Thread: Have a couple questions about Lucid Dreaming and Dreams in general.

Hi, I just started attempting to lucid dream 2 nights ago. I mostly have been a heavy sleeper and not had (I know everyone has dreams) a dream in quite some time. So I suppose you could say I haven't remembered them since I was little. I only remember about 3 dreams throughout my entire life. This is what made me want to lucid dream.

So here come my questions.

1. Are any of the side effects of lucid dreaming dangerous/permanent? Such as sleep paralysis. I read this can be a scary experience. Is this at all dangerous and/or permanent?

2. What exactly counts as a dream sign? Out of my very few dreams, I have noticed only one thing in common: there has always been less than 2 or 3 people. Does this count as a dream sign?


Also as a side note... After doing reality checks + mantras, I finally had my first dream in a couple years. It was only a few seconds as I share a room and they like the alarm on (which woke me up ). I feel this stuff will really work. I also feel better rested since I started (a real plus as I am usually tired during the day). I also started a dream journal. Though, it feels kinda weird since I haven't had many dreams yet.

Just keep practicing and you will start to remember more dreams each night. If you don't already get sleep paraylsis a lot like some people do, then you won't start getting it all the time. I find sleep paralysis exciting because it means I'm closer to the dream world. Also non of its real, so there's nothing to be afraid of. But its hard not to be scared when you have a black figure standing over you, breathing really loud lol. But there's nothing wrong with lucid dreaming and it won't cause any nad things to happen to you, unless the person trying it is already crazy.

Hello, Welcome to the forums.

Sleep paralysis is neither dangerous nor permanent. Many people never experience sleep paralysis. Even if a person does experience it, it does not start happening every night. I myself have haven't ever had sleep paralysis. Even after I began to actively practice lucid dreaming I haven't had it.

Dream signs are signals that you can pick up on that you are dreaming. They can be pretty much anything. If it is the case that there seems to be very few people in your dreams then that could definitely be something you watched for. Perhaps whenever you are alone remember to do reality checks?

I'm glad to see that you are making a dream journal. Using it will inevitably improve your recall. Even if you don't remember big long dreams yet, just write down anything at all you do remember. Even if it is something small like "i remember driving somewhere and an old friend was in the seat next to me." Anything at all that you can write down will help.

If you haven't already, you should take a look at the Wiki it has lots of great info.

Good luck with your efforts, it looks like you are off to a great start.

Hi and welcome! Keep on writing in the DJ and try to remember your dreams. You will get better at recalling them with each time.


1. None at all. Don't freak out and let it become something insanely frightening if you experience it. The few times I've had it, I have known for sure that I was indeed in a SP and it was all in my head. They were like a scary roller coaster ride. You think it's scary at the moment, but you know you're 100% safe. Same goes for all kinds of dreams.

2. As you don't dream much, I wouldn't suggest you rely on dreamsigns. But dreamsigns are something that are often in your dreams. A person is a good example. Everytime you see that person IRL, you do a Reality Check and ask yourself if you're dreaming. If you have alot of dreams about this person, you should do a RC whenever you dream about him/her and get lucid.

Good luck, and keep on dreaming!

Alright, last night was definitely progress. I dunno if watching Inception helped, but I had 3 dreams last night. One of which was about lucid dreaming (didn't actually do it though D= ). The other two I don't remember, I only remember having them. And the first one was alright in length but along with the others, I don't remember much. I do remember that there was few people besides myself.

I heard there were some sort of tones/music that you can listen to in order to dream. Does Inception do this? I watched it right before I went to sleep. It was a great movie, but I don't know if it is what caused my dreams. Anyone have similar experiences?

Perhaps the 3-dream thing was because of practice, mantras, rc's, and my dj. I don't know, but it was the most I have had in one night, like ever.

As usual, I am writing in my dream journal, in hopes of something greater to write about

edit: also, thanks for the advice

edit 2: I had a much harder time getting to sleep last night than I usually do. Could this be a cause as well? Usually I have no problem getting to sleep. But last night, man, I stayed awake for an hour or so longer than usual. I think it might have been the movie...

The movie could have helped. Could have given you some more interesting dreams which in return you will usually remember more easily. But keep writing in your DJ because that will definatly help with your recall and its fun reading your past dreams.

to the forums!

okay well sleep paralysis happens EVERY single night for everyone (unless you have certain sleep disorders). SO the only thing different is that you're awake when it happens, nothing to worry about. It is completely natural.Pretty much the only side affects are loss of sleep, if you're waking up a lot in the night.

well I don't think, dream signs are re occurring people/places/events/etc that you see in most of your dreams, so I wouldn't qualify that as a dream sign. I don't really have any dreams signs because my dreams change almost every night-one night I dream I'm with friends at school, the next night I am climbing grape vines in the sky. You never know haha

just keep doing your dream journal and it will get better good lucj!

Keep working on your DJ and you will have great recall.

Alright, one more question I just thought of.

How exactly does dream recall effect how vivid / whether or not you dream? It seems like they are completely separate topics. Whenever I dream, I "experience" the dream while I sleep. Almost like watching a movie. Then, I wake up. When I wake up, depending on how vivid the dream was, I will be able to remember more or less. Out of what I am reading, it seems to be the other way around. Ie, if you remember the dream it will be more vivid.

During the night (for me atleast), its like this:
1. I start to fall asleep.
2. Black
3. Dream starts / I end up in middle / whatever.
4. I wake up, and remember the dream.

On steps 3 and 4, it is like I am watching a movie. When I am "watching" it, It is actively going on, then I wake up or "finish the movie" and everything is dependent on how well I remember the movie.

I was reading in several places, dreams don't work like this. It seems that you wake up, then experience it? I don't understand how that works... How does your experience with the dream be dependent on how well you remember it?

Originally Posted by Kafke

Alright, one more question I just thought of.

How exactly does dream recall effect how vivid / whether or not you dream? It seems like they are completely separate topics. Whenever I dream, I "experience" the dream while I sleep. Almost like watching a movie. Then, I wake up. When I wake up, depending on how vivid the dream was, I will be able to remember more or less. Out of what I am reading, it seems to be the other way around. Ie, if you remember the dream it will be more vivid.

During the night (for me atleast), its like this:
1. I start to fall asleep.
2. Black
3. Dream starts / I end up in middle / whatever.
4. I wake up, and remember the dream.

On steps 3 and 4, it is like I am watching a movie. When I am "watching" it, It is actively going on, then I wake up or "finish the movie" and everything is dependent on how well I remember the movie.

I was reading in several places, dreams don't work like this. It seems that you wake up, then experience it? I don't understand how that works... How does your experience with the dream be dependent on how well you remember it?

Think of it this way. Let's say you have awful short term memory so after you watch a movie everything you remember is spotty. You KNOW you watched it and you can remember details, but not the bulk of it. Practicing dream recall is basically like filling in the gaps. It's pretty much a way to exercise your memory.

>.> Just had a dream last night. Really vivid. I could also remember it exactly when I woke up. However, because I don't want to wake my roommate, I just try to store it into memory and fall back to sleep (I do dj in the morning). Morning comes and completely forget the dream! It really sucks. I feel like I'm getting closer to a lucid dream. Finally starting to dream again.

I am finally starting to anticipate night time instead of dreading it. Lucid dreaming will make it even better.

The ole tingly feeling.. The first few times I felt this I immediately jolted awake. The key is to stay calm, and keep your mind concentrated, ignore your body. Eventually you will feel full sleep paralysis and images will start to look real instead of imagined. The first time I experienced a WILD the dream started as a small square (not taking up my whole vision) and then I sorta "fell" into the dream. You are doing great by making it this far btw.

...Well last night sucked. I tried having a banana before sleeping, I heard it helps. However, it almost feels as if it didn't. I had a hard time getting to sleep last night. Zero Dream recall. I wasn't even aware I was sleeping like I usually am. It was like: alright, time to sleep. Bam! morning time already.

I woke up a bit before I needed to (6:30 as opposed to 8ish). So I decided to try and wild (I should do it when I wake up right?). I laid still for what seemed like 15-30 minutes. I got the numb / tingling feeling that I got last time I tried it. However, not much else happened. What was I supposed to do at this step?

wow from 3 dreams in your life to 3 in a night, thats superb progress keep it up. what reality checks do you do? for people who have trouble remembering dreams, you can combine reality checks with memory exercises that will help. what i do is throughout the day, alongside whatever other reality checks you use, ask yourself "how did i get here" or "what have i been doing for the last 15 minutes" then recall as many deails as possible. this will help recall, and also when you do it in a dream and realise that you have no idea how you got there, or you arrived on a chariot made of frogs, then it will help to realise you are dreaming. good luck K

Well, my dreams now are a lot shorter and less vivid than the ones I remember from way back when. However, they are getting better. Last night, I had a pretty vivid dream. What sucks is that I don't remember almost anything about it. Also, when I wake up at night (at the right time through autosuggestion), I think 'alright time to wild'. After a few minutes or so, I just fall asleep >.< So frustrating.


Edit: Also, I think I forget to RC in my dreams...