God I hate it when forums log me out after I write a post! Here I go again!
I recently discovered Lucid Dreaming (Through reading, not experiencing) and the whole concept fascinates me. It's clear that it can be achieved with practice and training and i've already made the start by starting a dream journal and trying a few reality checks when the tought of LD crosses my mind.
Although I haven't yet managed to LD since learning of it, i'm fairly sure I used to do it to some extent when I was a kid. I'd wake up to go to the toilet in the night and return to the dreams i'd left but with (I think) some degree of control, or awareness at least.
I'd love to master the skill for several reasons. The first that came to mind after considering the posibilities was the fact that I could visit my girlfriend (Who is away in India teaching) in my dreams and do the things I like to do with her. We can sit on the beach together again and go bodysurfing the waves in the sea... and the rest :) I'd love to be able to do that and tell her about it.
Secondly, i'm a big fan of Paulo Coelho, and after reading this forum i've found people talking about dreamguides, who they believe to be their subconcious manifest. In 1986 Paulo released his first book, The Pilgrimage, which is about his own physical journey of self discovery through Europe. It's focussed alot on religeous elements (I'm actually not at all religeous), but the message of the book boils down to following your dreams and being the person you wish to be without restraint. He is on a search for his 'sword', which I believe is a metaphor for finding himself and answering his own deepest questions. This book, for me, ties in with lucid dreaming and dreamguides specifically, because one of the skills he shares with us, The Messenger ritual, is an excersise he uses to meet his own 'personal messneger', Astrain. Throughout the book he regularly converses with Astrain when he needs guidance on something or to learn more of his own personal desires and strenghs.
From the book...
Interestingly enough his second book, The Alchemist, rose to become immensely popular and is, I believe, the third most translated book in the world behind the Bible and something else I can't remember. I think this speaks volumes for the power of self discovery and the knowledge we have within us.Quote:
1. Sit down and relax completely. Let your mind wander and your thinking flow without restraint. After a while, begin to repeat to yourself, ‘Now I am relaxed, and I am in the deepest kind of sleep.’
So, here I am! Hello all, thanks for having me and I hope I can learn more from you all and contribute whilst I am here :)
I'm looking forward to my first LD, to meeting with my girlfriend and with my dreamguide. But for now... No... my finger won't pass through my palm. Maybe tonight?
