Thread: Andrew's Workbook

from andrewgies17

Reality Checks:

-So it usually goes like this, check watch
-Do plug nose check
-Count fingers
-Feel the air, weight, density, color
-Make sure watch hasn't changed dramatically

Dream Signs:

- As par with my journal entry on 12/30, I dreamt about teaching someone about lucidity, which is kinda like how I love teaching people and am a math tutor as well in the real world
- School has been appearing a lot in my dreams.

Short-Term Goals:

- To have my first lucid dream, and complete one of the January 2013 beginner goals
- To recognize weird things in my dreams and perform RC because of them

Long-Term Goals:

-To be an experienced lucid flyer, and to learn to melt into objects/people and become them

Lucid/Dream Recall History:

-Terrible, the only dream I remember is a recurring nightmare I had when I was younger

Current Technique:

- I am going to start trying the WEILD technique ASAP!
- Also considering the WBTB

Technique Attempts:

- Set an alarm in preparation for a DEILD. And decided to try a basic WILD before I went to sleep, forgot to use affirmations, during the WILD, I got to a point where my body suddenly got very heavy, and with every exhale, it got heavier. I believe I was focusing too much on my body and not on my plan for the dream. Eventually my WILD failed and I moved. I also missed my DEILD alarm.

- Another failed WILD, I tried using the FreeFalling technique...probably failed because it was a strait to bed thing, not a WBTB.

Plan for next lucid dream:

-I am going to start on a bench overlooking the water, with San Francisco behind me (like the scene in MIB 1), then I am going to create a giant glass elevator, travel up it to the top of the Empire State, an do a matrix style jump between the buildings. I am going to "learn" new skills by "running a matrix program" (get the theme?) to give my brain something to grab on to while I get used to dream control.

OK. Dreamsigns after common occurring themes (like school) or characters or object in your dream. Knowing these helps to become lucid. For example, if your one of your signs is a person from school (quite common) or work. If you see this person in your dreams, you can do an RC to confirm if you are dreaming.

To improve your recall, keep a dream journal. This is a must! DO NOT be one of those guys who think they are going to be a lucid dreamer without a DJ. It is possible, but keeping one will certainly boost your progress rapidly.
You don't have to record your dream in detail (leave this for LDs if you wish), just dot points at first. Then you can add a bit more detail. Just focus at first on recalling the synopsis of the whole dream. Oh, and remember to look over your dreams later on to look for any dream signs.

Originally Posted by L4xord

To improve your recall, keep a dream journal. This is a must! DO NOT be one of those guys who think they are going to be a lucid dreamer without a DJ. It is possible, but keeping one will certainly boost your progress rapidly.
You don't have to record your dream in detail (leave this for LDs if you wish), just dot points at first. Then you can add a bit more detail. Just focus at first on recalling the synopsis of the whole dream. Oh, and remember to look over your dreams later on to look for any dream signs.

Ok, I have started a digital DJ, using the DV DJ system.I will post to it as much as possible. My introduction is also there. I also have a notebook and a pen next to my bed, so I have a place to write right away, which I will then copy to my digital version. Thanks for the help BTW, I will be updating the original workbook.

-andrewgies17

Also, one other important thing which will stop you from giving up.

Even if you fail a lucid attempt (DILD or whatever), try to remember to awesome world of normal dreams. Lucids are awesome but normal dreams are alright as well!

And one thing which I have noticed in many is the fact that when they start they get all excited and look up on all sorts of techniques. In one day they pretty much burn themselves out with RCs and affirmations. Then they probably fail an LD that night and lose motivation the next day and the next until they give up. So try to spread all your efforts out over a few days to avoid burning out.

Welcome Andrew!

A DJ will definitely help with the recall. That is the basis for everything else so its a good start!

Good to have you here, Andrew! Don't worry about starting from square one. That's precisely where I started. (Actually, in my case, square "zero", as in "zero dream recall".)

By the way, it's great that you're already having dreams related to lucid dreaming! I went through this phase myself (and still often dream about LDing.) It took me some time before I regularly dreamed about LDing, so you are already progressing very nicely in the right direction.

Keep us updated on how you do and let us know if we can help you out in any way.

I have officially had a great night with my DJ. My dream recall improved drastically! Just compare my DJ entry from 12/30/12, my last best. To today's entry, 1/3/13! Check it out! Now I just have to figure out how to keep it that way.

I am also adding school as one of my dream signs, that seems to be popping up a lot.

OK...I am shifting my current priority from dream recollection (Which I seem to have stabilized), to dream awareness. This is because almost all of my dreams so far have included by #1 dream sign, school, and; they have also been weird enough that I should have noticed that I was dreaming. For an example of that weirdness, look at my 1/4/13 DJ entry. I am going to practice awareness throughout the day, and I am going to try to start meditating regularly.

Hi! Welcome to the intro class

ya know, I havent quite figured this out yet, but it seems as if recall is a subset of awareness. Most people don't recall dreams because they put no effort into paying attention to them, i.e. being aware of them. Practicing awareness will definitely lead to major gains in the long run and also in the short run. Although awareness takes more time and practice then say mantras or emotional triggers, it is most definitely worth the effort. As is meditation.