very newbie help...

Hi all, first post, hoping for a long and propsperous LD life. Please help!!

I had never heard of LD or anything like it. But...

A couple of weeks ago I dreamt I knew I was dreaming (and was chased by Freddy Krueger hahaha, but quite natural to know you're dreaming since this is the state in which he appears!). Didn't think too much about it after I woke, apart from it feeling Inception-like. I did not at all control any actions whatsover, nor did it feel like a new dream-sensation (which I am told LD is). It was a semi-nightmare in which I deliberately woke myself up from by forcing my eyes to open (often did this when I was a kid to stop nightmares).

Therefore, my guess is I only dreamt that I was aware, without actually being it.

My dream recall is normally ok, but very weird dreams are common and jump between places with no connection, people turn into trains and whatnot. It all feels very fuzzy.

After this specific dream, I googled and stumbled across LD and this site. I have now a DJ since a couple of days back, have done hard research on tutorials and techniques and everything else, doing reality checks IRL etc. But I still don't really get it - what is the sensation I am looking to achieve?

My dreams are too fuzzy and foggy to be able to think inside of them. To do a RC in a dream is just impossible, because I cannot control my own character or my own actions.

The first night after stumbling across this site I tried to do the mantra "I will do reality checks" and that night I had 5 separate dreams, fairly long. Slept through the night and just remembered all 5. In the first one, I think, I remember questioning myself "how did I get here", but am not sure if I did it deliberately or if my dream character did it itself. In other words, I might have just been dreaming that I knew I was dreaming - hope you get it.

Still very fuzzy, but I the answer to the question was a split second thought ("I don't know how I got here, so I must be dreaming") and then I either woke up (which I don't remember doing) or fell into another dream or heavier sleep. But I think I was interrupted in dream-world simuli, gunshots or something, which made me lose focus on the task in hand, as I probably got scared of what was happening around me. Was this close to LD? On my first attempt?

Feels a bit like beginners luck, and I have to say a bit scary. But again: what is LD more precisely and what is the feeling I am looking to achieve?

I know how to get there, by practicing and repeating techniques etc, but I still dream very fuzzy stuff.

Finally, I think DILD is probably the best way for me to start, right? I won't set alarms at this stage (wife would kill me). So all I have to do is good recall (DJ), mantras and reality checks? How can I do RC in a dream when my character / own self doesn't obey me?

So all in all, I have ZERO experience but am just fascinated by LD, and want to try it. I will also be taking B6 vitamins. PLEASE HELP, I want to know what the fuss is about! :) Any tips and comments on above is much welcomed!!!

Thanks!!

EDIT: I have only been researching for 3-4 days, and DJ only existed that long. Recall seems to be improving, if I tell myself to remember when I go to bed. 1st night 5 recalls, 2nd night ZERO, 3rd night 2 (one only a second or 2 long), the other a bit scattery.

Hello and Welcome to DreamViews! Let me see what I can do for you...

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Originally Posted by RainyDay

Hi all, first post, hoping for a long and propsperous LD life. Please help!!

I had never heard of LD or anything like it. But...

A couple of weeks ago I dreamt I knew I was dreaming (and was chased by Freddy Krueger hahaha, but quite natural to know you're dreaming since this is the state in which he appears!). Didn't think too much about it after I woke, apart from it feeling Inception-like. I did not at all control any actions whatsover, nor did it feel like a new dream-sensation (which I am told LD is). It was a semi-nightmare in which I deliberately woke myself up from by forcing my eyes to open (often did this when I was a kid to stop nightmares).

Therefore, my guess is I only dreamt that I was aware, without actually being it.

Hmm, this may have been the case. Some of the earliest signs of me realizing I'm dreaming, came with Freddy dreams. Technically, you became lucid and woke yourself up, but in panic/fear you didn't really grasp the fact that you knew you were dreaming. Hard to explain, but I understand what you mean. Don't worry, this waking yourself up from a dream, in a good sign for future success.

My dream recall is normally ok, but very weird dreams are common and jump between places with no connection, people turn into trains and whatnot. It all feels very fuzzy.

After this specific dream, I googled and stumbled across LD and this site. I have now a DJ since a couple of days back, have done hard research on tutorials and techniques and everything else, doing reality checks IRL etc. But I still don't really get it - what is the sensation I am looking to achieve?

You are trying to achieve lucidity :P. Knowing that you are dreaming from within the dream. The "sensation" many dreamers describe, is the feeling of amazement, joy, achievement, and other mixed emotions all boiled into one thing...the realization of complete freedom in a world that you created yourself.

My dreams are too fuzzy and foggy to be able to think inside of them. To do a RC in a dream is just impossible, because I cannot control my own character or my own actions.

Nah, it is just that your memory of your dreams is fuzzy and foggy. When you are actually in the dream, everything seems real to you. I'm sure you have memories of dreams from long ago. If they were fuzzy and foggy, you would likely have a hard time remembering them now. Dreams are a lot like any other memory. I can't remember remember exactly what I was doing Monday, because nothing really significant happened. I can definitely remember the first round playoff game (football) my senior year in high school like it happened yesterday...and that was 4 years ago. With insignificant non-lucids and those real short lucids (those few second ones), I can't remember much of them at all. A normal lucid and a good non-lucid will stick. Just continue writing in your dream journal and build that recall. Those good, vivid dreams will start to come around more often.

The first night after stumbling across this site I tried to do the mantra "I will do reality checks" and that night I had 5 separate dreams, fairly long. Slept through the night and just remembered all 5. In the first one, I think, I remember questioning myself "how did I get here", but am not sure if I did it deliberately or if my dream character did it itself. In other words, I might have just been dreaming that I knew I was dreaming - hope you get it.

Still very fuzzy, but I the answer to the question was a split second thought ("I don't know how I got here, so I must be dreaming") and then I either woke up (which I don't remember doing) or fell into another dream or heavier sleep. But I think I was interrupted in dream-world simuli, gunshots or something, which made me lose focus on the task in hand, as I probably got scared of what was happening around me. Was this close to LD? On my first attempt?

Actually, yes. You were pretty darn close to becoming lucid. You have read several good signs throughout your post. With some effort and practice you should be able to catch on fairly quickly :D.

Feels a bit like beginners luck, and I have to say a bit scary. But again: what is LD more precisely and what is the feeling I am looking to achieve?

A lucid dream is simply a dream where you realize you are dreaming (within the dream itself). You could have complete control or no control at all. Keep in mind that you can have control without being lucid, as well as being lucid without having control. If you find yourself inside a dream and you realize it is a dream...you are lucid. I described the feeling above ;). Note that you may not have this big "feeling." You may just look around and say, "This is pretty cool," or something similar. It depends on your personality, really.

I know how to get there, by practicing and repeating techniques etc, but I still dream very fuzzy stuff.

It is ok. The more you practice and keep up with a dream journal, your mind will bring dreaming into the forefront. This alone will help improve the overall quality of your dreams.

Finally, I think DILD is probably the best way for me to start, right? I won't set alarms at this stage (wife would kill me). So all I have to do is good recall (DJ), mantras and reality checks? How can I do RC in a dream when my character / own self doesn't obey me?

Yeah, DILD should be practiced at all time, imo. Even if you were to branch out and try different induction methods, I suggest you continue to practice DILD. Try to keep with a dream journal. If you only remember a small snippet, go ahead and write that down. Even if you don't remember anything, go ahead and write down, "Couldn't remember any dreams today," or something similar. Also, with your RCs, make sure you aren't just going through the motions. Take a moment to look around at your environment. Take in the details and notice how real everything is. Ask yourself, "Could I be dreaming right now?" Then pretend that everything around you is actually a dream. Now, perform your RCs and see if you actually are. It is always good to have multiple types of RCs in case one or two of them fail (which happens occasionally).

I'm not sure if you have ever experienced sleep paralysis (SP) before, but sometimes it will come on unexpectedly. If you ever have this happen, try to take advantage of SP and attempt a WILD. If you ever take a nap during the day, this would be a good time to try a WILD as well.

So all in all, I have ZERO experience but am just fascinated by LD, and want to try it. I will also be taking B6 vitamins. PLEASE HELP, I want to know what the fuss is about! :) Any tips and comments on above is much welcomed!!!

Thanks!!

EDIT: I have only been researching for 3-4 days, and DJ only existed that long. Recall seems to be improving, if I tell myself to remember when I go to bed. 1st night 5 recalls, 2nd night ZERO, 3rd night 2 (one only a second or 2 long), the other a bit scattery.

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Dream recall will fluctuate a bit. Just keep writing down your dreams and practicing all your techniques. Remember, anyone and everyone can lucid dream. There have been people join the site who haven't remembered a dream in a long time...in fact, thought they didn't dream at all. With a little effort, they too achieved lucidity. One important thing is to stay confident. If you get overly discouraged and start to doubt your abilities, it can lead to problems with dreaming. Stay confident and expect to succeed. If you fail, look at it as experienced gained and look forward to the next chance you get. Good luck to you and if you have any further questions, don't hesitate to ask!

Thanks very much for all the feedback, appreciate it!! For the record, in the Freddy dream, I did not wake up by realising I was dreaming (but again, I could have just dreamt that I knew I was dreaming, as opposed to actually KNOWING it), the dream went on and was vivid and long.

Am continuingly doing RC's whenever I remember (20 times / day), but haven't succeeded in doing one in a dream yet. Recall has been weak lately, just fragments from each dream (anywhere between 10 seconds and 5 mins), and 1-3 dreams per night. But am very dedicated with my DJ as you have suggested, and now trying to repeat my day backwards upon going to bed. Strangely enough, all dreams have had so real plots - I have not had a reason to question if I am dreaming (hence lack of RC's I guess).

And another thing, as I said before - I find it very hard to do a RC in a dream. My dreams are like movies where I cannot control my actions. Some of the weirdness in a dream can be my actual actions - i.e. I am not really myself. Heard people talking about turning on/off light switches etc, but my own character in the dream would never have the idea to try that.

Have never experienced SP, I think it sounds very scary. I have occasionally woken up by something that feels like a big hit to the face, or feeling of falling out of bed with a big crash etc - often when just trying to go to sleep.

I have to ask - what is the difference between DILD and MILD? Is the only difference that MILD includes the mantra right before falling asleep? (and DILD has RC's as a regular pattern IRL). If so, I seem to try a combination of the two. Is that a good method? Anything else I could add / remove?

You don't have to do a RC to become lucid, infact most people are already atleast semi-lucid when they perform them. You just confirm it actually being a dream when you do one :) You're right about the DILD/MILD, I usually do RC's during the day (even though I almost NEVER spontaneously RC to get lucid), and practice MILD techniques when going to sleep.

It might take some time before you start seeing the MILD/DILD method working, but don't give up! If you hang in there you will get lucid more and more. The more you do it, the easier it gets. If you feel like trying something out, I suggest you try the WBTB technique. Alot of people (including me) finds it's a great technique and gets you lucid easily.

Good luck! And don't hesitate to ask away :)

Like Matte said, most of the time I realize I am dreaming and only perform RCs for stabilization purposes. A few times I RCed while thinking I was awake, but most of the time I knew already. The key with RCs is to train yourself to question your reality. The RCs are just to test the questioning. That is why I always recommend looking around and pretending you are dreaming, even if you know you are not. Then perform the RC.

Tack Matte and thanks Yoshi! You are all very helpful!

I had not grasped the fact that it's not the RC itself that makes you lucid, which is what I thought. So trying to get to this "semi-lucid" sensation, to trigger RC's, is my mission. Which I plan to reach through the techniques. It just seems so very far away from where I am now.

My recall is now really good, had a very vivid dream last night (woke up at 4:15 and wrote it down). Perhaps B6 kicking in. But nowhere near questioning reality in it. Instead of repeating mantras, I tried the method Yoshi suggested in another thread - to "pretend" that I am the lucid-master, very self confident and KNOWING I will become lucid. But didn't work.

So I presume a good combined method is RC's during the day, and mantras at night? Will do some research on WBTB and possibly try that soon. I think I understand the importance of pretending I am dreaming before RCing.

Yeah, just keep practicing. Try to fall asleep with that "knowing you will lucid dream" mentality every night. It may not have granted you lucidity this time, but you managed a nice vivid dream. It will help increase your odds and may be just what you need to give you that extra umph! into lucidity. Good luck to you and stay confident!