Thread: Emnition's workbook

Well that was unpleasant. Yesterday I spent the majority of my day working on an assignment that I just handed in 3 minutes before the deadline. I set my alarm around 6:30 so I could continue working on it. In my dream I was at my mom's house, sitting in my bedroom at 11:00, totally freaking out because I woke up way too late to finish the assignment. I saw the time on my laptop several times and it changed way too quickly to be real. I realised this and frantically tried to jam my fingers through my palm, but it failed. In my panicking state I tried again and again (This can't be real. COME ON!). I thought about taking a moment to calm down but I was too panicked to do so.

Sorry for the missed opportunity but good thing is you managed to submit your assignment on time. I remember having a printer malfunction + deadline nightmare that was almost as hectic as yours. On top of that, my actual printer is so reliable that you can never know whether it's a dream or not.

For atleast the last week and probably a bit longer I've consistently woking up in the early morning and gone back asleep again. Potential for WBTB! The problem I'm facing right now is my motivation to actually do something. I can't sit up straight in my bed, so basically I need to get out, which means climbing down the ladder. This is a bigger mental hurdle than with a regular bed for me. I guess there's only 1 solution: just do it!

Another issue is that I set myself to focusing on the different sounds I hear all day. Basically my way of performing all day awareness. I totally lose focus during classes and while reading though, which in turn affects the rest of my day. I figure I should take a short break during reading every once in a while.

On another note: I got back my grade and it is absolutely ridiculous: 9 (or A+ depending on your system). Not entirely sure how I pulled that off

You can still try to be mindful while reading and also rc on the text itself. And in class, focus on the speech of people and whether the characters fit the event.

Congrats on the paper grade!

Originally Posted by NyxCC

You can still try to be mindful while reading and also rc on the text itself. And in class, focus on the speech of people and whether the characters fit the event.

I'm trying to stay mindful, but the need to focus on the meaning of the text / what the lecturer is saying often leaves me with little mindfulness left. I feel like I've been slacking way too much lately.. again. I need to make some serious changes if I wanna get this going regularly. Somehow I did become lucid last night, but don't remember anything beyond 15ish seconds. It seems all my lucids are quite random and also very very short

Still, congrats on the ld! Every ld you get is a positive sign. Hope you manage to get more organized with the mindfulness practices. If you want any additional tips or thoughts on that, let me know.

Originally Posted by NyxCC

Still, congrats on the ld! Every ld you get is a positive sign. Hope you manage to get more organized with the mindfulness practices. If you want any additional tips or thoughts on that, let me know.

Tips are always very welcome and much appreciated!

Okay . Here are a few thoughts:

- try breaking down each interaction into three parts: beginning, middle, end. This will allow you to pick moments when you can pay more attention. Make it a habit to be more mindful at the start and end of each event or conversation. At this point you can also do some critical thinking or RCs.
- when speaking with people or listening, pay close attention to their body language. Do their movements make sense or are you the one influencing them (in case this is a dream). Are their eyes normal? DCs somethimes have this weird crazy look that sets them apart from real people. Are the sentenses coherent and meaningful? DCs may begin to speak gibberish when you focus on their speech. What language are they speaking?
- random RCs - you can do these any time, anywhere - try random dream control during the day, including when amongst people. You can do so only using your mind - think of controlling people's movements, try levitating them or nearby objects, try summoning objects, etc.

There's literally a ton of stuff you can do during the day, the important thing is to feel excited about your ld routine and why you're doing this and everything will fall into place.

Originally Posted by NyxCC

Okay . Here are a few thoughts:

- try breaking down each interaction into three parts: beginning, middle, end. This will allow you to pick moments when you can pay more attention. Make it a habit to be more mindful at the start and end of each event or conversation. At this point you can also do some critical thinking or RCs.
- when speaking with people or listening, pay close attention to their body language. Do their movements make sense or are you the one influencing them (in case this is a dream). Are their eyes normal? DCs somethimes have this weird crazy look that sets them apart from real people. Are the sentenses coherent and meaningful? DCs may begin to speak gibberish when you focus on their speech. What language are they speaking?
- random RCs - you can do these any time, anywhere - try random dream control during the day, including when amongst people. You can do so only using your mind - think of controlling people's movements, try levitating them or nearby objects, try summoning objects, etc.

There's literally a ton of stuff you can do during the day, the important thing is to feel excited about your ld routine and why you're doing this and everything will fall into place.

Though it takes some getting used to, I especially like the first one.
For the random RCs: that would mean not necessarily always doing the same RC, but do random things?

Random RCs - you can do these at random times and you can also do random types of RCs. I think this is much more exciting actually. Imagine trying to reverse everything that is. For example, if you don't hear anything, try to see if you can make music come from somewhere (very dream like). If you see one person, try to summon a clone. If it is cloudy try to make it sunny and so on. Look around and play with all your senses and perceptions.

If I was a moviedirector I would be Michael Bay. On my bike on the way to campus I made quite a number of attempts to make cars explode
It's still difficult to maintain awareness, especially with all the uni stuff going on. On the positive side, I registered for the dreambuddy programme, so I now have a sort of accountability buddy. Perfect for a slacker like me!

EDIT: Because we're supposed to share our dreams, I'm now using my physical DJ to note things down and after I get up I write everything down here.

Haha, I love your new reality check!

Great you've joined the buddy program! I think this will be very inspiring for you and your new buddy!

I feel like my recall might be improving already due to the new way I write down my dreams. Might have something to do with the fact that I'm able to type quicker than I can write and am thus less likely to lose my patience and make a mess of it. Or because I'm now writing for an audience.

My dreambuddy (werty52) and I have come up with a challenge: whoever becomes lucid first using DEILD, starting last night. I think both of us are still struggling with the same issue though: how to wake up in the middle of the night consistently. I prefer to use an alarm that will turn itself off after a few seconds, but haven't found one yet. Last night I did wake up in the middle of the night spontaneously, but I had issues laying still because I just was not comfortable, though I did fall asleep again within what felt like a few minutes.

That's a really great idea! Good luck you two!

I didn't do anything dream related at all over the weekend. My girlfriend finally arrived from the other side of the world, so you can imagine that dreams weren't my top priority I just used an alarm that turns itself off after 5 seconds for the first time last night. I still moved to turn it off, because 5 seconds seemed like an eternity. I also rolled over a few times, but did fall asleep again really quick cause I was really really tired. I set the alarm to go off after 6 hours. I'm not so sure what it is exactly that I'm supposed to do after the alarm has just gone off, I'll have to look into that.

Still trying to figure out the right moment for my alarm. Last night I had a stroke of very moderate genius: I went to sleep with my hat on, which I pulled over my eyes. I figured this way even if I did open my eyes, I wouldn't see a thing and this would somehow help me to lay still. It worked mostly. I heard the alarm (which I set to go off after 6 hours), may or may not have opened my eyes and realised I was supposed to lay still. I think I still moved around a bit, but definitely less than before. I fell asleep really quick again. It didn't result in a lucid though. It feels weird to take this approach, because it's kinda the opposite of SSILD (make sure you stay awake long enough vs. go immediately back to sleep).

That's an original idea, I like it. I would imagine this may even cause some FAs so be on the lookout!

Originally Posted by NyxCC

That's an original idea, I like it. I would imagine this may even cause some FAs so be on the lookout!

I think it was 2 nights ago that I had 2 FAs. I didn't use the hat that night though. Feels kinda weird sleeping with my hat over my face while my girlfriend is sleeping next to me.

I had the idea of combining my DEILD attempt with SSILD, but that didn't work out too well. Cause I'm still so groggy and fall back asleep again quite quick I don't even have the time to finish one cycle. Back to the drawingboard

I would try to select a focus point on your body and keep your attention there to see if that works as a DEILD/WILD anchor. I've tried it a few times while focusing on the forehead.

Originally Posted by NyxCC

I would try to select a focus point on your body and keep your attention there to see if that works as a DEILD/WILD anchor. I've tried it a few times while focusing on the forehead.

I'll try that instead of going through the entire cycle. Thanks for the tip
So far my effort is still lacking cause this is quite an exceptional moment. My girlfriend is still here and the majority of the week she spends sleeping at my place. There was the Amsterdam Dance Event though, a major event from Wednesday till Sunday, meaning I barely got any sleep for 2 nights. Also I mess up with the alarm too often, last night again. This alarm needs to remain the active app for this to function and I forgot about that. I'll overcome this by changing the name of the alarm to something like "don't close".

Wicked LD count btw NyxCC

Forgot to post for a moment! My girlfriend returned home earlier this week, so everything is a bit more normal again. I have a whiteboard in my room which I've used to sort everything out for myself yesterday and the day before. To avoid getting discouraged from wanting to do too much (I have way too many hobbies) I've decided to search for a balance between everything.

My dream related things: Monday, Thursday and Saturday are my 'dream days/nights'. If all goes well I will expand these to other days, but this is my starting point.
I focus on ADA during the day. Writing down my dreams here instead of in a physical journal has made it easier for me to form connections by using the tagging system. I've noticed a couple of patterns and will perform a RC if one of the following things happens:
1) There is something Indonesia related
2) I'm with 1 or more of the 3 classmates I occasionally dream about; 1 or more of my best friends; 1 or more of my housemates
3) I'm using public transport or at a train station, bus stop, etc
4) I'm freerunning
5) Something strange happens

My RCs are:
1) Pushing my finger through my palm
2) Breathing with my nose closed
3) Reading a text multiple times
4) MAKE STUFF EXPLODE (especially convenient when on the bicycle)
5) Randomised stuff like NyxCC suggested

In the evening it's time for Dream Yoga (after such a long period of not doing it, it's probably wise to start over) and DEILD after I go to bed.

I started ADA and DY again yesterday. ADA was difficult as hell to keep up. I had moments where I was aware, but most of the day I was a zombie. Perhaps 30 minutes before going to bed and reading a book I did DY, focusing on sound, which went well because I started from the beginning again.

During the night I woke up a few times and tried to DEILD. I kept my eyes closed, but I kept moving about like a toddler which ate a whole bag of candy. Eventually I did get a MILD induced LD which is wrote down in my DV DJ. I recognised that I was supposed to RC if something parkour related happened. The RCs failed and the lucid was kinda meagre, but progress at least.

An ld is an ld, so congrats!

I'm still focusing on ADA 3 days a week, which is still quite difficult to keep up. I noticed that aside from when I'm reading or in a lecture, it's also extremely difficult for me to keep up while exercising. I manage to stay aware while warming up (jogging for 10 minutes) by focusing on the sound of my steps. But after that I go on to heavy exercises such as the leg press and totally lose awareness. I also noticed that I'm not nearly aware enough of the moments during which I should RC. I don't remember the last time I did remember to RC after seeing a housemate

Dream Yoga is going well though. I've decided to do it every single day. Depending on the exercise I will do it during the day in combination with ADA or I'll do it right before bed. I've also decided to DEILD every night, though so far without success. The last two nights that I used my alarm I already woke up a few minutes before it and couldn't immediately fall back asleep. I did manage to get a DILD last night. It lasted perhaps 30 seconds so it wasn't very satisfying, but I am happy with the fact that my first instinct after becoming lucid was to attempt to stabilise the dream by looking at my hands