What exactley IS Lucid Dreaming?

Oneiro, I agree with everyone that's come back at you. I'll not repeat their arguments.
But anyways, let's stop scaring the OP and do something useful.


DramingDove: As said before, it's simply the realization that you are in a dream. Once you realize it, the awareness pretty much makes you conscious. Which is why you then have the ability to take control of the dream. The way I would define "control" is something like "consciously making decisions in your thoughts". So if you slot that all together, you'll understand why Lucid Dreaming is a very real and possible thing.
Control is only a possibility in lucid dreams, you aren't magically able to know that you have the ability to control is, which is why a lot of people who don't understand Lucid Dreaming will end up just going along with what is happening. They will make slight decisions, but nothing which amounts to your normal perception of control.

Anyways, I hope you understand it, and I hope you decide to try it. It is such an amazing feeling to have that awareness in a dream, even if you don't take full potential of control. Somehow you still get an amazing sensation. But taking control is just truly amazing. The biggest cliche, yet my favourite thing; flying. It just feels so good to be in the air with the wind against your face and a slight feeling of a G-force in your stomache.

Oneiro, my friend, you are simply incorrect. There isn't a single thing I have set out to do in a lucid dream that I haven't accomplished. You absolutely can do anything you want in a dream. Some things take practice and bit of understanding when it comes to the dream world, but anything is possible. I have done many seemingly impossible things such as being two different people at once in a lucid dream. Each one of my bodies having their own perspective and both performing separate tasks with zero interference or distraction from one another. I have enhanced my eye sight to the level of a predatory bird or better. Not zooming in, but actually enhancing my eye sight around 100x's that of a normal human being. Those are just a couple of examples. I am sorry if you haven't reached the level of control in which you desire, but practice makes perfect. The only basis you have for your theories is your own experiences. Everyone's mind works differently and every dreams differently as well. I believe that there is no single task that cannot be accomplished in a lucid dream, because I have yet to find something I couldn't complete.

As far as length is concerned, my LDs on average last for hours+ (dream time...meaning, they feel like they last for hours). Please calm yourself and just let it go. Agree to disagree and kindly move on. Thank you.

I hate arguments on the internet. Its funny watching that crap. Can we please just be mature and not have such negative attitudes. The OP asked what lucid dreaming was, and that's the only answer one should give. He didn't ask the opposite.

I think I might see what you were trying to say Oneiro. I don't want to put words into your mouth, but you reminded me of something I'm often curious about. Sometimes it seems like the more lucid I am, the less direct control I have. In fact, sometimes I try to back off my awareness a bit when I want to do more fantastic things.

It seems to me like there are two kinds of control. When I am in that "hyper real" kind of lucid dream where I have all my waking memories, I am actively thinking, and need to actively and logically control the dream. I need to think of exactly what I want to do, and then make it happen. This kind of control requires a tight hold on my lucidity.

When my awareness is lighter and more superficial, it is easier to exert passive control. I can just keep a goal in my mind, and expect the dream to bend towards it. It is much easier, and the results are almost always surprising. I will influence the dream without exerting any direct control, just a whim or a hope. This kind of control seems to be easier when I am less lucid, less logical, and more likely to accept bizarre dream occurrences.

When I want to do something crazy, I will normally try to do it passively. I will give up a bit of my lucidity and logical expectations, and try to just influence the dream with my will and expectations.

In either case, I think everyone will agree that dream control and lucidity are two separate, but related things.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Aquanina

Why not?

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Oneiro

I can't believe the inanity of this question. Do you realise what you're saying? Anything and everything you want? Sheesh..

But hey! <mammoth realisation> Can you get me next week's lottery numbers? ;)

---

Maybe that's where the confusion is. When Aquanina says anything is possible, she's talking about in the dream. Obviously you can't get the lottery numbers for real life from a dream, just like you can't learn the ability to fly in real life from a dream.

And enough with the little condescending "winks" after every statement. It'd be nice to have an intelligent discussion without the puerility.