Ohai DV!

[Hamcha]

Hi everybody, it's me, someone you don't know yet! I've been trying to lucid dream for two or three weeks but still no success. I'm also keeping a dream journal, though I don't update it as much as i should (I'm having trouble remembering dream when I have to wake up early for school.) I'm achieving some results with time, like last sunday I wrote 8 pages for a single dream! (All right, it's a pocket notebook I'm using as a dream journal, but it's still the one I remember best.) About the techniques, I'm currently trying DILD. I'm really not good at fooling myself, so MILD is too difficult for me (or maybe I just didn't understand how MILD works). I'm a little scared about trying WILD but I should definitely do it. I'm doing some random reality check, some I do when I remember (but not as much I should, I'm the kind that easily forgets about things), some other I just do them when I see something particular (like if I see a clock, I'll probably "test" it). ...aaand, nothing more actually, just a question: Since I've been doing reality checks I usually wake up in the middle of the night for no reason at all (literally the middle, I go to sleep at 23/11PM and wake up at 2AM when I should wake up a 6AM.) Is it normal? PS: I know the rules really don't encourage it but I welcome grammar nazis, I really need to make my english better.

[nito89]

^ couldn't resist. Actually your grammar is far better than most. ANYWAY! Welcome to DV Hamcha DILD is good, just continue with your RC's and questioning reality. Dont be scared of WILD... I assume when you say your scared, you are referring to sleep paralysis? If so you have nothing to fear as long as you remember that its not real . Expect SP to be blissful and it will be. You actually wake up after every REM cycle and this is completely normal, usually though you dont remember waking up so this could be why your waking up at 2AM.

[Enjyu]

Welcome to Dreamviews! You're already doing the right thing keeping a dream journal and trying DILD. Since I've been doing reality checks I usually wake up in the middle of the night for no reason at all (literally the middle, I go to sleep at 23/11PM and wake up at 2AM when I should wake up a 6AM.) Is it normal? I have never heard of this happening before, but I don't focus on reality checks that much. Maybe someone else can help you out with this.

[Pandabear]

Ohai, and welcome to DV! Don't worry, I promise, you'll get a LD soon, if you don't give up! It's great with the DILD, but MILD is also an awesome technique. You can just send me a PM, if you wants me to explain MILD, or have any other questions! But the forum is also an amazing help, and people are really friendly, so feel free to ask. I agree with Nito, it sounds like you're waking up from your REM sleep. The reason why you remember you're waking up now, is because you've more focus on it. Good luck, and have nice (lucid) dreams!

[Hamcha]

I agree with Nito, it sounds like you're waking up from your REM sleep. The reason why you remember you're waking up now, is because you've more focus on it. You actually wake up after every REM cycle and this is completely normal, usually though you dont remember waking up so this could be why your waking up at 2AM. Actually, when I wake up at that time, I usually do something before returning to sleep (such as closing the windows if they're open, or just go down and drink a glass of water.) You mean I do this like 4 times each night? You should keep a Dream Journal as much as possible, (at least once per day!). When I have to go to school (six days out of seven) I rarely remember what I dream, so it's really difficult for me to record dreams I hardly remember, I'm trying my best though. On the other side, last weekend I remembered the last dream perfectly and also remembered a part of the dream before it (I said I wrote 8 pages on my dream journal, didn't I? It took like 10/15 minutes!) so I GUESS I'm getting better at dream recalling but I'm not that good to remember at least one dream per day. I completely agree with Matte87 in combining DILD with MILD, use all day awareness, SAT (Puffins Guide), Wake back to bed (4.5 Hours after sleep) and Mantras to great affect! Where I still don't get how Mantras work, I can safely say that "Wake back to bed" requires too much time. Don't get me wrong, I have plenty of time after school, it's just that I wake up at 6AM and I must leave my house before 6:40. On weekends it's a different story, so maybe I'll give it a try on those if WBTB doesn't require using it frequently (or adapting to it). I also would like to ask opinions about the reality checks I usually do, is it okay if I write them here?

[nito89]

Actually, when I wake up at that time, I usually do something before returning to sleep (such as closing the windows if they're open, or just go down and drink a glass of water.) You mean I do this like 4 times each night? No, I'm not saying you perform these actions multiple times a night, merely stating that you do wake up after every REM cycle. If this is something you regularly do its probably just cause you expect to wake up at 2AM and do it. Expectation and intention are very powerful.

[Arch]

Actually, when I wake up at that time, I usually do something before returning to sleep (such as closing the windows if they're open, or just go down and drink a glass of water.) You mean I do this like 4 times each night? Nope, take alook at this, you aim to wake up in a REM period, I recommend 4.5 hours after going to sleep, as you can see, it places you nicely in one of the biggest REM periods. When I have to go to school (six days out of seven) I rarely remember what I dream, so it's really difficult for me to record dreams I hardly remember, I'm trying my best though. On the other side, last weekend I remembered the last dream perfectly and also remembered a part of the dream before it (I said I wrote 8 pages on my dream journal, didn't I? It took like 10/15 minutes!) so I GUESS I'm getting better at dream recalling but I'm not that good to remember at least one dream per day. Well done on recording a big dream, the more you do it, the more you remember trust me. Also, if you go to sleep abit too late and don't get enough sleep (so 5 - 6 hours) then I find I don't really dream (don't remember as easy maybe. Where I still don't get how Mantras work, I can safely say that "Wake back to bed" requires too much time. Don't get me wrong, I have plenty of time after school, it's just that I wake up at 6AM and I must leave my house before 6:40. On weekends it's a different story, so maybe I'll give it a try on those if WBTB doesn't require using it frequently (or adapting to it). Mantra is where you tell yourself (when lying down, or before bed) "I'm Dreaming" over and over, and it can carry over into the dream. WBTB shouldnt take too much time, for me, I just go straight back to bed, but that's because I wake up too easily. Just stay up for 2- 5 mins if it's waking you up for too long, then head back, it increases the chance of a lucid astronomically. Happy Dreams, and if there is any more questions, just ask!

[Matte87]

Welcome to DV! What you could do is to combine DILD with MILD, as DILD focuses on daily awareness, reality checking and dream signs while MILD is all about intentions a few minutes before bed. Whenever I want to achieve lucidity badly, I try to be as aware as possible throughout the day while daydreaming alot. I plan ahead and just RC as much as possible. When night comes, I MILD and repeat a mantra with visualizations then usually do a short or long WBTB. That's a killer combo Even though there are a couple of techniques out there, don't focus too much on the technicalities. It's basicly all about intentions and dedication. The more you want to achieve lucidity, the greater chance of it happening. Don't get discouraged if you don't see results right away, for some people it can take a while to get lucid but as soon as you've had your first, they will become more frequent. Good luck! If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask!

[Arch]

Welcome to DV, Other members have covered what I was going to say. You should keep a Dream Journal as much as possible, (at least once per day!). I completely agree with Matte87 in combining DILD with MILD, use all day awareness, SAT (Puffins Guide), Wake back to bed (4.5 Hours after sleep) and Mantras to great affect! If you are new I wouldn't recommend WILD, but you can give it ago, some people are naturals. Happy Dreams

[Matte87]

I almost never use WBTB's during weekdays, by doing them not more than once or twice a week, they get this "special" status and works even more I usually do the WBTB 6 hours into sleep. Have tried 4½ but I don't dream much until 7 or so hours into sleep. I'm also usually way too tired to get up even after just 4½ hours, but that's something you'll have to test and see. Do a mantra for a few minutes before going to bed, should if used correctly be the last thought you have in your head. It's more about intentions but the mantras help. I can't stay focused more than a minute or so, but they still work very well.