Hi. I'm brand-new to this but am really excited to revolutionise my sleeping and dreaming life. Thanks so much for this intro course, it's ideal for getting started on the right track; it's really appreciated.
I posted an introduction here, if you're so inclined: (I linked to it, but the forum rules wouldn't allow it as my account is too young).
Reality Checks:
Looking at hands and counting fingers;
Pushing thumbs into palms.
Dream Signs:
Unsure at the moment, but potentially:
Running;
Feeling disconcerted with a person/situation.
Short-Term Goals:
Go to bed earlier when I know I'm going to be woken early in the morning (4-year-old daughter!) to achieve minimum 7 hours sleep;
Reduce evenings where I consume alcohol to see if that makes a difference to dreaming, and react accordingly;
Train myself out of having podcasts on whilst I go to sleep;
Keep up my nightly dream journal in order to improve dream recall;
Succeed in at least attempting to do my RC in a dream.
Long-Term Goals:
Recapture the very vivid and immersive dream worlds of my childhood;
Achieve lucidity;
Use lucidity to properly integrate unconscious psychological objects for improved ego health and character;
Be able to have tons of fun in my dreams!
Lucid/Dream Recall History:
Potentially lucid once as a very young child. Also had good dream recall as a child as my dreams were often vivid. As an adult my sleeping pattern and dream recall have both been poor, both of which I'm looking to change here.
Current Technique:
DILD. I've been doing my RCs and attempting to replicate that in my dream - last night was the first night though.
NIGHT 1:
I'd spent the day doing my RCs, ate slightly earlier than usual and only had one pint of cider with my dinner as I suspect too much alcohol might be a handicap to dream recall. I put my new dream journal and pen at the ready, and I was in bed by 11pm. I knew that as my wife and daughter were away for the night (and I work from home), that I could awaken naturally in the morning. I only struggled slightly to sleep without my usual podcasts and was probably sleeping by 11:30pm.
Bearing in mind that I've probably recalled three dreams in the last year I was amazed top record three dreams last night! They were:
03:40am: Very bizarre. I was training martial arts, but we were doing running and chasing to earn belts. At one point there was a TV crew. I ran through some vertical cut timbre planks to beat two girls in a race. There was a man wearing a lot of martial arts belts who was standing in an open drain. The TV announcer said that someone had earned their JuJitsu white belt. I thought "that comes with the kit, you don't earn it" but I said nothing.
05:13am: In a café that was run by Johnny Marr from The Smiths. He was busy on the phone, but I went out of my way to let him know that another member of staff needed him. There's nothing in the café that I wanted to eat, but I queued anyway. I deliberately misread a dish name as "Vomiting Heart"!
06:03: At a massive year group party from my old school (I'm 37 now, these people were from my past when I was about 15). A guy I used to know (we weren't close, I just knew him, so it's surprising he turned up in my dream) kept blowing on my hands. I repeatedly asked him to stop, but he wouldn't. In the end I shout and even threaten him. At this point he sulks and I feel ostracised from the group for my outburst. Eventually I have to pack and leave for a flight. Note: As I was writing that in my dream journal last night I realised that this guy, the DC, was trying to draw my attention to my hands - my RC! I couldn't believe it when that dawned on me, I felt overwhelmed by it, actually. Hopefully next time I'll pay attention and not get cross - perhaps a lesson from my unconscious there...
That's Night 1 done - I've certainly learned the value of keeping a journal, the difference the intent to do it has made to my dream recall is remarkable.
