Thread: MysticalDipshit's Workbook

I can't post any links but I have updated my DJ for my dream last night. Also, I have a question. Is it a proven fact that waking up after each dream improves recall?

Welcome, Myst (although the full version of your name is pretty awesome.)

I think that given your tendency toward insomnia, the DILD is a perfect place to start for you. I am a huge fan of WBTB but I'm also a realist that this technique is not going to be the best friend of the insomniac. A couple of humbling nights of insomnia a couple of weeks ago definitely drove home the point that good sleep is a precious thing, not to be sacrificed too freely in the pursuit of a lucid dream!

It also sounds like you have quite an exciting dream life. That's a good base for any practice. I had to sort of coax mine out, so you have a head start here in that your dreams are already vivid and (most importantly) something that you enjoy and look forward to. Keeping up that excellent attitude about your non-lucids will server you well when looking to LD.

Is it a proven fact that waking up after each dream improves recall?

Only anecdotally "proven", as far as I know. I've found that by far the best-remembered dreams are the ones that I wake up in the middle of. Are you deciding whether to make a suggestion to "wake up" part of your mantra?

Anyhow, great to have you here! Looking forward to hearing more.

Welcome Myst!

awesome name...not sure if you meant to, but myst is an epic game from back in the day

very good goals as well! Dreams in general are very useful to those willing to listen and make use of them.

CanisLucidus:
Yeah I only really said that you can call me myst because it's kinda a long name, and some people don't like the swearing in it XD

As for the waking up, I tried it a few days ago, but it feels like it's not working too well. I might try it in a couple of weeks again, but I'm just going to see how well I can recall them without waking up. For example, Last night I don't remember waking up, but I remember 3 dreams (so far). Another problem I have is I remember the dreams when I wake up, then as I move to write them down, or move onto remembering another dream, I forget half of what I just thought of. I'm going to keep working at it though. I also don't update my Dream Journal until when I get home from school, because a tend to remember bits and pieces throughout the day. I also don't have time to write a detailed version in the morning, so I write a few key sentences about each dream.

After writing down the few sentences, I can then recall most of the dream throughout the day (Without the notepad). My mind then tends to fill in more of the dream as the day goes on.

Also, Chimpertainment:
Nah, I've never heard of the game XD

Homework for Lesson 1

Time I go to sleep:
On weekdays: Usually 10pm (up to 11pm sometimes)
On weekends: Midnight

Time I wake up:
On weekdays: 6.30-7am
On weekends: 9am (although sometimes I end up going back to sleep. If I did do WBTB, weekend mornings (wake up at 4.30 or 6am) would be the best to do it)

These times are all GMT

Why I want to lucid dream:
1. Because it's AWESOME. I think that's obvious...
2. I generally love dreaming, so to be able to control my dreams would be the best thing ever.
3. It's been my dream to fly ever since I was 3, so this is how I'll do it.
4. It can also help with things that aren't just based on super powers/having fun. I want to overcome my fear of spiders using it, because it will be somewhere I can control (I heard of someone doing this). Also, I honestly don't think I can in real life. It's too scary -.-
5. I want to do everything else that I can't do in real life. I have a word document that I keep adding to whenever I find something that look like it would be fun to do.
6. It improves your dream recall (well, DJing does), which is a bonus. At the minute I'm remembering 3 a night.

That reminds me, I should probably upload my dreams from last night.

What I plan to do in my next lucid dream:
Stabilize the dream. It's the first thing I am going to do. Even if nothing else gets done, I guess STABILIZING IS IMPORTANT(I need to remember this XD). But then, of course, I'll go flying, then I'll get on with taking over the world and all that fun stuff.

I also had a funny idea as a task to do in a lucid dream. What if you went through a city naked, and see how many DC's you can get to have a reaction. If they shout at you to get some clothes, ask them to borrow some of theirs, and see how many items of clothing you can get. I bet it would be pretty fun.

Myst

Hey if he only calls you myst then can I just call you dipshit? HA! I'm kidding. I couldn't resist.

That comment has made my day :')

I didn't remember any dreams last night, but I didn't sleep very well. However, I did wake up at some point, and as I was going back to sleep, I remember thinking of a technique for going back into a dream. So I tried to do it. My body was really relaxed, to the point that it felt like I couldn't move it (I knew I would be able to though if I really wanted to.) I then heard a faint buzzing sound, and my body felt like it was moving? The only way I can describe it was like being on a swing, but the movements didn't feel very big. While this was happening, I started to see images of things, so I tried to imagine being in a meadow and looking down at my hands. The swinging motion that I felt seemed to get stronger. At this point, I felt the sudden urge to throw up, and I started feeling really ill. After a minute or 2, I couldn't handle it, and I had to get up.

I'm not sure if this was anything, but it definitely felt weird lol. Anyway, I've been thinking about what has been going well over the past week, and what hasn't.

Things that are going well:
- My recall seems to be pretty good, with the exception of last night. On average I'm remembering at least 1 or 2 dreams really clearly, and 1 dream that's a fuzzy. Then a few other fragments each night.
- Reality checking is going well. I'm trying to include SAT into my day. It's difficult to remember throughout the day, but I seem to be managing it.

What I need to work on:
- Keep up SAT, and really question whether I am dreaming.
- I need to try DEILD when I wake up in the middle of the night, because I don't really need to do anything extra, and I wake up sometimes after my dreams anyway.

Also, I'm probably going to update 'what is going well/what I need to work on', each Saturday or Sunday as an overview for the week.

That sounds like the beginning stages of a dream. Did you give yourself motion sickness from hypnagogic hallucinations or was it another reason?

Well I have been ill over the past week, but I was back at school yesterday and everything seemed okay. But it did feel like motion sickness (Which I never get), because with the swinging feeling, as it felt like I was going up, I just felt really ill. I don't really know. But it was too bad to be able to just lay there and take it. I can't actually be sure whether it happened because I was already ill, or because of the hypnagogic hallucinations. Also, I still felt ill when I woke up fully this morning, but it's pretty much gone now.

So can anyone give me some information on what this was? Will it feel the same if I try it again? Also, if I do feel this, should I just ignore it and carry on with a DEILD or what?

I think yes. It varies from person to person and dream to dream. Meaning it may not be the exact same the next time but most likely will be similar. Absolutely ignore it next time and wait it out. Remember to keep a calm mind and relaxed body. Excitement is the enemy. All this is just "noise" and part of the transition from waking to dreaming. You are on the right track.

I'm glad you are feeling better. Nausia is the worst for me!

My only problem with stuff like DEILD is I start to freak out. My imagination is annoying sometimes, because even in real life I think there's monster is dark rooms. XD

So whenever I'm trying to go back in, I keep thinking something bad will happen. Before I had to get up last night, I sort of managed to get over it. Another thing that doesn't help is HI. I've only experienced it a couple of times, but when I have, there's always really faint pictures of faces. Nothing else. And sometimes they look like they're screaming. :/

Do you have any tips for this?

Hmmm... Yes well I hate to say it but having at least some mastery over fear is a part of lucid dreaming. Do you have frequent nightmares as well? I know from my experience that sometimes ones subconscious will throw up frightening images or scenarios. I think it's pretty normal. You just have to keep reminding yourself that it isn't real and nothing can harm you. I will have lucid nightmares once in a while and the thing that helps is to just keep calm and try to relax. Tell your self over and over it isn't real. Let the emotion go and the fear will fade.

Honestly I think meditation has helped me with this. I'm not super great at it but I have learned to be better at quieting my mind and becoming emotionally calm. Not only does this help in dream situations but in real life situations as well.

Another thing is maybe just grin a bear it. The more "Frightening" things you experience and live through the more you get used to it. So, the next time you will remember that it was all just in your own mind and nothing can happen to you. I guess you can call desensitizing yourself.

I don't know if that's very helpful but really it all comes down to controlling your thoughts and emotions. I really suggest meditation if you don't practice it already. It can really boost your lucidity as well as loads of other health benefits.

Edit: Also it might help to try visualizing something that is peaceful and feels safe to you.

I have listened to this out of curiosity and thought of it as a possible induction technique but maybe you can get some benefit from it. It's a free MP3 download called "Campfire for the Mind" and is aimed at conquering nightmares. I know you are not talking full blown nightmares here but maybe it will help?

http://davidruben.me/blog/free-medit...-campfire-mind

Originally Posted by Xanous

Do you have frequent nightmares as well?

I used to when I was younger, pretty much every other night. But I managed to stop them because I tried to see the funny side. So in dreams, rather than focusing on the scary thing, I focused on something else that I found funny. I suppose I could relate this to HI and I'll try my technique. Also, I rarely ever have nightmares now. Maybe a couple a year. The last one I had was last August.

Also, I tried to focus on making the meadow to think of something more peaceful. So maybe focusing on imagining the dream could help me get over the fear?

EDIT: I'll listen to the mp3 thing in a bit, I'm in the middle of a big skype call at the minute.

Originally Posted by MysticalDipshit

Also, I tried to focus on making the meadow to think of something more peaceful. So maybe focusing on imagining the dream could help me get over the fear?

I think it could be a good distraction and even possibly induce a WILD.

Okay. I'll try it tonight and see how it goes.

So last night, I didn't remember many of my dreams. I'm wondering if this is because the time/routine changes at the weekend, because I find it harder to remember them. Anyway, here's the link: Finding the library. Sun 20/01/13 - Dream Journals - Lucid Dreaming - Dream Views

Also, I did try a DEILD last night, but it failed because I had already been moving around. So I'm setting myself the task this week of practicing waking up after a dream, and staying still with my eyes closed.

I've updated my DJ for last night's dreams: Creepy other beings are trying to kidnap us. Mon 21/01/13 - Dream Journals - Lucid Dreaming - Dream Views

Still no progress on DEILD, but I found it really difficult to get to sleep last night. :/

On the plus side, last nights dreams were so vivid, that if they weren't so weird I would have believed they were real. Well, the second one that I had, I had to make sure it wasn't real when I woke up, anyway. XD Do you ever have any dreams that you thought were real/had actually happened?

Originally Posted by MysticalDipshit

I've updated my DJ for last night's dreams: Creepy other beings are trying to kidnap us. Mon 21/01/13 - Dream Journals - Lucid Dreaming - Dream Views

Still no progress on DEILD, but I found it really difficult to get to sleep last night. :/

On the plus side, last nights dreams were so vivid, that if they weren't so weird I would have believed they were real. Well, the second one that I had, I had to make sure it wasn't real when I woke up, anyway. XD Do you ever have any dreams that you thought were real/had actually happened?

Lol yes once in a while. Especially if was a false awakening. Or sometimes Ill remeber a fragment and thought it really happened.

I probably aren't going to be able to use a computer for the next few days but I'll write down my dreams and I'll update when possible

I think I have the use of a computer back now. So I've been trying to DEILD. I can quickly start imagining a dream/ going back into it, but my problem is that I just can't wake up enough. I also keep forgetting to do reality checks throughout the day. I'm getting into the routine of doing it every time I wake up and every time I get into a bed to avoid the chance of a FA, but I never really do it during the day.

I managed to do RC's all throughout today, YAY!

Also, this morning I didn't remember any dreams, however this afternoon I remembered like half of it. I hate it when that happens. -.-

Another thing, last night I noticed I was waking up more, but the moment I realize I'm awake, I turn over and fall straight back to sleep in the space on about 2 seconds. So I need to work on that.

I think that the fact you are noticing these "micro awakenings" is a good thing. Now just remember to try DEILD (or record the dream) and you should be in a good position.