TOTM

Also, starting tomorrow, I'll hopefully get my Dream Journal on this site back on the go, I'm considering transfering dreams from my paper journal to my Dreamviews one, not sure yet.

Last night, I attempted a Wake Back To Bed. I woke up, wrote down what I dreamt about, and then went to the bathroom. I got a drink and I read a bit of Lucid Dreaming: Gateway to Inner Self. Just then tried to MILD as I was falling asleep. I didn't have a Lucid Dream, but the dream that I did have - from what I remember - started in the bathroom where I had just been to in the WBTB attempt. I'm not disheartened though by not having a LD, there's always tonight, right?

As for the goals that I posted above, no Lucid Dreams this month so I haven't made progress to the LD goal. As for how many dreams I've recalled, I've decided to count the Dream Fragments that I have nightly as just one dream for that night, and the full dreams that I can remember as well. At the moment I stand at six dreams for the month, if I was counting the fragments separately it'd be about fifteen dreams for the month.

Also, the drawings that I do in my DJ are improving, so I guess that's progress at something, haha.

Hey tenacious!

Your progress is amazing! Nightmares are some of the most useful dreams because they tell us where you might be going wrong. Then we can correct whatever that might be and have even more useful dreams. Every dream in my opinion is an opportunity to learn and grow. Each one is a small piece of a larger picture.
keep it up! :)

Thank you for the kind words. :)

I think I'm going to not only meet my goal of recalled dreams, but I think I'm going to smash right through it. Now that I think about it, I should have set a higher goal for that, but I'll do that next month. No Lucid Dreams this month, but I'm sure those will come eventually.

I've started meditating every day, seven minutes a day for a week, then upping that time with every passing week. Starting out slow. :P

Small update here.

Not much has been happening, just recalling my Dreams and working on ADA and MILDing before bed and during WBTB's. I have noticed though, that recently, when I dream, I get the feeling that something isn't right, like I'm on the verge of realizing that it's a dream. It's a strange feeling that I can't really describe, it feels like I'm an inch away from becoming Lucid. I guess that's progress, just got to go that extra inch. :?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Tenacious

Not much has been happening, just recalling my Dreams and working on ADA and MILDing before bed and during WBTB's. I have noticed though, that recently, when I dream, I get the feeling that something isn't right, like I'm on the verge of realizing that it's a dream. It's a strange feeling that I can't really describe, it feels like I'm an inch away from becoming Lucid. I guess that's progress, just got to go that extra inch. :?

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Sounds good, Tenacious! I like what I'm hearing in this update. The fact that you get that feeling and get so close means that you just need the slightest push to tip you over into lucidity. Your hard work is clearly paying off.

IMO, you're already off on the right foot by talking about it in your workbook. I'd suggest keeping that feeling firmly in your mind, reviewing the situations that led to the feeling and thinking to yourself, "You know, I really should have known it was a dream at that point." Don't beat yourself up, of course, but just give your mind that gentle correction and resolve to remember that any given moment may be nothing more than a dream.

And if you find yourself feeling that similar sensation in waking life, give yourself a little bit of a jolt and really question your reality. Truly ask yourself "is this all a dream?" and then demand proof that you're experiencing waking reality. Give the question a sense of suddenness and urgency so that you get that strong kick of prospective memory when you need it most. During this time, really make sure that you and the world around you all make sense, that you remember how you got there.

I think that if you do all of that, you will get that last lousy inch that you need to hit another LD! I'm excited for you... let us know how things go!

Hey all,

A couple of days ago, an interesting dream happened (at least, to me :P) - I was inside my house and someone broke in, and made me slit one of my friends throat, I remember feeling sick with all the blood flowing out, and then I woke up and I still felt a little sick because of the dream.

I'm good amount of pages into the book, Lucid Dreaming - Gateway to Inner Self, which has made be want to ask a Dream Character so many questions, before I didn't really think about things like that but I've added that to my goals for the month.

My recall continues to be as steady as ever. The things that I think I'm struggling with right now are:

ADA - When I started doing ADA, I found it easy to focus on everything, but now I find I'm getting caught up in my thoughts more and more, forgetting to remain aware in the moment, I think that's what's stopping me from becoming Lucid more often. Also, I now find it a bit difficult to focus on more than one sense at a time, like if I focus on taste then I'll completely forget about the others.

WBTB - This isn't really a struggle, I don't really find this difficult, it's just finding the right time frame to stay awake and what to do. The WBTB that was successful I stayed awake for an hour I think, and actually went outside for a walk, which ended in a slight jog, being this was at 5am, people might have been thinking this guy is extremely strange :?. I've tried the hour WBTB again but only done a few things in the house and didn't become Lucid, but most times I've done 5 - 15 minute ones, reading a book for a few minutes when I wake up.

I like your idea of asking DCs questions. Since they are just a fabrication of our subconscious, it might give us a key into how they work. Then maybe they'll cooperate better in future LDs. :P But seriously, I can't see that as being anything other than helpful and insightful. I'd love to see what would happen when you (or me or anyone), focuses on a particular DC in a dream and see what unfolds.

Anyway, thanks for adding your areas of interest at the end of your post. I need to make a few more tweaks to the class, then I'll start pairing up apprentices with students for more focused attention.

After not having a Lucid Dream since January, I finally had one last night, my first in February. :banana::banana::banana::banana::banana:

Strange thing is - I didn't even attempt any techniques last night, I simply went to bed and daydreamed until I fell asleep, without telling myself I'll be Lucid.

Nothing really happened, didn't get a chance to ask a DC some questions nor did I do much of anything. I simply realized I was dreaming and decided to dive through a glass window :? Not one of my better ideas, it didn't work :lol: I simply bounced off it. Everything was dark and I woke up after that.

But a Lucid Dream is a Lucid Dream.