Hi! I'm new...

Hi everyone.
I'm fascinated by dream interpretations, symbols, and other such things. I joined for a couple reasons. Number One is obviously to see what other people have to say on the matter and second is because I would like some insight if possible. I'm not sure if this really belongs here... but I don't really know where else it should belong.

Last night I had a dream that has been bothering me all day. It wasn't scary (although there was some mild violence) but it was... strange. Allow me to give some background.

I have had frequent sleep paralysis since I was a child. Multiple times during the week, sometimes in one night. I read many places that this could be the doorway to astral travel. I'm not questioning the validity of that right now. But, I did continue to pursue that for some time, eager to travel astrally as often as possible. I have had dreams where I knew it was a dream and I was occasionally able to control the dream, although not the surroundings. I'm not sure that qualifies as lucid dreaming. But, moving on...

So, I dreamt last night that I was at a sort of campsite. It was deep in the woods and there were lots of people scattered about in their own groups. There was a cabin and I was walking along the front of it. The ground looked like the beach--sandy, soft, etc. But what was really...odd... was it felt like reality. I mean, more so than any normal dream. It was as real as me sitting here typing this right now. And I recognized it as a dream, but then slowly began thinking maybe real life is the dream and the dream was reality. That's how real it was. Reality started to feel fuzzy and I couldn't remember a lot of it. I started to feel a connection to where I was, as if I belonged there. I started to feel like that was it, I wasn't coming back. But, it didn't matter, because in the dream, it was reality. And when it started, I had been there for four days. I remembered the details of the previous four days, even though it only picked up at that one particular point in time.

When I started considering the thought that it was reality, I walked over toward a car and sat down in front of it, cradling a chocolate bar as if it was the only thing keeping me alive. Two men came over and wanted my chocolate bar. When I refused to give in, they started hitting me in the head. One of them kicked me in the nose and I felt all of it, as if it were actually happening, but I refused to give them my chocolate bar. (I mean, seriously, it's chocolate. I'm not giving that up easily!) Then I turned around to face the opposite way and then I... woke up... I guess.

Any insight?

Thanks so much.

Mrs. Valkyrie

Hello Mrs. Valkyrie.

Interesting dream. I'm not sure if I can give you any insight, but it is, as you said "strange", and almost absurdly funny (besides that you actually felt pain). Nice writing style too. So you have lucid dreams?
That is one strange thing about dreams: false memories. The other night, I had the false memory that I had been in a place before, which I now know I have never been to. Almost like a deja vu.

Always protect your chocolate.

Hi Aurata,

Thank you for your response.

Yes, I suppose looking back it is actually kind of funny!

I know what you mean about the false memories. That happens to me all the time during dreams--and in real life!

I do have lucid dreams. I take it you do as well? I had a near death experience when I was very young and I suppose that must have opened the doorway to a world beyond our existence.

Thank you for your comment about my writing style. As an aspiring writer, it makes me so happy to hear things like that. :-D

And I'm glad you agree about the chocolate!!

Mrs. Valkyrie

I think your brain is telling you to give up chocolate as its not worth to love in the long run.

Hi Mrs. Valkyrie, Welcome to the DV =)

I felt some need to say "yes!" sleep paralysis is the doorway to astral projection! But since you didn't want to get into that question, let us move on. We have similarities at the moment. I can control every aspect of my dreams too! Except my surroundings. And it does qualify as lucid dreaming. You just have to believe you can change something. Even if you totally convince yourself you can do something. Do you really believe it deep in your heart? That's where it counts. Sometimes dreams so vivid can give off the feeling that they are in fact reality - when IN REALITY they aren't ;). What I would suggest to you, is whenever you feel that you're dreaming or whenever you feel as if you're losing hold of which is real, do a reality check. Hold your nose, and try to breathe out of it. Can you? Look at a calender. Does anything look strange? Do a hard math problem. Can you solve it? Most of all. Mirrors. Do you look like yourself, or is the image distorted? Any of these factors can help you distinguish a dream from reality and keep your head on your shoulders. As for the pain.. Sadly, I've felt pain in lucid dreams as well. But only on impact and I immediately woke up.

Best of luck, Castles.

DON'T GIVE UP THAT CHOCOLATE GIRL.

Well, welcome to DV!
I'm not that big into dream interpretation, however, I do wish to point out that any time you realize you are dreaming is a Lucid Dream. LDing and Dream Control don't always have to go hand in hand.
I've had many dreams where I could control everything and anything, but not realized it was a dream. And it goes the same the other way around.
Anyways, happy LDing and good luck in the dream world!

Thanks for your replies, Castles and OwO.
Wow, it's been a while since I've been on here. I forgot I posted anything!
You both raise excellent points. The reality check is actually the hardest for me because I always forget to do it.
Castles, I am glad you agree that sleep paralysis leads to projection. The only reason I didn't want to bring it up was because I didn't want it to turn into a debate and have no one focus on why I was really posting. Oh, and damn straight about the chocolate! Surprisingly (or perhaps not) I have never been told to look into a mirror. I will keep it in mind.

Thanks again!
Mrs. Valkyrie