Thread: TheAnachronist's Workbook

Lesson II- 6/18/16

Bedtime:
10:30pm-11pm
WBTB:
3am-4am
Woke up:
5:45am

Lucid dreaming has been fresh on my mind for the past few days, and while I am remembering 1 or 2 dreams per night, I think I still have a lot of practicing to do before attaining lucidity again. I have made some big changes to my daily routine and diet, the biggest ones being I have stopped all drug and alcohol intake for 8 days now (I was smoking marijuana everyday for years, and also drinking occasionally on weekends), I have been drinking only 1 cup of coffee per day (I would normally have several cups per day, and sometimes as late as 7 or 8 at night), and have stopped eating right before bed (I have found that eating right before bed can ruin my recall or simply kill my motivation to record in my DJ in the night). Some of these abrupt and drastic changes might be temporarily affecting my sleep in a negative way, but I think once my body adjusts these should be very positive changes for me. What do you think?

Last night I went to bed around 10:30 after doing about 40 minutes of yoga. Before going to sleep, I opened my DJ and set a pen next to it for recording, and I wrote down my intention as follows: "Tonight, when I dream, I will realize I'm dreaming and do a reality check." Then I turned out the lights and went to bed. I slept for about 5 hours, waking up just before 3 am. I could remember just fragments of the dream I was having. Then, I got up and used the bathroom. When I got back in to bed, I decided to attempt to WILD, since this was technically a WBTB situation. I have never performed a successful WILD all the way through to a lucid dream state, but I have experienced SP and HI before, so I sort of knew what to expect. I laid down perfectly still on my back to relax, I focused on my breathing and tried doing some mantra work (just repeating "I'm dreaming" and the like), but after a while, nothing was happening. I did feel myself sink a bit deeper, and there was definitely a physical feeling to this, but it didn't lead to anything, so I turned over to my side in my natural sleeping position and tried again. Still nothing. I laid there for over an hour, just trying to stay as still as possible. I tried counting, visualizing the numbers in tandem with my breathing, attempting to let go of my physical body as much as I could, but it just wasn't happening. Next thing I knew, it was past 4, so I gave up. But when I tried to just go back to sleep normally, it was like I forgot how, I was just laying there with my eyes closed, not sleeping. Eventually, I did fall asleep and had 1 more dream, but I did not become lucid.

I'm sure there could be several reasons for my failure, one of them being I was pretty hungry, and I'm used to eating right before passing out. Another could be that I knew I had to get up at 5:45 for work, so there was more reason to rush things. I'm thinking I just need to keep practicing and it will happen for me. Any thoughts or suggestions are much appreciated!! Thanks for reading!

I really enjoyed reading your introduction. It sounds like you have a very strong foundation in dreaming! Huge kudos for your recent changes in habits! I also recently drastically changed my eating and drinking habits. I'm two weeks in now and feel like my body is more adjusted to the change now. It definitely changed my sleep and memory for a little bit. I felt sluggish and unmotivated to sharpen my recall and write my dreams down in the morning. Also, in my experience, the WBTB routine can take a little getting used to. Like you, I really struggled to go back to sleep when my mind was occupied with mantras, counting, etc. but that changed quickly for me. I use a visualization that helps me with body awareness without putting me right to sleep, and that has led to multiple WILDS. I'm way out of practice now, thanks to school, but I'm back here trying to get inspired again by other people with the same passion. I look forward to reading about your next big success!

Thank you for reading!

Originally Posted by dreamingaze

I also recently drastically changed my eating and drinking habits. I'm two weeks in now and feel like my body is more adjusted to the change now. It definitely changed my sleep and memory for a little bit. I felt sluggish and unmotivated to sharpen my recall and write my dreams down in the morning. Also, in my experience, the WBTB routine can take a little getting used to. Like you, I really struggled to go back to sleep when my mind was occupied with mantras, counting, etc. but that changed quickly for me. I use a visualization that helps me with body awareness without putting me right to sleep, and that has led to multiple WILDS.

I think the biggest change that affects my sleep right now is not eating right before bed. I would snack until passing out as a teenager, and pretty much continued that habit until maybe 3 or 4 days ago. My body isn't used to sleeping while I'm hungry, but I know that's healthier and I'm hoping it should ultimately have a positive impact on my sleep, especially recall. Hopefully I get adjusted soon. I'm reading all these people's experiences and I miss being able to remember all the little details of dreams. I know it will come, I just have to remember to stay aware and RC regularly!

I should check out some visualization techniques! Do you find that meditation helps as well? That's also something I've been considering.

Thanks again for the support!

Originally Posted by TheAnachronist

I should check out some visualization techniques! Do you find that meditation helps as well? That's also something I've been considering.

My best results with meditation over the last couple years have been with a meditation/visualization combo before bed. I have also experimented some with binaural beats, which I find enjoyable and MUCH easier to do when I'm stressed. I don't have a regular meditation practice during the day, however. It's so hard for me to make myself sit down to do that on a regular basis, but I've been thinking a lot lately about trying to add that into my routine. No doubt it would help with a lot more than just lucid dreaming!

I'm happy to share the visualization I've been using. I used to use it just for relaxation at bedtime, but after I started working on LDs I discovered it is great for sharpening my awareness. I have used it successfully during my WBTB sessions to achieve WILDs.

For this technique, I start by breathing and counting back slowly from 10 (I always start by laying on my back with as little obstruction as possible). After I get to 1, I shift my awareness to one of my feet. I hold that awareness until I experience some kind of physical sensation in my foot (often a tingling or warm feeling.) I then imagine a blue or white light filling my foot and slowly moving up to my ankle, shin, knee, etc. I go slow, being sure to "feel" something in each part before moving upward, and hold the image of the glowing light in each part I have already "filled." When I reach my hips, I switch to the other foot and repeat. When I complete my second leg, I hold my awareness of both legs momentarily, and then start moving up the rest of my body. Sometimes I fall asleep before I reach my head, but if I can hold my awareness the entire time, I complete the exercise by visualizing my fully radiated "dream body." During my most successful episodes, the physical awareness I use in this exercise made it much easier to notice the subtle body morphing sensations that occur with transition back into REM. The visualization also seems to help me detach from the background sensory information in the room. For me, this techniques is a winner!

For this technique, I start by breathing and counting back slowly from 10 (I always start by laying on my back with as little obstruction as possible). After I get to 1, I shift my awareness to one of my feet. I hold that awareness until I experience some kind of physical sensation in my foot (often a tingling or warm feeling.) I then imagine a blue or white light filling my foot and slowly moving up to my ankle, shin, knee, etc. I go slow, being sure to "feel" something in each part before moving upward, and hold the image of the glowing light in each part I have already "filled." When I reach my hips, I switch to the other foot and repeat. When I complete my second leg, I hold my awareness of both legs momentarily, and then start moving up the rest of my body. Sometimes I fall asleep before I reach my head, but if I can hold my awareness the entire time, I complete the exercise by visualizing my fully radiated "dream body." During my most successful episodes, the physical awareness I use in this exercise made it much easier to notice the subtle body morphing sensations that occur with transition back into REM. The visualization also seems to help me detach from the background sensory information in the room. For me, this techniques is a winner!

Wow!! Thank you! This sounds amazing! I realize they had us do something like this in school before, and it was really relaxing and amazing! I'm going to try this for WBTB tonight and I'll let you know how it goes! So excited!!

Ok guys.

I am really getting frustrated. Every night since I started this workbook I have been setting my WBTB alarm for what should be a few sleep cycles in, usually around 3 or 3:30 am. I get up, go to the bathroom, or just rub my hands together and perform a few RC techniques. I keep my thoughts positive, giving myself some reinforcement, like "tonight is the night I will have my first successful WILD!" or "I can do this, I know I can do this!" Then, I lay down and stay perfectly still, and I either try using a mantra or counting while visualizing the numbers. I've also attempted the visualization technique that dreamingaze taught me, and last night I even tried using binaural beats with headphones in. Nothing I do seems to change my experience. I end up just laying there awake with my eyes closed for an hour or more, then I give up and eventually fall asleep. What am I doing wrong? I feel like I'm too focused, even though I really try not to be "waiting" for anything. I try to let sleep come on and just watch it happen, but it never comes. Before I had my lucid dreaming hiatus, I could usually get to the point of SP or some HI, but lately it's just nothing. Maybe i should put more energy and focus into DILD, because every lucid I've had was a DILD. I just hate waiting for myself to do an RC in a dream, because in my dreams I'm really good at just accepting all the nonsense that comes my way as normal. It just seems like if I could figure out how to WILD, it would be easier and more of a guaranteed way to become lucid.

I'd really appreciate any advice anyone has to offer. I'm really struggling here.

edit:
I wrote all that right when I woke up, but now I'm doing some reading on the forums and I'm coming up with a plan.

I was looking into some of the tutorials given in Lesson II, like the Night Time Routine post and the Dream Incubation tutorial. Today is my day off, so I'm going to clean my room until it's spotless and turn it into my dreaming sanctuary. I'm also going to stop watching TV right before bed and stay off my computer. I read somewhere once that you should have at least an hour of no screens before bed each night, but I've never followed that advice because I'm a millennial, and screens is what I do best.
But I just got Stephen LaBerge's book Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming in the mail yesterday, so I will start doing that before bed instead of TV. Hopfeully these small changes will keep my mindful and maybe soon I'll do a RC in a dream and become lucid for the first time in years )

Originally Posted by TheAnachronist

Today is my day off, so I'm going to clean my room until it's spotless and turn it into my dreaming sanctuary. I'm also going to stop watching TV right before bed and stay off my computer. I read somewhere once that you should have at least an hour of no screens before bed each night, but I've never followed that advice because I'm a millennial, and screens is what I do best. But I just got Stephen LaBerge's book Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming in the mail yesterday, so I will start doing that before bed instead of TV. Hopfeully these small changes will keep my mindful and maybe soon I'll do a RC in a dream and become lucid for the first time in years )

I can't help but chuckle at how much we sound alike. I gave up on trying to have a WILD again, since that really is the big daddy LD for me anyway, and am focusing on DILD and DEILD. With my body still adjusting to new chemistry (no sugar, carbs, etc.) and my mind still tied up with school stress, I'm going with a more subtle approach. I too turned my bedroom into my "sanctuary." No screens before bed, and read instead. The LeBerge book is great. I'm rereading Daniel Love's book right now. I'm using my visualization at bedtime instead of WBTB time, and simply focus on remembering my dreams and using a mantra to go back to sleep at 3:30. And you know what? Voila! DILD this morning! You can do this too! Patience, grasshopper.

Do you have any interest in a dream buddy?

I can't help but chuckle at how much we sound alike.

hahah we must be on the same wavelength! Congrats on your DILD! Did you record it anywhere on DV? I'd love to read it! Thanks for the encouragement! Every morning I wake up without having become lucid, I'm a bit cranky lol. But after I remind myself that I've only been back in the game for less than a week, I know it's very probable that I'm just around the corner from having my first lucid since I began again. I should be grateful that I'm remembering my dreams at all, because only earlier this month and for the past several years, I would only remember like one dream a week or so. Now I'm having few every night as nature intended and that is a feat in itself!

I don't know exactly what you mean by dream buddy but it sounds like something I'd be into!

Thanks again dreamingaze!! It's nice to have someone to talk to about all this because IRL everyone I mention it to doesn't seem to understand. I'm sure you must feel the same way!

Originally Posted by TheAnachronist

Did you record it anywhere on DV? I'd love to read it! Thanks for the encouragement! Every morning I wake up without having become lucid, I'm a bit cranky lol. I don't know exactly what you mean by dream buddy but it sounds like something I'd be into!

Just posted! Thank you for the support as well. It really does help connecting with other people that know what the hell I'm talking about. LOL

I read about the buddy program here. If you're game, I'm game, since we do seem to be on a similar wavelength.

Last night was a failure. I was out with friends and we had some drinks. I didn't get home until 2am, then I slept all the way through til 7, woke for a minute, then slept again until 10:30. had a few dream fragments, but got off track with my plan to visualize and do some dream incubation. I'll have to try that for tonight. My weekends are Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and I don't normally drink a lot but I was with a friend I haven't seen in a long time, and you know how it goes.

Better luck tonight!!

Ok, I want to make this post before I do my 1 hour of no screens before bed. I figure posting in my workbook can be another step toward mindfullness and lucidity.
Tonight is the first night I am trying this. I had dinner a little over an hour ago, healthy food (dill salmon and spanish rice), I am going to read for 30 min to an hour in my LaBerge book, then do some dream incubation and mantra work before bed. I'll set my WBTB alarm and have a lucid dream tonight

Sweet dreams, y'all!

I had my first lucid dream in 3 years last night! I'm so overjoyedd!
It was a DILD, or maybe MILD because it was after my WBTB and instead of attempting a WILD i just focused on mantras that would help me realize I was dreaming. I think DILDS come much more naturally to me than WILD, though I don't want to give up on the WILD technique. Sometimes you have to master what comes easiest first, and then branch out from there?
The whole dream I think my consciousness was really trying to get there, because I was levitating and doing Jedi mind tricks on people, and eventually I just knew I was dreaming. The whole dream can be found here

I left the lucid dream to a FA, but I didn't even realize it. I think I should do a RC every time I wake up, especially after a lucid dream. I woke up from the lucid last night in my room in my parent's house, but I was so excited about the LD that I didn't realize that I don't live there, and so I was still dreaming.
But one step at a time, I'm just so happy to have broken the dry spell. I feel like that is the hardest part, and there are many more LD's to come! I think I was propelled by momentum from my dream buddy who has had several LD's this week. Thanks dreamingaze! Seems like we're definitely still on the same wavelength!!

AHH, it's gonna be a great day!!

Sooooooo happy for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!