Beginner's luck?

**Peetee36** · 01-23-2011 01:57 AM

Firstly as you can see I'm new here, so I'd just like to say Hi to everyone and I hope that I have a fun time on the forums. But now on to the main point. I first started trying to induce Lucid dreams about a month ago, and I read up on things to do: Reality checks, dream journal, REM cycles etc. and the first night of trying I had a Lucid dream. Didn't last very long, but I think it was still good for a first attempt. But since then I've only had 1 other Lucid dream, and if I'm honest, I've barely been able to remember any dreams, so it's almost impossible for me to keep a dream journal. I've continued to do reality checks and keep my mind focused on Lucid dreaming pretty much every night, but to no avail. I've also tried to recreate what I did on that first night, but it doesn't seem to be working. Did I just have a lucky break, or could it be something else?

**Hyu** · 01-23-2011 02:59 AM

Welcome to DV!

As I see it your main problem is dream recall, which is a vital aspect of lucid dreaming.
Have you tried staying in bed for a minute after waking up, closing your eyes and trying to recall any dreams you may have had?
It's a rather effective way of increasing dream recall.

It's not uncommon to have a lucid dream the first night you try, but if you want to have more lucids you really need to improve your dream recall.

Good luck!

**Nufeather1** · 01-23-2011 03:12 AM

Welcome! and congrats on going lucid!
I say you should question your surrondings and do reality checks while doing so. you could try one of the methods I use.. I write RC on the back of my hand and when I see it I immdiately question my surrondings and ask am I dreaming? and perform a few reality checks. Also if you want to try you can look into lucid aids to maybe help. I believe that falls under the attaining lucidity thread. Actually, you could also lie in bed once you wake up and remain still and ask questions about what you were dreaming of, or how you felt=that helps me quite a bit.

Good luck!

**Peetee36** · 01-23-2011 03:15 AM

I think one of the problems is that my dreams are rarely ever weird. There's no abnormal situations, or crazy objects flying around, there's just normal people in normal situations. So unless I wake up directly after a dream, I don't seem to remember dreaming. And as weird as it sounds, I often mistake dreams for memories. So I might wake up, and have a vague memory of something happen, but since my dreams are usually normal everyday things that I would do, I don't know whether it's a dream or just a vague memory of something, and I won't jot it down. I'll try waking myself up during an REM cycle tonight and see if I'm able to remember my dreams. But I'll try closing my eyes and remembering in the morning. Thanks.

**Peetee36** · 01-23-2011 03:19 AM

Originally Posted by Nufeather1

Welcome! and congrats on going lucid!
I say you should question your surrondings and do reality checks while doing so. you could try one of the methods I use.. I write RC on the back of my hand and when I see it I immdiately question my surrondings and ask am I dreaming? and perform a few reality checks. Also if you want to try you can look into lucid aids to maybe help. I believe that falls under the attaining lucidity thread. Actually, you could also lie in bed once you wake up and remain still and ask questions about what you were dreaming of, or how you felt=that helps me quite a bit.

Good luck!

I think on my successful night I stared at my hands for about 20 minutes saying "I will see my hands and realise that I'm dreaming", and in the dream I realised I was dreaming when I done reality checks (Although I thought it was stupid doing reality checks because I was convinced it was reality. Shows the power of dreams for you) but it might have also been that I kept looking at my hand. I'll try it again tonight, and hopefully it will work. And plus, even just discussing Lucid dreams increases the chances of having one, so thanks guys

**Nufeather1** · 01-23-2011 03:22 AM

no problem! you could either wake up during an REM cycle naturally by drinking a bit of water before bed (I heard it makes you have to go to the bathroom around a certain point in the REM cycle), or you could use an alarm. If you feel you have something (even if it may be a memory jot it down; then you can find some dreamsigns to help you from that point on).

please post your results(on this thread or your Dream Journal) so I can maybe help a little further (even if it is nothing was recalled).

**Peetee36** · 01-23-2011 03:25 AM

I will. Thanks for the help.

**Peetee36** · 01-23-2011 01:26 PM

Had a bit of luck remembering dreams last night. Vaguely remember about 3, but not in enough detail to make a detailed Dream Journal though. It's a start though from not being able to remember it at all. Thanks for the help guys.

**ninja9578** · 01-23-2011 02:32 PM

When you first wake up, lay still with your eyes closed. Your brain will think that you are going back to sleep and fire up the parts of the brain used for dreaming, that should get the memory of your last dream to come back.

**Peetee36** · 01-23-2011 02:47 PM

I'll try that, although I think that as soon as I wake up my mind just focuses on waking up.

**Nufeather1** · 01-23-2011 08:18 PM

Originally Posted by Peetee36

Had a bit of luck remembering dreams last night. Vaguely remember about 3, but not in enough detail to make a detailed Dream Journal though. It's a start though from not being able to remember it at all. Thanks for the help guys.

despite the fact of duration, i still would like for you to post even the smallest tid bits. sometimes something in your day may trigger your memory and help you remember the dream in most of its entirety.

**Peetee36** · 01-23-2011 08:25 PM

Originally Posted by Nufeather1

despite the fact of duration, i still would like for you to post even the smallest tid bits. sometimes something in your day may trigger your memory and help you remember the dream in most of its entirety.

Well unfortunately since I never recorded it It's pretty much gone from my memory. But I'll be sure to record my dreams tonight, even if I barely remember them, and I'll type up a dream journal and link you to it if you want.

**Nufeather1** · 01-23-2011 09:17 PM

Originally Posted by Peetee36

Well unfortunately since I never recorded it It's pretty much gone from my memory. But I'll be sure to record my dreams tonight, even if I barely remember them, and I'll type up a dream journal and link you to it if you want.

sounds good by me. I only remembered a part of how i felt in a dream, but later i gave that feeling some thought and question and remembered nearly all of the dream because i recorded the few details i had remembered.