Xanous' Workbook

[Xanous]

OK I really need to refresher. I'm not new to this but I have really been out of practice. My recall is terrible and I think this class will be a great jump start. I have an app on my phone that reminds me to do recalls. I either do the nose plug or finger hand check. Sometimes, if I am outside I will look at the sky and see if anything spectacular happens (dream sign).

[Caenis]

Hello Xanous, welcome to the class. This is a self-paced class, so take as much time as you want or need with each lesson. I take it you're using DILD and/or MILD. Any other techniques you're using? What are your goals for the short-term and the long-term? Have you decided how you'll improve your recall? There's a DVA chat in half an hour in IRC, so feel free to join us!

[Xanous]

Hi and thanks. Sorry I missed the chat had family stuff yesterday. Yes, MILD and DILD. Sometimes WILD but my WILD's mostly come about if I happen to find myself in SP. SP used to scare the ever living dog crap out of me. But thanks to DV I learned to turn it into a lucid dream. Goals? Not sure. I want to get back to having regular LD's and nightly dream recall. I think one can learn a lot by examining dreams. Last night I used caffeine to with WBTB and my recall increased but I ended up wide awake for an hour or so. I tried to WILD but it was no good.

[Caenis]

Hey Xanous, no worries, I just wanted to let you know if you happened to be available! There will be many more chats you can attend if you are interested. There's certainly no obligation to attend them though. I'm glad that DV helped you use SP to have LDs, and showed you that it was nothing to fear. Glad you already started trying to get your recall back too! Do you imagine you'll continue using caffeine regularly? Will you make any other changes to your diet or sleep schedule?

[Xanous]

Probably wont use the caffeine much if at all. It really disrupted my sleep. I ended up sleeping way later then I wanted to this morning because of it. I may look into supplements but I don't want to rely on them. They help but only for a time. My diet is pretty healthy but I do need to focus on more consistent sleep schedule. My problem is that I seem to have periods of restless legs at night and it really kills my recall. Instead of thinking about my dreams I'm just mad that my legs hurt. I am trying to at least use the opportunity to try WBTB methods.

[Caenis]

A friend of mine was woken up with restless legs too--ruined his sleep schedule, he was miserable. He told me that potassium helped him. Try eating a banana before bed, the B6 in it should also help your dreams be more vivid. If you haven't already tried it, experiment with it soon. You could also try going to bed an hour earlier, that's supposed to help you wake up more easily after you dream. Please tell me if I'm telling you stuff you already know. You've been part of DV for much longer than I, so I don't want to tell you stuff you've known for years.

[Xanous]

Well yeah some of it but I don't mind. There might be something I forgot or missed. I haven't actually tried eating bananas but I do take potassium supplements and it helps some but not 100%. I might try going to bed earlier but thats a challenge sometimes.

[Xanous]

Did some reality checks today. Sometimes I try to push my hand through glass. Glass is always "soft" in dreams.

[Xanous]

No lucids. Used MILD. Took multivitamins potassium and magnesium 1 hour before bed. I noticed that I woke up a lot and had a hard time falling asleep. No use trying to WILD. Seems like I almost thought to RC in the dream with the helicopter.

[Wurlman]

You WILL have a lucid dream tonight!

[Xanous]

You WILL have a lucid dream tonight! Power of positive thinking? I like it.

[Wurlman]

No really u WILL tonight! and so will I! Then we talk about it tomarrow sound good?

[Xanous]

Continued to do RCs but not as many. I don't want to make it a chore. Tried pushing my hand into the mirror in the bathroom at work. (no one was there) Also started doing brain trainer and memory apps on my phone in hopes of making my mind more aware and sharp.

[Xanous]

No really u WILL tonight! and so will I! Then we talk about it tomarrow sound good? I'm not convince but sounds good.

[Caenis]

Also started doing brain trainer and memory apps on my phone in hopes of making my mind more aware and sharp. That's a good idea. I started keeping a waking journal to help with my memory. I haven't done much other than SAT for awareness though. I like the idea of using brain trainers to increase memory/awareness.

[Wurlman]

I'm not convince but sounds good. I come on dude!

[Xanous]

I come on dude! OK OK I believe you! We will talk about it tomorrow. LOL. That's a good idea. I started keeping a waking journal to help with my memory. I haven't done much other than SAT for awareness though. I like the idea of using brain trainers to increase memory/awareness. Wait what is SAT? I know ADA and its tough especially when I am working and such.

[Caenis]

Good job, Wurlman, Xanous is pumped now! Look at that focus and confidence! Xanous is ready to kick some lucid ass tonight. Puffin's Sporadic Awareness Technique Guide. ADA is ridiculously difficult. I'd like to do ADA some day, but SAT is a heck of a lot easier. It's basically ADA, but not 24/7. If you're interested in ADA, have you been reading the Dream Yoga lessons? Or have you joined that class too?

[Xanous]

LOL yes pumped! So I guess when I try ADA I end up doing SAT. I only skimmed part of that link I will be reading that one thoroughly. Now I'm going to go have a lucid. And thanks guys. I enjoy the advice and encouragement.

[Xanous]

Well a little too pumped. I was having restless leg the first half and getting mad because it craps my recall. So I moved to the recliner and felt better but my idiot cat was jumping on me a lot. Anyway I briefly woke up enough to remember to try WILD. I didn't get up or give it any time. I just went straight into this Jakob's Awesome WILD or my own variation of it and here is what happened. Well it was still progress. It was the best intentional WILD yet. SP is the key for me. Everyone says to get up and wake up for a bit. I think it was better not to move. Even though I did lose concentration more easily I entered SP really fast. It was almost like the few time I was able to chain my dreams. You know... when you wake up don't move and just think about the dream. Well I failed but I will know better next time. And lock the cat up some place! Blah its sucks though because I ended up not being able to go back to sleep. Waking up two hours early is not my usual thing. I did get to bed about an hour early but my sleep is really messed up now. I have been drinking a lot of water so I know I will wake up to go to the bathroom and I will get to do WBTB. I only did that because an alarm would really be rude to my wife. I'm thinking about not trying any techniques tonight and just focus on sleep. If I happen to wake then I will try WILD or just repeat my mantra but not spend a lot of time on it.

[Wurlman]

Damn cats

[Xanous]

Since I had sometime I started looking back on my old post. Theres a lot of important things I forgot and theres a lot that was crap. Funny how I change my point of view over time.

[Wurlman]

Great point! I think I'll read my old dream journal from last year as well! Good idea man.

[Caenis]

Focusing on sleep for a night or two is a good idea, especially since you're working. Sleeping a good amount is more important than LDing, as that affects both your waking and dreaming life! I'm always miserable if I don't get at least 7 hours of sleep, preferably 8 or 9. Work can be pure torture if you don't have enough sleep. I'm happy to read that you had some progress with WILD, good job. Last night would have been a good time to start practicing that cat throwing sport. I can't wait to hear how you'll progress without the cat bothering you! You were so close, first with the vibrations, then with the FA. And despite not sleeping well or long last night, you still remembered your FA! I hope you sleep well the next couple nights, I'm eager to read more of your progress.

[Xanous]

Last night would have been a good time to start practicing that cat throwing sport. She knows when I'm pissed and won't come near lol. The FA took a few minutes to understand what happened.