Thread: Some Advice? (please read)

Originally posted by Valo+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Valo)</div>

1-most of the dreams i remember are dreams that happen shortly after sleep (within the first half hour....usually as soon as i drift off.) *they're very short (sometimes just a brief image...and almost always shorter than 10 seconds). *is this normal/weird? should I be concerned? *Is there a way to remember my later, longer dreams better?[/b]

Tell, me how long have you been keeping a journal? I had the same froblem for the first few weeks after I started. Don't worry about it really, it'll come. If you want to help it along, when you wake up in the morning, if you don't remember any of your latest dream, just write down the emotion your deeling at the time. Chances are that it's connected to your last dream, that should do a bit of good at the very least. Another good thing to do is when you wake up, keep your eyes closed and don't open them until you remember some dreams.


<!--QuoteBegin-Valo
2-I've reached lucidity 3 times. *All were in the early stage of sleep. *All 3 times i instantly awoke. *The last time, however, lasted longer. *like the other 2 times i realized that i was dreaming. *but this time i started to calm down. *After what seemed like a few seconds the dream began to fade. *I attempted to spin but couldn't move my body (just my head). *once again is this normal/weird? *Is there a better way to enter these lucid states? preparations i could take?

It is normal to do that, but I'm not really sure what to advise here, I guess that you could try telling yourself that yor dreaming during the day and stay calm, I guess that could carry into your dreams.

Originally posted by Valo
1-most of the dreams i remember are dreams that happen shortly after sleep (within the first half hour....usually as soon as i drift off.) *they're very short (sometimes just a brief image...and almost always shorter than 10 seconds). *is this normal/weird? should I be concerned? *Is there a way to remember my later, longer dreams better?

2-I've reached lucidity 3 times. *All were in the early stage of sleep. *All 3 times i instantly awoke. *The last time, however, lasted longer. *like the other 2 times i realized that i was dreaming. *but this time i started to calm down. *After what seemed like a few seconds the dream began to fade. *I attempted to spin but couldn't move my body (just my head). *once again is this normal/weird? *Is there a better way to enter these lucid states? preparations i could take?

I think these initial, incredibly short 'dreams' are in fact hypnogogia. Hypnogogia is dreamlike imagery that occurs while your body is falling asleep. It is usually a series of short images or scenarios. I think the best way to remember your actual dreams is, as Alex said, to keep a Dream Journal.

As to your sudden awakening upon reaching lucidity, this is very common in the beginning. I suggest simply to keep trying. After a while, you will get used to becoming lucid, and slowly get a better grasp of controlling it, and staying asleep. I have read that sometimes spinning helps one stay in their dream. I don't know if this will work for you, but by all means, try it out next time.

Yep, I wouldn't worry about the shortish dreams. If not hypnagogic dreams, perhaps you misinterprete when they take place?
How do you know they happen only at the very beginning of the night?

In either case, I don't think you need be worried, it'll sort itself out if you keep it up

[EDIT]
Tip - when you wake up, don't move a muscle. Just lie there and go over your dreams, and for each feeling/thing you remember, ask yourself how you got there. What caused it? What happened after that? etc etc
For some reason the bodily 'mood' that you feel yourself in greatly enhances recall. So don't move out of it until you remember everything you want to

Do that for a few minutes before you jump up and write it all down - You might be suprised at how much more you remember that way.

1) http://www.dreamviews.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=13095

2) When you are dreaming clear your mind. Don't let any emotion control you. Focus on just existing in your lucid state calmly before making any decisions that may wake you up.

thanks for the advice.

It should prove very handy.