BrotherGoose's Workbook

Hey all! I figured that it was about time to get started with a workbook. I have a physical DJ but I will possibly start posting some of my more standout dreams also.

Reality Checks:

- Breathing through plugged nose.
- Hand examination and finger push.
- When I’m using a mirror I will typically tap it, expecting ripples of some sort in a dream.

Dream Signs:

- Crowded, exciting places (concerts/amusement parks etc.)
- Boats
- Friends that I don’t often see, but have seen recently
- Car accidents (although this usually wakes me up)

Short-Term Goals:

- Sustain and explore lucid dreams more thoroughly
- Increased stability/vividity
- Continue to progress with recall
- Establish more reliable dream signs

Long-Term Goals:

- Explore my own psyche
- Create my own dreamscapes that I can visit repeatedly

Lucid/Dream Recall History:

- 3-5 Lucid/Semi-Lucid. Nothing lasting more than a minute. Only one was not ‘blurry’.
- Recall is improving rapidly. 2-3 dreams a night is typical (although less in the last few days). Page long DJs typical.

Current Technique:

- My current technique (although at a certain point they seem to blend together to a degree…) is DILD. Occasionally I will dabble with repeating some mantras before bed (MILD) with mixed results.
- I have tried WILD, SSILD, and FILD multiple times each, both at the beginning of the night and w/ WBTB. In almost all occasions this results in me not becoming lucid and making it harder for me to sleep. For example, on some nights I’ll be very tired and decide to try to WILD. In addition to it not working I will then spend 1+ hours to fall asleep. I’ve since dropped these almost entirely, planning on trying them again once I am more familiar with the lucid dream state.

My most recent working points have been to focus on improving my sleeping habits (hopefully the habits will stick). I wake up each morning at 630 (although I may need to move this forward to allow for more DJ time) meaning I’ve had to more my bedtime from 12 to 1030. One of the biggest resistance points for me is that between work/commute/gym I now have <2 hours free time a day.

General question - Does body position (back vs. side) affect dreaming/lucid dreaming?

Hello Brothergoose and welcome to intro class! :)

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General question - Does body position (back vs. side) affect dreaming/lucid dreaming?

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Quite an interesting question. I think there may be some effect of different body positions on dreams and lucid dreaming, but usually this effect is not very pronounced. So, in general you don't have to worry that you have to sleep in a position that is not comfortable for you. If you are interested, however, you can note your sleeping position and see if it makes any difference for you in terms of ease of falling asleep, focus, recall, dream contents, lucidity, etc.

Your Homework For Lesson II is:


Study up on all of the induction techniques listed here and find one that suits you.
Practice your chosen induction technique for at least 2 weeks (although longer is preferred) before changing it to something else or ruling out that it's not working.
Continue to post all of your experiences, even failed ones, into your workbook.

Optional:
Discuss your chosen technique with the teachers by posting in your workbook. There are lots of ways to go about each technique, we will be able help you find a method that suits you!
Choose a second (and possibly third) induction technique that compliments your first. For example, if you chose DILD you will also be able to perform WILD.
If possible, it is highly advised to include WBTB into your routine.

Your Homework For Lesson IV is:


When inside of a lucid dream, practice the dream control techniques. Post your results in your workbook.
If you you have a lucid dream and find yourself losing it, practice the stabilisation techniques listed here. Post your results in your workbook.

Optional:
Recall your favourite quote inside a dream and say it out loud. What were your experiences?
Visit somewhere you know from waking life, take note of all its surroundings, are there any subtle differences?
Swim underwater and attempt to breathe, were you able to?

Started taking a supplement called super sleep (100mg -Theanine,15 mg - 5-HTP, 1.5 mg - Melatonin each times 2) 2 nights ago. Resulted in the first time in 2 months not remembering a dream. Will stop tonight and save for days when I can't sleep, need deep sleep, or have lots of time in the morning for deferred REM sleep.

Is anyone able to confirm my understanding of how this work (am browsing Lucid Aids but I'll pose the direct question here also)? These supplements, like alcohol, suppress REM sleep leading to a deeper sleep at the beginning of the night with less REM and resulting in more REM sleep at the end of the night. Is this correct?

Stopped taking the super sleep. Will save for weekends or nights when I have 10+ hours in bed. Started remembering dreams again. 3 snippets. Need to refocus on detail in my dreams. I feel like I'm missing dream signs because all I can remember is typically "the plot" rather than details the might be considered strange.

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Is anyone able to confirm my understanding of how this work (am browsing Lucid Aids but I'll pose the direct question here also)? These supplements, like alcohol, suppress REM sleep leading to a deeper sleep at the beginning of the night with less REM and resulting in more REM sleep at the end of the night. Is this correct?

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Yes, you got that right. They suppress REM in earlier hours of sleep and result in longer REM (REM rebound) later on. I have mixed results from such types of supplements. Sometimes after a few hours of sleep I would feel well rested, yet at other times I would feel quite sleepy even in the late hours. Maybe they also depend on our sleep debt (how much sleep the body feels it needs to make up from previous nights). :whyme: