Thread: Pennyroyal's workbook

Originally Posted by CanisLucidus

My advice would be to do whatever feels natural, fun, and relaxing to you. Anything that feels like a burden should probably be scaled back for the time being. For example, I actually really enjoy the quiet study, peace and mindfulness of my WBTB time, so it doesn't feel like a burden to me. But I know that for a lot of people WBTB feels like much more of a chore. WILD, too, can be a pretty demanding tech.

I think once some of my excitement lowers because this is all new to me I'll be better equipped for WILD and WBTB. I am focusing too much on waiting for something to happen rather than relaxing and going to sleep.

Thank you so much for the encouragement Opelia/Canis I really appreciate it.

I got up naturally last night and tried a WBTB. I was able to get a ton of HI and for the first time i had a sensation like I was spinning in place. Once i took note of it and paid attention it went away and I ended up falling asleep shortly after.

I believe that I had a Lucid I forgot most of 2 nights ago. I remember the end right when I woke up being pretty angry with some guy and ordering him to explode. I got more angry every time I tried and on my third and final attempt I shouted very loud and poked him in the chest which woke me up.

I remember after I failed the first time telling myself that I was in a dream, and that I could do this if I believed I could.

If it was a lucid and I dont remember the beginning.. DAMNIT! lol

I want to experience the moment I realize I'm dreaming and remember

I've had those were I forgot how I became lucid. Interesting isn't it? I guess that's why recall is so important. It's something I've been dealing with quite a bit myself. But anyway, congrats on the lucid!

BTW that spinning sensation was really close. That's how a lot of mine start. It can jolt you awake if you are prepared for it. I think you will eventually get used to it.

Originally Posted by Xanous

I've had those were I forgot how I became lucid. Interesting isn't it? I guess that's why recall is so important. It's something I've been dealing with quite a bit myself. But anyway, congrats on the lucid!

BTW that spinning sensation was really close. That's how a lot of mine start. It can jolt you awake if you are prepared for it. I think you will eventually get used to it.

Thanks I just chalked it up as a victory and setting my intention to remember my dreams better, I don't want to miss it again!

I know! I havn't tried another attempt yet, but I'm going to have a lot of extra free time on my hands the next few weeks so I'm definitely planning on continuing.

I certainly wasn't prepared for the feeling, to be honest I was a little skeptical because before that moment I had only read about it, or had testimonials from random strangers. I'm skeptical by nature.

A healthy dose if skepticism is a good thing. Good luck on the WILD attempts. Ahh I miss being able to sleep in I got so many that way.

Originally Posted by PennyRoyal

Thanks I just chalked it up as a victory and setting my intention to remember my dreams better, I don't want to miss it again!

I know! I havn't tried another attempt yet, but I'm going to have a lot of extra free time on my hands the next few weeks so I'm definitely planning on continuing.

I certainly wasn't prepared for the feeling, to be honest I was a little skeptical because before that moment I had only read about it, or had testimonials from random strangers. I'm skeptical by nature.

Nice! And I agree, a little skepticism keeps us grounded. Also, remember that you can read up and learn as much as you want about something, but without actually experiencing it for yourself, you can never truly grasp its true meaning.

Cheers!

Originally Posted by paigeyemps

Nice! And I agree, a little skepticism keeps us grounded. Also, remember that you can read up and learn as much as you want about something, but without actually experiencing it for yourself, you can never truly grasp its true meaning.

Cheers!

That was my outlook when I started trying this. It sounded promising, but I was skeptical - I decided that the worst I can do is give it a try and decide it's not for me.

Thanks Paigey

Update for March

Techniques:
MILD Mantra before going to sleep at night. Practicing awareness during the day. I remember to be aware almost everytime I'm outside, but I can't seem to remember to check awareness/RC when I'm at home (except for when I wake up to check for FA).

DEILD if I can manage to keep still/eyes closed when I wake up in the night.
SILD Decided to give this a try when I wake up and WBTB this month.
WILD in the later hours of my sleep.

Goals:
1 dream remembered every night, or 31 dreams at the end of the month.

I was able to DEILD/WILD once, and DILD once in Feb. So 2 for Feb.
I'm shooting for 3 LDs in March.

31 Dreams, 3 Lucids, Stabilize a Lucid Dream, If stabilized break something! (TotM)

I managed to DEILD this morning and remember 3 other dreams.

27 Dreams, 2 Lucid Dreams, Stabilize, Break something.

Some ideas I want to remember when Im capable of influencing my dreams or maybe inspire some fun non LDs.

Have a conversation with a sentient alien DC, Skydive from the International Space Station, Make breakfast for the memory of my grandmother, Observe a galaxy in space from 'up close', Go Big Wave Surfing at Mavericks / Jaws / or Cortes Bank, Be an officer aboard Galactica's CIC and/or Fly in a Raptor alongside Starbuck.

OH!!!!! Writing this made me realize that the kitchen in my DEILD this morning was my grandmothers.. but with really tacky cabinetry I have been thinking about this one for a few days.

Congrats on the lucids! Just wondering, do you write your goals in your DJ as well? I find it helps a bit more when I note down my goals at the beginning of every month or so. That way, when I'm on my way to bed and read some entries, I can remember my goals more concretely as well.

Keep em coming!

Originally Posted by paigeyemps

Congrats on the lucids! Just wondering, do you write your goals in your DJ as well? I find it helps a bit more when I note down my goals at the beginning of every month or so. That way, when I'm on my way to bed and read some entries, I can remember my goals more concretely as well.

Keep em coming!

Yes, I've been writing my goals for each month in my DJ, but I think Im going to make myself short term goals by the week as well. With the exception of yesterday I've had no recall for almost a week.

I need to read my DJ when I unwind before sleep so I can fix the idea of dreams in my dome. Hopefully my recall will return to normal soon, it's a bit frustrating. Im not to worried though, I recalled nothing for 4 days straight then Bam, 1 lucid and a few non LDs.

Some other fun dream ideas to remember.

Simply rest in a hammock on a deserted island, be first man to dance to 'Dancing in the Moonlight' on the moon, I REALLY want to have a sword lesson with Syrio from Game of Thrones, celebrate my birthday IN Times Square for the New Years celebration instead of watching it on TV and/or ride the ball down as it drops at midnight, Be a wolf on a hunt, attend front row at the Unplugged Nirvana performance, play a Quidditch match!, hike part of the Appalachian Trail, Relive my recurring childhood nightmare and tell the giant yellow hand to Frack Off.. also kick it.

Hmm I'm tapped, time for a nap

Awesome dream goals! I hope that you are keeping a master list somewhere because these are great. I find it to be seriously motivating to have this huge pile of cool, cool stuff just waiting to be done. Mine has gotten really long over time.

In fact, I shall steal a couple of these.

ride the ball down as it drops at midnight

Holy crap! I proposed that as a December/January (can't remember which) Task of the Month! Doesn't that sound like fun?

Originally Posted by CanisLucidus

Holy crap! I proposed that as a December/January (can't remember which) Task of the Month! Doesn't that sound like fun?

It does! This has been a personal unattainable 'dream' of mine since I was a kid. My birthday is Jan 1st, I always wanted to ride the ball down on New Years Eve and when it reaches the bottom I'm another year older at that exact moment (in theory) haha.

Originally Posted by PennyRoyal

It does! This has been a personal unattainable 'dream' of mine since I was a kid. My birthday is Jan 1st, I always wanted to ride the ball down on New Years Eve and when it reaches the bottom I'm another year older at that exact moment (in theory) haha.

Oh wow, your birthday is January 1st? That makes this whole thing like 10x cooler. Love it.

It's cool that this is something you've thought of since you were a kid. That younger version of yourself would be very happy to know that you haven't forgotten about all the cool stuff he always wished he could do. I must admit... I think there would be a lot of overlap between my dream goals of today and my dream goals from when I was a ten year old.

Originally Posted by CanisLucidus

Oh wow, your birthday is January 1st? That makes this whole thing like 10x cooler. Love it.

It's cool that this is something you've thought of since you were a kid. That younger version of yourself would be very happy to know that you haven't forgotten about all the cool stuff he always wished he could do. I must admit... I think there would be a lot of overlap between my dream goals of today and my dream goals from when I was a ten year old.

Yessir, New Years Baby as I've always been called.

I'm sure if I had dream goals back when I was a kid, they would be nowhere near the same. They would probably be comprised of mostly me kicking ass as a ninja turtle and teasing my brothers in awesome ways Hmm.. That reminded me of a time I had convinced my youngest brother that he was a figment of my dream, and when I woke up he wouldn't exist. How mean! hahahaha

Originally Posted by PennyRoyal

They would probably be comprised of mostly me kicking ass as a ninja turtle

I confess that I have a number of lucid goals that aren't far off from this. LOL.

That reminded me of a time I had convinced my youngest brother that he was a figment of my dream, and when I woke up he wouldn't exist. How mean! hahahaha

That's awesome! Wow, you did some really sophisticated existential teasing there. That sounds like something straight from The Twilight Zone. I like it!! Yeah, here's the episode it reminds me of: "Shadow Play". It was about a guy who's about to be executed and he's trying to explain to everyone involved that they're just a part of his nightmare and that they'll all disappear if they go through with the execution. Shadow Play (1961 The Twilight Zone episode) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You had an impressive imagination as a kid!

Originally Posted by CanisLucidus

I confess that I have a number of lucid goals that aren't far off from this.

Lol one of mine currently is to fight a Hollow like a Soul Reaper from Bleach, no hate here

You had an impressive imagination as a kid!

It still persists to this day. I have the most VIVID daydreams when I read. It's nearly IMPOSSIBLE for someone to get my attention if I'm reading. But when I'm reading I don't even realize that I'm looking at a book after a few minutes. I'm just an observer of the scene I'm reading.

Originally Posted by PennyRoyal

It still persists to this day. I have the most VIVID daydreams when I read. It's nearly IMPOSSIBLE for someone to get my attention if I'm reading. But when I'm reading I don't even realize that I'm looking at a book after a few minutes. I'm just an observer of the scene I'm reading.

Oh that's good. Very, very good, in fact. Strong visualization skills will come in handy for you over and over in lucid dreaming, both for MILD and for WILD.

With MILD, envisioning yourself becoming lucid in some very specific scene and imagining what it would all feel like is a critical part of the technique. If that comes naturally to you, you'll have a big leg up there.

And with WILD, a lot of times what we're doing is massaging some bit of hypnagogic imagery into a real dream scene that we can enter and become fully part of. Tactile sensations seem to be particularly important in helping you get crossed over and locked into this new world. I theorize because it helps you forget about your sleeping body and refocuses the mind on the dream body.

It helps with dream control too! I find that those with high-def imaginations have a big head start on dream control. NewArtemis, for example, performed really advanced feats in a very early lucid of hers, manipulating and rotating text, and doing a bunch of other lucid stuff that is pretty high level. A strong imagination makes all that possible.

Hmm, that is interesting. I have not really played too much with the visualization part of things. Although now that I think about it, when I use my mantra for recall I envision myself getting up and writing something in my DJ in the morning.

I was finally able to complete the last lesson's homework!

I became Lucid and stabilized by rubbing my hands and feeling the texture of the floor. I wasn't able to accomplish the optional tasks, but those would have just been icing on the cake. This was my first time becoming lucid in a DILD since actually attempting to LD, which was exciting for me. I was feeling a bit discouraged on the DILD front because I've only had success with DEILDs. This was exactly what I needed.

Congratulations again! Nice job on the stabilizing.

Having command of both a DILD and some of WILD gives you a nice, broad reach and multiple tools in the tool belt for achieving a lucid dream. DEILD especially is a great complement to the DILD-based techniques, so you're well-positioned now. When DEILD opportunities don't seem to be coming, you can always spontaneously achieve a DILD. And if a DILD destabilizes too soon for some reason, you can slide right back in with a DEILD.

Playing these two techniques off of one another will yield great results. I had to work my butt off to get DEILD down, so it's great that you are already feeling comfortable with it.

You receive an A+ on this homework assignment.